Flight bookings for Xmas 03

[Duffabboy 0]

Hi guys,

 

Wifey and I are thinking of booking from England to LOS for 3 weeks this Xmas.

Should i look for a good deal now or wait a little longer .

I suppose prices won't really change that much but perhaps I can be put straight by the professionals of FLB pages.

 

Cheers

 

Dave

[Greg_B 306]

Dave...Thats really a hit-n-miss type of thing...If you like the price as of now...BUY....But the time period you are looking for is a heavy travel period {Xmas} and the airlines don't really discount prices for that time...They know people will travel and pay any price to be with there families....On the other hand, if the bookings stay low....Set a price limit and keep looking.................. [smiley=banghead.gif]

[BigDUSA 71]

Why not make a bid on www.priceline.com for airfare? Check for the current lowest price and bid 30 to 40% lower. See how it works out. If I was comming over Xmas, I would book my hotel now.

[michaelday 38]

Dave,

 

I'm already booked on Aeroflot for Dec 12th , but they've just notified me of a schedule change about which I'm not overjoyed . They gave me the option of a full refund if I decided to cancel, so I started to look arround for an alternative.

 

As far as I can see, there's plenty of availability but prices are high (for me, anyway). If it were me, if I could find a good deal, I'd book now, December is peak time and it's always hard to find seats at a reasonable price.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Chumley

[Amva 0]

Great idea love when were u going to tell me!!!!  :-*

[Duffabboy 0]

Ah my little tilac,  knew you would find me.  :-*

Let's get searching for cheap flights and book our Hotel.

Don't forget the video camera !!!  

Love the Mushroom man  ;D

[Baritone47 78]

Dave,

I would book now.  I live in Los Angeles and make the trip every 90-120 days so am usually very pleased with fares these last few years (and your being in England probably doesnt change the computation very much in terms of airline activity or costs) - through the summer fares are still low, but I just tried to find a discounted business class fare for Xmas, and prices are out the roof, AND, several airlines with whom I have mileage have already sold out their upgrade seats, China Air in fact has sold out its coach seats for the dates I want.  

 

I booked the best possible fare I could find and will just have to take my licks.  From what I can see, now that SARS is over and the holidays are coming up, and its been far enough after Sept 11, people are willing to travel again - and you know how many Asians live in the UK who probably would love to go home for the holidays - not theirs but the time that would get off from their UK jobs, etc.  

 

If I'm wrong and fares plummet later, you'll have to throw a beer bottle at me or something.

 

Mark (Baritone47 FLB member)

[Duffabboy 0]

Thanks for all the info guys, am looking now.

 

:)  5 months and wifey is counting already.

 

Duffab

[fishingtime 0]

If you can find a good deal just take it, better to pay a little more now than a lot more later. Xmas flights can be really hard to book, they always have lots of people on them and the prices are not cheap.

[mike100 0]

I tried to get my parents a 3 week loosely dated Xmas package holiday with a direct flight to visit me in Los, whilst I was on a trip home to the UK last week.

 

After hours of two agents trying, the only thing that one came up with was a BA flight only, on 21st Dec. for the required 3 weeks at 900 pounds each in economy class. They said there were only three seats left on that flight.

Was told that there was not a package left that was available, all the flights were full apart from what was offered, all their known hotels were booked and that maybe I could find accommodation for them myself when I arrived back. This agent I have used for years and she has always managed to get me good deals in the past.

 

My father decided it was not a wise move to try and travel on BA over a holiday period after the recent strikes, and have put the trip off until February.

 

Not good news for those wishing to travel direct from LHR to Los over the Xmas period it seems.

[stevemcm 1]

Duffab - buy now you will have great difficulty getting a seat later and even now you'll certainly have to pay a high price.

 

For example I've just bought my ticket for 3rd. Jan and had a hell of a job getting it. I wanted an EVA evergreen ticket 'cos the miles will give me enough for a free flight. EVA allocates a fixed number of tickets to each consolidator and I tried 4, the earliest available seat was 10th Jan. The 5th, Ourstravel had a seat on the 3rd at a good price. 4th to 31st December is peak season and an EVA economy ticket will cost you 735 GBP, whereas before the 4th Dec or after New Years day  the price is 455 GBP.  Both prices exclude taxes.

 

See http://home.btclick.com/ourstravel/

 

stevoh

[Crackpot 2]

As someone 'in the business' there will be cancellations and the odd deal around at Xmas but these usually only come up a week or several days before departure.

At the moment, most UK departing Airlines are inthe process of fixing their Xmas prices.

I would hold on untill the first week in September when the new rates are announced then book and pay.

[Crackpot 2]

Re: Priceline.com

From the UK thier prices arent very competitive or accurate. At the moment they are showing Finnair for over 500quid !!!!! when it is availablbe for 350+taxes

[valentinoxxx 4]

Hi guys,

 

Wifey and I are thinking of booking from England to LOS for 3 weeks this Xmas.

Should i look for a good deal now or wait a little longer .

I suppose prices won't really change that much but perhaps I can be put straight by the professionals of FLB pages.

 

Cheers

 

Dave

 

Sometimes flying from a nearby country, France or the Netherlands works out cheaper.

Think u may have left it a little late though....

 

http://online.atp.nl/tc.dll?ac=return&tid=emotion1

 

http://www.airfair.nl/vlieg-f.html

 

http://www.anyway.com/general/home.asp?USR...-9RUTVH4R-0-DIV