Late Booking for flights

[richard3330]

Hi ,

What is the chance of getting a good deal for flights this October Half Term, This Christmas or next Easter? (No we aren't going again , but some friends were hoping to go this October, Christmas or Easter - only to find out that flights are around about £600-£700+ each on Expedia and Opodo and as their 2 children are now classed as adults (at just 12,14!) this seems quite expensive).

If they left it until nearer the time would prices change? We have always booked quite far in advance, so I'm not too sure as to what will happen. Are 'Late Deals' quite common for Orlando flights? They don't want to change planes, so need a direct flights only. They were hoping to go for 2 weeks.

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks.

Richard.

 

[allie5]

Hi Richard

I was tentatively looking for Christmas and was also up against flights at £600 +. I did, however get an excellent quote from Florida R Us. See Below:

Hi there and thanks for your enquiry regarding Florida, unfortunately we can
only offer a Package from London Heathrow to Orlando on the 17 December for
a 14 night duration including return flights, accommodation in a Private
Villa in the Kissimmee area of Disney and no further than 10-15 minutes from
the Maingate of Disney, vehicle rental for the full duration and all airport
taxes for £2049.00 based on 3 adults and 1 child and 1 Infant.

I thought that was an excellent price. I have checked their ABTA number and they seem legit. I think there is a thread on them at the moment.

We cant book yet as we are awaiting DH to (hopefully) win a big contract in the next few weeks.....fingers crossed for MIckey at Christmas!

Hope you find something!
Allie.

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Orlando flights during school holidays are virtually always full. Never leave it until the lastminute in the hope of getting a bargain unless you are (a) prepared to be disappointed and not get any flights, or (b) prepared to take an indirect journey involving two or three aircraft changes en-route.

Regards

Rob

 

[Hilary]

I have to agree with rob's comment that you would be very lucky to pick up last minute deals on any Orlando flights for the school holiday period - especially for four passengers (you may be lucky if you're looking for a single seat).

The prices you've quoted are (unfortunately!) the current 'going rate' for the major British airlines at peak times. However , if your friends could move their departure dates to just before or after the main dates for the school holidays, they may be able to get a better deal. We saved over £350 per person on our Virgin flights for next Easter by travelling two days earlier than we had intended (it does mean taking DD out of school for those two days ).

 

[Enright78]

I'd also guess that as the flights quoted are LHR to MCO these are non direct?
You might try Trailfinders (number in most sunday paper travel supplements) They did us a great deal to Orlando next Easter (school holiday dates) with Delta via Atlanta (a really easy transfer) for £400 each. I think you'd struggle to get any cheaper

 

[vernon]

There were some cheap flights being advertised for Delta (via Atlanta) on ebookers for the later part of this year. I'm not sure October was covered, but it's worth checking out their website to see. I would agree with Rob, if you can get a decent deal now I would go for it. School holidays do tend to get pretty well booked.

 

[DisneyBB]

It depends when your half term is, but we were offered BA flights leaving on the 28th Oct for 2 weeks for about £330 each. They had a special offer on and you had to pay up front. No car hire. I got this quote through Virgin travel store.

 

[Enright78]

28th October is the Tuesday of our half term week, so if you were restricted to the week itself probably wouldn't be much use? School hol times seem really hard to get with very few late deals around. The only exception seems to be the Feb half term which we have booked late quite easily in the past.

 

[richard3330]

Hi,

Thanks for your help. They have rang Ebookers (don't have the internet) and were quoted £320 each for next March
(23rd March - 6th April) direct to TAMPA with British Airways in economy.

Tampa is where Busch Gardens is, right? How long is this from Orlando - about an hour? How long is the flight to Tampa?

It seems so much cheaper flying to Tampa, doesn't it?!

Thanks
Richard.

 

[JANNYANS]

Tampa is my preferred airport .As you have discovered the flights are generally cheaper and the airport is easyand quick to get out of .It will take you about 75-120 minutes to get to Orlando straight down the 1-4.Us emapquest to get the junction number need to make sure you come off in the right place.

 

[Enright78]

We certainly considered Tampa. I hear it is a pleasant airport to use and a reasonable 1 and a half hourish drive?
Richard, those dates you quote are some way before Easter? I spent ages confirming dates and next Easter "fortnight" runs 3/4/04 to 17/4/04. If your friends wanted part of the Easter school hols they might find the prices go up somewhat around the Thurs or Friday 1 or 2 April?

 

[matty624]

An interesting tip I just got from ringing Virgin travel Store today.
The very helpful lady (couldn't book cheaply enough for this Christmas though) pointed out that to get the cheapest seats, exactly when you want to go, i.e. school holidays, the seats are actually released for sale by the airlines 11 months before they go. I'm going to look in Jan for Christmas 2004 if this is the case.
Ian