August flights, anyone still looking?

[wayneg]

Slightly better prices in August if anyone is still looking, £680/adult with good times.
http://www.kayak.co.uk/flights/MAN-MCO/2013-08-01/2013-08-20/2adults/children-5

Only dates I checked, others could be lower.

 

[wayneg]

Just checked my own link again and even lower prices available now. Under £2k for 2 adults & 1 child.

 

[CAROLINE4]

Im still looking Wayne but really reluctant to book indirect as there are so many factors that could go wrong. when i posted one last week people were saying the layover time isnt enough cause of delays ect! i just dont know whether to risk it with 4 little ones in toe!
Also what to you do about bags? one the way there would you collect at philly and re chck them in for orlando?
coming home do you have to get the bags and re check them at philly before flying back to manchester?
im so confused!
if only these direct flights were not so expensive!!!

 

[wayneg]

Im still looking Wayne but really reluctant to book indirect as there are so many factors that could go wrong. when i posted one last week people were saying the layover time isnt enough cause of delays ect! i just dont know whether to risk it with 4 little ones in toe!
Also what to you do about bags? one the way there would you collect at philly and re chck them in for orlando?
coming home do you have to get the bags and re check them at philly before flying back to manchester?
im so confused!
if only these direct flights were not so expensive!!!

I have been doing indirect for about 18 years, approx 20 times. Thankfully not one problem, yes a slight delay, a rush thru immigration etc but always got there and saved £1,000's.
Saying that we have only ever done it with 1 child, personally I would do it with 4 but I am sure others wouldn't.
You need a minimum of 2 hours, I have done it under the hour many times but you need over 2 hours if never done it before, if you are a worrier go for upto 3 hours. In this time you go thru immigration, collect luggage and re-check.
Coming home anything above 1 hour as you don't have to do anything but get off one plane, possibly change terminals (not always) and get to the next gate, no immigration and you don't see your bags.

Prices are up and down a little this morning but just looked at 2 adults & 4 children.
Direct £7,866
Indirect £3,714

Over £4,000 for the sake of changing planes, surely even the most die-hard direct fan would have to consider indirect.

 

[CAROLINE4]

I have been doing indirect for about 18 years, approx 20 times. Thankfully not one problem, yes a slight delay, a rush thru immigration etc but always got there and saved £1,000's.
Saying that we have only ever done it with 1 child, personally I would do it with 4 but I am sure others wouldn't.
You need a minimum of 2 hours, I have done it under the hour many times but you need over 2 hours if never done it before, if you are a worrier go for upto 3 hours. In this time you go thru immigration, collect luggage and re-check.
Coming home anything above 1 hour as you don't have to do anything but get off one plane, possibly change terminals (not always) and get to the next gate, no immigration and you don't see your bags.

Prices are up and down a little this morning but just looked at 2 adults & 4 children.
Direct £7,866
Indirect £3,714

Over £4,000 for the sake of changing planes, surely even the most die-hard direct fan would have to consider indirect.

Thats quite encouraging thanks Wayne i would do indirect with 4 kids they are 2,5,10 and 13 so will be ok its not like we have babies! I might talk the hubby into going for it! my BIL said there will prob be direct offeres from monarch nearer the time but i want it booked so we can get excited!

 

[wayneg]

BIL said there will prob be direct offeres from monarch nearer the time but i want it booked so we can get excited!

Waiting for a Monarch in summer hols is probably a 50/50 gamble. I tried it a few years ago but ended up paying OTT with TCD (before Virgin days)

 

[Samaya]

There's also some reasonable prices on Kayak from London with US Airways midweek indirect.

Example for 2 adults plus 2 children departing Thursday 8th Aug LHR-MCO and return Thursday 22 Aug MCO-LHR for £527 each, total £2,109.

Check it out on Kayak at http://www.kayak.co.uk/flights/LON-MCO/2013-08-08/2013-08-22/2adults/children-6-9

£527 Budgetair
£538 Expedia
£539 lastminute.com
£539 ebookers
£541 Opodo
£554 Majortravel

 

[bex7583]

I have been doing indirect for about 18 years, approx 20 times. Thankfully not one problem, yes a slight delay, a rush thru immigration etc but always got there and saved £1,000's.
Saying that we have only ever done it with 1 child, personally I would do it with 4 but I am sure others wouldn't.
You need a minimum of 2 hours, I have done it under the hour many times but you need over 2 hours if never done it before, if you are a worrier go for upto 3 hours. In this time you go thru immigration, collect luggage and re-check.
Coming home anything above 1 hour as you don't have to do anything but get off one plane, possibly change terminals (not always) and get to the next gate, no immigration and you don't see your bags.

