Flights to America

[illmonkey]

I'm looking at doing a 2 stop trip to the states in July. I've been searching about for days and can't understand why the flights are SO expensive. You're talking £750pp to Vegas or Houston. Yet you go on the Virgin Holidays site and for £1500 I can get return trip to Vegas and 3 nights in the Wynn!

I assumed it was the time of year I am travelling, but I've just checked on Virgin and BA and the cheapest I can get flights to either Houston or Vegas is £700pp.

Fuel is more, VAT, TAX etc. I know. But my brother paid £350 return to Vegas last August.

Am I missing something? did I select the first class option!?!

[nevgroom]

With 5 months to go, carriers have no real need to discount the flights - Have another look in 3 months.........

[illmonkey]

nevgroom said:

With 5 months to go, carriers have no real need to discount the flights - Have another look in 3 months.........

If I look at flights that are in the next 2 months they are still the same price. I cant get one under £700pp this year.

[nevgroom]

illmonkey said:

If I look at flights that are in the next 2 months they are still the same price. I cant get one under £700pp this year.

That is bizarre! Even JFK is up at £700 for July (£360 for next wseek). LAS is £580 for next week - Agreed - very high.

Now back to the original question. Why?

[illmonkey]

nevgroom said:

That is bizarre! Even JFK is up at £700 for July (£360 for next wseek). LAS is £580 for next week - Agreed - very high.

Now back to the original question. Why?

Why what? I don't follow...

[nevgroom]

Sorry, Why are the prices so high (your original question). I am now just as baffled!!

[illmonkey]

nevgroom said:

Sorry, Why are the prices so high (your original question). I am now just as baffled!!

Ah. Mind blank!

I don't, but its bloody annoying.

[jayfrancis]

Try Dial a flight. I've booked two return flights with BA to Phoenix at the end of May. With two weeks car hire it's just over £1300.

http://www.dialaflight.com/?referrer=google&gc...

[illmonkey]

jayfrancis said:

Try Dial a flight. I've booked two return flights with BA to Phoenix at the end of May. With two weeks car hire it's just over £1300.

http://www.dialaflight.com/?referrer=google&gc...

Thanks. On the dates we want, £650 to Houston and £750 to Vegas still. There is no hope!

[lambysdad]

Don't forget to add 20% to that price

[Zip106]

lambysdad said:

Don't forget to add 20% to that price

[Joecooool]

Why would you want to go to Houston?

If you are going to spend some time in Texas, San Antonio and Austin are far better choices.

[illmonkey]

Joecooool said:

Why would you want to go to Houston?

If you are going to spend some time in Texas, San Antonio and Austin are far better choices.

Ba site for San Antonio: From £1390 pp

Virgin don't fly there.

[davepoth]

Fly somewhere st (Detroit) and then get a transfer.

[Nickyboy]

nevgroom said:

With 5 months to go, carriers have no real need to discount the flights - Have another look in 3 months.........

This, last time i flew to the US i booked 6 weeks before i went and saved £180. Sign up to Kayak and get daily updates on the price. You'll be surprised how much it fluctuates on a day to day basis.

[illmonkey]

davepoth said:

Fly somewhere st (Detroit) and then get a transfer.

Still £800pp without transfers

Nickyboy said:

This, last time i flew to the US i booked 6 weeks before i went and saved £180. Sign up to Kayak and get daily updates on the price. You'll be surprised how much it fluctuates on a day to day basis.

Thanks, good idea to get on a price update and book if I see a dip.

[miln0039]

OP - when are you flying in July? Only I suspect there may be a clash with the kids from private schools breaking up at the very least? I'll be honest, it doesn't surprise me that it is that price though, it's just the way prices are going at the moment - due to fuel & taxes. IIRC taxes went up by at least another £60 per return flight in the last year(!)

I remember being able to fly to where I used to live in Minneapolis for £285 return, with two bags, reserved seats and booze included! These days the cheapest flight I've managed is £430 - it's just getting really expensive. The sooner an airline takes advantage of the opening up of transatlantic competition the better - but I still think it will be expensive. For example, on a £350 flight from London Deathrow to Chicago with BA, only £115 will be the airfare...!!

My tips would be one of the following:

1) Delay the trip to September - prices usually dive a little here?
2) Sign up to a site like airfarewatchdog - it's US based, but you can select routes and get a feel for when there are deals to be had.
3) Just accept it is a rip off and pay?! (I'm not a fan of this one but sometimes it just has to be done!)

I hope you find something to suit you - I love the States and I'm off to Vegas in May (flights and 5 nights in MGM Grand for £598pp with Delta!!) - never been to Houston though!

Good luck!

[illmonkey]

Need to be in Vegas over the 19th-21st. We are going that time as a group of friends are out there then.

Obviously, we'll have to either accept the higher prices or not go. But I'd like the higher prices to be as low as possible

Virgin Holidays are currently the best, with 5 nights in the Wynn and flights for £2300. But there is no way to get to Austin.

[nw28840]

Hi ,

Look into flying to a cheaper (east coast destination) and then taking an internal flight.

I took an internal flight from Houston -> Jacksonville, Florida return in Sept 2010.
When i tried to book this online it recognised my UK credit card and wanted £289 for the flight.
I got my friends in Florida to book the return flight for me - the cost was $202 !!!

So if you have friends in the US ask them to look into the internal flight cost for you - then just fly
to New York (or east coast somewhere) and get an internal flight.

By the way , I flew into Houston twice last year, in July return flight was £750 , in September it was £480 -
both with BA.