No cheap flights

[Elvis21]

All around I see what a terrible state the airline industry is in. SO how come a fligh to Orlando in July is still going to cost be the best part of £650?

Am I being naive in thinking that prices will have come down that much? I know it is peak season and all.

:mad:

[PAXboy]

Indeed! I have the same problem, I need to get to NYC in July and no-one will take less than £400. Even going indirect makes no appreciable difference. June is cheap, July is holiday season and the prices go up.

A lot of capacity has been taken out and maybe they think that playing hard ball on prices will do the trick. Do I wait and hope for a walk-up? Will I find a stand-by? Any of the carriers could have had my money in their bank account a month ago but, at this rate I will simply not make the trip.

[newswatcher]

Elvis21, are you looking for a direct flight, and are you including taxes etc? There are some tax-inclusive flights for about £460 to MCO in July.

PAXboy, when are you travelling, and does your price include taxes etc?

[bealine]

........or you could try an alternative destination.

MIA (Miami) is about a two and a half hour drive from Orlando and TPA (Tampa) is about the same. MIA is more of a business traveller's destination so you may have more luck with lower fares on that route.

The trouble is, contrary to what the press, and our airline management, would have you believe, people are travelling and fares to popular holiday destinations are subtly hardening!

Good Luck!:ok:

[Elvis21]

just managed to find one through STA Travel for £525 direct with Virgin. But I know what you mean Paxboy, if there was a reasonable fare around they would have mine and my girlfriends money there and then. As it is we may go somewhere cheaper on a low cost carrier.:{

[newswatcher]

Not able to look at scheduled flights yet, but for a 14 day stay in Orlando, either side of Easter NEXT year('04), Air 2000 currently quoting £712/person.:mad: :mad:

Yeah right, will book up immediately!

[Benjurs]

I've got the same problem! It seems that June 15th is the cut off point for cheap fares.

I've got a girl coming to visit me from PHL to LHR. She can fly for about £250 before June 15th on BA but as she has to stay in the US until 27th she's looking at a hike of around £200 for the same flight two weeks later.

I've advised her to try Priceline etc. as they may offer a better deal? Any advice? She does not mind transfering through another airport etc.

Also as she is unsure how long she'll stay with me, would you suggest putting a return say in Sept/Oct and then paying the change fee of $100 or so or maybe putting a definate date and then changing before this date runs out to extend? I know what my gut feeling is that Airlines would be loathe to extend a date but has anyone else done this?

Cheers

Benjurs

[brockenspectre]

I usually visit Florida a couple times a year and know that airfare prices can fluctuate. Was there in Dec 02 (BA to TPA £298 incl taxes) and during that visit learned a girl friend was getting married in Feb 03 and wanted me as part of her wedding party. Booked flight with BA again to TPA return £298 incl taxes. Having, as always, a brilliant trip but liking to get the next flight booked (so I have something to look forward to) I am totally stunned to find all fares for the autumn/winter running >£600!!!!! I have checked MIA, MCO, TPA and about the "best" is gonna be with Airtours Airline to SFB but these flights are guaranteed to be delayed in both directions AND the flights are full of the most appalling travellers (I have done it before) ... who think it OK for kids to misbehave, for adults to become drunk and vocal, and who leave the loos in a shocking state!!

What justification is there for the price hikes?

My preference is for UK airlines but I have checked the US ones and their fares (for flying via and not direct) are equally designed for the un-poor traveller!!

Anyone any bright ideas or sources of good fares?

:{

[PaperTiger]

paying the change fee of $100 plus any difference in fare between what you paid and what's in force at the time. If you move from low/shoulder or shoulder/high it's likely to be significant.

[rsoman]

Paxboy
If you really need a cheap flight try Aii India or Kuwait Airways. Air India has a daily flight and Kuwait I think thrice weekly on Hathrow JFK. Service isnt anything to speak of (only know about Air India) but the prices are rockbottom and if that is your only consideration might be worth checking out.
Similary Air India also flies thrice weekly to Chicago from Heathrow again with discounted prices.

Cheers

[PAXboy]

newswatcher, thanks I have tried most of the avenues and have been keeping tabs on them. Not withstanding that many of the prices fluctuate between lunch and dinner....

I have tried from LHR (even LGW, although it is another 40 miles further away) to JFK or EWR as well as indirects via AMS and BOS and so forth.
BA
VS
AA
UL
KL
BD
The last deserve a special mention .. LHR/MAN/ to Washington (could see an old friend) £577 for economy out 9th July, back 30th July. I am not sure how they think they are going to get lots of pax this way. Even if I get myself to Manchester (not too bad as my train line goes there, with a change) the price only comes down to £553. Since I would still have to get to NYC??!! And I can get to NYC for £410 +/-.

I am keeping eyes open on Travelocity and the others BUT all the teasers 'NY for 298' or similar offers - all end by July 1st. If I pay an extra £60, I can even change flights in Milan .....

I might get a cheaper walk-up but friends have to know if I am actually travelling. I cannot just ring from the airport, "Hey, I got on, see you this evening."

