Booking Flights - How Early?

[Rooster]

We have booked a villa for July/August 2005. I am waiting for the flight dates to come up on the airline websites (Virgin, BA etc.), which I believe is normally 11 months in advance. However, I've heard rumours that flights for next year are going fast. I'm getting a bit twitchy about missing the dates.

I'm wondering whether to book a Virgin Fly drive now, which It seems I can do even though I can't book flights yet with Virgin Atlantic.

Any advice would be welcome.

 

[Mpet]

Hi Rooster


If your dates fall within the School Summer holidays, book them as soon as you can! It is my experience that direct flights get booked up very quickly.

If you are not bothered about direct flights you can probably leave the booking a bit later.


Maxine

 

[Rooster]

Maxine

I intend to book ASAP. However, as confimed by Virgin Atlantic today, the July/August 2005 flights have not yet been released and will not be until 11 months before the flight date. All the rumours I'm hearing of flight availability being scarce must be for the seats that have been released to the holiday companies.

Rooster.

 

[Mpet]

Rooster

You are right, the likes of BA & Virgin Atlantic only release their flights 11 months in advance. The only way to book now would be a fly drive with the likes of Virgin Holidays.

If you want to wait for flight only, you should be OK as long as you book as soon (or shortly after) they are released. If you have a look at a site such as Bon Voyage you will get some idea of the prices for flight only and can compare them with Virign Holidays. Bon Voyage displays flights but you can't actually book them until the 11 month date, although they will hold your details and contact you when the flights are released.


Maxine

 

[spm23]

At peak times like Summer holidays you will find that the Virgin FlyDrive price is often cheaper than the flight only price - Don't know why, but it is.

Also, if you go through virgin travelstore, sometimes you get 5-10% off the price of a flydrive. If not, most credit card firms have links to travel agents who will get you the 5-10% off.
Goldfish etc

 

[Rooster]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Incidentally, I have heard (but not confirmed) that Virgin Travelstore is closing down. I believe that any bookings to date are ok but they are not accepting new business.

Rooster.

 

[Daniel&family]

Just like to add if you wait untill the 11 months and the flights seem expensive or not available, don't panic.

We are going in April 2005 and waited untill the 11 months before our return. Then there either wasn't availability or the prices were twice what a fly-drive would have been. In the end we varied our dates slightly and booked fly-drive, however prices do go DOWN as well as up. For 4 adults and 2 children BA were quoting over £5,000, but I have just had a look and the same flights are now only £2,300.

If you're patient and check prices on a regular basis you are sure to find a reasonable deal as different airlines seem to offer there lowest rate at different times.

Yours

Daniel