have loads of Florida flights been chopped?
Discussion
at the insistence of the 'kids' (daughter 30 & her husband) I've started tentatively looking at a Floridian/Orlando family holiday next year (Feb/Mar time) and am finding it hard to find:
A - direct flights. Obviously there are many available but there are large numbers with some, IMO, insane stop-overs (in one case 8 hours in Amsterdam
)
B - decently priced flights. Again there are a few but by the time you add on the 'optional extras' (checked luggage, pre-booked seats) it's nearly the same price to fly to Vancouver (premium) or LA like for like. Problem being that Flori is where they've got their hearts set
Just wondered what I'm missing? Hotels are reasonable enough, car hire seems to have calmed down but can't make sense of the flights (Tui don't seem to have flights in Feb but then will only go to Melbourne, Tampa is substantially cheaper and not too sad to get to our preferred location) and pricing structures these days <whinge whinge> #firstworldproblems
Am I actually looking too early?
A - direct flights. Obviously there are many available but there are large numbers with some, IMO, insane stop-overs (in one case 8 hours in Amsterdam
)B - decently priced flights. Again there are a few but by the time you add on the 'optional extras' (checked luggage, pre-booked seats) it's nearly the same price to fly to Vancouver (premium) or LA like for like. Problem being that Flori is where they've got their hearts set
Just wondered what I'm missing? Hotels are reasonable enough, car hire seems to have calmed down but can't make sense of the flights (Tui don't seem to have flights in Feb but then will only go to Melbourne, Tampa is substantially cheaper and not too sad to get to our preferred location) and pricing structures these days <whinge whinge> #firstworldproblems
Am I actually looking too early?
Covid travel restrictions aside, several of my British and Dutch friends come here in March each year for the 12 Hours of Sebring sportscar event. My understanding is that they usually book flights just after Christmas, when both BA and Virgin Atlantic have price promotions. I'm not sure if that is still the case, but it always has been.
Don't discount Sebring if you are here in mid-March. Even if you have only scant interest in the on-track action, it is still an eye-opening event for tourists. For a first-timer, just showing-up on race day is enough of an emotional overload and a VERY different and exciting experience.
If you do make it, come out to Turn 10 and have some frosty adult beverages and barbecue with us. We can swap Challenger war stories!
Don't discount Sebring if you are here in mid-March. Even if you have only scant interest in the on-track action, it is still an eye-opening event for tourists. For a first-timer, just showing-up on race day is enough of an emotional overload and a VERY different and exciting experience.
If you do make it, come out to Turn 10 and have some frosty adult beverages and barbecue with us. We can swap Challenger war stories!
DodgyGeezer said:
at the insistence of the 'kids' (daughter 30 & her husband) I've started tentatively looking at a Floridian/Orlando family holiday next year (Feb/Mar time) and am finding it hard to find:
A - direct flights. Obviously there are many available but there are large numbers with some, IMO, insane stop-overs (in one case 8 hours in Amsterdam )
B - decently priced flights. Again there are a few but by the time you add on the 'optional extras' (checked luggage, pre-booked seats) it's nearly the same price to fly to Vancouver (premium) or LA like for like. Problem being that Flori is where they've got their hearts set
Just wondered what I'm missing? Hotels are reasonable enough, car hire seems to have calmed down but can't make sense of the flights (Tui don't seem to have flights in Feb but then will only go to Melbourne, Tampa is substantially cheaper and not too sad to get to our preferred location) and pricing structures these days <whinge whinge> #firstworldproblems
Am I actually looking too early?