I am NOT expecting the £199 for NYC in the holiday season but I was expecting a little better than £410. I can also be flexible on dates, to some extent, but not by a month!

[Call_Belle]

If u are travelling from NYC Aer Lingus aare doing good deals via DUB or SNN. www.aerlingus.com (worth a try)

[newswatcher]

PAXboy,

Just come off Airline Network. Out 9/7 back 30/7 BA117/BA182 cost £396, including tax and AF ins.

http://www.airline-network.co.uk/Homepage/Homepage.asp

[Globaliser]

I usually visit Florida a couple times a year and know that airfare prices can fluctuate. Was there in Dec 02 (BA to TPA £298 incl taxes) and during that visit learned a girl friend was getting married in Feb 03 and wanted me as part of her wedding party. Booked flight with BA again to TPA return £298 incl taxes. Having, as always, a brilliant trip but liking to get the next flight booked (so I have something to look forward to) I am totally stunned to find all fares for the autumn/winter running >£600!!!!!Patience, dear heart. If you're not going during holiday time (ie not around half term, and well before Christmas holidays start), you have the nerve to wait and you're prepared to take a little risk and to be flexible with dates, you might be best off waiting until some fare sales later in the year. Early booking doesn't always mean cheaper tix.

I frequently plan to do trans-Atlantics to see friends up and down the East Coast in January and February, because I know that fares are going to be dirt cheap then. But I usually have to wait for those fares to come up in what's become the annual post-Christmas fare sale. I find it difficult to sit on my hands and wait, because I have the time booked off and arrangements made with my friends, but it's almost always worked for exactly the dates I want.

[Elvis21]

just following on from Newswatcher (this is not an advert, I do not work for the company blah blah) but Airline Network are very good. I have had a few flights with them and they are worth a shout.

Failing that, if you are under 26 you cannot go wrong with statravel.co.uk:)

[AtlPax]

Benjurs, doing a quick search from here (US) on Sidestep gave me this:
British Airways $418.47 /tkt

PHL LHR 6/15 7:00P 7:05A 0
LHR PHL 7/7 11:10A 2:05P 0

The ultimate in comfort and service

Sidestep will install a plug-in to your browser, but I've found it to very good.

http://www.sidestep.com/

[PaperTiger]

I have got some good deals from sidestep. But you should uninstall it after every use since it is spyware (http://www.pestpatrol.com/PestInfo/S/SideStep.asp)

[brockenspectre]

Globaliser thanks for the advice - I will definitely wait as I am "just" going to see friends in a couple of places in FL and do my usual sortie to Kennedy Space Center so dates can be flexible!
I just like having the flight booked so I KNOW I am going away hehehehe

:D

[PAXboy]

Elvis21but Airline Network are very good ... aged 26 ... Student ... Whilst I agree that Air Network are good, I do not appreciate being reminded that my students days are, ahem, 20 years ago. :(

I tred the Aer Lingus site but found no availability for my dates. I also thought the site very poor, in terms of friendliness and where to find information. I might experiment with some more dates but the problem was that it said "No seats are available for the dates blah-blah" It did not say if it was BOTH dates or just one and, if so, which one!" Also, when you then returned to the previous page to try another date - it had reset the fields to blank origin and destination and today's date!!! Do they do any practical research in to how their sites work? :*

[Elvis21]

PAXboy,

It is only STA Travel that discrminate ;) Airline Network will sell you a ticket no matter how old and crusty you are:} :p ;) ;) :)

[PAXboy]

Thanks Elvis21. Yes, I have used Airline Network before and found them pretty good. They were one of the first bucket shops to go on line, if I recall.

If the prices stays above £350 for July, then that means that trip is not going to happen. Not least as I had hoped to make my Concorde trip in July but, when the rush for seats was on - I could only get a ticket for August 8th, which is too late for the July friends link-up.

Not that I am complaining about having my Conc ticket, that is. :ok:

[320JI]

all of the above read with interest....
hows this for a deal though. just booked it for the mother in law

LHR to LAX, LAX to LAS, LAS to IAD, IAD to LHR .....£846 for two all in.

Dates in September. I know they are in trouble but surely they are making no money from that.

good bargin huntin...

320

[Globaliser]

brockenspectre: I usually visit Florida a couple times a year and know that airfare prices can fluctuate. Was there in Dec 02 (BA to TPA £298 incl taxes) and during that visit learned a girl friend was getting married in Feb 03 and wanted me as part of her wedding party. Booked flight with BA again to TPA return £298 incl taxes. Having, as always, a brilliant trip but liking to get the next flight booked (so I have something to look forward to) I am totally stunned to find all fares for the autumn/winter running >£600!!!!![/b]Bump.

BA's winter sale started today. www.ba.com/dec30

Tampa's on for £279, travel 5 Jan - 30 Apr (excl 27 Mar - 8 Apr).

The star prize appears to be HKG for £299 including tax, travel from 1 Feb onwards.