Flight Search engines

[Diver_Dave]

Afternoon all,

Just wondering if anyone else is experiencing 'issues' with
some of the big search engines?

I'm looking for MAN-CUN late Nov early Dec for 7-10 days.

Expedia, Opodo, Hipmunk et al seem to have 'lost' the single
layover flights eg MAN-EWR-CUN or MAN-ATL-CUN and are
only offering 2-3 stops (eg MAN-LHR-EWR-CUN).

Initially I was searching in order to get an idea of layovers etc,as
I now know I need to allow at LEAST 3 hrs min for the Stateside
connection, but, can't seem to find ANYTHING, OK except United via
Philadelphia. However, if I go to the US Airways, Delta or Continental sites flights are visible.

So...

a) What am I doing wrong, let's face it, it's me isn't it!

b) Anyone know a search engine that allows you to specify
the number of stops?

Any help appreciated, although it looks like a MAN-CUN charter
may be the way forward.


Regards

[wowzz]

I had the same problem in 2010 looking for flights to the Dom Rep for our holiday earlier this year - charter flights do not seem to be included in most of the flight engines.
I think you should make seperate searches direct with the major charter flight companies [Thomson, Monarch, T Cook] although you will get less flexibility and probably a maxium of 3 weeks between outbound and inbound flights.
In the end, we flew with Thomson - no complaints, but only a once a week service to our preferred destination.

[heidelberg]

Try Hipmunk: Better Flight Search (http://www.hipmunk.com/)

BA: MAN - LGW - CUN 14hrs 20min.

Good luck.

[Diver_Dave]

heidelberg,

That includes a layover in Miami and the third leg
being AA. or a 13hr layover at LGW

We've flown via EWR (Continental) and ATL (Delta)
in the past, and, if it is significantly less expensive
we *may* consider running the gauntlet of US Immigration
and the tender mercy of the TSA. Looking at Delta there's an
option with a 4:30 layover in ATL and with Continental there's
a 3:45 layover at EWR, it's these that appear not to be showing
on the meta-search engines.

Currently the best option is looking like T-fly or Thomas Cook.
They fly the route an *rough* times we want, and, considering
the amount of luggage we need (35kg min per person) a
premium upgrade is looking like one of the cheaper options
rather than baggage + sports equipment + extra baggage!

Thanks all.

[Espada III]

Have you tried KAYAK - Cheap Flights, Hotels, Airline Tickets, Cheap Tickets, Cheap Travel Deals - Compare Hundreds of Travel Sites At Once (http://www.kayak.co.uk?)

It gives the ability to refine lots of parameters.

[Dairyground]

Have you tried flightsearch.com?

It does not show prices or offer booking facilities, but it does appear to shown most of the possibilities between most points using scheduled airlines. It does not include all scheduled airlines, AA for example has opted out, but it usually seems to throw up a good range of options that can be booked throug travel agents or direct with the airlines.

For Saturday 26th November it shows nine distinct options, more if you include code shares, several with only one stop and several of avoiding the USA.

[Diver_Dave]

Kayak seems to have the option I was after for the
'single layover' part.

Flightsearch doesn't seem to want to play at the moment.
It's insisting on pushing the nearest airport to where our
Net server is hosted (Edinburgh) rather than Manchester when
it transfers data through to the 'partner' site, despite the
MAN being entered in their own main select box.

I'll try it from home later

Thanks

DaveA