We are flying with TUI in August to Melbourne and from what i've heard its a superb airport. it certainly cant be worse than JFK last week A - direct flights. Obviously there are many available but there are large numbers with some, IMO, insane stop-overs (in one case 8 hours in Amsterdam
)B - decently priced flights. Again there are a few but by the time you add on the 'optional extras' (checked luggage, pre-booked seats) it's nearly the same price to fly to Vancouver (premium) or LA like for like. Problem being that Flori is where they've got their hearts set
Just wondered what I'm missing? Hotels are reasonable enough, car hire seems to have calmed down but can't make sense of the flights (Tui don't seem to have flights in Feb but then will only go to Melbourne, Tampa is substantially cheaper and not too sad to get to our preferred location) and pricing structures these days <whinge whinge> #firstworldproblems
Am I actually looking too early?
We've just booked via Virgin LHR/MCO for 2 weeks in April/May next year. It's for a family wedding so the dates are pretty inflexible and we need to know that we have something in place otherwise I may have waited.
TUI were cheapest, but the dates didn't suit at all. BA prices are ridiculous, 25% more than I've ever paid on the same route previously (and I have an e-voucher to the tune of £1k with them that would soften the blow but not wasting it at those prices). Tried Aer Lingus, American, United, and they were all more expensive that I'm used to seeing, but then again, so is everything it seems. However, I had thought that might drive prices DOWN if it leads to a reduction in people booking up, but perhaps if there are fewer flights then there's less need for airlines to reduce prices.
As said however, maybe too early if you can wait it out.
TUI were cheapest, but the dates didn't suit at all. BA prices are ridiculous, 25% more than I've ever paid on the same route previously (and I have an e-voucher to the tune of £1k with them that would soften the blow but not wasting it at those prices). Tried Aer Lingus, American, United, and they were all more expensive that I'm used to seeing, but then again, so is everything it seems. However, I had thought that might drive prices DOWN if it leads to a reduction in people booking up, but perhaps if there are fewer flights then there's less need for airlines to reduce prices.
As said however, maybe too early if you can wait it out.
DodgyGeezer said:
at the insistence of the 'kids' (daughter 30 & her husband) I've started tentatively looking at a Floridian/Orlando family holiday next year (Feb/Mar time) and am finding it hard to find:
A - direct flights. Obviously there are many available but there are large numbers with some, IMO, insane stop-overs (in one case 8 hours in Amsterdam )
B - decently priced flights. Again there are a few but by the time you add on the 'optional extras' (checked luggage, pre-booked seats) it's nearly the same price to fly to Vancouver (premium) or LA like for like. Problem being that Flori is where they've got their hearts set
Just wondered what I'm missing? Hotels are reasonable enough, car hire seems to have calmed down but can't make sense of the flights (Tui don't seem to have flights in Feb but then will only go to Melbourne, Tampa is substantially cheaper and not too sad to get to our preferred location) and pricing structures these days <whinge whinge> #firstworldproblems
Am I actually looking too early?
Tampa is super easy for Orlando - it also takes you directly to the theme parks should that be the purpose. It's probably a nicer place to stay anyway. A - direct flights. Obviously there are many available but there are large numbers with some, IMO, insane stop-overs (in one case 8 hours in Amsterdam
)B - decently priced flights. Again there are a few but by the time you add on the 'optional extras' (checked luggage, pre-booked seats) it's nearly the same price to fly to Vancouver (premium) or LA like for like. Problem being that Flori is where they've got their hearts set
Just wondered what I'm missing? Hotels are reasonable enough, car hire seems to have calmed down but can't make sense of the flights (Tui don't seem to have flights in Feb but then will only go to Melbourne, Tampa is substantially cheaper and not too sad to get to our preferred location) and pricing structures these days <whinge whinge> #firstworldproblems
Am I actually looking too early?
22s said:
How much were the tickets?
Mine? £700 each return in economy, including a BA connecting flight from Edinburgh. Happy with that price, but it has increased by £100 each since I booked (yes, I looked). The last time I went to Florida was 5 years ago, and on Virgin it was £515 each return.Some of the prices quoted were £1500 each return which for an economy flight is silly. BA were around £850 each.
