Christmas 09 - Flights - NEW QUESTION

[wayneg]

I'm sick of waiting to book! I'm sure you know that feeling.

I don't think I could cope with the stress of changing plans like you are doing so I guess I'm just going to have to pay more than I'd hoped.

I'm looking forward to knowing they are booked.

Just under 3 weeks till I can price up Virgin.

(The day you fly home is my birthday)

To get the best prices for flights you have to set a price and be patient, always got what we wanted at price we want to pay but sometimes means waiting a few months. Very rarely do I book as soon as they are released as they are at a premium, once they get a feel of the market they then reduce them. Found best prices recently about 8-9 months from flying. Or indirect even later, Last October half term didn't book until 3 months from travel got them for £240pp

For us indirect is no more stressful than direct, you get immigration done at the 1st airport so when you arrive its far easier, just pick up your cases and out. I used to say I would pay extra £100pp for direct but doubt I would even pay that now after decline in Virgins service and their delays. Indirect is just as good imo.

 

[tinks86]

Hi - just had a good price for end of nov with continental (operated by virgin!) £350 pp - not bad!

 

[Chilly]

To get the best prices for flights you have to set a price and be patient, always got what we wanted at price we want to pay but sometimes means waiting a few months. Very rarely do I book as soon as they are released as they are at a premium, once they get a feel of the market they then reduce them. Found best prices recently about 8-9 months from flying. Or indirect even later, Last October half term didn't book until 3 months from travel got them for £240pp

For us indirect is no more stressful than direct, you get immigration done at the 1st airport so when you arrive its far easier, just pick up your cases and out. I used to say I would pay extra £100pp for direct but doubt I would even pay that now after decline in Virgins service and their delays. Indirect is just as good imo.

I'll try to be patient but its not my strong point

 

[Chilly]

I've found a price of £363 each, going on KLM, back on Air France with a stop each way.

Anyone used these airlines before?

 

[mackay_j]

Hi if you are going to book the virgin package or flights join the vrigin frequent flyers 1st as you then get 10% of the price includding car hire and any tickets that you buy. I have already booked for Xmas 2008 flying 22nd dec (as very few airlines reduce pre-xmas flights). I got a tolal price of £2835 that is for 4 (2a & 2TEENS) this included car hire extra week and insurance and flex tickets for 4A and free limo character meal at disney. Price for flight and car hire/insurance was £2358 (for car hire for only one week would have been £2100) I think for direct flights over Xmas thats quite a good price (flights =£1988) and I doubt that I would get cheeper even if I was to wait. If you do not mind changing then check flights to tampa and FLL as they sometimes come out way cheeper. Then on top of that I got my frequent flyers discount taking the total price for flights car hire/insurance, tickets and limo meal down to £2552.

 

[Chilly]

Hi if you are going to book the virgin package or flights join the vrigin frequent flyers 1st as you then get 10% of the price includding car hire and any tickets that you buy. I have already booked for Xmas 2008 flying 22nd dec (as very few airlines reduce pre-xmas flights). I got a tolal price of £2835 that is for 4 (2a & 2TEENS) this included car hire extra week and insurance and flex tickets for 4A and free limo character meal at disney. Price for flight and car hire/insurance was £2358 (for car hire for only one week would have been £2100) I think for direct flights over Xmas thats quite a good price (flights =£1988) and I doubt that I would get cheeper even if I was to wait. If you do not mind changing then check flights to tampa and FLL as they sometimes come out way cheeper. Then on top of that I got my frequent flyers discount taking the total price for flights car hire/insurance, tickets and limo meal down to £2552.

I joined a couple of months ago

 

[wayneg]

I've found a price of £363 each, going on KLM, back on Air France with a stop each way.

Anyone used these airlines before?

You would need to confirm which carrier, sounds similar to what we booked for Oct at £240pp as I had to access KLM site, in reality it was a NWA outbound via Detroit and Delta via Atlanta inbound. If it is this route then the NWA flight was the best transatlantic flight we have ever done, Delta home was basic.
We are booked with Airfrance for August but again it is Delta flights.
They are all either same co. or patners so as I say need to check which routes, if its thru Paris its probably AF, thru Amsterdam KLM, thru Detroit NWA and Atlanta Delta.

