Airfares, either side of the school holidays

[Meemoo]

Hey all

We all know airfares are hiked up for school holiday periods, but if you go say a week prior and return just after is it possible to find good deals? I'm looking at the Spring break next year SYD to LA, trying to be a good Mum and not let the kids miss out on so much school, but at the same time I don't want to spend $1000s more just to avoid this!

 

[dollarmite]

Most definitely! December airfares tend to go up the day school ends, or the day after, so leaving Aust on the Wednesday or Thursday before school ends can literally save you thousands.

June and September holidays follow a similar path, although the price increases aren't quite as high.

A lot of our trips have taken place during the school year because we could save $5,000-$10,000 on airfares and accommodation by travelling in off peak times. The schools have never had a problem with it.

This year we leave 3 days before the Sept holidays start and return 3 weeks after they end. Had we left 2 days later the airfares would've been almost double.

 

[mickeyd78]

A few days either way can make a huge difference. One or my favorite sites is http://matrix.itasoftware.com/ which allows you to play around with dates and easily see which dates offer the cheapest airfares.

 

[PrincessInOz]

It depends on the deals being offered. The earlier you get in, the more flexible the dates are around school holidays.

I ended up having to take DS out of school for 6 school days before the end of term. For the September 13 trip, when I was looking, the cheaper flights went to the second last Friday of term. If we left on the Saturday or the week before school holidays, there was a difference of about $700 per ticket.

Coming back was easier. There were more options for the cheap seats on the way home. We did keep DS out of school for the first week of 3rd term but I do remember seeing cheap seats in that last couple of days before school holidays ended when I was booking.

Good luck with it all.

 

[TulipsNZ]

We tried to get this holiday to overlap with school holidays but it just didn't work out as feasible. The school has been fine with it though we are planning on blogging the trip as a school activity.

 

[mickeyd78]

We tried to get this holiday to overlap with school holidays but it just didn't work out as feasible. The school has been fine with it though we are planning on blogging the trip as a school activity.

Glad the school is cool with it. Blogging the trip is a fantastic idea. Travelling can be such a great educational experience.

 

[losfp]

For our trip next year, we'll be going about 2 weeks after the start of term 4, and coming back 6 weeks later.

Wifey is a teacher, and Superseded Model (who will be 7 and in year 2) will arguably learn more travelling and having 30 minutes with mum each night. She's going to write a journal/diary, and will be noting down all the things she wants to buy with her pocket money and deciding which things she can afford. That's english, maths, budgeting right there. She'll learn about physics on space mountain.

 

[Meemoo]

For our trip next year, we'll be going about 2 weeks after the start of term 4, and coming back 6 weeks later.

Wifey is a teacher, and Superseded Model (who will be 7 and in year 2) will arguably learn more travelling and having 30 minutes with mum each night. She's going to write a journal/diary, and will be noting down all the things she wants to buy with her pocket money and deciding which things she can afford. That's english, maths, budgeting right there. She'll learn about physics on space mountain.

I totally agree, they do learn so much, yet I can't help feeling guilty. Perhaps because its almost an annual thing lately. On the other hand, maybe I should enjoy going during the school terms now as I gather once they are in high school it would be even harder to do.

So, from what every one has said a weeks prior to the school holidays should get us something much more affordable. We were thinking November but I saw that staying onsite at Grand Cal is quite a bit cheaper in September so I was considering whether I could work it with some of the trip during the school holidays. I also read small world and RSR is down the first week of Nov going by historical data, would hate to miss those rides.

Do you think that airfares would still work out cheaper to stick with November away from all school holidays rather than opt for a week before the school hols in Sept and come back just after? I need to make my decision soon as I need to rent more points for my Grand Cal stay and I want to book it at the 11 month mark to guarantee it, once its booked I am locked in pretty much.

 

[losfp]

Yeah I think refurbs are just going to be a known risk of booking in non-peak times. Last time (late Oct 2012) IASW and Indiana Jones were down, so it'd be nice to see them next year (mid Nov). Our oldest child, the Superseded Model was not tall enough to ride RSR last time, and I'm hoping it'll be available as she is crazy excited for it (we watch youtube videos of the rides to give her an idea of how scary each one is). The way I figure it is that we'll see WDW for Halloween and DLR for Christmas and hopefully there's nothing on refurb that we can't see at the other resort.

 

[Meemoo]

That's the problem with the beginning of November, the rides that were decorated for Halloween are down to make way for Xmas deco. Otherwise I think it is a lovely time weather and crowd wise.

 

[quattro4]

I've just booked Qantas one week either side of June school holidays next year and was happy with the price I got. We're doing melb>nyc then miami>melbourne - just under $7k 2 adults 2 kids. Probably could have waited until late october USA sale for a slightly better rate but didn't want to miss the dates and accommodation we wanted. We'll do an internal flight to orlando from nyc. Then we'll have a car.

School holiday pricing is insane! So def pays to go either side.

 

[Meemoo]

I've just booked Qantas one week either side of June school holidays next year and was happy with the price I got. We're doing melb>nyc then miami>melbourne - just under $7k 2 adults 2 kids. Probably could have waited until late october USA sale for a slightly better rate but didn't want to miss the dates and accommodation we wanted. We'll do an internal flight to orlando from nyc. Then we'll have a car.

School holiday pricing is insane! So def pays to go either side.

That sounds like a good deal - Late October USA Sale you say? Please fill me in?

 

[quattro4]

That sounds like a good deal - Late October USA Sale you say? Please fill me in?

Qantas normally has a USA sale late October. They than have a global sale early November. I couldn't wait. The dates have just been released so there's a handful on sale now so I grabbed them

 

[Meemoo]

Qantas normally has a USA sale late October. They than have a global sale early November. I couldn't wait. The dates have just been released so there's a handful on sale now so I grabbed them

Oh thank you Hopefully I can grab something for our next year trip then!