Car hire is still expensive, £900 the cheapest I can find for 2 weeks and that's for the smallest 2 door econobox - I'm used to getting a 7 seat SUV for that price in very recent times.
yellowbentines said:
Mine? £700 each return in economy, including a BA connecting flight from Edinburgh. Happy with that price, but it has increased by £100 each since I booked (yes, I looked). The last time I went to Florida was 5 years ago, and on Virgin it was £515 each return.
Some of the prices quoted were £1500 each return which for an economy flight is silly. BA were around £850 each.
Car hire is still expensive, £900 the cheapest I can find for 2 weeks and that's for the smallest 2 door econobox - I'm used to getting a 7 seat SUV for that price in very recent times.
Sounds ouchie to me. We paid £2,100 for 3 of us, including a decent hotel in May.Some of the prices quoted were £1500 each return which for an economy flight is silly. BA were around £850 each.
Car hire is still expensive, £900 the cheapest I can find for 2 weeks and that's for the smallest 2 door econobox - I'm used to getting a 7 seat SUV for that price in very recent times.
yellowbentines said:
Mine? £700 each return in economy, including a BA connecting flight from Edinburgh. Happy with that price, but it has increased by £100 each since I booked (yes, I looked). The last time I went to Florida was 5 years ago, and on Virgin it was £515 each return.
Some of the prices quoted were £1500 each return which for an economy flight is silly. BA were around £850 each.
Car hire is still expensive, £900 the cheapest I can find for 2 weeks and that's for the smallest 2 door econobox - I'm used to getting a 7 seat SUV for that price in very recent times.
'Glad' to hear my prices weren't too outlandish then. Some of the prices quoted were £1500 each return which for an economy flight is silly. BA were around £850 each.
Car hire is still expensive, £900 the cheapest I can find for 2 weeks and that's for the smallest 2 door econobox - I'm used to getting a 7 seat SUV for that price in very recent times.
WRT car hire a 'full-size' is often only pennies more than sub-compact
I'm looking for August next year. BA and Virgin haven't released prices yet (10 months in advance I think?) TUI is looking like about £700pp which I assumed is pretty much par for the course these days. Of course, I'm not that confident that TUI will still be in business by this time next year and I'm certainly not handing over any money to them until they sort their s
t out. Same also applies to BA, although I would gladly never fly with them again!
t out. Same also applies to BA, although I would gladly never fly with them again!MrBig said:
I'm looking for August next year. BA and Virgin haven't released prices yet (10 months in advance I think?)
BA was 355 days in advance, Virgin 330 days recently when I booked. The others (Aer Lingus, United, AA etc) all tended to be 330 days/11 months or thereabouts.Had the dates of the TUI flights worked I'd have been tempted to book premium through them. I've flown premium on their dreamliner to Mexico and it was a better experience than any BA or Virgin flight I've had in recent years.
mrkipling said:
Last time we went (Nov 19) we flew to Tampa with BA and it was great, really quiet, cheaper, much nicer than Orlando airport and only an hour or so away.
If avoiding Orlando International Airport is the aim, as a resident of these parts, I would suggest Melbourne, rather than Tampa.Interstate 4 is the highway between Tampa and Orlando - here's me, thundering along, eastbound at Lakeland yesterday late afternoon....
This is by no means unusual. It took me more than 2 hours to get from I-75/I-4 interchange to my home, which is 3 miles west of MCO.
My point? What you might save in immigration lines at TPA, you might just as easily lose on the drive to O'Town.
belleair302 said:
Immigration at Tampa is usually pretty fast with only one flight needing clearance late afternoon. Usually through in 40 mins and the terminal is very user friendly. Car Hire is now off site and very fast. As Matt says I-4 east is a nightmare but you can avoid Orlando with a detour.
This is actually very good to know since I'm flying out there in September via BA which I'm assuming is that one late afternoon flight as it gets in around 16:40. Expecting the immigration to be maybe even slightly quicker as it's out of school holidays, last 2 times I've been to the US has been through JFK which is a pain to say the least.Edited by 75Black on Sunday 26th June 14:08
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