Flights. No idea where to start!

[Disaussie]

Hi all,

We are looking at going to Disney world next October/ November 2015 with our 2 who will be 2 1/2 and 5.

The plan is to do Disney world for 10 days, Washington DC and New York with maybe a day or 2 in LA on the way home.

How do you experienced travellers book your flights? Would I be looking to fly to LA and then having to add the other flights separately? I started pricing it for an idea and it is looking very expensive to add the internal flights. LA to Orlando was around $800 and the same for New York to LA. Is there another way to do it so it works out cheaper?

We are flying from Adelaide.

 

[losfp]

Hey! Maybe we will see you there

We are also planning a trip to Orlando (and Anaheim, and Hawaii) with 2 kids, 2.5 and 7.5 in Oct/Nov 2015.

Usually what I do is to use a website that lets me plan out multi-flight journeys like http://matrix.itasoftware.com/ or http://momondo.com to get an idea of what sorts of options I've got.

Some people like booking internals separately to get the best deals. I like to have as much as possible on one ticket so that I potentially get more luggage allowance, or points earn, etc - also if you miss a flight, it's easier to reschedule if the connecting flight is on the same ticket IMO. So those websites give you a good idea to begin with.

Once you know what flights and airlines you're after, you can look for deals, or you know which flights to bring to your travel agent.

From ADL to MCO, it's at least two stops, so you will go ADL/SYD/SFO/MCO or ADL/SYD/DFW/MCO. I think you should be able to get non-stop flights internally, and then one stop on the way home from LAX - either SYD or MEL.

I plugged ADL/MCO/IAD/JFK/LAX/ADL in for a look, flying in Oct/Nov this year, and it's coming out at roughly 9k, depending on options. So that should give you some sort of idea.

I'm sure someone else will have ideas too

 

[LivingforDisney]

We travelled last Sept/Oct , and stayed in LA , NY , Orlando & then stayed in LA only for one night on way home.
I was looking for flights in Feb on line, and found one on Zuiji which I thougt was pretty good, flying VAustralia and Delta.
Cost was $1453 per adult, I printed it off and went to flight centre, he said that was a good price and couldn't do any better, so I bought the tickets then and there, he did change 2 of the flight departure which was better for us.
It was all on one ticket.
I know I wont get it for that price for next Dec, but hoping not to pay much more than $2000 each just flying Syd to Orlando with only maybe one night in LA on way home.
JUst lookup some airlines & websites and see how you go, the prices do seem to change daily

 

[Meemoo]

I'm wondering if you can get good deals on the stop over USA flights if you visit the USA Travel Expo, which should be in Feb next year for Sydney, I will try. Sounds like we need an Oct/Nov 2015 thread pretty soon, you can count me in!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Welcome to the Disboards! Your trip sounds awesome and happy planning for your vacation!

If you know your dates, I would recommend that you start watching for the airline deals. I think for the period you want to travel, the airlines might start offering deals in November. The other period for the deals is December/January.
If you find a deal that you like, I would book it rather than wait.

From memory, I think MEL to New York deals were running about $1400 at the start of this year. MEL to MCO deals were also around the $1500 mark, with a stop in New York.
By way of comparison, I tend to jump at fares MEL to LAX sub-$1200 or $1300. So, the all-in-one ticket will probably work out better for you.

Going to Washington on the ticket will add additional cost. I don't think the airlines consider it on their standard routes. You could see what the airlines will offer or alternatively consider taking the train or the bus to Washington from NYC and back. I think it takes about 3 - 4 hours by train so it's not that much more time compared to a flight when you add in transit time.

I did head to the Flight Centre Travel Expo recently held in Melbourne about 2 weeks ago. The headline deal was Qantas $999 Syd or Mel to LAX return. You had to fly after the 1st week of October and return after the 1 November in order to get that deal. United ran a similar headline deal. Theirs was $989. I cannot remember what the deal was to NYC but I have the vague recollection it was around $1350. I don't know if it included a stopover or not. As with everything, the devil is in the detail with these deals and if the date restriction fits your travel plans. But that was this year. It's always interesting to see what will be on offer next year.

