Best time to book trans-Atlantic long haul flights?

MerlinMags

I've read the MSE advice about picking the right time to book flights, but it seems to mainly consider European destinations, whereas I'm looking to fly UK to USA. Please can anyone tell me when those flights are likely to be cheapest? I haven't found this information in the DisneyWorld forum thread.

During the January sales I saw direct flights from Gatwick to Orlando at £3020 for a family of five, in August. We didn't have all the information/choices made at that moment, and so we held back from purchasing.

Since then the cheapest direct flights have risen to £4180 for the same dates/people. I am cursing my hesitation! Should I buy now, or will the prices magically drop at a later date?

(The MSE guide says to book 56 days ahead, which would be the end of June for me, but I do think they are considering mainly within-European flight deals in that guide. Is 56 days true for trans-Atlantic flights too?)

Thank you.

1trainer1

School Holidays and Christmas tends to be earlier the better about 10-11 months before hand because any sale that is going to happen is not going to happen for them dates.

Any other time of the year research the price and then when it hits what you think is acceptable book it and don't look for it again

PeacefulWaters

Treat yourselves.

Get to Dublin and fly business class for £1,100 each!

stevie11

PeacefulWaters wrote: »

Treat yourselves.

Get to Dublin and fly business class for £1,100 each!

Cracking price .
No dates given by the OP but say 5-19 August out from Dub to Orlando back to Gatwick for £3300 with BA/Iberia. Factor in overnight to in Dub plus flights you will still probably have a few hundred saved from £4000. If younger children are part of the group would the OP want the added inconvenience?

MerlinMags

PeacefulWaters wrote: »

Get to Dublin and fly business class for £1,100 each!

I had a quick look on Skyscanner and found Dublin to Orlando direct was £4480 in Economy class, for the five of us, on the dates we wanted.

We feel the 9 hour direct flight is painful enough without turning the journey into a 14 hour endurance marathon by adding a stop. Of course, we'll have to pay for the privilege....

leylandsunaddict

There is no best time to book flights. Prices fluctuate all the time based on many factors. One of those is supply and demand. The higher the demand (peak travel dates) the lower the supply so the price increases.

Just book at a price you're happy with, and don't go back and check the prices again

Just be careful of the companies that advertise on Skyscanner. Most don't have live pricing so the price you've seen may not even exist. It's ok for finding flights, but book direct with the airline.

deary65

Have a look on this site: https://www.norwegian.com/uk/
Gatwick to orlando direct.

MerlinMags

deary65 wrote: »

Have a look on this site: https://www.norwegian.com/uk/
Gatwick to orlando direct.

Thanks for the recommendation, though I have checked this airline already.

Norwegian are a bit cheeky. They keep cropping up on Skyscanner as the cheapest option, but when you tell them you actually want to take a suitcase with you, and eat some food on the flight, the price goes up an awful lot! They end up higher than Iberia and Thomas Cook Airlines/Condor for comparable flights that have baggage and food included.

blindman

MerlinMags wrote: »

Thanks for the recommendation, though I have checked this airline already.

Norwegian are a bit cheeky. They keep cropping up on Skyscanner as the cheapest option, but when you tell them you actually want to take a suitcase with you, and eat some food on the flight, the price goes up an awful lot! They end up higher than Iberia and Thomas Cook Airlines/Condor for comparable flights that have baggage and food included.

Do you really need to go in August :eek:

MerlinMags

blindman wrote: »

Do you really need to go in August

I know, I know, it is not very 'money saving' is it. But Easter is impossible because of clashing school holiday dates in two counties, and I've read how hellish it can be at Christmas.

This will be the first (and perhaps last) time we've had a two week long holiday! Been saving up for ten years now.

blindman

MerlinMags wrote: »

I know, I know, it is not very 'money saving' is it. But Easter is impossible because of clashing school holiday dates in two counties, and I've read how hellish it can be at Christmas.

This will be the first (and perhaps last) time we've had a two week long holiday! Been saving up for ten years now.

Apart from the cost its also the weather.