I've got a couple of questions I need quick answers to...

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Hi everyone,

I've just got a couple of questions that I need quick answers to if anyone is around.

Looking to book our international flights to London for next year and this is my first time booking international flights online on my own. I've always found the deal and gone through a travel agent in the past. I'm sure I can do this though but have a few questions before I pull the trigger.

I found good prices about 4 weeks ago but just didn't have my stuff together enough to book and I think I will now be paying the price. At that stage we had decided to fly out on Thurs 28 March to London. Etihad had the best prices by far of the airlines I felt comfortable with and we had a choice of flying the whole way with them or from Sydney to Abu Dhabi with VAustralia and then on to London with Etihad. Either situation would have been fine.

As I said, I didn't book then and now the prices have shot up alot for those dates. Alot!!!!!

The cheaper flights seem to end on 24 March now. My question is this:-

Is the 24th the known and normal cut off for cheaper flights for this period, as with 9 Dec for Christmas time?

Or is this just a phase and there will be other deals realised for after this time if I just bide my time?

Normally I would just bide my time a bit more and see if there was a date shift and any further specials. However, we have booked our London and Paris accom and they are apartments and if I need to shift those dates by 4 days then I need to do it now before the apartments get booked up for the earlier dates. We had initially decided on 28th March because it's the day before Good Friday and there was lots of flight options at good prices 4 weeks ago so I booked the apartments to make sure we got what we wanted, deposits have been paid.

I now feel that if the 24th March is a cut off I need to move those bookings urgently and then book the flights so those things are locked and loaded.

Ugh, my head is all over the place now and I would love some thoughts/advice on this.

 

[BigDisneyOE]

What a shame the prices have gone crazy since you did all the work a few weeks ago. I remember the thread on fav airline you started well.

Over the past three decades I've done NZ to London a lot (and we haven't used a TA in about 12 years). Prices do tend to rise at the end of March for the Spring period. I wasn't aware there was a 'set day' they go up to shoulder season but it's likely that there could be a cut off date.

If it's any consolation, since 1988 when I first travelled to the UK by myself the prices have not risen all that much - at most we see the price up per pax by about $300 return for an AKL to LHR flight when we fly. Good luck with your pricing, it seems the pricing from Aussie to anywhere is a lot more variable than NZ.

 

[baf65]

As a former travel agent, i would suggest that the reason the flight prices have changed is because its just before Easter and consequently cheaper seats have sold out and its just that there are only higher cost fares available at the moment, rather than 24 March being a cut off date. The new airfare season starts on 1 April through to 31 March of the next year with the shoulder/peak/off peak variations.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

What a shame the prices have gone crazy since you did all the work a few weeks ago. I remember the thread on fav airline you started well.

Over the past three decades I've done NZ to London a lot (and we haven't used a TA in about 12 years). Prices do tend to rise at the end of March for the Spring period. I wasn't aware there was a 'set day' they go up to shoulder season but it's likely that there could be a cut off date.

If it's any consolation, since 1988 when I first travelled to the UK by myself the prices have not risen all that much - at most we see the price up per pax by about $300 return for an AKL to LHR flight when we fly. Good luck with your pricing, it seems the pricing from Aussie to anywhere is a lot more variable than NZ.

As a former travel agent, i would suggest that the reason the flight prices have changed is because its just before Easter and consequently cheaper seats have sold out and its just that there are only higher cost fares available at the moment, rather than 24 March being a cut off date. The new airfare season starts on 1 April through to 31 March of the next year with the shoulder/peak/off peak variations.

I think you are both right that it is most likely because it's just before Easter and a busy time. By rejigging the dates and leaving 4 days earlier we can get good prices.

So by flying out 24th March we can fly 4 adults, 1 child altogether $8204.40 which is pretty great. Just need to change the already booked accom, fingers crossed that works out.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

OMG, I did it. I booked the flights. Whew I feel relieved and slightly ill all at the same time .

 

[Andona]

OMG, I did it. I booked the flights. Whew I feel relieved and slightly ill all at the same time .

Congratulations! For me a big trip just doesn't seem real until I've booked those flights

Andona

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[BecBennett]

OMG, I did it. I booked the flights. Whew I feel relieved and slightly ill all at the same time .

That's awesome news! I feel exactly the same when I book flights. There the one thing that it's not easy to change or cancel, so once they're booked then that's it - everything is happening!

