United question..

[dabecs]

Still looking for good fares for our October trip and came across United fares Melbourne - LAX - MCO return for $1624 pp. At the moment Qantas Mel - LAX are $1500, and Virgin Mel - Lax are $1300.

Not only are the flights cheap but the times are really good - to fly to Orlando with Virgin we have to be at LA airport for 12 hours and arrive in Orlando at 5am the next day which I really don't want to do.

So questions - what are United like to fly with? And is $1600 pp from Melbourne a good price? Or should I keep waiting? I was hoping the Flight Centre travel expo would wow me but the Qantas and Virgin flights I've mentioned above are the expo prices...

 

[mindy32]

United are pretty blah to be honest. I'm certainly not an airline snob but flew them last year and it'd have to be a pretty big saving for me to ever do so again. I found the seats squisher than other airlines, there was no on demand/in seat entertainment just screens in the aisles playing one thing. In saying that if you can't find anything else less than a thousand dollars more expensive id be inclined to fly United. Thats a huge saving per person and u could buy iPads as entertainment for far less than the difference. It's really a personal thing I guess my opinion personally is I would have said a year ago I'd never fly with them again but if the saving was big enough now I'd probably think about it so it mustn't have been too horrible after all!

 

[WAMUMOF4]

I wouldn't do it a flight that long without entertainment and kids have you looked at flying SouthWest to Orlando from LAX or one of the other airlines?

 

[dabecs]

They have inflight entertainment on the international leg, and last time we had no inflight entertainment on the internal legs (well we could have if we paid for it but we didn't). We are going to take a tablet and iphones/ipod touches so we can entertain ourselves for the shorter flights...

I went into this holiday thinking I wouldn't fly united but the difference in price from Qantas (Mel-MCO) is $1300 for 2a 2c. For me I think it's worth it. To be honest being stuck in a metal tube for 14 hours is not fun no matter what!

Thanks for the input, I will talk to hubby tonight and see what he thinks

 

[OzCath]

United are changing over to a 777 with inseat IFE in April.

 

[dabecs]

United are changing over to a 777 with inseat IFE in April.

Good to hear! I think we will go with these flights And then I don't want to hear about any future sale fares

 

[WanderlustNZ]

I haven't flown United in about 20 years, but from where I'm standing that sounds like a pretty good deal.
Yay for finding a price you're happy with.

 

[dabecs]

I haven't flown United in about 20 years, but from where I'm standing that sounds like a pretty good deal. Yay for finding a price you're happy with.

I'm happy with the price and the times, I am also happy to see that we often arrive and depart from the same airport terminal - so much easier

Reviews have said the good is not great, but we didn't think the food on Qantas was great last time (and the kids hardly ate at all). I will make sure we are loaded up with snacks and we can eat at the airports.

It feels good to have dates, will feel even better once I have paid and locked it in. I also need to decide if 1 extra bag on the way home is enough

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Happy booking - I always get to a point when I just want to get it settled!

 

[dabecs]

Happy booking - I always get to a point when I just want to get it settled!

That's me! Especially as we have booked a cruise, means we have less flexible dates, can't miss my boat!

 

[WAMUMOF4]

United are changing over to a 777 with inseat IFE in April.

In that case I'd be saving the money and jumping on those flights dabecs if your happy with the price that's all that matters $1300 is a lot of extra bags.

 

[dabecs]

In that case I'd be saving the money and jumping on those flights dabecs if your happy with the price that's all that matters $1300 is a lot of extra bags.

$1300 would pay for the extra baggage and some shopping to fill it

 

[gogo65]

I havent flown united internationally, but have flown them lax to MCO, and I don't know if we just got lucky, but we had the most leg room and widest seats on any economy flight in the US that we have done, the staff were lovely, we were given a drink and a small snack, much better than American
I'd be booking it for that savings, Like you say dabecs, that Is serious money saved to fill an extra suitcase or two

 

[dabecs]

BOOKED! Went to the travel agent this morning, paid and picked seats

Our trip Nov '12 was Mel-LA-Orlando-Washington then NY- LA-Melbourne and cost $7800 for 2a 2c. My aim was to spend the same or less this time, so the United flights have filled the brief!

Now I can concentrate on accomodation - we have 4 nights before our cruise and 2 after to find accomodation for before we check in to OKW at WDW. We don't arrive in Orlando till 10pm so I think we will stay at an airport hotel the first night

Thanks to everyone who gave me advice, even the advice I didn't take! It helps to bounce around ideas and hear other views