Prices of flights in September/October, eek!!!

[Booknut]

I am shocked at how much i'm being quoted online for flights to Orlando with BA/Virgin at the end of September! I mean, this isn't usually considered a busy time and last year we went in mid-September and paid £840 for our flights and car rental for 2 weeks with Avis.

I'm being quoted ridiculous sums now, £1380 for 2 with BA (no premium upgrade either!), and £1352.80 for a fly drive with Virgin! It doesn't seem like such a great deal when i'm going at a supposedly off-peak time.

For those of you that go out every year, do you reckon prices will come down/seat sales will appear later on in the summer and should I wait it out?

I love going at this time as its lovely and hot but I don't want to throw money at the airlines if I can save £500 by flying in November.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Eloise

 

[carolfoy]

Unfortunately October seems to have crept up in price a lot, If you're not in as soon as the flights open up they're really expensive. Have you tried Travel City Direct and the other charters?
As for the prices coming down, I'd expect they would for september but not for october. Its just whether you want to take the risk by leaving it.
First choice have 14 nights 16 sep from lgw including cheapy accomodation in maingate for £1290 total
Airtours have a Flydrive for £968 and Thomas Cook have a flydrive on the 15th for £820

 

[Merylj]

last year me and DD booked for the end of Aug. I think we booked around April and the price was a terrible £1100 for the two of us. By July we could have bought similar flights for £800
This year we may go Sept and we`ll wait till nearer the time to book our flights - last year I seem to remember people getting good prices for that time of year

 

[smileyk8]

The prices seemed ok for june until recently. We just had a look on Virgin site and they've shot up £300 (397-701)! Don't really know why and we were hoping it would be a weekend trick, but hasn't gone back down. I'm hoping one of u guys will have a secret tip that could help us out

We might risk it and go TCD. Bit reluctant cos our last trip was so good with them. Good luck getting cheaper flights

 

[carolfoy]

was it higher fuel charges that pushed the final price up? that seems to be the problem with most of them at the mo. I reckon the fuel charges will rise across the board with all companies soon, my advice: If you see a price thats reasonable don't hesitate - jump straight in.

 

[Booknut]

Well the thing that is bugging me is that they are offering flights that are almost £200 cheaper at the beginning of November all through to mid-December. Why is that period any slower than end of September? I mean, the kids are in school, no one has school breaks at the end of September to my knowledge.

I did manage to get a quote from First Choice, £455 pp regular class (which is 33 inch seat pitch apparently!) and £639 each for premium class (36" seat pitch). I've never flown charter before nor have I flown to Sanford so that would be new but it might be an option this time.

If anyone hears of deals etc please post in BIG BOLD HAPPY LETTERS
Thanks

Eloise

 

[carolfoy]

Eloise, First Choice are receiving great reviews for their long haul now they've remodelled the planes, don't let the idea they're a charter put you off. Also Sanford is not bad, granted its further away but you seem to get through immigration a lot quicker. could be six of one and half a dozen of the other!

 

[martina857]

I have just been quoted £1178 for flights and car hire for 2 with virgin by Florida Homes and Travel, it does seem a little excessive but who is to say they will ever come down now with the price of fuel as it is ?

M

 

[UKPhil]

We've booked with flyglobespan.com. Paid about £1250 in October for family of 4 (kids now adult price). Only drawback is flying to and from Glasgow, but as we live in the Midlands, Gatwick and Heathrow are hardly convenient either. Also found now I've costed it all out that with the much lower price of a stopover at the aiport the night before, the cost of a rail journey to Scotland is easily covered. Can't vouch for quality - never flown with them before and they have not yet started the Orlando service, but worth taking a flyer on (ho ho!) I reckon.

 

[Cinders Mum]

Well the thing that is bugging me is that they are offering flights that are almost £200 cheaper at the beginning of November all through to mid-December. Why is that period any slower than end of September? I mean, the kids are in school, no one has school breaks at the end of September to my knowledge.

If anyone hears of deals etc please post in BIG BOLD HAPPY LETTERS
Thanks

Eloise

Eloise,

Our schools close for October break on Sept 30th for 2 weeks ..... and quite a few areas in Scotland have the same dates then the rest come off the week around the 14th I believe.

Val
xx

 

[Booknut]

Well we're off-site week two (Sept 30 - Oct 7) so bring on the kids As long as they stay away from 22 Sept to Sept 30 i'm happy Not that I don't like kids but the less people in the queue for splash mountain the happier I get

I think we might have to go with First Choice as they are the only ones offering premium seats for under £1300 (for two people).

 

[DebIreland]

Try Continental - www.continental.com - their fares for October/November are *very* reasonable although that's indirect, going through Newark or Detroit. I took a quick look there and Sept is more expensive (not sure why) but still not as dear as the other airlines. You'll pay more to go direct from London (Gatwick) to MCO but give it a shot! Oh, I don't think you'll get a good price though for premium, only for economy. Our fares for October are 530 euro incl tax but that same flight for premium was about 4000 euro. HELLO???!!!! I'll gladly scrunch my legs up and suffer backache for 2 weeks before I pay that kinda money.

 

[martina857]

I think I may also go with First Choice for last 2 weeks in September and car for £1170 FHandT though are quoting quite a bit less than through First Choice, the 33" seat pitch is starting to swing it for me ).

M

 

[Queenie]

I just went onto Travel City's site and put through some quotes for you. These are the totals for 2 adults flying economy with an economy sized car and car insurance. Departing on:

Sept 29th: £836
Sept 30th: £896
Oct 1st: £796

 

[Booknut]

Thanks Queenie,

I did check Travel City Direct but my husband is really tall and we really need a nice big comfy plane He even found economy with BA uncomfortable so if I made him fly with TCD he'd kill me or worse say he didn't want to go to Florida anymore!!!!

btw, I love those pics!

Eloise

 

[lexie32]

Hi, i'm not TCD's greatest fan but their economy seat pitch is 32 or 33 inch where as BA's is only 31!

HTH Alex

 

[coastergirls]

We don't have much real choice in scotland. We are going with TCD there are 2 adults 3 children and we reckon to have got a good deal booking 18 mths in advance.
Globespan is our only other option really and they were more expensive for flight only for the 5 of us than we are for 5 pus a car with TCD. And they don't do food, drink which TCD do.Prices usually come down nearer the time. Ours got higher then came down a little bit then went up again.
I would wait a little while keep checking the prices then grab it when you see the price you are willing to pay.
If I didn't have kids I wouldn't book so far in advance. It is really only for the budgeting aspect and fact that hubby has to take his holidays at a set time determined by his work. He can sometimes swap with others to suit but we can't wait for a cheap deal then book as we wouldn't get the time off.

 

[brer rabbit 28]

travel city are offering flight car and best western lakeside for £1036.thats flying out on sept 11th for 2 adults.Not a bad price i don't think.And you can upgrade to bigger seats for around £200.

 

[Booknut]

Well I just spoke to Travel City Direct and they quoted me £836 for a fly drive on 23 Sept for 2 weeks and when I asked about upgrades they said all they had left was first (which from the photos doesn't seem that great to me) and it was £399 each extra! That's even more expensive than flying out with Virgin economy and back Virgin premium economy.

Virgin might be the winner here!

Actually, Virgin holidays has a fly drive for my dates (22/9 - 7/10) for £1352.80 and I might chance it on the way back and try to get an upgrade. Does anyone know if Virgin charge less for upgrades on the spot than they do in advance?

Thanks for all your advice/help.