For those of you travelling in October.......

[Twinkly-Tink]

.......wonder if I could pick your brains?!

As we are travelling with my DSis/BBIL & DN (4 Ad 1 Ch) we are hoping to tag a week onto the October half term week (which is late for next year - 29th) and therefore hoping to leave about 17/18 october and staying for 15/16 nights.

So here is where I need your help. This is our first time DIY. Hotel I will be booking with Disney UK - OKW with free DDP but it's booking the flights I am worried about.

So, for those of you travelling this October could I be cheeky and ask:

- When did you book your flights? - is it best to book as soon as they are out or do we wait? I can see that there are still indirect flights available now for less than £500 (just not sure that I am brave enough to wait that close to departure!!)

- When is best to travel given this will be the week/10 days before half term? I'm assuming mid week and avoid weekends?


- budget - I was hoping for flights between £500-£600 - is this realistic? I know that the summer flights seem to have jumped up but how much were the flights when they first came out for this year?

It may be that there are no set answers to these questions but would be interested in your experiences to help me guage the best way forward.

Thanks in advance

Lynn

 

[paulh]

flights come out 11 months after your return date so it best to look from so for you will be around mid to end of dec
Thats usually when the sales are on anyway
Personally we have got our best prices then
think your price range is realistic
Best option have a best price in mind set it,stick to it an if see it book it
No wouldn't leave last minute if 2 family's involved
Good luck hunting
Paul

 

[joanne74]

We're going this coming October for half term (we live in Leicestershire and our half term is always the week before everyone elses). It's been cheaper for us to go on the Monday and take the children out of school for 2 days the following week - we're only going for a week.

If I were you I would book the flights as soon as they're available. I believe that the prices for scheduled flights can increase as the flight date gets nearer (I'm sure someone on here will tell me if I'm wrong!). Anyway, if nothing else it'll give you peace of mind that it's all booked.

 

[2Tiggies]

I completely agree with Paul and Joanne. We went October last year - this year going late September and first week or so of October. I booked my flights the moment they were released (some ridiculous hour of the morning at that ) By the time I got in from work that evening they were up around £50 per person. I didn't look again until a couple of months later when I was helping someone else find flights and they were a good £200 more. For me, it wasn't worth the gamble of waiting. Had there not been a flight sale (which there still hasn't been for our flights) there is a good chance I would have had to cancel.

 

[dixonsontour]

Yes I think your budget is realistic for indirect.

We booked flights for this October on release date - 11 months from return date.

We are going 'half term week' and week before (DD gets 2 weeks off school lucky for us)

We are going from Manchester via philadelphia to mco. Good flight times - paid £1540 for 2 adult and 1 child aged 5. This is with US airways. Continental were virtually the same price.

Virgin wanted silly money - £2500 for the same dates direct - it's half term and they know they will sell them.

We are flying fri to fri - usually avoiding weekend is cheaper but wasn't when we booked with US airways.

We have booked okw for Thur 18th Oct 2012 for 16 nights - will be looking for flights around the £500 mark again. Shout if you see any

 

[2Tiggies]

My experience was similar to the above. Continental (indirect) just under £500 per person and also made no difference if we left on a weekday or a weekend. VA wanted similar prices at the time I was checking too - around £2k per backside in an economy seat

I don't think the US airlines add a surcharge for Friday and Saturday departures which the UK/European airlines do.

 

[orangetiggs]

We fly out 19th oct for two weeks, staying in old key west bed villa, 14 day tickets and free dining plan, v room tickets for 2 adults and two infants and paying 2992 for everything

I just still need to book a car but coming in for a suv and platinum insurance at 327

 

[suzybear6]

We flew out on 19th October last year, returning 3rd November so close to the dates you are looking at.

I booked the flights in early January (so about a month after the flight prices had been released) and got VA direct flights for less than £500 (£1800 for 2 adults & 2 children).

I did find that they wanted a lot more for weekend flights. During the planning stage I had sussed that Wednesday seemed to be the cheapest day to fly, but when I came to book it was infact cheaper for us to fly out on the Tuesday of that particular week rather than the Wednesday, so we ended up with a 15 day holiday rather than 14 days as the difference in the 2 flights was more than the cost of a hotel for an extra night

If you are flexible on your dates you can get the cheapest option. The most expensive flights were the ones at the weekend prior to and at the end of the half term week.

