International flights

[toontownnutter]

What to expect?

Our first quote came back based on Jan 2011 rates (going Jan 2012) at 11 grand. Melbourne>LA>Vegas then four days later Vegas>Orlando and then 14 days later Orlando>LA>Melbourne. Four people. Plus we have to pay domestic flights to Melbourne which isn't included in the 11 grand.

Reasonable or back to the drawing board? It's hard getting prices when they aren't released, you're shooting in the dark really. But I managed to get a really good price on the Disney site last night so I know what I'm up for there. Bargain really

TIA

 

[HappyFingers]

We purchased our tickets at a travel expo
We got them for $900 return
Melb to la

Have a look and see when the next expo is on

 

[areweindisneyyet]

This season is peak season for airlines and charge more for travel in Dec and Jan. The second half of January is normally cheaper than the first half.

Like all cheap fares that are usually restricted to the value times. For four people the $11000 is what the average has been for the past four months or so across all the airlines. If you search multi city and put in where you are actually flying from there is sometimes a very discounted domestic flight but that depends on where from.

Hope this helps

 

[toontownnutter]

Ahh with the wishy washy information OH gave the travel agent, she had us flying out on the 8th of January, flying from Vegas to Orlando on the 13th (I believe there is a big weekend on the 16th?) depart Orlando Jan 27th.

The actual dates I've picked are arrive Vegas 21st Jan, fly to Orlando on the 25th and fly out of Orlando to Australia on the 8th or 9th or 10th. Most likely fly out the 9th US time.

 

[Aussie-Grant]

If it was myself, I would be ether booking the flights for the USA segments with the USA carriers directly or guiding the travel agent to the lower cost flights by looking at airfarewatchdog.com

A reasonable low cost fare between LA and Orlando is US$350 return. (there are some July 4th Specials this year for $200 return)

I just checked southwest.com and a round trip between LA and Las Vegas is US $86 all up including all taxes for certain days in January (or $43 for 1 way)

You just need to pounce when the fare in right. (they can change multiple times a day every day)

Good luck fare hunting

 

[HappyFingers]

travel agents don not provide a free service

with the exception of the Australian return flights i booked everything else myself using such services as priceline.com (flights)

including this one that i booked this morning

http://www.fun2dive.com/manatee-tours/
be sure to book early as they had only one date available for the week of oct that we are going to be there

here is my email to them last night

hello we will be in orlando late sep 2011
>
> would love to take a manatee tour with the wife and kids
>
> just need to know, what if the husband and wife look very similar to the
> manatee's in size, kids no problem they are trim and taught, but the
> adults have let themselves go a little, both are very bouyant and have a
> healthy layer of fat to prevent the need for wetsuits if you dont have
> xxxxxxl wetsuits.
>
> strange question i know but we would really love to take this tour
>

 

[battymum]

I know Qantas has increased its fuel surcharge since January 2011 to $250 per leg - I think it was about $85 in January 2011 - So that is going to put at least $400 - $500 on to each ticket from last years prices.

I assume the other airlines would have followed suit.

 

[Aussie Wendy]

You also will see the airlines don't bring out their reduced flight specials too early so whilst the quoted prices are for Jan 2011 they may not be the "special" prices you could get down the track for Jan 2012. I agree with others advice-investigate cheap internal airfares-for LA to Vegas to Orlando to LA-Southwest seem fairly reliable and you don't pay extra for checked luggage unlike most of the rest eg we got flights LV to LA for $49 pp -their web only has 1st week Jan 2012 showing now for eg LA to Orlando with web price of $209 p/p each way but you will probably find a fare more like $350 as someone above quoted if you watch and wait and search. Booking internal flights watch the day you book-different days of the week prices come down so booking eg Tuesday US time is cheaper than booking over the weekend (similar for car hire)-there's a good website that explains this (http://www.farecompare.com/travel-a...el-insiders/?gclid=CNvjvOaH1aICFQLHsgodUwZrwA) also why its better to fly some days of the week than others. Also sign up to sites like Best Flights for notifications of airfare deals. We were getting quotes of over $3000 Brisbane-LA return per person for our trip in July 7 months ago-I did not believe they would not drop so played a nail biting waiting game having already booked and paid for accommodation. Sure enough prices dropped significantly around March if I could have left mid June (I think to around $1700) but still for the most peak 4 week period when I had to travel-V dropped to around $2000, Air NZ a little more-Qantas didn't drop til about a month or so ago to mid $2's for same peak period but still $1000 less than they were advertising 6 months out. Good luck.

