Tips for cheap flights during school holidays

money_saver_4

Our son started school this year. We are trying to be good and some flights for the next year or two, to save money. But the flight are either not available yet or the ones that are available, are already very expensive (for four of us £1200).

If anyone has any tips on how to book flights at school holidays times without paying an arm and a leg for them, we would be grateful if you would share them.

Thank you.

zagfles

Other than half terms, we've never really had any difficulty finding cheap flights in the school holidays. The thing to remember is that the vast majority of families stick with package holidays, so the demand for flights in school holidays doesn't increase that much, nowhere near as much as the demand for packages anyway.

Flights in the half term tend to be the most expensive because everyone goes and comes back at the same time. For the opposite reason, bargain flights in August tend to be easy to find since people go at different times. We've had a few good deals at Easter - the Easter holidays do tend to vary from area to area. If you live in Northern England you could consider flying from Scotland when it isn't the holidays there.

richardw

money_saver wrote: »

the ones that are available, are already very expensive (for four of us £1200).

What flight duration in hours is that for?

money_saver_4

Short haul, say Cyprus or Canaries, somewhere that would be reasonably warm.

I tried to find something of the half term that just finished and the flights were around £1500 for four of us. Just two weeks later £400. Big difference.

I am currently looking for flights for 2012 autumn half term and the flights for four of us come to over £1200 (not including the baggage fees etc). Almost the same as booking them at the last minute. And I thought if I'm organised and book in advance, it should be much cheaper. But clearly not... Or I might be missing something. Hence this thread.

Thank you for all your responses so far. Keep them coming.

richardw

You can get this for less than £950 on easyJet in half term in February 2012

Manchester to Cyprus (Paphos)
Dep 13 February 2012 14:40
Arr 13 February 2012 21:25
Flight 1973
2 Adults 2 Children
4 x £41.99

Cyprus (Paphos) to Manchester
Dep 19 February 2012 14:45
Arr 19 February 2012 17:50
Flight 1974
2 Adults 2 Children
4 x £163.99

Luggage
3 Cases
3 x £30.00
60kg total combined weight.

Pay by Visa Electron: £913.92
Pay by Debit Card: £921.92
Pay by Credit Card: £944.97

If you live in Scotland consider flying from English airports, if you live in England consider flying from Scottish airports. The school holidays are different so the prices are different.

lkmc01

We have just booked flights to tenerife in feb half term (or there abouts). Its flying with ryan air on mon 13th feb out of east midlands and back on Mon 20th feb into doncaster. For 2 adults and a child it is 293.26 out which includes 2 suitcases and admin fees and back it has worked out at £297.93 (taking into account euros to pounds) with again 2 suitcases and admin fees. So £591.19 in total.