when to book flights..?

[scojos]

next year is the first time we have not used a virgin package, having booked ssr with the 42% reduction from disney directly, but they wanted an extra £6000 for flights, so im going it solo
the question, when is the best time of year to books flights for aug next year? early, to get discount, jan sales or last minute...?
help..please!
there are 5 of us travelling, 2 ad and 12,10 and 7...if that helps or changes anything on 4thaug for 18nights.
thanks
tx

 

[~Piglet~]

I don't envy your dilema! We had already booked our Cruise & Wedding dates first, so we knew the dates we had to fly on, we just didn't know when to buy them. In the end I priced up a few flights then watched for a couple of months, when they dropped to what I was happy to pay, I bought them.

If you are still wanting to book with Virgin for flights I think VA release flights 330 days out, so next August's prices will be out in September

 

[paulh]

there are usually sales on for aug from boxing day.golden rule pcik a price your willing to pay,if it drops below that book straight away. we use kayak, and do a connection its cheaper
Paulh

 

[davidr]

I think I booked in October for our upcoming trip (we leave on the 8th Aug).
My advice would be to keep checking comparison sites and message boards such as this one. After a tip from Wayneg (cheers wayne!), I booked LGW to Tampa with a connection in Atlanta for £426 each, business class with delta.

Six of us so a really good saving makes it worthwhile for me. paid over £700 each flying direct to orlando last year, not fazed by changing planes or driving so this was an easy choice to make for me.

I am spending the money I saved on Discovery Cove and a week in a lovely hotel on Marco island, so three weeks in FLA !

David

 

[wayneg]

No problem David, glad people booked them. My friend went last Friday said they were great flights but 1hr:31 min in Atlanta was not enough, they missed the connection had to wait another 2 hours. We went for the 3hr:30 min connection to be on the safe side(6th Aug from Man). From Gatwick someone went out a few days ago said food was brilliant, starters choice of soup, salmon or prawn cocktail, then they had New York strip.

Original question, flights can be on offer anytime from release, latest I have bought Aug flights is Xmas day, Oct being the best month. Never have I seen last min offers, look now, indirect around £600pp same flights end of last year £300pp.
As David said, look at comparison sites and watch forums every day.

 

[davidr]

cheers Wayne, my only concern was not having enough time in Atlanta. Flight times have been moved around a bit & we have 1hr 57mins to meet our connection. Do you think this will be enough ?

Thanks ... Dave

 

[wayneg]

cheers Wayne, my only concern was not having enough time in Atlanta. Flight times have been moved around a bit & we have 1hr 57mins to meet our connection. Do you think this will be enough ?

Thanks ... Dave

Should be, our friends only just missed with 1:31, it was their 1st indirect flight, if they had experience they would have probably made it. 1:57 you should be fine(with no major delay transatlantic)

 

[suzycute]

We booked our September flights just after Christmas in the BA sale and paid £330 each to fly direct to Orlando. We could have got them for £318 each but I dithered for a few days. When they went up to £330 I quickly bought them, just in case they went up again!

 

[Disneyday]

As David said, look at comparison sites and watch forums every day.

Which comparison site do you use Wayne if you don't mind me asking?

 

[wayneg]

Which comparison site do you use Wayne if you don't mind me asking?

3 main sites I use, usually covers most prices available.
Kayak.co.uk
Kelkoo.co.uk
Travelsupermarket.com

When the £ is strong then Orbitz.com is good as you pay in $'s.