 

[Sugarglider]

I've found airfare pricing a real mixed bag. I have always gone on a sale fare from Qantas to the US when they get offered. But I have found that the internal flights in the US can vary widely. This year and in the past I've got a GREAT deal direct from Qantas for the US. Other years I have bought from priceline, direct from Delta, direct from AA and even once through Disney. I've found found finding the best deal lots of work.

and HappyFingers - I really like the look of your Manatee Tour - I almost booked that one too! Unfortunately I didn't want a tour that was as long as this one. I booked with Capt Stacy at Manatees in Paradise
for my opinion I prefer these small person tours than the large group boats that are available

 

[Lulu83]

hello we will be in orlando late sep 2011
>
> would love to take a manatee tour with the wife and kids
>
> just need to know, what if the husband and wife look very similar to the
> manatee's in size, kids no problem they are trim and taught, but the
> adults have let themselves go a little, both are very bouyant and have a
> healthy layer of fat to prevent the need for wetsuits if you dont have
> xxxxxxl wetsuits.
>
> strange question i know but we would really love to take this tour
>

Wait until after your holiday.. I almost put on double figure kgs!

 

[toontownnutter]

United airlines $1700 Sydney to LAX per person return OH has found. On travel.com.au Less for China Airways $1400 per person return. It's looking better! I think we work on booking Sydney or Melbourne return to LA and then book the vegas to orlando and orlando to LA later. The disney agent I've emailed for a quote may be of some help there for those legs.

Are there any airlines to avoid at nearly all costs? Like no way would we fly Tiger Airways from Tasmania because they are notorious for rescheduling flights for a week later which I will not stand for. Nobody wrecks my Disney dream lol.

 

[Aussie-Grant]

The Only bad thing about United compared to QANTAS / V Australia / Delta from Oz to USA is they do not have any inflight entertainment system in the back of the seats which makes life a lot easier with young ones.
United still have the old common screens where everyone watches the same movie.

In the US I would avoid Spirit Airlines. have a look here yelp.com/biz/spirit-airlines-los-angeles

 

[mareeld86]

It says on united website that they do now have in back screens.
I just booked united from mel to lax then mco to mel for 1734 return.

 

[toontownnutter]

OK I think we need the screens. We ususally use laptops/psp/ipod but no way will the batteries last that long. I read on non disney related board United have a habit of splitting up people when seating, even if you book your seats online. I'd hate to see one of my teen kids seated away from the rest of us. I did say to OH we have to take into consideration, if there's no tv and no meals on a flight even if it's $300 cheaper it's probably not worth the saving IYKWIM.

 

[battymum]

Are there any airlines that dont give you a meal on a 13hour flight?

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Are there any airlines that dont give you a meal on a 13hour flight?

Surely not!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[toontownnutter]

Someone I work with had to pay for any food flying to NZ, it's probably not a long flight but it's international I just assumed food would be provided on international flights until she told me.

 

[DVCAustralia]

Originally posted by toontownnutter
I read on non disney related board United have a habit of splitting up people when seating, even if you book your seats online. I'd hate to see one of my teen kids seated away from the rest of us. I did say to OH we have to take into consideration, if there's no tv and no meals on a flight even if it's $300 cheaper it's probably not worth the saving IYKWIM.

We have flown on United many times both internationally and domestically and they have NEVER split us up or given as different seats to those we chose online at the time of booking for FREE (unlike Qantas), and food is included. Further United is the only airline with Economy Plus for a low upgrade fee from any economy ticket (or even better the flat annual fee that covers all flights).

 

[austraveler]

We booked Syd-Sanfrancisco-Vegas-Orlando_Sanfrancisco - Syd for $1600 in September on united. The international flight was Syd/SanFran and the rest were internal US legs booked with my US travel agent.

We have also flown many times to the states on United and neer been split up. The in seat screens would be nice but on all out trips with the kids, the nintendo batteries hold out for the trip. They actually played them very little by the time they ate, watched a movie, listened to the kids radio channel ("It only takes onnnne niiiight to make a balloon your friennnnnnnd") and slept.

If for some reason you fly Jetstar to Hawaii and then on the the mainland with another carrier, you will have to pay for your meals. $25 for the worst rubbish you could ever put in your mouth.