Flight prices October 2011

[nibbo]

I've been looking at flight prices with Virgin Holidays for the Saturday before half term in October 2011 and for 2 adults and 2 teens it's coming in at just under £2600. Now, i'm fixed with these dates due to school and work restrictions so have no room for movement. Am I correct in thinking that this is a good price taking this years flight prices into consideration and the fact that those dates are expensive and sell fast anyway. I was thinking of booking now for flights and waiting to see what Disney UK have to offer for accomodation and park tickets at a later date.

Nick

 

[2Tiggies]

It doesn't sound too bad to me. Are you flying from Manchester?

Regarding booking flights first, with the current flight situation, I intend doing the exact same for next year. Flights first. Disney always have all kinds of offers out. Worst case scenario, we stay in a value resort. There is also Disney US site if their offers are better. I think it is easier to get accommodation to line up to your flight dates than the other way around. When is half term next year (Sorry I am in Scotland and ours are different).

 

[nibbo]

Half term in England is the last week in October so we're looking to fly out from Gatwick on 15th October for 2 weeks. VH prices for the value resorts for this year are £20per night more expensive than Disney uk prices so am holding off until later in year to see what offers they are doing, might even do POFQ again if they're doing free DDP.
I think the accomodation will be easier to book at a later date than the flights for this particular date.

Nick

 

[wilma-bride]

Nick, those are more or less the same dates we are hoping to book - flying out 15th October and staying 15 nights. We have a cruise booked for 22nd-29th October so we need to cover those dates but are hoping to do a week before the cruise. The quote I just got from VH (for 2 adults, a teen and a child) was just over £2600 Still, I can't imagine we'll get flights much cheaper so I suspect we'll probably go ahead and book.

 

[nibbo]

Nick, those are more or less the same dates we are hoping to book - flying out 15th October and staying 15 nights. We have a cruise booked for 22nd-29th October so we need to cover those dates but are hoping to do a week before the cruise. The quote I just got from VH (for 2 adults, a teen and a child) was just over £2600 Still, I can't imagine we'll get flights much cheaper so I suspect we'll probably go ahead and book.

We're looking to either do the 7 night cruise on 22nd or the 4 night on the 23rd. Can't decide on which. Having done a 3 night in December we definately want a longer one but we'd have to come home on the day the cruise finishes if we go on the 7 night one. Think it will be more than likely be the 4 night on the Disney Dream so we can still have a couple of days left in the parks before coming home.
I'm on the verge of booking the flights, can't really see them getting any cheaper as it seems to be a very popular 2 weeks for the Brits.
Would love to go for 3 weeks again at Christmas but we've decided we'd rather have a bit of warmth this time so will have to make do with 2 weeks in October.

Nick

 

[igk]

Am I being dumb here, but can you book flights without accommodation that far out? I thought it was about 11 months?

 

[nibbo]

Am I being dumb here, but can you book flights without accommodation that far out? I thought it was about 11 months?

Yep, you can book flydrives and full package holidays with Virgin Holidays up to October 31 2011 at the moment. When the new brochure comes out on April 21 you wil be able to book up until December 31 2011. I booked our December 2010 holiday in April 2008 when the brochure first came out.

Nick

 

[igk]

Yep, you can book flydrives and full package holidays with Virgin Holidays up to October 31 2011 at the moment. When the new brochure comes out on April 21 you wil be able to book up until December 31 2011. I booked our December 2010 holiday in April 2008 when the brochure first came out.

Nick

Ah didn't realise Virgin Holidays let you book just flights. Thanks for that.

 

[wayneg]

Ah didn't realise Virgin Holidays let you book just flights. Thanks for that.

Its not flight only, its a flydrive including car which they want to try sell extra insurance for. Myself and many others have done this but not collected the car, doing this you are at risk of incurring an unpackaging fee (used to be £30pp) never known anyone be charged but there was talk of them clamping down on it.

 

[igk]

Its not flight only, its a flydrive including car which they want to try sell extra insurance for. Myself and many others have done this but not collected the car, doing this you are at risk of incurring an unpackaging fee (used to be £30pp) never known anyone be charged but there was talk of them clamping down on it.

Right, OK thanks that makes sense. Checking Miami next Oct looked pretty expensive c/w what's available this Oct so don't think I'd be tempted with current prices.

 

[nibbo]

Its not flight only, its a flydrive including car which they want to try sell extra insurance for. Myself and many others have done this but not collected the car, doing this you are at risk of incurring an unpackaging fee (used to be £30pp) never known anyone be charged but there was talk of them clamping down on it.

Wayne,
Is there something I'm missing here regarding car hire? I've been looking at 2010 prices with Alamo, Dollar and Hertz for a full size for the 2 weeks in October and they were priced at £317, £320 and £370 respectively. A full size with Virgin will cost me £306 (includes upgrade, extra week and insurance and 10% discount) for the 2 weeks in 2011. This is obviously cheaper and would also expect the prices from the above to go up for 2011 so making Virgins price even more attractive. Am I looking in the wrong place, being a bit on the stupid side or just getting a good deal? Any pointers greatly received.

Nick

 

[wayneg]

Just done a dummy booking for 2 weeks with Virgin gave me a price for adding 2 dr full size car of £89 for the extra week & £294 for standard insurance. Total £383 less discount. Which will make it about £350
Can't see how you get £306, any ideas on difference?