 

[BecBennett]

I like to have as much as possible on one ticket so that I potentially get more luggage allowance, or points earn, etc - also if you miss a flight, it's easier to reschedule if the connecting flight is on the same ticket IMO. So those websites give you a good idea to begin with.

Just reinforcing this - I prefer to buy all my flights together for luggage alone. However this time around it was so much cheaper to buy them separately that I decided to do that instead.

Cost was $1453 per adult, I printed it off and went to flight centre, he said that was a good price and couldn't do any better, so I bought the tickets then and there, he did change 2 of the flight departure which was better for us.

Did you get it for free? Isn't that their guarantee?

 

[LivingforDisney]

Ha, ah yes that's what they advertise and yes he did give it me cheaper actually, $1452 so $1 off
That's all they have to do, give you a $1 off and they have beaten your quoted price, doubt if if u would ever get it for free from them.
I only got the flights and they booked all my seat sections, the rest I did myself

 

[BecBennett]

Oh OK, yeah I knew they usually took $1 off to give it to you for "cheaper" I just thought from reading your post that they didn't.

From memory someone here got their flights for free through Flight Centre.

 

[LisaAJ]

Your trip looks great, the planning is the best bit We are doing New York, Orlando and LA at Christmas time and I ended up going through an Aussie Disney agent for my flights as well as everything else. I wanted them all on one rocket so it wouldn't cost me if I missed a flight due to weather etc. plus the luggage is constant. I priced everything out on various websites (eg Skyscanner, Ita matrix) to make sure the price the agent was giving was competitive and then had her book. It actually turned out to be $500 cheaper than what I was pricing online to book through the agent but I'm not sure if that was a fluke!! Best part about this is that any problems with the airline (eg hundreds of time changes!) are done by the agent and not me! Poor girl, our flights have already changed about 5 times!!

 

[cola]

One of the things they never seem to tell you about flying into Washinton DC is there are 2 international airports, (IAD) Dulles and Baltimore (BWI), most Australian TAs will think in terms of IAD. IAD and BWI are both a loooooong way from Washington DC, so far out HAVE to get the train in rather than a taxi, because the taxi is so far making it so expensive. There is also another domestic airport, Ronald Reagan (DCA), this is almost in the middle of Washington DC, you fly over all the landmarks as you land, and a taxi into town is only about $20 (outside peak hour). There aren't many airlines that fly MCO-DCA direct (jetBlue, US Airways that you may be able to book through QANTAS?) United flies MCO-IAD direct.
The train between Washignton DC and New York is great, you get to see more of the countryside, and the train stations at both ends (Union Station WAS and Penn Station NYP) are in the middle of the city. Add the security time at the airport, air pressure, etc, the train is pretty easy

You'll probably find a United multi-destination ticket will be the best option pricewise - adding the flight to WashingtonDC and returning home from NY will probably be almost the same as the flight to MCO return. United fly from Melbourne with new planes introduced this year.

 

[Disaussie]

Thanks for all the ideas.

I'm now thinking about just doing Disney world and a Disney cruise and saving DC and New York for when the kids are older.

I've been to both before so am not too fussed if we don't go there but hubby hasn't been to either. I'm currently doing a rough pricing of all the options so we can decide.

 

[LivingforDisney]

I reckon that's sounds a better plan for you, Disneyworld & Disney Cruise, your kids probably wont enjoy NY or Washington at their age.
And then you have reason to save for when they are older.
My kids were 12 & 14, and didn't "mind" NY, but they said when we go back to WDW ,can we just stay there.
It was a lot of flying ect.

 

[mickeyd78]

Disaussie,

Sounds like we are doing very similar trips. We are travelling Oct/Nov 2015, and our kids will be 2 and 4.

