Options for flights?

[Michelle3000]

Hi,

Still investigating for our trip in 2010

I think I have decided to book it all separately i.e Villa, car hire and flight.

In terms of flights what are our options? We would probably want to fly out of a London airport and it would need to be a direct flight. Still hoping that we can upgrade to a premium economy service...

So far all I can find would be Virgin or BA? Is that right??

Also, what is the best way of getting the cheapest flights? Are there any good websites you can recommend using?

Thanks again!

Michelle

 

[Michelle3000]

bump...

 

[RachaelC]

Your flight options vary depending on how long you want to go for/what day you want to travel.

Virgin and BA are the only carriers that fly direct daily from Gatwick. So they are a good option if you want to go for durations other than 7/14/21 nights etc. They release the flights 11 months before departure... but you can always look at booking a fly drive through Virgin Holidays and you can book further in advance doing it that way.

The charter flights (Thomas Cook/Thomson/XL) typically fly once a week on a set day. If you're looking to go in summer 2010 then you would be able to book from about April 2009...

 

[Michelle3000]

Thanks for that,

We are stuck with our days for travel unfortunately due to work commitments. Means we have to fly on the 1st Dec and come back on the 22nd. On that basis looked like it will be Virgin or BA for us then!

Good tip about the fly drive. I understood it was cheaper to book the flight and car hire separately? Guess I need to investigate a bit more!

Thanks again!

Michelle

 

[MandyJ72]

Depends on the deal at the time if a flydrive works out cheaper - remember you have to add on the insurance for the car whereas if you book a car hire separately it normally includes your insurance.

There is the annual car hire insurance policy you can take out here which works out cheaper still and would allow you to use the free car hire with Virgin/BA BUT there's still a lot of debate as to whether it's "safe" to use it.

Some people not had any problems using it, some car rental places say they won't accept it (although people have said they used it in the past), and others (like me) don't want the headache if something does to wrong with all the paperwork etc!

Why don't you do price comparisons for fly-drive against separate bookings for this year to give you an idea what way works out cheapest for you?

 

[RachaelC]

Or you can book the flydrive and just don't take the car - it is usually cheaper to book one elsewhere than pay the insurance for the one included in the fly drive.

 

[Michelle3000]

Hi,

I am going to look at some of the info available for this year re flydrive vs booking separately and see if it makes much difference...

I think I have probably started looking into FAR too early and am now getting depressed that I can't get anything booked yet !

Still, its a lot of fun just investigating!

Thanks again

Michelle