Prices are up and down a little this morning but just looked at 2 adults & 4 children.
Direct £7,866
Indirect £3,714

Over £4,000 for the sake of changing planes, surely even the most die-hard direct fan would have to consider indirect.

oh dear we have indirect and i think our connection times were 90 mins and 55 mins!! we have 3 young children and its our first time!!!

 

[wayneg]

oh dear we have indirect and i think our connection times were 90 mins and 55 mins!! we have 3 young children and its our first time!!!

You will be fine, just do everything as fast as you can then relax at the gate. They will get you there.

 

[CAROLINE4]

Are those companies reputable on kayak? the cheepest im getting is budgetAir. :confused

 

[wayneg]

Are those companies reputable on kayak? the cheepest im getting is budgetAir. :confused

You need to get a final price including any credit card fees.

When you have those final prices how much is the difference, might be worth paying a few £ more to go with a more established company although Budgetair having been showing on Kayak for a while now. I know many used them last year when they were showing prices far lower than elsewhere. If you do use them pay by credit card for extra security.

 

[CAROLINE4]

You need to get a final price including any credit card fees.

When you have those final prices how much is the difference, might be worth paying a few £ more to go with a more established company although Budgetair having been showing on Kayak for a while now. I know many used them last year when they were showing prices far lower than elsewhere. If you do use them pay by credit card for extra security.

Thanks Wayne, will do

do any companies allow you to leave a depoit for flights or is it always pay up front?
would rather do half and half on credit card because i pay it all off when the bill comes in and wouldnt be able to if i pay over £3000?

 

[Samaya]

Are those companies reputable on kayak? the cheepest im getting is budgetAir. :confused

Check out info on Budgetair at http://www.budgetair.co.uk/aboutus
Also don't forget to purchase through Quidco or other cashback sites as current Quidco offers are......

Budgetair £10 of flights http://www.quidco.com/budgetair/?ac
Ebookers 1.4% discount for flights http://www.quidco.com/ebookers/
Lastminute 1% for flights http://www.quidco.com/lastminute-com/
Opoda 1.3% for flights http://www.quidco.com/opodo/
Expedia 1% for Flights http://www.quidco.com/expedia/

 

[wayneg]

Thanks Wayne, will do

do any companies allow you to leave a depoit for flights or is it always pay up front?
would rather do half and half on credit card because i pay it all off when the bill comes in and wouldnt be able to if i pay over £3000?

I always pay upfront. Usually you need to book thru an agent and add car hire or hotel to turn it into a package rather than flight only to pay a deposit.

 

[CAROLINE4]

Also don't forget to purchase through Quidco or other cashback sites as current Quidco offers are......

Budgetair £10 of flights http://www.quidco.com/budgetair/?ac
Ebookers 1.4% discount for flights http://www.quidco.com/ebookers/
Lastminute 1% for flights http://www.quidco.com/lastminute-com/
Opoda 1.3% for flights http://www.quidco.com/opodo/
Expedia 1% for Flights http://www.quidco.com/expedia/

Thank you!

 

[Portugal1000]

My brother finally booked this morning at £570. 24th July to 11th August. We booked Delta when they were £420 and I have been looking for flights since December for rest of family. I was beginning to lose faith checking so many times a day. Yesterday before I went to work they were £675 and I was kinda encouraging them to book. Thank goodness we held off as these flights appeared at 4 this morning. Then had to hope they were still there at 7am. They are going US Airways. Friends flew out with them last year and said they were excellent. They did have a hiccup on way back which turned out great. They got delayed so US moved them to the direct Virgin flight instead.
Anyway a big relief. Their first visit in 15 years. This will be our 10th visit so I guess its down to me to organise everything. Just aswell as I love doing that.

 

[bex7583]

You need to get a final price including any credit card fees.

When you have those final prices how much is the difference, might be worth paying a few £ more to go with a more established company although Budgetair having been showing on Kayak for a while now. I know many used them last year when they were showing prices far lower than elsewhere. If you do use them pay by credit card for extra security.

omg and we booked with budget air !! i did pay credit card there was a £5.50 fee and so far have been happy with them , we got the invoice and etickets straight away and also a booking reference that we could sign in on the klm website and reserve our seats the reference let us access this page straight after booking . i have also emailed them a few times with some queries and got a quick helpful reply

i have just double checked our inward connection and its not 90mins its 2.05 hr so feel better now

 

[wayneg]

omg and we booked with budget air !! i did pay credit card there was a £5.50 fee and so far have been happy with them , we got the invoice and etickets straight away and also a booking reference that we could sign in on the klm website and reserve our seats the reference let us access this page straight after booking . i have also emailed them a few times with some queries and got a quick helpful reply

i have just double checked our inward connection and its not 90mins its 2.05 hr so feel better now

2hr 5m is perfect.
I know many who booked with Budgetair, never heard of any problem they are a Dutch company, just not a long established company like others.