OMG Julie/August 2011 flight prices are looking horrific!!!

[2Tiggies]

If there are any deals around I or others will post on the boards but keep checking a few sites, travelsupermarket, Kayak, Orbitz and any others you get time to check. Good luck.

If you sign up for their fare alerts for your selected routes they also give you the benefit of a heads-up whenever there is anything half decent. Of course 'decent' is a very relative term - but still, a good start.

 

[wayneg]

If you sign up for their fare alerts for your selected routes they also give you the benefit of a heads-up whenever there is anything half decent. Of course 'decent' is a very relative term - but still, a good start.

I was signed up to Orbitz and Kayak for this August, got daily report from Kayak but no use, far better doing regular searches unfortunately. I have renewed the search for next May, this mornings said £530 cheapest yet serching on their site shows £464. Would be nice if I could find a good alert system.

 

[tracipierce]

I've been checking recently too, nothing less than 2500 and that was indirect I've never done DIY before, so not sure if I'm looking in the right places, but will keep checking

 

[2Tiggies]

I was signed up to Orbitz and Kayak for this August, got daily report from Kayak but no use, far better doing regular searches unfortunately. I have renewed the search for next May, this mornings said £530 cheapest yet serching on their site shows £464. Would be nice if I could find a good alert system.

That is true. I do feel it ups the odds, but as you say, so many variables. I have also always had the 'from' ads coming in, but clicking onto the link gives much higher prices. It does depend on your dates and times (both ways, so lots of variables there) and your departure airport etc.

 

[dynamite100]

For those of you with experience of summer flights, does it make sense to wait until later in the year to book August flights, to see if they reduce prices, or is there almost no chance of this happening? My assumption is that as more people book, the remaining spare seats will actually get MORE expensive? Also, when doing test bookings for July (our actual travel dates are 6th to 20th August), there never seem to be any "Miles plus money" seats available for Virgin. Any ideas why? Is it feasible that they would have some of these seats available if I phoned them, rather than doing it online?

 

[wayneg]

No-one can know how flight prices will go, I have been 5 or 6 times in August now, very rarely book as soon as prices are released.
For this August Virgin released some Miles and Money but I think it was Feb/March time I know I had already booked in January so it was after that.
There is always a possibility of offers(last year BA did BOGOF on Biz class), sales, price errors(I got Delta Biz class for £465 last year)
Virgin prices I see just now for next August are around £860-£1,100 for economy, personally I would rather not go than pay that, I will be waiting for another deal but don't mind indirect or driving to any airport in UK or flying into Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami etc and driving to Orlando.

 

[burt]

I was signed up to Orbitz and Kayak for this August, got daily report from Kayak but no use, far better doing regular searches unfortunately. I have renewed the search for next May, this mornings said £530 cheapest yet serching on their site shows £464. Would be nice if I could find a good alert system.

I always find you to be my best alert system

 

[dynamite100]

Thanks for the quick response Wayne. Yeah, if I'd known prices for flights were gonna be so horrific, don't think I'd have booked for next year either. But it's gonna be our first time staying onsite, and I'm loathe to cancel it now we've paid the deposit and made arrangements. It's my lad's last year at primary school, so didn't want him to miss any school time, which is why we've booked for August (always been late April before). I looked at flights into Miami, not much better to be honest. Like you, I don't care which UK airport I go from, just hoping someone posts a good deal on here!

 

[cliveywolves]

Yeah i know ive been looking for mid august too, at the moment i think the best direct flights ive found have been around £2200-£2500 thats for 2 adults and our daughter..

Was hoping for about £1800 total ...

 

[london75]

Eeeeek!! This doesn't sound good

If all goes to plan, I'll be looking for a flight to arrive in Orlando in mid-June, and to leave towards the end of August. Not looking forward to searching for that one...

Ooh, similar to us, we want to go for the whole of July and August so a lot trickier to plan for.

I'll be working still as I'm in IT and freelance to boot and can work from anywhere so will do three days a week from 4am to 11am throughout the 8 weeks keeping some money coming in.

We're doing it with a view to moving there in a few years so this is going to be our first taster of real life over there rather than pure holiday!

 

[dynamite100]

Yeah, £1800 for the three of us would be cracking right now, I'd jump on it. But not looking like it's gonna be anywhere close to that :-(

 

[PoppyAnna]

Oh dear this thread is all a bit doom and gloom. My friends want to go on a big trip with their extended family next August, six adults and four children. Don't think they'll fancy indirect. She asked my advice the other day as none have ever been before (Grandad is paying for the trip to celebrate a BIG birthday) what a shocker for them. I'm seeing her on Sunday about it, people who don't go often won't have time or patience to seek everyday for a good deal and are going to have to pay these prices, what a shame
Must say, glad I'm booked for Easter.....

Has anybody looked at Miami?

 

[dynamite100]

Yeah, afraid Miami is barely any cheaper :-(

 

[2Tiggies]

Oh dear this thread is all a bit doom and gloom. My friends want to go on a big trip with their extended family next August, six adults and four children. Don't think they'll fancy indirect. She asked my advice the other day as none have ever been before (Grandad is paying for the trip to celebrate a BIG birthday) what a shocker for them. I'm seeing her on Sunday about it, people who don't go often won't have time or patience to seek everyday for a good deal and are going to have to pay these prices, what a shame
Must say, glad I'm booked for Easter.....

Has anybody looked at Miami?

If the difference between direct and indirect is several thousand £££ it may be a very appealing option to them. How old are the children?

 

[PoppyAnna]

If the difference between direct and indirect is several thousand £££ it may be a very appealing option to them. How old are the children?

They've never flown long haul with the children before and there are a couple of seriously nervous flyers in the group. The children will be 9,8,5 & 3.

 

[paulh]

For those of you with experience of summer flights, does it make sense to wait until later in the year to book August flights, to see if they reduce prices, or is there almost no chance of this happening? My assumption is that as more people book, the remaining spare seats will actually get MORE expensive? Also, when doing test bookings for July (our actual travel dates are 6th to 20th August), there never seem to be any "Miles plus money" seats available for Virgin. Any ideas why? Is it feasible that they would have some of these seats available if I phoned them, rather than doing it online?

unlike budget airlines where closer to the flight date, the price go,s up.With usa flights there are times that it is cheaper.The main one for sales is xmas/new year,but as others have said you have to keep checking.Best thing to do is have a realistic price in mind and if it drops book it(no wayne you carn`t have a £1 flight) that way you will not miss out if it gos`s.
They days we have had £99 and £199 virgin flights have long gone, oh happy days
Then again were going next aug no matter what after not going this year my price range will be £600-£650 indirect
Paul

 

[paulh]

They've never flown long haul with the children before and there are a couple of seriously nervous flyers in the group. The children will be 9,8,5 & 3.

try looking at http://www.monarch.co.uk/
Paul

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

July continental via Newark from Belfast £786 - !!!

 

[wayneg]

July continental via Newark from Belfast £786 - !!!

If you can get to Dublin rather than Belfast prices are about £300pp cheaper.

 

[2Tiggies]

They've never flown long haul with the children before and there are a couple of seriously nervous flyers in the group. The children will be 9,8,5 & 3.

Okay, I see what you mean. Have they looked at the charter airlines or do they want to go to MCO?