best place to look for flights?

[Soozeej]

I am trying to price flights for next year, for Easter from Glasgow any ideas on where best to look? How far in advance can you book flights? May consider Oct instead but keen to try to price it, thanks

[juliebro]

Hi. You're a little bit early for scheduled floghts for Easter 2014. These are only usually available from around 11 months in advance.

[Soozeej]

ah ok thanks, I just have no patience, want to get started!

[MrRomance]

Originally Posted by Soozeej

I am trying to price flights for next year, for Easter from Glasgow any ideas on where best to look? How far in advance can you book flights? May consider Oct instead but keen to try to price it, thanks

If you intend to book your flights separately (i.e. not with your travel agent as part of a package) then those would be scheduled flights. Scheduled flights (with the exception of Virgin Atlantic) open at 11 months from the date of the flight.

So if you're looking at April '14, they'll be on sale from March '13. October '14 will go on sale from Sept '13.

October will be cheaper than Easter for sure, so if price is a big factor, you'll be better off if you go in October. We are going in October this year, our flights (we travel premium economy due to skeletal injuries) were £800 each direct from London. If you don't mind connecting, you can get them for around £500 each usually.

[wayneg]

Originally Posted by MrRomance

Scheduled flights (with the exception of Virgin Atlantic) open at 11 months from the date of the flight.

So if you're looking at April '14, they'll be on sale from March '13. October '14 will go on sale from Sept '13.

October will be cheaper than Easter for sure.

Last time I checked it was BA different to the rest, they used to allow upto 12 months, VA 11 months same as the rest but not checked recently.

Dates slightly wrong, you have done 13 months instead of 11, it should be May 2013 & Nov 2013.

Agree, We have done many trips both Easter & Oct, I always struggle with prices for Easter, still haven't booked hotel for this Easter due to costs, we leave 7 weeks today

[Soozeej]

Thanks for replies folks, I am keen to try to book it all seperately as I feel that way I should get a btter deal, but never having done it before its a bit daunting! I would rather go at Easter as then the kids dont have to take extra time off school AND its not so long to wait but it really does depend how much money difference is involved.

[wayneg]

Originally Posted by Soozeej

Thanks for replies folks, I am keen to try to book it all seperately as I feel that way I should get a btter deal, but never having done it before its a bit daunting! I would rather go at Easter as then the kids dont have to take extra time off school AND its not so long to wait but it really does depend how much money difference is involved.

One thing you need doing DIY is patience. Never rush into buying something unless its a bargain. I have still to book my hotel for Easter and not booked anything for August yet, deals will turn up (I hope)

[Soozeej]

Will bear that in mind! Lots of great advice on here, think I'll be here every day for the next year till we have it sussed out

[ChipnDaleRule]

Originally Posted by wayneg

One thing you need doing DIY is patience. Never rush into buying something unless its a bargain. I have still to book my hotel for Easter and not booked anything for August yet, deals will turn up (I hope)

Just out of interest Wayne,how long dare you leave it to book?At what point do you say,"Ok i better do something now"?

[wayneg]

Originally Posted by ChipnDaleRule

Just out of interest Wayne,how long dare you leave it to book?At what point do you say,"Ok i better do something now"?

Don't know, always found something more than 2 months from travelling.
One Xmas we were looking for a last minute deal but ended up staying at home with no availability but I only started looking about a week before Xmas.

[T16GEM]

We booked our flights for October just before Christmas, I'm glad we did as they have gone up £220 since we booked, however, last April we booked the day before good Friday and we flew on good Friday!!!! It was crazy and I wouldn't recommend leaving it quite that late to book, but we got a good deal & it all worked out well anyway!

[zavandor]

I've read on farecompare that intercontinental tickes often go down in price around 5 months before departure. Isn't it true?. It worked last year in January, but it was a flight with a stop from Rome.
Are direct flights from London better booked as soon as possible?

[2Tiggies]

Originally Posted by wayneg

Don't know, always found something more than 2 months from travelling.
One Xmas we were looking for a last minute deal but ended up staying at home with no availability but I only started looking about a week before Xmas.

Well now Wayne .... a week in advance? You deserved to stay at home

Do you have fixed dates for your Easter trip or are you flexible?

It's looking like I will be holding out for a late deal for October this year since it will just be for me and I don't mind inconvenient indirect flights (the kind you try avoid with others/kids in tow in the name of being moderately reasonable )

[2Tiggies]

Originally Posted by T16GEM

last April we booked the day before good Friday and we flew on good Friday!!!! It was crazy and I wouldn't recommend leaving it quite that late to book, but we got a good deal & it all worked out well anyway!

So you got to book, pay and do OLCI all at the same time, without having to leave the computer ? I think that one is a winner, lol

Did you get a really good price for that last minute, last minute deal?

[Soozeej]

No way could my nerves cope with booking one day and going the next I am just so unsure on how to know if it is a good price and when is the best time to book flights and accomodation, dont want to end up with one and not the other!! Difficult when you have never done it before. Just going to keep my eyes open and see what others are paying.