How far in advance to book a flight?

talksalot81

Hi there guys,

I half know the answer, but i wanted to see what other experiences were. I want to book flights to Canada next January. I have been through every search engine I can find for flights and my two favoured routes (either continental or air canada) do come up as hoped. The problem is that the air canada route is about £700 at best and I cant even get continental availability. Even if I search for a time close (october for instance) I get rather similarly scary prices.

On the other hand, I had the same flights January past and didnt have trouble getting it all for £500. Im assuming that Im too early yet and the bulk of the seats have not yet been made available, hence the price. But when is this likely to change and when is a good time to book seats going to be?

Thanks for the help!

Adam

chalky_bertie

Don't state what dates in Januray and where from / to but just doing a very quick search between LHR and Toronto then BA are offering it for the majority of days in January for about £410 return.

You could allways try CANADIAN AFFAIR

saveapenny

Thats a bit mean post them for all to see, Someone else might like to use them too

Pink.

saveapenny wrote:

Thats a bit mean post them for all to see, Someone else might like to use them too

Please post them for the rest of us massagelondon.

Pink

stratford_2

try https://www.flyzoom.com A quick check found flights for £275 rtn inc taxes from Gatwick to Toronto, in Jan - no frills though!

saveapenny

Iglu have started doing flights to Canada, Not sure if they are via Candian Affair or their own http://www.iglucanada.com if anyone can go in the next few days they have one for £149 return Manchester to Toronto and why do I spot these when I can not go

budgetflyer

IMO its a hit or miss when you book. Prices go up or down dependant on demand.I've shot myself in the foot by booking early a few times and had some real bargains also. Secret is, set your budget, get a flight to fit and be happy

talksalot81

Thanks guys,

Im specifically looking to fly from Belfast to Calgary on about the 19th Jan for just over a fortnight. I have found continental flights now for reasonable money, unfortunately the way the schedule pans out, it would require a stopover somewhere along the way.

Air canada definitely seems the best way to do it because they fly directly to calgary and in effect save you about 6 hours over any of the other routes ive found.

The trouble with zoom or canadian affair is that in being more charter type, they are prone to delays. That is ok in itself but I have to have an add on flight to get me to belfast, if there is a delay, I may lose the add on (been there, done that). Additionally they have very few flights, saturday only in the case of canadian affair.

I booked last year in november and had a list as long as my arm costing under £500..... So im assuming prices are likely to drop from where they are (with most being well upwards of £600), but i dont have any idea when it might happen!

Thanks again!

Adam

talksalot81

Thanks

It is tough to be flexible on my departure airport, I live in belfast, so one way or another, that is where i must depart from!

I have found some cheaper fares from smaller agents, but on ringing them I have found that they have zero availability.

Im absolutely perplexed..... last year, 2 months prior to departure, there was no shortage of availability. The flights themselves could have been little more than 50% full. So the implication of the seats all being taken for that time next year is that the route has, in the space of a year, become dramatically more popular...... surely that cant be right!?

I dont know how this all works, but will the airline withhold a quantity of seats in order to maintain prices, then when it gets nearer the time, dump the rest of them hence giving the prices and availability I saw last year?

Adam

tonys_3

I know you aren't keen on flights other than out of Belfast,but https://www.globespan.com
do flights out of Gatwick to Calgary for around £270 inc taxes.Nothing listed after October of this year-hopefully they do fly all year.You can fly from Belfast to Gatwick with flybe for around £20 each way before taxes.

Or globespan fly from Shannon to Toronto-once again I am hoping they do fly all year.

richardw

British Airways had a big sale in September last year and other airlines followed, they may do it again this year, depends if you can wait. If you want to fly at the weekend or near ski resorts you may not find a bargain as demand is high.

http://res.travelocity.co.uk/lognlogin.ctl?Service=TCYUK&tr_module=AIRG&seq=-5049128681120474858

Travelocity have fare calendars under "my dates are flexible" which help you find cheaper fares.