Cheapskate Advice

At the risk of further tarnishing my reputation, a friend of mine is looking at going to Florida next Easter (2007) and is looking for a cheap flight. Virgin, British Scareways and other leading scheduled airliners are quoting around £600 for him and his other half and £400 for their 3 & 5 year old kids.

Any suggestions on where they could go to get a good deal?

We're going with ThomsonFly in July...

http://www.thomsonfly.com

Originally posted by flyingtomyego
We're going with ThomsonFly in July...

http://www.thomsonfly.com

And have you flown with them before? If so, how was it? You emerged unscathed???

As an ATOL agent I can tell you that it is a good idea to advance register. BUT! Virgin play a clever game around Easter and the lowest fares don't always come available. The fares he has been quoted sound about right if not on the optimistic side! The charter's are ok if they don't mind how they get from A to B. There's always Travel City! (I know a 4 letter word to me too!)

Originally posted by Monkey
As an ATOL agent I can tell you that it is a good idea to advance register. BUT! Virgin play a clever game around Easter and the lowest fares don't always come available. The fares he has been quoted sound about right if not on the optimistic side! The charter's are ok if they don't mind how they get from A to B. There's always Travel City! (I know a 4 letter word to me too!)

Surely there are charters and charters? When we travelled with (3) kids, price was a real factor, and meant that we used to fly charter. And boy, did they vary - from the exceptionally cramped to relative comfort! Once flew with Laker airways - back in the 90s - and had no complaints at all. Pitch is always more of an issue for my husband though - he's over 6' and I'm only 5' 2'...

Cat I know what you mean. But as an agent we tend to sell Virgin against the Charters as people come onto us witht he price they have been quoted so my line is generally ok its cheaper but it isn't the same product. Believe me we sell plenty of charter seats too. There is nothing wrong with it at all. But customers do like to book their seats know what the seat pitch is etc. Not have to pay extra for drinks, food headsets etc etc etc when onboard.

[Nottingham Nick]

I am afraid the key word there is 'Easter'. Cheap flights and that time of the year don't go together.

As one who has been tied to school holidays for several years, I have seen the price spike over the Easter holiday period get bigger and bigger. I am sure this will apply to charters as much as to VS.

It MAY not be quite as bad with US airlines, but I am only guessing there.

Nick

Originally posted by Monkey
Cat I know what you mean. But as an agent we tend to sell Virgin against the Charters as people come onto us witht he price they have been quoted so my line is generally ok its cheaper but it isn't the same product. Believe me we sell plenty of charter seats too. There is nothing wrong with it at all. But customers do like to book their seats know what the seat pitch is etc. Not have to pay extra for drinks, food headsets etc etc etc when onboard.

God, I realise that monkey - and I only fly scheduled now (sorry, snobby me!) I wonder if people always talked about seat pitch? I don't think I was aware of such a thing, way back when!

The Flight Centre always come out cheap, but they are the most restricted tickets going.

Give Travelcity a go. Can't say they will be any good, but defo worth a look.

Paul

If they dont mind connections, then US airways can come out pretty decent.
However, there is no alternative to Virgin Atlantic.

Originally posted by kkempton
If they dont mind connections, then US airways can come out pretty decent.
However, there is no alternative to Virgin Atlantic.

Whilst I think we'd all agree that when it comes to quality of the flight and the overall experience, you're right, there IS no alternative. However, when the overriding factor is cost, you've got to start looking at other airlines.

Originally posted by MCONut

Originally posted by kkempton
If they dont mind connections, then US airways can come out pretty decent.
However, there is no alternative to Virgin Atlantic.

Whilst I think we'd all agree that when it comes to quality of the flight and the overall experience, you're right, there IS no alternative. However, when the overriding factor is cost, you've got to start looking at other airlines.

Very true. And at one time, the difference between a charter flight and Virgin - times 5 - was beyond the budget.