flight prices - what do I do!!!!

[nattyk]

hello,

Well DH said we can go back next year around Easter time (as dd1 is at school) and dh wants to fly Virgin...so just called Virgin Holidays for flydrive price...(as we will book villa seperate)...if we go on the 26th March or anytime after price is for 2 adults and 3 kids plus car hire £4070!!!!! if we go on 22nd March (as flight price changes on the 24th March) it is £2820!!!!!! but that means dd1 missing 7 days of school and I know her head teachers does not like us taking kids out of school for holidays...but at that price!!!!! ohhh what to do - book it at the cheaper price and just submit holiday form to school...!!!! they only have 40 seats left so would need to book soon, or do i wait for Virgin Atlantic flights to be released...would that be any cheaper???

Or what about going around the May halfterm (28th May) is that any cheaper???

Oh what to do....spoke to dh and he said no way is he paying the £4000 price and he would take dd1 out of school ...... do I book or what!!!

Thanks
Nat

 

[Dicky Knee]

I think it depends on how old your DD is. I have always taken my DD out of school (no flames please) for the very reason you are stating about cost. However, this is the last year that I will be doing this as she will now be 13 and I said after that age we won't take her out again. I don't feel too bad about it for 2 other reasons: 1) She's in the top sets for everything; 2) when the school puts their school holidays together they are always in term time as well!

One thing we did one year was to get her to put together a Florida "diary". She then had to do a presentation to the class using Powerpoint and handouts (so we managed to get the educational bit in as well).

 

[Hallfamily]

Go ahead and book, we are in the same situation but taking our son's aged 11 and 7 out of school for 9 days, just prior to the Easter holidays. The price jump going into Easter was ridiculous. My younger son's school have been fine and agreed it but the elder son's school have stated they won't agree this and has to be an unauthorised absence. We try not to take them out of school but my job means having half term is difficult because everyone wants it. I work as a Macmillan nurse.

I understand the schools position but he doesn't miss school with sickness etc, so i think just go for it.

 

[nattyk]

dd1 is in reception so going into year 1 nx yr...ds wont start school until Setp 2007...

nat

 

[sharon lewis]

Have you tried flying with someone else? We are flying with US Airways and got it for a snip. We are taking my daughter out of school a week early but she is only just 4 so it is only the nursery class. It seems that the US airlines ie United and US Air don't seem to load as much as the english ones do for Easter. I think it is because it is not so big over there as they have a spring break too.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

If you have to fly Virgin and go on these dates then you will have to take your child out of school.

It's very difficult, we are in an even worse position as we have to go in the summer holidays, not only is our son at school but my wife is a teacher, August fly-drive prices are crazy.

I do understand your situation , a lot of people are in the same position.

 

[Hilary]

You can only do what feels right for you and your family.

If it was me, I'd book the earlier flights and take time away from school - we did this for many years with our DDs. I felt comfortable about it for many reasons, but know I might not have taken them out if circumstances were different. I was also grateful that we, theoretically, had a choice with dates, unlike those working in schools who haven't got the option.

 

[Sue & Co.]

I have just been pricing up for Xmas as DS is now yr 10 but the difference between flying Thursday (£4443) and Saturday (£6258) is crazy!!

Sue

 

[marv]

Our flights for April3rd was £2500 for 5 of us i booked this in March 2005.

I would take the kids out for 7 days... altogether my children will be out of school for 8 days, we are going for 24 nights and some of that is their Easter holidays.
I think they will learn more in Florida than 8 days in school maybe not a curriculum but still they will learn so much.
I have made up a journal for them so they can fill this out and take into school when they go back.

