Is it me or have the prices just gone up

[crim1978]

Hi all.

So we are planning a trip back to WDW next May - call me over the top but I like to plan a long way in advance.

So we have been watching the flight prices over the last couple of months and budgeting to fly with Virgin. looking 11 months in advance the flights have always been around the £450 mark. Now as our flights will be available to book this Friday being eleven months before we plan to fly the price has suddenly (and I mean like today - suddenly) the price has gone up to £550 - £650.

This may not sound like a lot but there will be 7 adults and 2 kids going and that increases our holiday budet by £1000.

Is the whole world just out to make my holiday's un-affordable and stopping me going back to the Magic??

Can anyone offer me any reassurances or alternatives to find away of flying out on budget.

I'm stuck to the dates as we've booked the villa and people have booked time off (another reason for the advance bookings, to co-ordinate 4 families holidays)

Help please.

 

[jana]

I'll guess the recent surge in oil prices is the reason for the increase. Many of the airlines have put a surcharge on existing flights because of this. Granted this doesn't account for a 20% increase but I'll be confident that will be one of the major reasons.


A few ways to try to minimize the flight cost is to be as flexible as possible. Granted I understand you're pretty tied on dates but if you'll consider taking connecting flights that will usually come in cheaper. I know an hour or two's break in another airport can be a pain, particularly with kids , but it can often save GBP 100 or more per ticket. I would also suggest considering flying into airports other than Orlando. Generally Miami ( Tampa is occassionally cheaper as well) is cheaper than Orlando to fly into. As I'm certain you're going to be renting a car it's going to add 3-4 hours to your journey , but may save you gbp 50 per ticket . If there are some REALLY good deals about for Atlanta or Charlotte are worth considering. Both are a good 8-10 hours drive from Orlando but if you can get a big enough saving on the flights that may justify losing a day of your vacation on journey time as well as a cheap hotel room for a night.

BA.com is a good tool to work out if flying a day or two earlier or later can make a big difference to the cost. Sometimes just a day different can save 50 pounds+ per ticket.

Just keep checking the internet agents like expedia as well as BA, Virgin American Airlines and Delta direct. You may see a flight that comes in significantly cheaper than previously if the airlines or TA haven't achieved the booking %ages that they were expecting at that time.

 

[Celestine]

If you've got virgin flying miles, try booking miles + money, or look at pure flydrive prices as these can be cheaper than flight only.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Also, don't forget that the prices are also based upon availability.
i.e. if you have say for example 100 seats on an aircraft. the first ten seats will be at say £400 each. when those seats are sold, the next ten could be at £450, when those are sold then the next ten will sell at £480 etc,

Add to this when someone chacks on-line those seats can be shown as held for a while even if they have not been booked.

Keep trying and see if the prices change

The travel agents whilst taking bookings more than 11 months in advance, it might be quite possibly, cannot book the seats until 11 months in advance and that might tilt the prices.

 

[SimonG]

hi Just booked flights for parents with u.s airlines they have to change once in the u.s but the prices were reasonable also check airfrance you have to change in Paris but again prices are good.If you go into expedia you will find this a combined page with 20 or so booking agents i took 6 hours trawling through these and still came back to U.SAirlines .Happy hunting!

 

[tony64]

Have you tried TCD for a fly drive ?
They may come out cheaper. You can always up grade if you need more room / luggage etc.