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Thanks girls. I've just gotten up and still have that slightly sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I always get this even when I've booked through a TA. It takes me a couple of days distance to think:-

"yeah, good, that's going to work, those dates are right, you haven't buggered anything up, okay, cool, let's get excited now ".

It's just so much money and I always want to get it so right but I know that they are really good prices, well for what I've seen last year and this year they seem pretty good. I'm sure people have gotten better but "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" right. .

I'm going to notch up another castle too which is extremely exciting. I did toy with the idea of using an airline that stopped in HK so I could do another castle as well but it seemed a bit crazy to pay lots more for flights just for that and besides, that can be a whole other trip

 

[BigDisneyOE]

Well done on getting the flights sorted. Everything anchored now and you can plan around them.

Yep, Easter would have thrown the prices up something terrible. Same thing happens at Xmas. DH had to fly home within 20 hours of getting 'that call' from his Mum about his Dad two years ago. We thought we'd get stung with huge prices given it was Xmas/NY period but he flew NY Day and the price was really low as it's one of those days that people don't want to fly.

Which airline did you choose in the end?

 

[WAMUMOF4]

congrats on booking

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

We ended up going with Etihad. Cheaper for our dates by thousands compared to Qantas, Singapore Airlines, etc. the reviews are essentially good. I've had quite a few clients tell me they use them alot, I've read reviews. I feel comfortable with the price versus the quality of airline. And for $8200 for 5 people I'm happy it's done

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

I'd fly out on NY day. I'm going to store that piece of info away for future trips. Sorry to hear your husband had to make that kind of flight though

 

[becpee]

We ended up going with Etihad. Cheaper for our dates by thousands compared to Qantas, Singapore Airlines, etc. the reviews are essentially good. I've had quite a few clients tell me they use them alot, I've read reviews. I feel comfortable with the price versus the quality of airline. And for $8200 for 5 people I'm happy it's done

Etihad get great reviews, from what i've heard i'd fly with them

 

[Royal Consort]

I'm going to notch up another castle too which is extremely exciting.

Ahh Disneyland Paris.


It's odd that it's my only Disney park so far but IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL.

I'm told not to expect the same level of beauty for my US trip this year and I don't expect Cinderella or DL's Sleeping Beauty Castle to compare. But for you, I think you'll get to see what many argue is the most beautiful of all Disney parks.



Enjoy!!!!!

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Etihad get great reviews, from what i've heard i'd fly with them

Thanks Becpee, I appreciate the feedback. All good reviews make me feel happier

Ahh Disneyland Paris.


It's odd that it's my only Disney park so far but IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL.

I'm told not to expect the same level of beauty for my US trip this year and I don't expect Cinderella or DL's Sleeping Beauty Castle to compare. But for you, I think you'll get to see what many argue is the most beautiful of all Disney parks.



Enjoy!!!!!

I am looking forward to seeing it although I love Disneyland and WDW castles so much for different reasons. I've decided the castles are like children. Each one holds its own special place in my heart, no favourites

 

[Minniemum]

Congratulations on booking the flights for your trip. Here's hoping you are able to alter the dates of your accommodation.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Thanks Minniemum. We were lucky enough to be able to change our accom so it's all systems go.

A friend of mine who is a planning freak texted me yesterday and said she'd entered my dates, flying out of Melb and back into Sydney just as we had and said the cost is now $2100 so I'm glad we took advantage of the sale that had over the weekend and booked. Whew. One thing crossed off the ever growing list.

 

[shushh]

Ms Shuttergirl, just caught up on the news. Congratulations! I bet its a big load off your shoulders. Waiting for airfares always makes me stressed! Also glad that you are able to change your accomodation dates. Woohoo!

 

[alicia1506]

congrats on booking your flights - wow, that's going to be an amazing trip

i agree with PP, a trip doesn't seem real to me until i've booked my flights

 

[australiankaren]

Thanks Minniemum. We were lucky enough to be able to change our accom so it's all systems go.

A friend of mine who is a planning freak texted me yesterday and said she'd entered my dates, flying out of Melb and back into Sydney just as we had and said the cost is now $2100 so I'm glad we took advantage of the sale that had over the weekend and booked. Whew. One thing crossed off the ever growing list.

I love getting a deal and then seeing what "regular people " pay for the same flight...my $850 qantas flights are going for $2200 at the moment, so I know exactly how you feel

I do love a bargain