September 09 - flights US to UK - when do the prices drop?

JenM_2

Hello,

We've just got engaged (yay) and are now trying to set the date. The vast majority of my friends and family live in the US so we are trying to pick a date in September after the flights drop down from peak-time travel.

Does anyone know when the flights from the US to the UK tend to drop in price? For some reason I think it is after labour day but wondered if anyone knew for certain.

At this point our venue has every Saturday in September 09 free but I think the sooner we pick a date and book it the better.

Any help greatly appreciated!
JenM

_Andy_

As late in the month as possible I'd think.

Alan_Bowen

The old rules about prices falling when the kids go back to school have been thrown out with oil at $140 a barrel. BA admitted today that despite falling demand, fares will have to go up again soon to reflect rising costs. They had a 'sale' which finished yesterday offering 'low' fares to the US in November and December, but if you worked the system, many of the fares to the US were available in the last week of August 2008 onwards. I think it is fair to say the aviation world has never been in this situation before of rising fuel and falling demand and it is very difficult to predict what may happen by next year.

Many think a major US airline will collapse, if that happens a lot of flights will disappear and fares on the remaining flights will go up. It may depend where you want to fly to, airports with lots of flights are more likely to see 'fare sales' but if you want to fly to somewhere with only one flight a day, book your flights ASAP as the only way fares will go in the next 12 months is up.

anglo1967

Hi Jen -

We know that prices for flying will be all over the place by the time you tie the knot... but it used to work something like this:

1. Prices to/from the US are cheaper from sept (after labor day) until around early Nov (except for thanksgiving weekend), usually.

I hope that helps - I have 2 friends who are pilots for major US airlines. Thats the advice they always gave me and it always worked!!!

For destinations, where are you going? Have you tried Boston? Its usually the cheapest US spot cos of the distance, although people in the UK always seem to ignore it for NY/Fla.

I wouldnt worry about the US Airlines going under, some of them after 9/11 have gone to chapter 11 (bankruptcy status) which means that they are allowed to be owned by their employees/ shareholders and not make a profit, with the intent that they cant be shut down. They have had to make cuts as far as laying off pilots with less than 10-15 years experience so that they can still operate. Also the remaining flight crews have been refused pay increases, etc. Youll be fine...


Good luck and congratulations!!!!

JenM_2

Hi,

Just a quick note to say thanks very much for the info. We've gone ahead and booked the date after speaking to our US friends and relatives - they also all said that after labour day the prices dropped so fingers crossed this proves to be the case.

JenM