Peak, i.e., more expensive airfare times of year

I'm sure there's been a zillion threads on here to this effect before.  We are in the process of plotting out our holidays for the year.  The past couple years we've gone back to the States in the spring (either May or Easter time), so I decided we would go at a different time of year this time - plus we've already got various travel plans stretching from Easter until the end of June.  I was thinking about going to the US then maybe around the end of August - like around bank holiday & then going into Sept when it will be around Labor Day in the US.

But then I started thinking - is that the most expensive time to go/return?  In your opinions or experiences?

Carolyn,

I looked up BA at the begining of the year and saved the fares (economy of course). It may have changed but here is what I found (early jan). As you can see, the summer months are more expensive.

BA Prices for 2007 (Heathrow to Baltimore)

£279 return    10 Jan 07-28 Mar 07

£379 return     29 Mar 07-05 Apr 07

£279 return     06 Apr 07-30 Apr 07

£379 return     01 May 07-31 May 07

£519 return    01 Jul 07-21 Aug 07

£379 return    22 Aug 07-31 Oct 07

£279 return   01 Nov 07-09 Dec 07
 

Jules, how did you do that?

That was more methodical than my way of just typing in dates!! 

I'm sure there's been a zillion threads on here to this effect before.  We are in the process of plotting out our holidays for the year.  The past couple years we've gone back to the States in the spring (either May or Easter time), so I decided we would go at a different time of year this time - plus we've already got various travel plans stretching from Easter until the end of June.  I was thinking about going to the US then maybe around the end of August - like around bank holiday & then going into Sept when it will be around Labor Day in the US.

But then I started thinking - is that the most expensive time to go/return?  In your opinions or experiences?

Dh & I noticed that if we go back home to the States before November it cost's us around  £150-£200 pounds more per ticket, than if we went back to the States after November. if my memory serves me right I'm thinking when we went home in November our tickets were around £600 pounds for both our tickets. but when we went home last year in mid September for 2 weeks, I think our tickets were around £750-£800 for 2 roundtrip tickets. but we only fly American Airlines though. maybe if we shopped around maybe we cud find something cheaper. but we really like American Airlines though. goodluck with your search.

Yes, it's as I feared -- wouldn't mind the £300 range, but £500+ is positively painful!  And our flights always cost so much anyway (assuming that's just for one direct flight to/from) because we do multi-leg trips.

May have to look at later in the autumn then.

Any other input/suggestions, different viewpoints, etc welcome!