Cheaper Flights, are they available ?

[chezza]

Hi we are looking for 4 adults to fly to orlando 20th August 2011. We normally just book direct with Virgin or BA, as I have Cystic Fibrosis & need oxygen for the flight, so booking with american airlines is out as they charge per take off and you have to fly into a hub. Virgin & BA offer free oxygen and direct flights, so less time in the air for me.

We looked with Virgin who were offering £870, but my sister found a virgin flight on some website for £802. I am not sure I could trust someone I've never heard of, but it is a £140 saving for each couple. Has anyone any experience of using these flight brokers, and any recomendations of one to choose.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Neoshoegal]

Usually we book our flights direct with the airline.

Last week we had to go to Vienna for work, but due to the snow our flight with BA was cancelled. We managed to find our own way there, but then coming back, BA offered full refunds for all their flights if you decided to cancel your flight even if the flight was not cancelled. You had to contact whomever you booked the flight with. In our case this was Opodo, who were useless. The first person we talked to didn't even know there were issues with flights in Europe, then they denied BA had this rule, that normal cancellation fees applied, ... Anyway, lots of hassle, time and very expensive phone calls and we haven't seen the end of this yet.

What I'm trying to say is: if all goes well with the flights, I'm all for booking through a broker or agent to save money. But if we had booked direct with BA this time, there would have been far less hassle and stress. So based on our experience this week, we will be booking direct with the airline whenever possible even if it costs a bit more.

 

[penlanspice]

Who is the agent you have seen it advertised with? some have been around for quite sometime and you should be ok, if it was someone that i'd never heard of i'd probably give them a miss.

 

[WiganTony]

Hi we are looking for 4 adults to fly to orlando 20th August 2011.

If you could delay going for a couple of days to 22nd August, flight prices reduce significantly. Using this website (http://matrix.itasoftware.com/), selecting the calendar of lowest fares for routing London - Orlando for 14 nights:

Dep 20th August: Cheapest Fare (non-stop) = £855 (VA LGW to MCO)
Dep 22nd August: Cheapest Fare (non-stop) = £706 (VA LGW to MCO)
Dep 24th August: Cheapest Fare (non-stop) = £651 (BA LGW to MCO)
Dep 26th August: Cheapest Fare (non-stop) = £596 (BA LGW to MCO)

Also note that recently some people have been getting good prices on Opodo booking with Iberia on codeshare with BA or AA - may be worth a look at this site as well.

HTH.