For once we are planning ahead and might be going to the USA next year - in May.
Is it best to book the tickets as early as possible? Or is there a "sweet spot" to book them in like train tickets?
If it makes any difference we are going from Manchester to San Fran and flying back from Las vegas (or the other way round).
When we've flown before its always been via Washington Dullas but all the tickets seem to be via Heathrow with BA this time - have things changed?
There is a sweet spot, sometimes. They have set fares, then the fare may go down if fewer people than expected have booked. It does tend to, imo. 6 weeks or so out it starts to move, or you start to see the special offers.
I do this a bit. Too much, perhaps!
I've found that a connecting flight can work out much cheaper, if you have the time.
For example, on your destinations, have a look at skmehting like MAN-DFW-LAS-SFO-MAN. Adding in a connection in somewhere efficient like Dallas, and routing it all on AA (for example) gives a cheaper ticket usually. Not sure if anyone does MAN-DFW direct, though! For decent connecting airports, I've found DFW, MIA and PHL to be good. ORD, ATL and IAD are bad, especially the first!
Plus, more air miles/points if that's your bag!
I'm currently in the USA now. We have to go in the summer holidays due to teaching.
We generally get a good deal by looking at using Thomas Cook and figuring out which days are the cheapest to go and come back.
So we flew out on 1st July - a Sunday and return two weeks plus a few days on a Tuesday. The Tuesday return makes the biggest difference.
Cost £600 for premiere economy to San Fran and back. If we'd have not done PE it would've been about £450 return. So on Thomas Cooks site play with the dates until you get a cheap total price.
You can use a site like kayak or Google flights to get more leverage but we like Thomas cook flights and their premiere economy set up.
Not sure what difference the return will make but factor the cost of driving back to the same airport.
We are currently in Bend , Oregon so don't scoff at driving! We will be going back via Lake Tahoe.
We book our flights in January. You could leave it until about 56 days before but then you risk not getting the seats or the plane.
We've found book around 5-6 months is optimum for us. I've never actually seen it get cheaper between 6 months and the optimum period of 56 days before. But then I'm restricting the airline and the airport.
Make sure you try premiere economy if flying Thomas cook as sometimes it's cheaper.
Set up a trigger on Google flights to tell you when the flight price moves across a variety of dates
I did see flights for around 300 return at one point but they didn't suit me.
To be fair your flight will be the cheapest component in the US - dining and decent accommodation doesn't come cheap. But I like both of those things to be part of the experience.
We nearly ended up in a dive on the 4th July on the coast with loads of dodgy people setting fireworks off in our hotel car park. It was 85 dollars a night. We didn't like it so moved to the next nearest holiday Inn which was 150 a night but I slept so much better.
Some people might lap up that sort of experience but i like a good night's sleep and picky where I stay. That seems to cost around 200 dollars plus - a night.
Again we're stuck to the Summer. It won't be as bad in may.
CFH - sorry I don’t understand what you mean about adding in a connection - how do you do that? Is it like split tickets on the railways? Also routing via AA, what does that mean?
I have booked direct with the airlines before so we got to choose our seats at the time of booking - this is important to me. I am hoping this time as we are booking early we can choose nicer seats other than just behind the engine which is normally what is left. I don’t want to have any risk of being split up from my wife as it is very very important we sit together.
Intereting about the Thomas Cook booking - can you choose your seats with them? I’d like premium economy - are there any other benefits rather than the extra legroom?
Rone - I’m fine with accommodation and stuff, we’ve been to the west coast a couple of time but we’ve always booked last minute hence trying to see what benefits booking in advance might have!
We are also looking to go the USA next year, and I came across this https://www.skyscanner.net/bttb/best-time-to-book-uk which gives you some useful data.
Sorry, too many acronyms!
Re connecting flights, instead of a direct flight to San Francisco, go via somewhere else. If you can book it all on the same airline, like American (AA) Or airline alliance, it can make the whole trip cheaper.
Intereting about the Thomas Cook booking – can you choose your seats with them? I’d like premium economy – are there any other benefits rather than the extra legroom
First on, first off. Quicker luggage check in. Better food , better entertainment. Picking your seat is free with PE. You pay with standard. More allowance on luggage. Free drinks.
Used to be able to put your luggage in night before but homeland security have stopped that with PE too.
The seats are better as well as the legroom.
sorry I don’t understand what you mean about adding in a connection – how do you do that? Is it like split tickets on the railways? Also routing via AA, what does that mean?
Rather than flying direct, you fly via one of the major hub airports like Dallas (DFW), Miami (MIA) or Philly (PHI) then get a connecting internal flight to where you want to go.
That way, you are doing a normal return (e.g. to Dallas) with two internal flights rather than an open jaw.
AA = American Airlines.
Another tip I picked up. If booking car - I tend to use a decent (airport) company like Avis. They're often cheaper than the super budget ones if you get a discount code or sign up to a preferred customer. They're usually based at the airport so less messing. Lots of the budget ones pretend they're at the airport.
Also by the time the budget ones have done they often don't include, damage waiver, breakdown and wife/partner unless you pay extra. Avis included all of those.
When using a search for cheap car rentals the likes of Avis don't show up but that's because they're not always represented correctly in the search results. Go direct.
i'd look at hotel prices, for the months in question, no point saving £100 on your flights if its an extra £100 a night hotel :0)
from manchester also consider lufthansa, we flew out to canada and back from new york, saved us a couple of hundred each, on flights with united. (flights to germany and then onwards to North america, times where pretty good)
Book via BA holidays instead of direct with BA it is nearly always cheaper, my last return flight to PHL was £700 cheaper than flights only, I didn’t need the car so simple didn’t collect it, but the car will be booked through Avis, if you join the preferred scheme the keys are either in the car waiting for you or use the priority desk/lane.
