cheapest way to book long haul flights

[FredClogs]

I'm not the world greatest traveller and what I have done was mostly business so booked through work for me... Basically I've got to get 5 people from Manchester to Hong Kong and back next march, what's the best way to compare options and fares etc?

[kiethton]

I like skyscanner, lets you select dates and see what else is around and filter by flight length, connections etc.

[Puggit]

Use a tool like skyscanner to find the cheapest route, then book direct with the airline

[kiethton]

Conversely I somehow find that skyscanner is often cheaper than booking through the airline directly - check both!

[esxste]

I use momondo and skyscanner; surprisingly different results

[bakerstreet]

Puggit said:

Use a tool like skyscanner to find the cheapest route, then book direct with the airline

This.

Multi stop will also be cheapest, but more faffs and I wouldn't do it with kids.

[Puggit]

Reason for booking direct isn't necessarily price. If you book direct with BA for example, then you can use their online systems to amend the flight. If you book through an agent (even booking a BA holiday - which includes just a hire car tagged on a flight) means you have to go through the agent to make changes.

If the flight is delayed/cancelled, you deal with the airline, not the agent.

[FredClogs]

Thanks, I've set an alert on sky scanner, there's only one sensible option based on the fact we're only there for a week and I've got young kids and that's the direct flight from Manchester with Cathay pacific, but surprisingly an array of prices from agents and even the ability to book cheaper with Cathay pacific when referred through sky scanner than direct on the Cathay pacific website, I'll have to do some small print reading.

Thanks again for the advice

[smifffymoto]

Does it have to be direct?
If not could you go through the middle East . A small break really does help the legs.

[esxste]

smifffymoto said:

Does it have to be direct?
If not could you go through the middle East . A small break really does help the legs.

Also flying on a pretty new plane, like the A380, or A350 or 787 would help the comfort level.

[Mr Pointy]

esxste said:

Also flying on a pretty new plane, like the A380, or A350 or 787 would help the comfort level.

Be very careful about flying in a 787 in Economy via the Middle East. The seats are terrible.

[WestyCarl]

smifffymoto said:

Does it have to be direct?
If not could you go through the middle East . A small break really does help the legs.

Agree. I have to travel to Japan a few times a year and a 2-3hrs stop off on Dubai is quite nice to break up the Journey.

[smifffymoto]

Even cattle on an Emirates A380 is pleasant enough.

[FredClogs]

Ever the skin flint and optimist in equal measures I've booked through Carlton leisure via momondo, weirdly it was no dearer to have a couple of days in Vietnam on the side, so we're doing that too...
Wife's reading Carlton online reviews and horror stories of late cancellations as I type this...

[Munka01]

Book 54 days before your flight.

Not sure where I heard this but have been using it for the last 5 or so years on multiple international flights and always seem to get the best price by booking around this time before the flight.

[HTP99]

Just booked for Thailand in October, we started with Skyscanner, however we were scared off with the reviews for the majority of the third party companies which you actually book through, via Skyscanner so in the end we booked direct with the airline, it only ended up being £80 more for the two of us; when spending £1200, what's £80 for peace of mind.

Skyscanner is good though for checking out who flies where and the timings.

[Kenty]

Munka01 said:

Book 54 days before your flight.

Not sure where I heard this but have been using it for the last 5 or so years on multiple international flights and always seem to get the best price by booking around this time before the flight.

Not really true, book as early as possible (booking window opens 330 days before flight) then you get the saver fares- done it a lot with Emirates.

[Munka01]

Kenty said:

Munka01 said:

Book 54 days before your flight.

Not sure where I heard this but have been using it for the last 5 or so years on multiple international flights and always seem to get the best price by booking around this time before the flight.

Not really true, book as early as possible (booking window opens 330 days before flight) then you get the saver fares- done it a lot with Emirates.

Booking a year out from travel is not ideal though.

This article with a fair bit of research tends to suggest as I did.

https://www.cheapair.com/blog/cheapair-news/the-be...

[ReaderScars]

Sign up for Scott's Cheap Flights then be prepared to move quickly once your destination comes up - you'll get bigger savings through that than anywhere else - provided your destination comes up. It might even be worth checking your cancellation fees on something that you buy in advance, just in case the same destination comes up on Scott's lists.

[Colonial]

When I am feeling particularly skint, I use momondo to get an an idea of when the cheap flights are, book direct through the airline (usually only a bit more expensive than through the 3rd party websites) and then some airlines (Singapore, for example) offer a price match with the cheaper options.