International Flights/website questions?

[clj1410]

We are looking to go to England this summer (yes i know not the cheapest time of year ). Any way i have figured out already that i can save about $300 by flying out of Newark, instead of Philadelphia. I have also been looking at some online booking websites (other than directly on the airlines website). I can save more money (about $600) if i book without know the name of the airline until after i pay. They give you the time period and also the flight number, so it was pretty easy to figure out which airline it is.

So having said all that i am a little nervous about booking something blindly. So i was wondering if anyone has done this? Has anyone booked on either Cheapoair, OneTravel or Vayama??

Any input would be appreciated

 

[plutolovr]

I would be careful. Some of those sites when the itinerary is not known may have to changing planes a few times.

I would also suggest contacting a TA and asking them about consolidator fares.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I would not be booking with anyone except the airline directly, especially would not book with a web site where I cannot chose my own flight.

Airfares this summer are very high, although it looks as if you can still get a RT ticket from EWR-LHR for a bit over $1,000 (British Airways). What ever you decide to do, you should book asap.

 

[limace]

Be careful about your dates, since the Olympics are in London this summer. You are picking the most expensive time ever to go (I know, because we were planning a trip to Europe this summer and backed out, we'll go next year).

I haven't booked on any of those websites, so sorry I can't be more help. Have you googled for reviews?

 

[Majkman]

I would agree with previous posters. I enjoy doing the legwork for our travel, and then confirming with my travel agent who will book the trip for me. More or less as a safety-net.

THAT being said, this past winter my best friend and his son, at seperate times flew to France for a period of time, and they booked via Cheapoair and neither of them had any complaints, and feel they got what was advertised.

Good luck, and have a MAGICAL day,

Andy

 

[lizabu]

I would be especially worried if there is a layover. If it's the same airline and you miss your connecting flight it's the airlines fault and they have to get you to the destination at their expense. If you have two different airlines and the layover is short and you miss your connecting flight you have to reschedule the last leg of your flight and pay any penalties and fees associates with changing your flight at the last minute (or buy a whole other ticket if the flight has already departed and they won't let you change it)

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I would be especially worried if there is a layover. If it's the same airline and you miss your connecting flight it's the airlines fault and they have to get you to the destination at their expense. If you have two different airlines and the layover is short and you miss your connecting flight you have to reschedule the last leg of your flight and pay any penalties and fees associates with changing your flight at the last minute (or buy a whole other ticket if the flight has already departed and they won't let you change it)

No one booking a flight to LHR from EWR is going to have a stop, unless they booked a really terrible flight. You can easily get a non-stop from EWR-LHR.

 

[NotUrsula]

Before you do that, price flying into Manchester instead of London. The taxes for the London airports (and especially at LHR) are higher than elsewhere in the UK. If you are planning to visit Ireland anyway, fly into and out of Dublin or Shannon; you will save around $200 per ticket in taxes that way, which is more than enough to cover r/t flights to the UK on a LCC. (for jollies I just priced June/July departures from the Tri-State area to both London and Dublin; the r/t to London avg. about $1100, while the r/t to Dublin avg. $794, taxes included.)

Now then, that said, the flights you are seeing on those sites are primarily charters. The legroom tends to be tight on those planes, fwiw. I would not book a charter flight directly; do it via a travel agent. (Buying direct from the airline will get you FF points that you won't get via a consolidator.) The best site to use for finding your price options is www.itasoftware.com; you can't buy with them, but they will show you just about every available flight.

PS: American is running a really nice special from EWR to LHR right now, it's about $800. Trick is, your OTW leg departs from ... O'Hare.

 

[disneymomjcs]

We traveled to Europe, about 19 months ago, on U.S. Airways (surprising) they had a direct flight cheaper than anyone else. No luggage fee for international either.We flew into Manchester. This included going out of Newark, Liberty.

A week later we flew Mancester to Charles De Gaulle, Paris. Next Paris to London Heathrow. We took a train from London back to Stockton Heath or Appletown/Warrington. So I think you'd be able to get from Manchester into London on the train. It was a nice train and an enjoyable ride.

I would keep checking multiple airlines for the best price.

 

[clj1410]

Thanks everyone for their input.

I would probably have put the trip of to next year, but we are going to visit my family. My dad just had major surgery and my grandmother isn't getting any younger. The kids are dying to get to England to see their Grandparents and Cousins.

So now i am desperatly trying to save as much as i can, thats why i considered those website...Seriously saving $600 is a big chunk of change! They pretty much tell you everything except the airline name, and i know what that is, as they have the same itinerary (same flight numbers and times) half way down the page, with the airline name!