Flights/booking

[kirsti o]

Hi
I know I've messaged before but I'm getting myself in a state about it all so needed to ask again about flights.
I have a villa booked for oct/nov 2015 - they let me book 3 days either side until I'd sorted flights.

So this week the flights are all available to book.
I need direct from Manchester as live in midlands.

So thomas cook are on £631 each
Virgin about £600 but is a day less!

I was going to wait until Xmas/jan to book but am worried these flights will go up but would kick myself if they went down!

I have 7 children so even a £40 difference in flight makes a huge difference!
But thomas cook now accept a £125 deposit on flights instead of having to pay in full which is a huge plus this time of year!

So what's the likelihood of them going up of down in next few weeks preferably January?
Are these good prices?
Are there any good broker sites to boom on (thomas cook was direct) and virgin were go to gate. But wondered if I could find cheaper elsewhere??

Just getting confused!
I need at hire too but the fly drive packages seem silly as only give me a basic car which is ridiculous for 9 of us! So have to pay to upgrade anyway which is a pointless package??
Any suggestions would be appreciated xx

 

[chmurf]

my rule of thumb is that flights are at their cheapest 6 to 8 months out
some studies say 21 weeks out.

flights are currently ridiculously high

we fly back on Oct 31st to Gatwick.
VA has only opened First Class, and BA only has PE, both at their highest rate, they won't come up, their're already at their best.

right now, VA quotes me £4.800 for 2 adults + 1 child just for the flights ...

on VA, when you do your quote (VA, not VH) once both flights are selected, click on "fare breakdown".
you'll see 1 letter for each flight
go to http://v-flyer.com/the-toolbox/fare-codes and you'll see a chart with those letters. From left to right (left = most expensive, right = least expensive fares)

it might give you an indication when the fare is high and when it's low. (N consider booking, O book yesterday )

 

[kirsti o]

Thanks for that.
They're E and U codes so right in the middle of economy!!

 

[Mummy Minnie]

Thanks for this really useful - mine are R & L
Can't believe they are so expensive

 

[P800aul]

Hi

We've gone to Orlando each year for the last five years, always the last two weeks in October and I've booked early (in fact just booked for 2015) in the past I have checked the prices throughout the year and I have never seen the price come down. Don't know about other airlines but USAirways have a Lower fare guarantee

I suppose if you are flexible on dates, times and places to fly from you could possibly save something I am sure.

Regards

Paul

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Please note that the U.S. Airways Fare Guarantee is pretty useless, as you still have to pay the change ticket fee, which for international tickets can be as high as $750 per ticket!

 

[chmurf]

Please note that the U.S. Airways Fare Guarantee is pretty useless, as you still have to pay the change ticket fee, which for international tickets can be as high as $750 per ticket!

you're correct.

this guarantee only works if you go for the more expensive fares (such as Y for example)

change fees range from $150 to $750 which means that, on a deeply discounted economy ticket (the tickets we all aim for) the change fees are sometimes more expensive than the initial value of the ticket.

US Airways also states that some promotional fares are excluded from that offer. whatever that means is not disclosed on the website. but basically, when you look at booking a £600pp indirect, hoping to get the lower fare guarantee, in the event the fare goes down, the only way to get the lowest fare as guaranteed, would be to pay £400+ in fees just to get à £50 refund on your ticket ...

 

[P800aul]

you're correct.

this guarantee only works if you go for the more expensive fares (such as Y for example)

change fees range from $150 to $750 which means that, on a deeply discounted economy ticket (the tickets we all aim for) the change fees are sometimes more expensive than the initial value of the ticket.

US Airways also states that some promotional fares are excluded from that offer. whatever that means is not disclosed on the website. but basically, when you look at booking a £600pp indirect, hoping to get the lower fare guarantee, in the event the fare goes down, the only way to get the lowest fare as guaranteed, would be to pay £400+ in fees just to get à £50 refund on your ticket ...

Never had to use it, mentioned it out of interest I'm sure you are right, as I said never found the price to go down. We fly indirect and it saves about £1,000 on direct for four of us, I could save more with longer stop overs, as it is we have 2 hours going out (we have to clear customs and immigration in that time) and about 90 mins coming home.

