What on earth is going on with flight prices next summer?

[Trespassers William]

We are looking to go to WDW mid August 2011 and I have been tracking flight prices as they get released for BA and VA currently retruninge early August.

All VA flights are currently over £1200. Does anyone know why they are so high and whether this will continue into August?

I went in Aug 2008 and paid £468 each on the day the prices we released. I expected to pay more but not over double.

 

[wayneg]

Unfortunately flight prices went up with a jump for this summer. Virgin released a few around £700 but majority were sold £800-900pp. A few were sold codeshare thru Continental at about £650.
Too early to know for next year yet, you can only book upto mid July unless you get a travel agent to give you a guide price but I expect similar prices.
They have cut seat numbers and the competition is not there like it was, TCD now Virgin & Flyglobespan gone.
Only real deal I saw this August was London to Miami direct with AA, about £400, only lasted a few days.

 

[2Tiggies]

If indirect is an option, you may want to start looking at those now already. If you see a price you are willing to pay, take it. Prices are not any better for May next year, outside of school holidays. The best quotes I have had are just under £600 per person, with DD's being slightly reduced with airlines that offer a nominal reduction for under 12's.

 

[Trespassers William]

Flying indirect is definitely an option. We haven't done it before but now the kids are older it's not really a problem. Thomas Cook or Monarch might also be an option, their prices are out but are still £700ish.

Guess I'll have to keep checking every few days and then make a quick decision in about a month when the prices are released.

I've always done DIY but it is now making me think about a package as you don't have to pay for the flight upfront.

 

[2Tiggies]

I am well travelled, mostly longhaul and did countless flights with DD as a baby and as a toddler. For some reason there was a stage when she was just about to start school when she didn't cope as well with the changes and hanging around airports and I resorted to direct only where possible. She is now 8 and although we have direct this year (package), I could easily have done DIY and indirect by this stage. In fact even last year would have been fine. I refuse to pay those prices for direct. I would rather do a flight with an overnight layover and make it part of the adventure, clear customs and stay at an airport hotel for a good night's sleep. Looking at Fort Worth next year to visit one of my very special friends en route as a possibility. At one stage people were pulling up quotes for VA direct this August for over £3k. Yes folks, that is economy, and yes, it was confirmed that this was only valid to tranport one backside in a little red seat across the Atlantic with blech food