How far in advance should I book flights?

[nicola]

Hi,

We are looking to organise our first trip as a family to WDW and was just wondering can anyone advise me on how far in advance do we need to book in order to get a good price? We live in Ireland and could either go from Belfast or Dublin or book through an English airport.

 

[Miffy2003]

We always book as soon as flights are released 11 months out. If you aren;t too tied to dates you can pick up some last minute bargains often but I'm afraid I'm too much of a chicken!

I booked my flights for August this year 11 months before and I am pleased I did as had I left it till now it would have been an extra £150 each which for a family of 4 adds up!

 

[Night-train]

I agree with Karen. Waiting for last-minute bargains isn't always going to find you a winner. My next trip is on October 25th 2006 and it's booked, I have my confirmation invoice and I can pretty much relax and pay it off as and when I want. Only thing that isn't confirmed are the connections from Belfast but that's due to FlyBe operating seasonal timetables that change every 6 months or so. Direct flights from Belfast have never been an option for me either due to them being operated solely by charter companies like Airtours who give you precious little and charge you plenty for it!! Reliability should be a major consideration if you ask me, and I don't find that to be a word that sits well with charter companies. Scheduled all the way, even if it does mean going to Gatwick first, and the earlier it's booked the happier I am, regardless of cost!

 

[wicket2005]

We booked our holiday in early August 2004 for end of July 2005. The price has not altered.

I think as soon as you have made the decision to go I would get your holiday booked up, there is no point hanging around beside which it gives you more time to save up. You also have more choice than waiting late.

I do know someone who managed to get flights to Orlando from our local airport for about £125 but this was the day before the actual flight and it was cutting it a bit fine. It is all right if you don't mind where you go on holiday but if you set your sights on Orlando it could be all booked up.

Also as soon as you know you are booked up you can start to plan which is half the fun of the holiday.

 

[Goofyish]

I always book the flights as early as possible. One way to book schedule flights earlier than 11 months out is to book a fly drive. You can book these as soon as the holiday brochures appear on the TA shelves
You don't have to use the car that comes with the flydrive. You can book your own deal or just not have a car at all

 

[Freaky]

Hi Nicola,
I am about 5 miles away from you in "Sunny Bangor"!

We have just booked our flydrive holiday through Virgin for Xmas 2006. We booked it this early because we didn't want to wait until the flights are on general release (11 months prior to flight). Virgin Holidays gave us return flights from Belfast City to Gatwick via flyBe for £10 each.

There is also a 10% discount (off the full holiday price, inc. attraction tickets) given to all Virgin "Flying Club" members for direct telephone bookings. Just sign up online on the main virgin-atlantic.com site.

We now have learned it may be cheaper not to collect the free car they allocate and get that independantly but we have already booked an upgrade and insurance so they will probably charge if we were to change our booking.

Hope this helps

Jonny & Tracey

 

[steve404]

We have booked with TCD again for September 2006, for a flydrive, only £249 each+ the car, its good to have a definite booking, just sit back and wait now.

Steve.