where to get the cheaper non direct flights?

[tinkerpea]

Ok so we just booked our 1st cruise for may 4th-8th on the dream and then we will do 9 at AKL, we're doing it just us,no kids...
So we wouldn't mind saving on the flights by going indirect,however I have never found an indirect flight to be cheap I always find really expensive ones with huge stop overs lol.
So where do you guys find them?

Thanks

 

[wayneg]

What dates you looking for? which UK airport?

 

[dixonsontour]

I tend to use skyscanner

 

[chmurf]

I use kayak.

the main difference (drawback) between direct and indirect, is that going indirect, you'll need to depart Orlando around 2pm-ish, instead of 7 to 9pm going direct.
flight departing later than 2 or 3pm will either be almost as expensive as going direct, or will include a very long layover (sometines 12hrs+)

also, you'll arrive in Orlando quite late. Some flights arrive at 11pm or even midnight.
flights with a 5pm arrival are otfen almost as expensive as direct flights. (it relates to a 3:30 or 4pm arrival on a direct flight, due to immigration being cleared at your stopover airport in the US)

to be honest, I'm currently checking flight prices for myself out of LGW, and even if VA or BA are rather expensive, there is not enough price difference to go for indirect (taking connection times and departure/arrival times)

We discussed this with my wife, and here's what we settled upon : arriving at 7pm on the first day, and departing at 2pm on our last day, like we used to do, is not worth the £100pp we would need to spend to arrive at 3:30pm on our first day and taking off at 9pm on our last day.

on a £8k trip, £100pp (£300 for 3 of us) is just 3.7% of our trip's value. That's basically what we get back through quidco (overall)


so when is a saving not a saving ? As far as we're concerned, that's more florida time for us, and it's worth a couple of hundred quids more.

On paper, going indirect is a good way to save money. But is it worth it ? that's a good question.

If the price difference is less than £75pp between direct and indirect, I would not consider indirect.

my $.02

 

[london75]

I like the US comparison websites. Orbitz is particularly good as it allows you to select airports within 80 miles (although I wish that distance were configurable) which is good as it compares Orlando with Tampa and others at the same time.

Hipmunk is very good as it tends to find more cheaper flights than anyone else and it allows a +- 2 days option on a lot of searches which is great if you have flexibility, in particular the option of date +2 is great for choosing the first day of school holidays plus up to 2 days. The traditional sites that do an auto +- 3 days aren't so good as they don't really cater for a "no earlier than" type scenario.

Finally Vayama for it's "secret airline", this combined with chipmunk to do some sleuthing on which airline it is can save loads.

Those three are my go-to websites for flights and I'd only touch Skyscanner or Kayak to cross check or find date ranges.

 

[NatalieMT]

I tend to go on Momondo, Kayak or Skyscanner! Just got an indirect for April £474 and an indirect for August £567 and they've both got minimal stop over times max 3 hours, it was also a significant saving on the direct prices I was finding especially for August. The times are also good, depart 11am, arrive around 6.30pm. One is with US Airways via PHL and the other is Virgin operated by Delta via ATL.

I agree with the poster that said it has to be a significant saving for it to be worth it, if I'm not saving a lot I will just suck it up and pay the extra £100 and go direct.

 

[xlxo]

I agree with the poster that said it has to be a significant saving for it to be worth it, if I'm not saving a lot I will just suck it up and pay the extra £100 and go direct.

Same here.... Indirect flights (especially multiple) increases risk delays from mechanical breakdowns and misplaced luggage. Some airports (eg LAX) may have you running one terminal to a different terminal for a second flight.... requiring a poorly labelled shuttle and additional searches (luggage, body, hand, cavity).

I'll do indirect flights if I'm not in a rush where my schedule has a few days contingency.

 

[scoobydooby]

It might be worth waiting and looking at direct. I got PE flights this May for about. £900 each booking late February.

 

[petals]

I'm in ireland and we normally use Delta or Aer Lingus depending on which one is cheaper.

 

[tinkerpea]

Hi Wayne were looking at flying on the 3rd of May coming back on the 17th...I think that's 14 nights lol
We both have some miles we could use with virgin but both are utterly useless at knowing how to book with them.

I have 49,000
Dh has 36,000
And we can also take my mum's 25,000 if we want as we paid for every flight she has had and doesn't want them,I know she can give them.to us... Is it for a fee?

 

[tinkerpea]

Thanks for the replies,I agree if it come to only 75 more then I would go direct! It's not worth it to me as only 2 going! Maybe different if it was all 5 of us.

 

[tinkerpea]

Forgot to add,any London airport Wayne would he fine,but we could travel from Manchester if it was a good price as were only around 3 hours from there,we live in huntingdon cambridgeshire.

 

[scoobydooby]

Based on the other thread it looks like you actually have enough miles for two free economy flights if your dates work for this

 

[Elise79]

Thanks for the replies,I agree if it come to only 75 more then I would go direct! It's not worth it to me as only 2 going! Maybe different if it was all 5 of us.

You will need to call as the miles are in 3 accounts but you have enough to get reward flights and having checked online there are seats on the date you want. It will cost you just £435 in taxes and fees.

Call 0344 412 2414 and they will help you

 

[wayneg]

No bargains for indirect just now.
You could get a couple of reward seats as above then pay for others.

 

[tinkerpea]

wow Elise, Thanks so much for that info!!!
i literally just looked and could not believe that we can get the 2 seats for under the price i would pay for one with them.. I have never ever looked into miles seats as we only just found out about having enough miles to bother looking.

Do you know how long reeward seats are about for? imguessing they only have a few for each flight,
We could buy them now but really need to hold out just a few days more as we just paid out aload of money for my sons birthday " the whole class to frankie and bennys then bowling"....

Wayne thanks for looking!

 

[Elise79]

wow Elise, Thanks so much for that info!!!
i literally just looked and could not believe that we can get the 2 seats for under the price i would pay for one with them.. I have never ever looked into miles seats as we only just found out about having enough miles to bother looking.

Do you know how long reeward seats are about for? imguessing they only have a few for each flight,
We could buy them now but really need to hold out just a few days more as we just paid out aload of money for my sons birthday " the whole class to frankie and bennys then bowling"....

Wayne thanks for looking!

Cindy, there are no set numbers of reward seats or pattern to releasing them. My advice if you want them and see them you need to grab them

Pay for them on a CC and you won't have to pay for them for another month

 

[wayneg]

I agree with Tracy, book as soon as you can, they might go today, might be still there in 2 months, might go and come back, you have no idea.

 

[cliveywolves]

As many others have said no real rule or guide to flight prices, set a budget, try and stick to it, then book when you feel its right !

 

[tinkerpea]

I booked!! So happy had enough miles for the 2 miles flights so got our flights for £435 each!!
Which meant I could then book Akl for 9 nights instead of a value as I saved £800 off the VA flight prices we was looking to book.
So thanks for the help guys