Florida in 5 years...best options...Virgin or BA

jpsartre

RunningMan wrote: »

Thanks for your replies folks, really helpful. Re availability I thought we'd be OK if we booked as soon as the flights are available (i.e. a year or so beforehand)?

Not necessarily although BA now guarantees two seats in their Club World cabin on every flight. I would not expect more to be released a year out although who knows what the lay of the land will be in 5 years. As others have said, using points on economy flights isn't great value (on BA at least), especially when you factor in the costs of collecting the points.

stoneman

To be honest, thinking of this 5 years out is a waste of time, things WILL change, loyalty schemes WILL alter, prices WILL fluctuate, so wait another 3 years then ask.
Oh and good luck trying to get 4 redemption seats on the outbound as well as the return on dates that you want. I assume these will be school times, sorry ain't gonna happen.

Doshwaster

I'd concentrate on saving a few pounds a week for the next 5 years rather than collect airline miles. That will give you the maximum choice at the time of airlines, dates and schedule. As mentioned above the availability of reward flights on popular routes is very limited so you could find yourself having points you cannot spend. Cash can be used everywhere.

becominganobsessivesaver

I can remember about 7 or so years ago getting a stupid amount of clubcard points for buying car insurance, then nappies. I then saw how you could collect airmiles, BA miles, cruises, Virgin holidays, the possibilities were endless. I made plans, places we wanted to go, and actually managed some of them by being flexible or willing to pay cash for one of the three tickets. When the Tesco good times weakened I started the credit card churning, mainly to be able to afford to go somewhere nice in school holidays without paying stupid prices. In those 7 years I've learnt quite a lot about the Ba avios scheme. I've learnt planning 2 years in advance can work, to get an idea of potential destinations and when seats become available and not to be stuck to a specific destination. I've also got much more out of this scheme than I'd ever imagined possible when I thought I might get a couple of flights 7 years ago... Mauritius twice and Mexico in club, paris, Berlin, Prague, nice and granada (the latter 2 in peak summer). I've still got 340k to burn, but with the upcoming changes I think I'm just going for shorthaul to burn the last few (after New York in first class this summer that is!)

To get to the point, planning 5 years out for a specific holiday won't work, going with the flow can be quite favourable if you're lucky.

blindman

RunningMan wrote: »

I am planning what will probably for us be a once in a lifetime trip to Florida for myself, wife and two daughters (currently age 6 and 3) in about 5 years time.

.

As others have said.

Save the CA$H

Gives loads of flexibility of who to fly with etc

Who knows-Freddie Laker type entrepreneur may make a comeback

Oh and BTW

Trust me

once in a lifetime trip to Florida

Is not a once in a lifetime trip-You WILL go to better places with the family and have better fun.:cool:

RunningMan_2

blindman wrote: »

As others have said.


Is not a once in a lifetime trip-You WILL go to better places with the family and have better fun.:cool:

Suggestions??

Thanks all for your replies, I'll just save the cash at least for the time being.

InsideInsurance

What class of travel are you wanting?

If its economy then as others have said the cash price is probably less than the cash element of the reward flight (but reward flights are flexible)

If its above economy then it starts looking better value and particularly if you buy in cash and upgrade with points.

Personally I prefer VS to BA on board and in their lounges (particularly Heathrow and JFK) but its not a night and day difference. VS do allow you to upgrade from Ec to UC with points but BA only allow 1 grade increase.

RunningMan wrote: »

Suggestions??

Where a once in a lifetime holiday is will vary by person. Assuming you are adults + kids then its fairly unlikely you will find one thing that is perfect for a 35 year old and a 5 year old.

Florida is great for kids, no matter their age but not everyone likes the plastic fantastic nature of it nor the fact that the USA really is very similar to the UK in comparison to say the far east or middle east.

Personally I'd rather go somewhere with history, a bigger difference in culture/ cuisine, more natural in nature etc than Florida but then I dont have young kids who probably wouldnt be interested in seeing ancient temples nor the 4 hour coach ride to get to them.

RunningMan_2

InsideInsurance wrote: »

What class of travel are you wanting?

With it being a stretch to afford to do such a trip at all (we'd previously said we'd just never be able to afford it) I have never even contemplated anything other than economy!

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Where a once in a lifetime holiday is will vary by person. Assuming you are adults + kids then its fairly unlikely you will find one thing that is perfect for a 35 year old and a 5 year old.

Florida is great for kids, no matter their age but not everyone likes the plastic fantastic nature of it nor the fact that the USA really is very similar to the UK in comparison to say the far east or middle east.

Personally I'd rather go somewhere with history, a bigger difference in culture/ cuisine, more natural in nature etc than Florida but then I dont have young kids who probably wouldnt be interested in seeing ancient temples nor the 4 hour coach ride to get to them.

I've travelled extensively in the past (when I was free and single!), when I said once in a lifetime I really meant it would likely be the only time we will ever take the kids to Florida (while they're kids!).

PeacefulWaters

RunningMan wrote: »

With it being a stretch to afford to do such a trip at all (we'd previously said we'd just never be able to afford it) I have never even contemplated anything other than economy!

Timing is everything. I don't like spending money.

For example, my "holiday of a lifetime" took place last year. South West USA. A car, amazing scenery and motels. Sedona, Grand Canyon, Vegas, Death Valley, Yosemite, San Francisco, Pacific Coast Highway, Hollywood. Brilliant.

£2,400 for October flights and car and a ten hour cramped economy flight in October for three of us.

We're doing similar this summer. I priced up my usual economy options before Christmas at £3,400. Discussed it, agreed with Mrs PW to do it. Then the price dropped to £2,400. Then the BA sale came and threw up the interesting option of £3,100 in business class flying out of Dublin. Comfort, lounges, priority boarding, future BA status, extra Avios etc. Some are travelling to Hawaii for a similar price!

A slight nuisance getting to Dublin, but that can be part of the holiday fun.

For what it's worth, I'd scrap the plan of getting miles to pay for the trip if you're planning to travel economy - other cash charges will hurt you. Save the cold hard cash. Use any miles earned for other trips afterwards - to Europe or Flying internally within the USA. Or to get to Dublin for cheaper posh seats in the sale.

InsideInsurance

RunningMan wrote: »

With it being a stretch to afford to do such a trip at all (we'd previously said we'd just never be able to afford it) I have never even contemplated anything other than economy!

Well thats the exact benefit of using points; you pay for Economy but fly Business etc

There is a slight difference in taxes that you have to pay up but its fairly modest in comparison to the price difference for a seat in Virgin Economy and Virgin Upper Class. The reality is however that only certain classes of Economy can be upgraded and so you end up paying a bit more for the mid grade economy but the difference varies fairly drastically at different times (plus sometimes the cheapest is sold out anyway so no increase)

If you are wanting to do it as cheap as possible then you are probably better off with a cashback CC than points as taxes from flying from the UK is very high.

The only way to possibly make it cheaper is to go with Avios/ BA and fly not directly from the UK but from Frankfurt or Dublin where taxes are much cheaper but to do this it either must be two separate bookings so your at risk if your flight is delayed etc or a 24 hour layover on a continuous booking.