Best Price For Florida Flights?

[R500POP]

Looking to book some return flights direct to Orlando for the holiday next year, dates 23 March - 6 April, from London airports or Cardiff, need 3 adults, 2 children, with car hire, where's a decent place to look for them? Have been quoted just over £4k currently.

[miln0039]

Depends on your opinions on flying Charter vs. Scheduled I guess.

Where did you get the first quote from?

I'd hit the usual sites such as Expedia, Kayak etc, or give the guys at Dial-a-Flight a call. I've always dealt with Lloyd there and he's very good.

Also worth considering is where in Flordia you want to fly to? Charter flights will all take you to Orlando Sanford (not really in Orlando) - scheduled will take you to Orlando International (MCO). You could also consider looking at scheduled flights to Tampa and Miami as sometimes these routes have different rules on children's pricing (at least they used to) and tend to be less expensive than the main Orlando routes.

Lots of resouces out there, you've just got to do some legwork.

[SwanJack]

IIRC the Cardiff flights start up later in the year, so might not be available to you on your dates. Virgin and BA usually have sales on after Christmas. I know someone who had great savings by flying from Bristol to Dublin and then on to the states.

[Arklight]

That sounds a bit expensive, flights should be no more than 2.5-3k max for all of you and car to fit you all will be no more that £500.

As other posters suggested have a shop around, dont use travel agents unless you have too as you'll save a bit doing it all yourself.

[miln0039]

Arklight said:

As other posters suggested have a shop around, dont use travel agents unless you have too as you'll save a bit doing it all yourself.

Yup - this is good advice.

Even whilst going direct though it is very much worth looking about for flight + car offers. BA have these on quite a lot of the time, as do Virgin.

If you find Virgin flights which suit please come back to me before booking them as I have some experience in terms of booking these flights and making sure you get on the right aircraft to give you and your family a comfortable ride over and not a ste start to your holiday

[Deva Link]

miln0039 said:

Charter flights will all take you to Orlando Sanford (not really in Orlando)

Hmmm....I've never heard anyone say that before, it's near enough! MCO is much more of a 'proper' airport, ie a shopping mall with runways.


Those dates are Easter and that's always going to be expensive.

Flights to Orlando were dear this year and are looking even more expensive for next year. Quite a lot of capacity has been chopped but even then Virgin are cancelling and consolidating quite a few direct flights. Last minute deals are looking reasonable for this year but few want to leave it and take a chance.

Have a look at http://www.thedibb.co.uk, especially the forums, for ideas, and some amusement.

[miln0039]

Deva Link said:

Hmmm....I've never heard anyone say that before, it's near enough! MCO is much more of a 'proper' airport, ie a shopping mall with runways.


Those dates are Easter and that's always going to be expensive.

Flights to Orlando were dear this year and are looking even more expensive for next year. Quite a lot of capacity has been chopped but even then Virgin are cancelling and consolidating quite a few direct flights. Last minute deals are looking reasonable for this year but few want to leave it and take a chance.

Have a look at http://www.thedibb.co.uk, especially the forums, for ideas, and some amusement.

Sanford is a second class airport IMHO!

I hadn't realised it was the Easter holidays so that's a bit of a nightmare.

Blame the EU and HMRC for crapping on holiday makers with yet more taxes. OP of that £4k I reckon at least £1.5-2k will be taxes!

[Deva Link]

miln0039 said:

If you find Virgin flights which suit please come back to me before booking them as I have some experience in terms of booking these flights and making sure you get on the right aircraft to give you and your family a comfortable ride over and not a ste start to your holiday

How are you able to determine a year in advance which aircraft will carry the OP?

miln0039 said:

Blame the EU and HMRC for crapping on holiday makers with yet more taxes. OP of that £4k I reckon at least £1.5-2k will be taxes!

What's it got to do with the EU & HMRC? The Uk Government sets APD and it'll be £75 pers person for that trip.

[miln0039]

Routes, schedules and other active forum members over on v-flyer will help with determining such information as planes etc. Just trying to help the OP make an informed decision if I can.

I was referring to the EU in relation to the EU Airline Carbon tax. I am fairly sure HMRC collect said tax - but you are correct they do not set it - my bad! Shouldn't post whilst watching football and not paying attention!

Edited by miln0039 on Tuesday 10th April 20:38