Marv

 

[alisonbestford]

As DD is so young I say take her out of school and have a fantastic break

We're taking DD (7) out of school for 7 days this year and submitted the form after Christmas.
Maybe next year, once she moves into Y3, we won't take her out but we'll see

 

[nattyk]

thanks for all your replies....think we are going to go for it....going to speak to some of the mums at school when I pick dd1 up this afternoon and see what they would do...but if we want to go (which we do) then it looks like I will be booking tonight !!!!!

thanks again,
Nat

 

[mark&sue]

You should do what you feel comfortable with. We went last May half term and as this was only a week I would assume you would still need to take a week off school, unless you have two weeks. We went with a lot of other people and they chose May.

I have always taken my DD12 out of school for at least a week around half term in October. I am happy with it and don't care what anyone else thinks. I find it extremely hard to book the other weeks from work. Most importantly I am selfish and want to go in October when it is less busy. DD likes October too and doesn't mind taking the time off.

I hope you make the right decision for you.



Susan

 

[Cinderella]

If you can bear a frosty reception from the teacher - take them out of school - he/she can't kill you, and probably is only jealous that they can only take holidays in school holiday time anyway. It is annoying that these schools put more emphasis on their statistics etc, rather than really caring about your child's education. Your kids will learn much more in Disney than they would in a week in school anyway.

 

[mrs-mac]

I totally understand your concerns, l think the holiday companies are wrong with such high increases over holiday times. Families are their bread & butter mainly i feel

We have taken both DS's out of school this Easter due to the fact that Virgin increase the prices so much it just wouldnt be worth going otherwise. They will miss an extra 2wks of school!

Dont worry about it, book your flights at a price that you can afford and enjoy a fantastic holiday

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I think there is nothing wrong with taking your children out of school and most schools will be co-operative.
After all in many ways it is an educational holiday.

Just one tip - don't let your wife (or husband) become a teacher - because that really does mess it up ...the one benefit of it is that we don't have child minder issues in the holidays and that is a bonus , just means we have to go in August.

 

[Verity Chambers]

If you can bear a frosty reception from the teacher - take them out of school - he/she can't kill you, and probably is only jealous that they can only take holidays in school holiday time anyway. It is annoying that these schools put more emphasis on their statistics etc, rather than really caring about your child's education. Your kids will learn much more in Disney than they would in a week in school anyway.

Most schools don't mind- mine doesn't! And I certainly wouldn't be frosty (although maybe a little jealous in the nicest possible way! )

Verity (teacher!!! )

 

[nattyk]

Well I still can't decide what to do !!! as I know the head teacher of dd school said when we looked around the school - if you want to take your kids out of school for holidays then this is not the school for you!!!! at the time did not really bother me - until we looked at how much more it is!!!! so I know the holiday request form will be rejected!!!

Spoke to a few mums and they said do it - but the only reason I have a slight reservation is this is not a one off holiday to Florida, if it was the no problem - but I can't take her out of school every year, just to go to Florida....!!!!

Think dh and I will need to make our decision tonight...i.e go next year (we have been last 2 yrs with the kids and this year off to Spain) or leave it for a few years...!!!

Watch this space!! but thanks for all your feedback..

Nat

 

[TinkTatoo]

I have just been pricing up for Xmas as DS is now yr 10 but the difference between flying Thursday (£4443) and Saturday (£6258) is crazy!!

Sue

We are flying with Delta over Christmas and our flights are £1,050 for 2 adults and 2 kids. DH is flying a week after us on 21st December and his flight is still only £270

DH drives a school bus so we are another family who are tied to the August school holidays - the flight prices are higher at this time of year but if you shop round, book early and fly indirect they are not too bad. We are paying £1,925 in the summer flying with Continental.

 

[TinkTatoo]

.............. but the only reason I have a slight reservation is this is not a one off holiday to Florida, if it was the no problem - but I can't take her out of school every year, just to go to Florida....!!!!....

That is a problem. If it was a one off you could probably do it but it would be hard to justify doing it on a regular basis just for a holiday.

Perhaps you could go for it this time and then budget for future trips in the school holidays

 

[PaulaSB12]

I wonder what the holiday companies will do when they eventually change the school year 6 term year???