Did a quick look for this Oct on Usrentacar, Budget with free upgrade to full size £274

Also checked Hertz as they are chepest for us this August, using AA membership discount or Mastercard discount 288.47 GBP you can also get another 10% cashback thru Quidco which will bring it down to £259.62 more info in this thread about it http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2401659

These prices/discounts might not be around next Oct, your choice if you want to tie in with Virgin now at £306 or £350

 

[nibbo]

Just done a dummy booking for 2 weeks with Virgin gave me a price for adding 2 dr full size car of £89 for the extra week & £294 for standard insurance. Total £383 less discount. Which will make it about £350
Can't see how you get £306, any ideas on difference?

Did a quick look for this Oct on Usrentacar, Budget with free upgrade to full size £274

Also checked Hertz as they are chepest for us this August, using AA membership discount or Mastercard discount 288.47 GBP you can also get another 10% cashback thru Quidco which will bring it down to £259.62 more info in this thread about it http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2401659

These prices/discounts might not be around next Oct, your choice if you want to tie in with Virgin now at £306 or £350

Sorry Wayne, forgot to mention FVC free upgrade. £5 to upgrade from compact to intermediate for first week, £40 for second week. This will be upgraded foc to full size by FVC. 14 x £21 insurance brings it to £339. -10% = £305.10. Forgot about quidco so another 3% cashback = £295.95.
I'll keep searching but tbh, for the sake of a few quid vs the convenience (never spent more than a few minutes picking up car) I think i'll stick with Virgin. I remember last year when all the prices suddenly shot up too, so am thinking it probably best to book early for this price.
BTW, what are your thoughts on the flight prices? Indirect doesn't interest me, and we have to travel on those dates, no flexibility whatsoever.

Nick

 

[wayneg]

With FVC discount/upgrade and you are happy with Alamo then you might as well take it at £295.
Alamo are not my fave company, I still can't forgive them from 10 years ago when they had no car available for us, I am sure they don't have that problem now. Also I don't like going with the crowds if I can help it, Virgin & other tour ops now use Alamo, other companies will be quiter for collection.
Many like Alamo so just book it with the holiday.

Flight prices, more than I would pay but I don't mind indirect, last time we went Oct was Oct 08 cost £240pp, I think them days are gone but I would still hope for £350-400, Virgin are not worth £250-300pp more to me but they are to others.
I would expect a small saving waiting for flight only with VA but no guarantees and then the flydrive price will have probably risen.

 

[nibbo]

Thanks for your input Wayne. I've just never found those elusive bargains that you manage to find. In previous years I've always added it up doing diy and never really found a lot of difference between package and diy. Maybe it's because i normally book early and get the best package prices or it's just that I look at the wrong places at the wrong time...who knows? lol. Last time I booked with VH's was when the brochure first came out in April 2008 before the economy went down the pan. 20 nights in December 2009, 2Adults, 2 teens, over Christmas and New Year, split betweem ASMovies and POFQ, car hire etc for £3300. Six months later the prices had shot up and haven't stopped rising. I suppose I like piece of mind, but then again I like a bargain and don't like paying over the odds. Everyone's different and it's a bit of a gamble as to what will happen. The £ doesn't look like it will recover very much, if at all over the next few months and if we get a hung parliament it will get even worse, so prices only seem to be going one way in my view. Call me a doom monger lol but I like to be realistic too.
Think I need to book something to cheer myself up!

Nick

 

[wayneg]

I booked a VH package for Xmas 08 as soon as prices were released, cost £580pp for flight and hotel, no way could I beat that for Xmas school hols doing DIY, would have struggled even with indirect flights.
I presume you have looked at a full package including hotel? although you are wanting to wait for free DDP so thats not a possibility yet.
Have you rung Travel City Direct? I believe they do flydrive by phone but not online, they are sometimes better than VH but the same flights or Jetsave I think they still do Virgin flights.
As its for 2 weeks also look at charters into Sanford, Thomas Cook, Monarch etc. Not something I look at as we almost never do a 2 week hol.

 

[nibbo]

Yes I've looked at full package prices but they want £82 per night for ASMusic and £106 per night for POFQ. Seems rather steep even when taking off 10% discount so will wait and see what Disney UK have to offer when they release prices. VH are also charging £263 for 14 day ultimate for 2011 but will wait and see what offers Disney have later in the year.
I haven't compared with anyone else yet purely because VH are the only ones to have released prices for October 2011. Any idea when all the others release theirs?
14 days is going to seem short to us this time as the last 2 times have been for 3 weeks over Christmas. We all said during the last holiday though that it would be nice to go back again at Halloween when it's warmer and quieter even if it's only for 2 weeks so that's what it's going to be. Was going to fit in a 7 night Disney cruise but might be too long to fit into 2 weeks so looks like just a 4 night on the Disney Dream squeezed into the middle of it.

Nick

 

[wayneg]

No idea when they all release prices, would have thought they would want them out soon now Virgin's are available.
We are doing 4 nights on Dream next August, will be over in no time but better than nothing.
I think it will be a few years before we go Xmas again, Xmas 08 was just way too busy. Oct is my favourite month to go.