These seem to sell out quicker we are therefore happy to book early to be sure of the flights we want, at reasonable times, on the days we want to fly. The way I see it I'm up a grand, so if they come down a bit (never seen it) I'm still ahead ..!

Regards

Paul

 

[sayhello]

So if the flights I'm looking at say class X, then they're not likely to go much lower? Bummer. They're ridiculous. $500 more than I paid for basically the same ticket for summer 2014.

Sayhello

 

[Kath2003]

So if the flights I'm looking at say class X, then they're not likely to go much lower? Bummer. They're ridiculous. $500 more than I paid for basically the same ticket for summer 2014.

Sayhello

Unlikely - but checking a day or two either side helps.
Flight prices are going up incredibly. The price differences each year our last 5 trips - all the same dates (plus or minus a day or two to get the cheapest fare; all indirect with connections in the US)...

2009 (base fare)
2010 = -4% on 2009
2012 = +19% on 2009; +24% on 2010
2013 = +17% on 2009; -1% on 2013
2014 = +57% on 2009; +34% on 2014 (but different month so not comparable)
2015 = +80% on 2009; +17% on 2014 (different month); +54% on 2013

As in, in 6 years, the "same" flight has almost doubled in cost, with most of that cost being in the last 2 years.
Direct is even more insane at more than double the cost of indirect (244% of our 2015 prices). We can fly DIRECT to Vegas or San Francisco, or fly to Sydney, Australia for £500 per person LESS than we can fly direct to Orlando - on the same days...Direct to LA is HALF the cost of direct to Orlando...

We will stop going, soon. Interestingly, in comparison, the same hotel price increased by 3% between 2015 and 2013. It's the flights that are killing it. Flight prices are now at the top of what we consider acceptable. Our last 2 vacations have been elsewhere. Our next two (after our next Orlando trip) will be too...

 

[chmurf]

ypu can also try to book a codeshare
delta se!ls VA flights sometimes for a lower fare

check expedia, ebookers or orbitz and look for flights with the same schedule, they'll say ''operated by virgin atlantic'' for example

 

[P800aul]

Unlikely - but checking a day or two either side helps.
Flight prices are going up incredibly. The price differences each year our last 5 trips - all the same dates (plus or minus a day or two to get the cheapest fare; all indirect with connections in the US)...

2009 (base fare)
2010 = -4% on 2009
2012 = +19% on 2009; +24% on 2010
2013 = +17% on 2009; -1% on 2013
2014 = +57% on 2009; +34% on 2014 (but different month so not comparable)
2015 = +80% on 2009; +17% on 2014 (different month); +54% on 2013

As in, in 6 years, the "same" flight has almost doubled in cost, with most of that cost being in the last 2 years.
Direct is even more insane at more than double the cost of indirect (244% of our 2015 prices). We can fly DIRECT to Vegas or San Francisco, or fly to Sydney, Australia for £500 per person LESS than we can fly direct to Orlando - on the same days...Direct to LA is HALF the cost of direct to Orlando...

We will stop going, soon. Interestingly, in comparison, the same hotel price increased by 3% between 2015 and 2013. It's the flights that are killing it. Flight prices are now at the top of what we consider acceptable. Our last 2 vacations have been elsewhere. Our next two (after our next Orlando trip) will be too...

Interestingly ours followed the same pattern I remembered a large increase 2010 - 2011 these were booked Jan for travel Oct same year and looking back there was a large increase around that time 25%. That said APD increased and oil doubled in price, so with oil price dropping through the floor and APD being abolished for children, we should be down to 2009 levels in no time at all

Regards

Paul

 

[pickers1982]

Just to remember two things,

2009 ish the exchange rate was bad and the economy pretty pessimistic so both would have hugely surpressed demand. There is likely much higher demand for flights today than then soni can understand airlines(i believe virgin loses money) raising prices

 

[Kath2003]

Just to remember two things,

2009 ish the exchange rate was bad and the economy pretty pessimistic so both would have hugely surpressed demand. There is likely much higher demand for flights today than then soni can understand airlines(i believe virgin loses money) raising prices

I'm not necessarily blaming the airlines; just saying that prices are becoming unaffordable. We are now looking elsewhere for most of our holidays. There is definitely a premium on Orlando compared with other long haul flights. It may be supply and demand, so we will stop demanding

 

[edinburghlass]

BA world sale starts today, book by 27th January.