We seriously considered doing NYC and WDW (and a short stop over in LA), but in the end went with a Disney cruise rather than NYC. By the time we added in airfares, NYC accommodation and food, the Disney cruise came out a bit cheaper! (and less flights with little ones, which is a big plus). But the thing that really swung the Disney cruise is that our 2 year old will most likely still be having a day time sleep, so traipsing around NYC would mean one of us taking DS back to the room for a sleep in the middle of the day. Not much fun. It would really limit what we could do.

My wife and I have been to NYC and Washington previously, and we'll definitely take the kids when they are a bit older. We took our then 2 yo DD on a Royal Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral in 2012, and it was great. While she was sleeping we could sit on the balcony and read / have a drink. The best bit was that the room was only ever a few steps away if she needed a rest. Much easier with little one.

Back on topic - In terms of flights, we'll be looking for flights around the same dates as you. From my experience, Virgin and Qantas tend to have their best sales for the USA (for Oct/Nov) in January / Feb. This is usually followed by some decent (sometimes better) deals at the Flight Center travel Expos in Feb / March. On principle, I avoid booking with Flight Centre if possible, but I would if it was an amazing deal, like the $999 flights to LA. I'd much rather book direct with the airline so I'm in control of the booking.

So I'll be on the look out to book our flights sometime between Dec - end of Feb. If I see something less than $1,200 to LA, I'll prob bull the trigger. We prefer to go Qantas for the A380.

 

[losfp]

Wow, we definitely need an Oct/Nov planners thread

Might see some of you there

 

[Zosha]

We are planning on doing New York, Washington DC and Florida on our next trip too, but we won't be going until 2016. I will have one child in high school by then which makes things a bit harder. School holidays seem to be attracting a massive premium! Thanks for the tip on the train between NY and DC. I'l have to investigate that!

 

[Babysaurs]

We are heading to Disneyland, la, San Diego and doing a disney cruise out of San Diego next sept oct. so far cruise is only thing booked.
I distinctly remember there being great flight deals from Adelaide to la end of December last year for this sept/oct. so I'd start checking flight around December for that time next year or atleast that's what I'm planning. I'm hoping to get flights from Adelaide to la for 2a2c for $4000 as that's what they were last year

 

[Sugarglider]

I did NY, Orlando, Washington in june/july this year and i bought all the connecting flights together on 1 ticket - CBR-NY-MCO-DCA-CBR (i had another internal flight bought separately).
the reason for this paid off big time - coming home from Washington, American Airlines delayed my flight to DFW - and meant that I would not be able to meet the QF flight home. By having this all as one ticket the airlines had to look after me and get me re-routed all the way to CBR. If I had purchased my USA internal flights separately, I would have missed my QF flight and it would have been my problem to find a way home. This way Qantas had to get me home.
I also discovered that my TID travel insurance payout for delayed travel, whilst it had a $2,000 payout limit, only paid $200 per 12 hour delay (remember to go read your fine print!) - so if I had to buy a new international flight ticket I potentially could have been out of pocket. Instead i had another fab night in Washington, with a re-routed ticket in my hand for 24 hours later, and rec'd a $400 payout from TID.

BTW - I REALLY LOVED Washington DC - soooo good. the Willard Hotel, Georgetown, the Museums and govt buildings 4th of July - even the teeniest, most beautiful botantic garden- can't recommend enough. GO and enjoy!

 

[tasho]

Hi! Just searched and found this thread, we are planning a trip to WDW and NY in either Sept or Nov next year, depending on prices etc. just starting to look at deals now, it seems coming from Adelaide adds a bit on for price and an extra stop alas, at this stage we are looking at ADL-Sydney-DFW spend a few days there, then fly on to Orlando, 8-10 days there, then drive up to Washington, spend some time there then train to NY, a week there, then fly from their to DFW and home. Looking at Qantas as we have frequent flyers, and they fly direct in to Dallas which makes for a shorter flight time. Our two kids will be 10 and 7 by then.........nice to meet you all! I will go looking for the appropriate travel time thread .