On a flight mission....any advice/help?

[scottishgirl87]

Apologies for yet another thread from me.....and we seem to be changing our plans like the wind!

We've been told we can amend our hotel booking as long as its within 2013. Unfortunately, our original dates weren't going to work as my boyfriends colleague is getting married at the same time and they can't both have the time off (they're both managers). We're also in the camp of can we/can't we really afford it this year but as we now both have confirmed annual leave dates we're going to do everything we can to make it

So now what am I looking for? Flights!
Who: 2 adults
When: 2 weeks anytime inclusive of Friday 6th September to Sunday 22nd September (and possibly Monday 23rd September but let's not confuse things even further), would even look at doing 15/16 nights if it worked out cheaper price wise
Where from: Glasgow or Edinburgh preferably - I'd be willing to travel down South, say Manchester, but ONLY if it's actually going to save us some money after we include travel costs down there, etc.
Additional info: More than happy to go indirect (infact our preferred route is GLA-EWR-MCO with United) but would like to stick to 1 stop, preferably into MCO as we don't drive while out there so can make use of the Magical Express - I would consider Sanford if it was rock-bottom prices we were talking about

At the moment the best price I can find is £599 each flying out Friday 6th to Friday 20th, GLA-PHL-MCO with US Airways and good flight times. Is this really likely to be the best price I can get for 2 weeks in September, not long after the kids go back to school? £600 is pretty much the maximum I'd be willing and being honest, I don't really want to pay that much.

Can anyone find any better? What prices have others paid for this time of year? I know scheduled typically gets higher the closer you get so I know we have left it quite late in the game.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

I've just aid under £500 each for man- phl-mco route, fling out for 17 nights on 27th October. I booked direct with US Airways as they were the cheapest when I looked.

 

[scottishgirl87]

I've just aid under £500 each for man- phl-mco route, fling out for 17 nights on 27th October. I booked direct with US Airways as they were the cheapest when I looked.

Thanks, Samantha. US Airways are definitely coming out cheapest for me no matter what I try, did go down today to £597 each (woo a whole £4 saving) but I'm still not sure. Would LOVE to get a price closer to £500 each but that's not looking likely

I'm that desperate to try and get it cheaper that I've searched from every UK airport but none seem to be coming out that much cheaper. Don't know if I'm missing something in those 2 weeks? Like I said earlier both English and Scottish schools are back at that point.

 

[ABZDisneyFan]

Have you looked at Aer Lingus from Dublin?
They fly from Glasgow & Edinburgh to Dublin & you have the added bonus of clearing US immigration before you leave Dublin.
Can't comment on what the economy service is like but we flew business class with them to New York a couple of years ago & thought the service was fantastic.

 

[scottishgirl87]

Have you looked at Aer Lingus from Dublin?
They fly from Glasgow & Edinburgh to Dublin & you have the added bonus of clearing US immigration before you leave Dublin.
Can't comment on what the economy service is like but we flew business class with them to New York a couple of years ago & thought the service was fantastic.

Unfortunately they're coming in at £671 each. Can't believe the cheapest I can find for September is £597 If anyone has any ideas on how to get a better deal, please let me know. We have about 11000 MileagePlus (United) miles each but they don't seem to be worth anything.

 

[crabbie1]

Tbh I dont think its a bad price but Im sure if you leave it till end of may you may well get it cheaper. Its a waiting and checking constantly game. We are here now and booked ours in January as they fluctuated from 520-790. Because we had vouchers I cld not uses m+m so had to pay full with VA. i checked at 5am and got them for £543 but but 9 they were £617.I personally would wait but then I know how u feel as you then worry they may go up. I would not hesitate to go indirect in the future .VA have gone down in my books anyway. Good luck. Have you tried skyscanner and kayak?

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Just looked on skyscanner and prices for 6th to 22nd are coming in at 595 from Glasgow or 575 with an unbelievably long connection!!

Have you found anything yet?

 

[Magic Megadegs]

Have you checked on orbitz.com and kayak.com as well as the airlines own websites?

 

[Magic Megadegs]

It is more but BA are coming in at £660 so £627 with quidco 5% direct?

 

[edinburghlass]

Have you looked at BA via Gatwick as when I looked it was cheaper going Edinburgh, Gatwick/Orlando than going from Glasgow direct?

 

[scottishgirl87]

Thanks all. I have checked every route imaginable and every UK/US flight website I can think of as well as the airlines websites direct. Think I'll be holding off for now as the same US Airways flights I'm looking at for September are currently £467 if we were to go next month!

The cheaper I can get the flights the more chance of us actually getting to go unfortunately

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Fingers crossed that you find something I thought the October prices were good, especially as we are going at half term.

 

[2Tiggies]

Unfortunately they're coming in at £671 each. Can't believe the cheapest I can find for September is £597 If anyone has any ideas on how to get a better deal, please let me know. We have about 11000 MileagePlus (United) miles each but they don't seem to be worth anything.

I found Aer Lingus very expensive from Scotland when I was looking earlier this year. You and I have the same preferred route and carrier. For last year's trip we went BA and when I did a quote from LGW and one from EDI-LGW-MCO to include the connections, the same flights and dates came up cheaper

Some of the flight searches let you choose flexible dates and playing around with those helps if it brings up a nicely laid out overview. If you ever do find a good use for Mileage Plus miles, please let me know. I think mine expire end of this year. You can buy them but I sat for ages one evening doing the math and it made the miles and money flights cost MORE than they did if you just booked upfront. They seem to ask for quite a hefty chunk of miles to be able to do anything, but they do sometimes have 2 for 1 miles sales and it may be worth checking them out whenever you get deals emailed.

 

[scottishgirl87]

Fingers crossed that you find something I thought the October prices were good, especially as we are going at half term.

Thank you

I found Aer Lingus very expensive from Scotland when I was looking earlier this year. You and I have the same preferred route and carrier. For last year's trip we went BA and when I did a quote from LGW and one from EDI-LGW-MCO to include the connections, the same flights and dates came up cheaper

Some of the flight searches let you choose flexible dates and playing around with those helps if it brings up a nicely laid out overview. If you ever do find a good use for Mileage Plus miles, please let me know. I think mine expire end of this year. You can buy them but I sat for ages one evening doing the math and it made the miles and money flights cost MORE than they did if you just booked upfront. They seem to ask for quite a hefty chunk of miles to be able to do anything, but they do sometimes have 2 for 1 miles sales and it may be worth checking them out whenever you get deals emailed.

Hi Lee Yeah the dates I'm looking at they want 55,000 miles to be able to do anything Between me and the boyfriend we have just shy of 23,000 miles, my dad also has about 4/5000 miles which he won't use but seems to be to no avail. Ours also expire this year and I actually might look into donating them to charity as I see they have something about that on their website. Better than them going to waste!

 

[2Tiggies]

Thank you



Hi Lee Yeah the dates I'm looking at they want 55,000 miles to be able to do anything Between me and the boyfriend we have just shy of 23,000 miles, my dad also has about 4/5000 miles which he won't use but seems to be to no avail. Ours also expire this year and I actually might look into donating them to charity as I see they have something about that on their website. Better than them going to waste!

Is there a cost for transferring? VA is horrendous but not sure about United. I have miles I can't use ..... was just wondering ....

 

[scottishgirl87]

Is there a cost for transferring? VA is horrendous but not sure about United. I have miles I can't use ..... was just wondering ....

Damn never even thought of the cost! Just checked and it's $15 per 1000 miles

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Don't think I'll bother registering then to collect the air miles when we fly in October.