Best time to book cheap flignts?

wovonb

I am going on a camping holiday to France in September, supposed to be cheap. Have opted out of the ferry to get flights instead but right now they add up to more than £300 for me dh and dd ( will just be 2 so has to pay adult :mad: ) My question is should I wait and see if the prices go down. They can't get much worse I hope, but does anyone know how these things work? Have looked on flightchecker already by the way. The flights I need are from Stansted to Perpignan.

richardw

The last 10 days in Sept and first 10 days in Oct are often priced highish and sometimes fall. Do https://www.flybe.com fly to PGF?

saveapenny

all budget airlines flying there are
UK : Birmingham (BHX) ... with flybe
UK : London Stansted (STN) ... with Ryanair
UK : Manchester (MAN) ... with BMI Baby
UK : Manchester (MAN) ... with BMI
UK : Southampton (SOU) ... with flybe

average with ryanair seems to be around 273.12 GBP for 3
and about 270 with flybe

wovonb

Thanks. It is the first week in Sept I need. I was just wondering if anyone knows the likelihood of the prices going down...should I sit it out until the last minute? The rest of the holiday is booked and we have to get there...

richardw

1st week in Sept summer demand is good, I think the only way is up at this time.

Rachie_B

is there any way you can "change your mind" and add ferry travel on to the holiday now???

will be mucho cheaper than flying and hiring a car when you get there ?!!

wovonb

Problem is we chose to fly because it is a long way south with a 2 year old. I think we may just have to live with it then.

aerostar

Try alternative airport - Girona, not that far from Perpignan 65 miles motorway probably, Stansted - Girona 3 adults return 6th - 13th £193.80 inc taxes.

Use the cheapest flights button on the Ryan air web site, put your earliest date for departure and your latest date for return. you will then see a list of flights for dates inbetween.

Actual cost for the seats above is 19.99 each plus taxes
here is the cut and paste from the web site- formatting not good but understandable

For the saving you could get a hire car probably for the week and still not pay more than the Stansted or other Perpignan flights

Going Out


Reg fare Adult Reg Fare 19.99 GBP



Wed, 06 Sep 06
Flight 9806 17:45 Depart London Stansted (STN)
20:55 Arrive Girona Barcelona (GRO)






Coming Back


Reg fare Adult Reg Fare 19.99 GBP



Wed, 13 Sep 06
Flight 9805 10:15 Depart Girona Barcelona (GRO)
11:25 Arrive London Stansted (STN)







Pricing


Going Out (Reg fare)
3 @ 19.99 GBP 59.97 GBP
Taxes, Fees & Charges
details 45.54 GBP




Fare Rules


- All travel is offered in accordance with Ryanair General Conditions of Carriage

- All fares are non refundable but: Flight dates, times, routes and passenger names are changeable subject to applicable charges: please see Terms and Conditions for further details.

- Checked in baggage - 20kg per person (a baggage fee applies for each item of checked baggage) - no sharing of baggage allowance permitted (no infant allowance)

- N.B. Passengers who paid for their reservation before the 16th March 2006 the checked baggage allowance is 15kg per person (no infant allowance)

- Excess Baggage Charged at £5.50/€8 per kilo or local currency equivalent

- Hand baggage 10kg per passenger (no infant allowance).

- The maximum size of cabin hand baggage cannot exceed 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm (20 x 14 x 9ins).






Coming Back (Reg fare)
3 @ 19.99 GBP 59.97 GBP
Taxes, Fees & Charges
details 28.32 GBP








Total Cost of Flight
excluding handling fee (if applicable)
click here for new information
on handling fees
193.80 GBP

wovonb

Thanks for all that effort! Sorry to say I have done all that and the problem is I have a holiday booked 1st September to 15th so not that much leeway. Flying into Girona might have been an option but doesn't make that much difference on the days we are going. I really wanted to know if anyone knows how the cheap seats work. If I wait until the last minute will the prices go down or am I just risking not getting on the flight at all with not much hope? Any "insiders" out there prepared to comment?

richardw

Demand is good, I don't think they will go down.

Are Carcassone or Montpellier or Nimes, from Luton, much cheaper?

Have you looked at that eurostar offer, don't know if it is possible.