Rather than flying direct, you fly via one of the major hub airports like Dallas (DFW), Miami (MIA) or Philly (PHI) then get a connecting internal flight to where you want to go.
But then you won't be looked after if your incoming flight is delayed and you miss your outgoing one...?
Apart from flying out / back mid week and hence being there over a weekend I don’t see much difference. Oh and don’t book a couple of days before unless you aren’t paying personally!!
But then you won’t be looked after if your incoming flight is delayed and you miss your outgoing one…?
I was thinking the same.
But then you won’t be looked after if your incoming flight is delayed and you miss your outgoing one…?
One booking, one airline. They look after you! I've had the full VIP rush through terminals at LAX before after delayed inbound flight.m
But then you won’t be looked after if your incoming flight is delayed and you miss your outgoing one…?
So long as it's booked as one ticket you are fine, logic would be the mail international flight will be on the full biggest plane they have and the bulk flight for the airline so cheaper - like the London > Dubai flights, you then use the internal flight which can be cheaper.
Booked as one ticket though.
Normally unless it's a sale booking early is the only way to get cheaper flights but if you think the price is good value then book it when you see it as it will only likely go one way.
I am hoping this time as we are booking early we can choose nicer seats other than just behind the engine which is normally what is left. I don’t want to have any risk of being split up from my wife as it is very very important we sit together.
Seat assignment is a FF perk a lot of the time so expect a lot of rows to look booked whenever you book your flights, with the exception of the scummy budgets I don't know of any airline that would separate 2 people on the same booking
They look after you! I’ve had the full VIP rush through terminals at LAX before after delayed inbound flight.m
What colour is your card Flashy? Us in the back just get put on the next flight
Cards are passé - these days you need invitation to the “secret” special flyers clubs like Delta 360 or BA Executive Club Premier.... and not I’m not invited!
🤣
To add to CFH’s routine.
A non-direct flight on the way out is fine, but for me I like a direct flight on the way back if it’s SF or LV.
The reason? 10 hour flight means 8 hours sleep means virtually zero jet lag.
^^Correct!^^
PS I’m not normally paying
Also the best approach!
Can’t seem to find a flight direct from Manchester - any ideas?
go via Frankfurt/Schipol/LHR for choice
Can’t seem to find a flight direct from Manchester – any ideas?
Book a 1st class from Manchester to Heathrow, more flights from there, and often cheaper to offset the cost of MAN to LHR , and you get to use the 1st class lounge.
1st class from Manchester to Heathrow
No one flies first MAN to LHR, onlu business, which is next to pointless on such a short flight, unless booked as a part of a long haul trip. Also, you'd only get in to the lounge at MAN (Assuming flying to LHR in Business). The fLounges at LHR are for pasengers departing in First and top tier frequent fliers.
However, I think MAN-LHR-SFO-LAS-LHR is all doable on OneWorld. BA to LHR, AA or BA across to SFO, AA to LAS then BA home from there (which, sadly, is on a rather tired 747).
Long haul sectors on an A380 would be the pick if in Economy. If Business, American's 777-300 is superb.
I don’t need to fly from San Fran to Las Vegas, I’m driving it the scenic way.
If you skip LV and head up into Utah you can go direct SLC to Schipol and CDG I think and you get the bonus of not going to Vegas
If you make the connections be aware of the spectacular hassle of immigration at some of the airports, and the fact you may have to change terminals if the airline you use from the UK has a partner in the US for the domestic flights. I prefer to fly direct against the slight saving, just to avoid the stress of transfers.
If you make the connections be aware of the spectacular hassle of immigration at some of the airports, and the fact you may have to change terminals if the airline you use from the UK has a partner in the US for the domestic flights. I prefer to fly direct against the slight saving, just to avoid the stress of transfers.
Been to the USA 3 times so far, never had an issue with immigration. When we went to New York we got through in seconds.
Never found transfers to be stressful, my wife actually likes the break as she can't really eat on the planes and I can't sleep on them.
If you skip LV and head up into Utah you can go direct SLC to Schipol and CDG I think and you get the bonus of not going to Vegas
We have friends who live in LV (Henderson actually) so we really want to go there!
Well your only direct is with Thomas Cook
https://www.mccarran.com/Airlines/ThomasCook
When you only have one choice they control the price also San Fran isn't a massive through route so you will need to go somewhere else on the way to get a good price, just leave 3hrs for a transfer and not much can go wrong, if it does the airline sorts it out
It's quite nice to get off and stretch the legs sometimes too
Also of note, flights from Las Vegas to the UK fall in to two categories...
Almost all of them - The sort of people who think Las Vegas is a good thing, and party their tits off there and back.
The BA flight to/from LHR - Those of us who have to go there for work now and again. A much more restrained trip!
Jack’s Flight Club can be a good way of learning about discounted flights.
Can’t seem to find a flight direct from Manchester – any ideas?
That's odd. Have you gone through the main site?
Almost all of them – The sort of people who think Las Vegas is a good thing, and party their tits off there and back.
I was afraid of that , never had issues on the Thomas cook flight, especially sat in premium class.
Phoenix isn’t too far from Las Vegas and that has a direct LHR flight - 747 last time I was on it.