 

[Chilly]

You would need to confirm which carrier, sounds similar to what we booked for Oct at £240pp as I had to access KLM site, in reality it was a NWA outbound via Detroit and Delta via Atlanta inbound. If it is this route then the NWA flight was the best transatlantic flight we have ever done, Delta home was basic.
We are booked with Airfrance for August but again it is Delta flights.
They are all either same co. or patners so as I say need to check which routes, if its thru Paris its probably AF, thru Amsterdam KLM, thru Detroit NWA and Atlanta Delta.

It was via Detriot on the way there can't remember on the way back but i've just searched again and that flight isn't coming up anymore. The cheapest is now £366 Heathrow>Newark>Orlando with Continental (1hr 10min gap between flights)

 

[mackay_j]

Hi that conection is very tight, is there not a later conection you could take. We had 3.5hr when we did that flight and just made it as you have to clear customs then transefer. We also went via toronto with a 4hr conection and again just made it (bad weather stoped the ofloading of our luggage for 2hrs). Worth a look at strting your jorney in paris. We did that going to grand cayman and includding the to/from paris return saved £1000 for xmas flights. Flight Paris- Hethrow - Grand cayman on ba £250 cheaper than Hethrow grand cayman. And you go on the same plane!!!! so its always worth a look

 

[wayneg]

It was via Detriot on the way there can't remember on the way back but i've just searched again and that flight isn't coming up anymore. The cheapest is now £366 Heathrow>Newark>Orlando with Continental (1hr 10min gap between flights)

Sounds like it was the same as we had with NWA, if it was I would have snapped their hand off, by far the best carrier we have been with, way better than Virgin. But its all down to staff and plane you get on the day, ours was a new plane, brilliant inflight entertainment system and staff that worked their socks off.
If they let you book a 1hr 10 min flight you need to look at the daily schedule of that route, if they have more flights going after yours from Newark to MCO then book it, they will get you on the next if you miss it, if its the last of the day and you miss it then you have to wait for next day, Almost certainly the Newark route would have more that day.

 

[Chilly]

Well i rang Virgin today as the prices should have been online yesterday but it only goes up to the 14th and found out that one of the flights on the 26th is already full.

We've decided to now fly out on Christmas Day instead of Boxing Day and will be booking the flights tonight, they are a bit more expensive than we wanted but not as bad as I'd feared.

Thanks for all your advice

 

[mackay_j]

Try phoning ocean http://www.ocean-holidays.co.uk/ they have just emailed me with good prices for 23rd dec for 2 weeks

 

[Chilly]

Try phoning ocean http://www.ocean-holidays.co.uk/ they have just emailed me with good prices for 23rd dec for 2 weeks

thanks will check it out

 

[wayneg]

BA are at £418, 25th Dec~15th Jan Would have thought they will be cheaper than VA. VA look to be nearer £500.

 

[Chilly]

BA are at £418, 25th Dec~15th Jan Would have thought they will be cheaper than VA. VA look to be nearer £500.

Cheers, i'll have a look. Does BA have the same luggage weight as VA?

 

[wayneg]

Cheers, i'll have a look. Does BA have the same luggage weight as VA?

yes 2X 23kg for checked luggage. http://www.britishairways.com/travel/bagchk/public/en_gb
For hand luggage I believe slightly better than Virgin but not flown with them for years as they are indirect from Manchester. YOu would have to read info here http://www.britishairways.com/travel/bagcabin/public/en_gb

 

[Chilly]

BA are at £418, 25th Dec~15th Jan Would have thought they will be cheaper than VA. VA look to be nearer £500.

When I check BA it comes out at £1271.40 for the two of us, 25th Dec - 16th Jan.

Virgin for those dates quoted £992.60 in total.

 

[wayneg]

When I check BA it comes out at £1271.40 for the two of us, 25th Dec - 16th Jan.

Virgin for those dates quoted £992.60 in total.

Just re-checked, cheaper rate has gone. Always the case isn't it. VA look cheapest now for direct.

 

[Chilly]

Just re-checked, cheaper rate has gone. Always the case isn't it. VA look cheapest now for direct.

I think i'd rather go VA, I like DTD check in. I'll be very pleased when it is booked.

 

[Chilly]

Try phoning ocean http://www.ocean-holidays.co.uk/ they have just emailed me with good prices for 23rd dec for 2 weeks

Just got a quote from them it came out as Heathrow to Orlando with AA £938 in total, £100 deposit. So slightly less than VA, and i've flown AA before and thought they were good, plus Heathrow is closer to us, although not sure if the bus would run on Christmas Day.