Checked my flights, Edinburgh/Gatwick/MCO in May and they are £100 less for two of us at £900. I booked during the last sale.

 

[Chilly]

on VA, when you do your quote (VA, not VH) once both flights are selected, click on "fare breakdown".
you'll see 1 letter for each flight
go to http://v-flyer.com/the-toolbox/fare-codes and you'll see a chart with those letters. From left to right (left = most expensive, right = least expensive fares)

it might give you an indication when the fare is high and when it's low. (N consider booking, O book yesterday )

Thanks for this, mine are N & O so I should probably book.

 

[sayhello]

Unlikely - but checking a day or two either side helps.
Flight prices are going up incredibly. The price differences each year our last 5 trips - all the same dates (plus or minus a day or two to get the cheapest fare; all indirect with connections in the US)...

2009 (base fare)
2010 = -4% on 2009
2012 = +19% on 2009; +24% on 2010
2013 = +17% on 2009; -1% on 2013
2014 = +57% on 2009; +34% on 2014 (but different month so not comparable)
2015 = +80% on 2009; +17% on 2014 (different month); +54% on 2013

As in, in 6 years, the "same" flight has almost doubled in cost, with most of that cost being in the last 2 years.
Direct is even more insane at more than double the cost of indirect (244% of our 2015 prices). We can fly DIRECT to Vegas or San Francisco, or fly to Sydney, Australia for £500 per person LESS than we can fly direct to Orlando - on the same days...Direct to LA is HALF the cost of direct to Orlando...

We will stop going, soon. Interestingly, in comparison, the same hotel price increased by 3% between 2015 and 2013. It's the flights that are killing it. Flight prices are now at the top of what we consider acceptable. Our last 2 vacations have been elsewhere. Our next two (after our next Orlando trip) will be too...

Wow! I kind of knew this, but seeing the numbers in black & white hurts. I spent more this year flying Ohio to London than I did in 2010, flying Ohio to Barcelona for a Med cruise, WITH a side trip to Israel tacked on!

ypu can also try to book a codeshare
delta se!ls VA flights sometimes for a lower fare

check expedia, ebookers or orbitz and look for flights with the same schedule, they'll say ''operated by virgin atlantic'' for example

Delta's prices are the same as VA's. But thanks!

Sayhello

 

[disneyholic family]

We will stop going, soon. Interestingly, in comparison, the same hotel price increased by 3% between 2015 and 2013. It's the flights that are killing it. Flight prices are now at the top of what we consider acceptable. Our last 2 vacations have been elsewhere. Our next two (after our next Orlando trip) will be too...

yes, we've stopped going every year because of the flights - it's just too much for us - especially now that we have so many more people to pay for.

the airlines were crying that the price of oil was the reason.
But now that the price has come down, have they lowered their prices even a penny? No.

 

[disneyholic family]

Hi
I know I've messaged before but I'm getting myself in a state about it all so needed to ask again about flights.
I have a villa booked for oct/nov 2015 - they let me book 3 days either side until I'd sorted flights.

So this week the flights are all available to book.
I need direct from Manchester as live in midlands.

So thomas cook are on £631 each
Virgin about £600 but is a day less!

I was going to wait until Xmas/jan to book but am worried these flights will go up but would kick myself if they went down!

I have 7 children so even a £40 difference in flight makes a huge difference!
But thomas cook now accept a £125 deposit on flights instead of having to pay in full which is a huge plus this time of year!

So what's the likelihood of them going up of down in next few weeks preferably January?
Are these good prices?
Are there any good broker sites to boom on (thomas cook was direct) and virgin were go to gate. But wondered if I could find cheaper elsewhere??

Just getting confused!
I need at hire too but the fly drive packages seem silly as only give me a basic car which is ridiculous for 9 of us! So have to pay to upgrade anyway which is a pointless package??
Any suggestions would be appreciated xx

i was going to ask if you have to fly direct, but then i saw that you have 7 kids, which i imagine would be a minor nightmare if trying to fly indirect.

i've been checking prices for us - not from manchester, but i noticed that every different combination was coming up cheaper with BA.
Not sure why they're coming up better than any other airline for me. Somebody mentioned a sale, so perhaps that's why?
Have you checked BA's prices? Are they a possibility for you?