We had a fantastic time...October is a great time to go..weather perfect, crowds low Enjoy!

Luv Suzy

 

[Twinkly-Tink]

flights come out 11 months after your return date so it best to look from so for you will be around mid to end of dec
Thats usually when the sales are on anyway
Personally we have got our best prices then
think your price range is realistic
Best option have a best price in mind set it,stick to it an if see it book it
No wouldn't leave last minute if 2 family's involved
Good luck hunting
Paul

Thanks Paulh I was a bit worried about the leaving until last minute and you've just re-affirmed this! Any idea which airlines have the sales December/January?

We're going this coming October for half term (we live in Leicestershire and our half term is always the week before everyone elses). It's been cheaper for us to go on the Monday and take the children out of school for 2 days the following week - we're only going for a week.

If I were you I would book the flights as soon as they're available. I believe that the prices for scheduled flights can increase as the flight date gets nearer (I'm sure someone on here will tell me if I'm wrong!). Anyway, if nothing else it'll give you peace of mind that it's all booked.

Thanks Joanne74

My sister is in Sheffield so at the moment looking like 29th october - but only for a week, just wish it was 2!! I had considered doing what you are doing but that would really take us into November and really wanted the weather as warm as possible and think November can be quite cool? Hope you have a great week!!

I completely agree with Paul and Joanne. We went October last year - this year going late September and first week or so of October. I booked my flights the moment they were released (some ridiculous hour of the morning at that ) By the time I got in from work that evening they were up around £50 per person. I didn't look again until a couple of months later when I was helping someone else find flights and they were a good £200 more. For me, it wasn't worth the gamble of waiting. Had there not been a flight sale (which there still hasn't been for our flights) there is a good chance I would have had to cancel.

My experience was similar to the above. Continental (indirect) just under £500 per person and also made no difference if we left on a weekday or a weekend. VA wanted similar prices at the time I was checking too - around £2k per backside in an economy seat

I don't think the US airlines add a surcharge for Friday and Saturday departures which the UK/European airlines do.

WOW 2Tiggies, £200 more pp adn that VA price - that's given me something to think about!!! It's looking more and more like the US airlines might be the way to go. I think VA play on the fact that people will just pay whatever they ask (well those who know no better will at least!)

Yes I think your budget is realistic for indirect.

We booked flights for this October on release date - 11 months from return date.

We are going 'half term week' and week before (DD gets 2 weeks off school lucky for us)

We are going from Manchester via philadelphia to mco. Good flight times - paid £1540 for 2 adult and 1 child aged 5. This is with US airways. Continental were virtually the same price.

Virgin wanted silly money - £2500 for the same dates direct - it's half term and they know they will sell them.

We are flying fri to fri - usually avoiding weekend is cheaper but wasn't when we booked with US airways.

We have booked okw for Thur 18th Oct 2012 for 16 nights - will be looking for flights around the £500 mark again. Shout if you see any

Have you flown US Airways before Dixonsontour? I had been looking at them when having a quick look now and they seem to be the cheapest?! Are there any issues with baggage policies etc ie baggage needs to be added onto flight price? If this is your 1st flight can you let me know when you're back?

Maybe we'll see you there next year - fingers crossed !!!

We fly out 19th oct for two weeks, staying in old key west bed villa, 14 day tickets and free dining plan, v room tickets for 2 adults and two infants and paying 2992 for everything

I just still need to book a car but coming in for a suv and platinum insurance at 327

Is this a package Orangetiggs? looks like a good price - is this for direct flights too?

We flew out on 19th October last year, returning 3rd November so close to the dates you are looking at.

I booked the flights in early January (so about a month after the flight prices had been released) and got VA direct flights for less than £500 (£1800 for 2 adults & 2 children).

I did find that they wanted a lot more for weekend flights. During the planning stage I had sussed that Wednesday seemed to be the cheapest day to fly, but when I came to book it was infact cheaper for us to fly out on the Tuesday of that particular week rather than the Wednesday, so we ended up with a 15 day holiday rather than 14 days as the difference in the 2 flights was more than the cost of a hotel for an extra night

If you are flexible on your dates you can get the cheapest option. The most expensive flights were the ones at the weekend prior to and at the end of the half term week.

