Flights to Florida from UK

[mumwiththree]

Hi

We are in the process of planning a 3 week trip to Florida in 2010. Can anyone recommened a website\agent for good flight deals. We plan to travel either 11\12th Feb or 10th\11th April. Its difficult to judge how expensive the flights will be as prices have yet to be released but it will influence our decision when to travel.

If anyone out there has booked flights around this time for travel this year perhaps you would let me know roughly how much the flights were.

Many thanks


Maria

 

[DisneyBB]

Hi, I would start with Virgin Holidays, they usually are quite competitive. I have booked with a company called Funway holidays, they were cheaper than VH one year.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

If you want to fly direct then this will limit your options - if you are willing to change then you will probably get a cheaper flight.

Try looking on somewhere like expedia that will show you the different options available and prices - just so you get an idea of how much they are.

If you fancy Virgin, check the flights when they first become available - the prices may change daily so you will just have to decide how much you are willing to pay.

Do you have any miles to use or any preferences?

 

[wayneg]

Welcome Maria
Just had a quick look at Virgin for Feb, crazy price £900+ each for 2 weeks. Very rarely are packages worth doing in school hols although TCD(now owned by Virgin) have some better prices if you wanted to do a package.

When flights are released 11 months out from your return date try Travelsupermarket.com, Kayak.co.uk, Kelkoo.co.uk & Orbitz.com(better when £ is stronger, not so good now as you pay in $) plus anymore you have time to search.
Only time I find Virgin Hols competative is Xmas but even next Xmas they are OTT with the low flight only prices this year.

 

[DisneyBB]

Not sure how many there are of you, but I put in 2 adults, 1 teen and 1 child (my family size) for next February. The price came out at about £2300 for fly drives. I think that is an ok price.

 

[mumwiththree]

Many thanks for the quick responses!

Unfortunately we are tied to the school holidays and so flights are going to be more expensive. I also tried BA the other evening and almost fell off my seat when they quoted £628 in each direction for one seat in Jan\Feb 2010. I also tried the week after Easter this year (our 2nd choice for next year) and the prices were very competitive at £350!

The plan is to book flights and accomodation separately as my parents own a Marriott t/s so we are hoping to exchange into that. But will have to reconsider plans if "flight only" prices in February are so high. Would rather not travel in April as my then 7 year old will be doing SATS and I'm sure the school would be unimpressed if I took him out for 2 weeks in the run up to May.

Maria

 

[mumwiththree]

Hi

What website did you use? BTW there are 5 of us!

Maria

 

[wayneg]

Not sure how many there are of you, but I put in 2 adults, 1 teen and 1 child (my family size) for next February. The price came out at about £2300 for fly drives. I think that is an ok price.

Personally I would not pay that for August peek travel dates but it depends how much time someone is willing to look for a bargain or if they are willing to fly indirect.
Feb dates I would be looking to pay around £1700 indirect for 5 seats or £2,200 for Direct.

For this August flights are now £600+ indirect, £700+ direct but dending when you booked them and what dates they have been available for £330 indirect + £350 direct. Just a matter of booking at the right time. Myself I picked up Business class for £465 so don't rush into paying OTT prices, the offers will be there.

 

[DisneyBB]

Mumwiththree - I just used the Virgin holidays web site.

 

[igk]

A useful flight checking site is Skyscanner.
It gives the option of direct/indirect flights.
Also worth bearing in mind if you don't mind driving, is that it is often quite a bit cheaper to fly to Miami instead of Orlando.

 

[paulh]

www.kayak.co.uk is a good site as well
Paulh

 

[RDP]

booked flights with VA web site for next Nov for Me, DW, DS(2), and DD (4) for £1248.

 

[RDP]

Also be careful, only certain airlines fly directly in Orlando international. Sanford is a slighlty longer drive into Orlando.

 

[mumwiththree]

I spent some time last night on the VA site and managed to get a 21 night flydrive with 7 seater for 4 adults and 3 children for roughly £565 each leaving 12th Feb 2010 - I think that's pretty good? any comments good or bad??!!!

 

[wayneg]

I spent some time last night on the VA site and managed to get a 21 night flydrive with 7 seater for 4 adults and 3 children for roughly £565 each leaving 12th Feb 2010 - I think that's pretty good? any comments good or bad??!!!

Just had a quick look, don't think you have added car into the price if its same as I looked at (£3958.85), this 1st price only covers 7 nights free car with no insurance, for 21 nights it would add £703 for inclusive cover or £808 for Platinum.
If thats the case £565 is just for flight only.

 

[paulh]

Also be careful, only certain airlines fly directly in Orlando international. Sanford is a slighlty longer drive into Orlando.

15-20 min extra isnt that far out
Paulh

 

[lost_in_hollywood]

Hi, I would start with Virgin Holidays, they usually are quite competitive. I have booked with a company called Funway holidays, they were cheaper than VH one year.

We have booked with Funway this year and i think we got flydrive and a villa for £660pp or somthing near that.

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

I must admit I do like Sanford. The drive is very easy and because it is smaller we have found immagration and everything else to be mush faster too.

Being from Northern Ireland we are very tied for direct flights and usually use flyglobespan who are great but probably pay more than the rest of you would have to! I just hate the thought of flying back from Fl to the mainland and then having to get another flight, although many do it happily.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Also be careful, only certain airlines fly directly in Orlando international. Sanford is a slighlty longer drive into Orlando.

Yes but ! we have always more than made it up with being processed much qiuicker at sanford. I try to avoid mco if I can after having experiance with both.

I fly with monarch last year from newcastle, next year I hope that globespan are still doing usa flights as I only want to travel one way and I think they will be cheaper for that.

 

[Cochise]

Skytravel (not the tv one) and Trailfinders have been the best price for me on two previous trips. The contracts the agents have for the airlines change every year, in 2005 US airways was cheap, 2006 they were expensive and this year then have been very reasonable again. Shop around, the more companies to trade off against each other the better and dont be afraid to tell agents what price they have to beat and then try another.


Flew with First Choice last June and loved them although they will be under the Thomson banner completely now the aircraft have all been upgraded which i might add Virgin have cancelled on their fleet due to the recession. Problem is getting the price with charter in holidays, almost impossible. Agree on Sanford, the airport security were so much more relaxed with us and had a laugh when we looked pillocks, loved the place, almost thought i was going to be invited home for tea by the Dollar desk clerk, brilliant lass. Not as cold hearted as MCO