Flights question

[waterladder]

Hiya all

Can you please advise me, when you are looking to arrange your holiday. Do you book your DVC accommodation first or your flight? Also in your experiences where can you get good rates on your flights?

 

[princess jackson]

Hi,
Our first trip home to SSR is next June, we have already booked a flydrive with Vrgin, as they are on sale now. This gives us plenty of time to arrange our accomodation.

Hopefully this will work out (trial and error) on my half.

I have sign a sign in a travel agent "2006 holidays on sale now", so the brochures must be due out shortly, (I have priced flight only and found flydrive is the cheapest!)

 

[Hilary]

Because we have to fly on pretty specific dates (school / university / work schedules to co-ordinate) we always book our flight or fly drive first as I know popular dates sell out and we can't be flexible.

My view is that I know we'll be able to get accommodation somewhere, even if it isn't DVC, but so far we've been able to book our chosen DVC accommodations without a problem.

 

[TheFram4]

Virgin flights are mentioned a lot in these forums, and in my opinion they are excellent - we travel from Newcastle to Gatwick in order to take advantage of Virgin particularly their twilight check in.
A great way of getting cheaper flights with Virgin is to use a virgin credit card to gain virgin flying club points on every purchase.
You can then use these points to gain discounts on virgin flights 'miles plus money' or free companion flights.
Our flights this October cost £360 per adult and £250 per child using points

Again though you have to be organised and book the flights early as the seats are limited for the discount price

 

[UK Paul]

We booked accommodation first for Xmas at 11 month window and I then got the cheapest reasonable flight I could find on expedia.co.uk as soon as the flight dates were on sale - approx at 11 month window also. Picked up scheduled return flight + car hire with American Airlines for £450 each adult. Tend to find flights are cheaper from London rather than Manchester but also think about searching for flights to Tampa as well as Orlando - only just over an hour and half drive on the I4 to WDW from Tampa. To be honest a lot of airlines were fairly close in price (AA, Delta, Continental etc). Mine is a 1 stop flight not direct but as long as you allow sufficient time (3 to 4hrs) at change airport then should cover you for any delay.
Hope this helps

 

[MrsJobba1]

We have always booked our flights first then accomodation.Disney are great at helping you with where to stay, but getting there is harder.

 

[mark&sue]

The fram4

Are you going during the end of October (during half term) as this sounds amazing. Do you just apply for the virgin credit card first and then book direct with virgin holidays telling them you have a virgin credit card?

Many thanks



Susan

 

[princess jackson]

Thought i would share this info, I was looking on the net at prices for a flydrive from Newcastle, I tried Airtours, when i put my dates in for June 06, it was coming up with free child places. Unfortuantely we had already booked with Virgin, and would lose our deposit, the prices worked out the same.

BUT FREE HILD PLACES FOR FLORIDA, i know they usually do this for European holidays.

 

[TheFram4]

Susan

With the virgin credit card you have to build up flying points
(£1 spent=1point)
when you apply for the card you open up the flying club account.
You get a discount off a flight with 2,000 points
yes we fly in the half term holidays and return 3 weeks later.
Last year my brother in law got flights for the Oct. half term for £260 plus 2,000 points (we had booked before we realised the discounts and paid £500 - same flight same seats!).

see the following site:
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/frequentflyer/index.jsp

(sorry dont know how to make it a link)

I buy everything on my virgin credit card and pay it off each month - I have no problem acumulating points!!

 

[mark&sue]

The Framefour

This is really good information. We are not planning to go until October 2007 but this is really helpful.

Do you book direct with Virgin Holidays? We are hoping to do a taylor made holiday next year to the west coast of the states so may even come in handy sooner. I will apply for the card immediately. Thank you very much.



Susan

 

[TheFram4]

This is the really good bit - you have a dedicated flying club telephone number with really helpfull operators.
They have always been great at finding me the cheapest 'miles plus money' flights.

I think you also get a free flight if you spend £15,000 a year on the credit card (but not sure on this one)

Make sure you book when the 11 month window opens for booking flights - although the price does go up and down!

 

[Ian.Whiteley]

Two options for the virgin credit card.
1. No annual fee - earn 1 mile per £1spend + 2000 bonus miles
2. £80 annual fee - earn 2 miles per £1 spend + 4000 bonus miles.

You pays your money, you takes your choice!

 

[princess jackson]

I have just applied for a virgin credit card, i have the no annual fee card, so i take it i can earn "miles"

This would be great.