We had a fantastic time...October is a great time to go..weather perfect, crowds low Enjoy!

Luv Suzy

Thanks Suzybear6 I'm hoping we can be a little flexible on dates and my DSis happy to take nephew out of school, question is for how long as technically this falls into the next school year, not the one just started!! I'm definitely going to try and avoid the weekends and keep everything crossed.

We've never been in October before, in 2009 we went in June thinking in may be a bit quiter and as I hadn't found the DIS then clearly had no idea it was US school holidays so how wrong we were it was mad busy and humid so hoping October is better - looks like it will be. Plus it's my DSis/DBIL/DN 1st time so wouldn't wantt he heat to spoil their experience!!


Thanks all again.......your advice is really helpful and just what I was hoping for

So here's what I'm going to do:

- Decide budget - obviously the cheaper the better
- Check flights when they are first released
- keep a check on them - paying attention to indirect and midweek flights as these will probably be cheaper!! we've never done indirect before - what's the minimum time we need for transfer? - 2 hours?
- Check the sales around christmas time
- Book when we see a price we're happy with

Does that sound about right??
Did any of you use skyscanner or kayak and set price alerts?

Sorry for the questions, just trying to get myself sorted for when they are released as we will have only just returned from our cruise (not DCL unfortunately- P&O!) and my head will still be in holiday mode

This is why I love The DIS - a wealth of information!!

Lynn

 

[orangetiggs]

Yes package with virgin holidays flying direct from gatwick with virgin

I saw a post on here about a possible glitch and booked it as there was a room discount of over 2000, this was booked last oct

 

[dixonsontour]

I've flown with US airways in the past but will let you know how we get on in October.

Luggage allowance is inc and is 23kg checked in same as Virgin and 18kg hand luggage (much more generous than virgin)

Just to clarify Virgin wanted £2500 for the 3 of us so £800 plus a seat on release date.

 

[zippy99]

In 2010 I booked my flights with as soon as they went on sale with Complete Orlando - they let me pay a £100 deposit per person on the flights.

This was 22nd Oct to 5th Nov - we paid £525 each (2 adults, 2 childern 12 & 10)

This year we are flying similar dates 24th Oct - 7th November and we are paying £542 each (4 adults, 3 children 13, 13, 11)

In both cases they are direct flights Gatwick to Orlando International.

I would suggest giving them a call - if you book accommodation through them they did all the hard work for me and searched for the best prices and called me to let me know - they use BA, Virgin & Continental.

 

[higgy66]

Yes package with virgin holidays flying direct from gatwick with virgin

I saw a post on here about a possible glitch and booked it as there was a room discount of over 2000, this was booked last oct

I booked during the same glitch

SSR 14 nights departing 08/10

Instead of £100 per booking discount they'd put £100 per night = £1400
Also the 1 bed apartment and studio charges were mixed up so we got a 1 bed cheaper than the studio which saves a few £100's.

I'd already priced accommodation and tickets with CO for a studio and the price I paid with VA means I got my flights for the equivalant of £237pp

I told my colleage at work and when they tried to book just 10 minutes later the same holiday I'd booked had gone up by over £2000!!!

Moral of the story - Keep checking the boards for peoples tips/prices etc as sometimes they're the same dates you're looking for

 

[brer rabbit 28]

We booked exactly 11 months before the flight dates as we needed exact dates give or take a day.

We booked VA flights through Charter Travel (flying out Friday 30th September) for £560 a head. They shaved a fair wack of the Virgin price. The downside to this was that we had to pay the full flight price there and then but we had the money saved luckily.

 

[2Tiggies]

The downside to this was that we had to pay the full flight price there and then but we had the money saved luckily.

If you book flights only, you usually do have to pay up there and then. But if you know this, you can plan and save in advance

 

[Vicki2009]

We went in October 2009 (2A & 2C) with BA and cost £1900. We are going 13th October this year and booked with Continetal and cost £2100. Virgin and BA were so expensive we decided to go indirect. I think BA was £2900 and Virgin was over £3,000. I would recommended booking as soon at the flights are released.

Good luck hope you get a good price.