Is it really going to cost us > £1300 to fly to California for Christmas?

[fqueenzebra]

That's the cheapeast I have managed to get it, so far, for 2 adults, 2 children, + 1 infant.

Including tax, but not fuel surcharges that might come later.

That's via local airport & local travel agent... gets worse if I look on Expedia.

Do you guys think I can do better? Am curently looking at going out 9 December, return 6 January.....

Fqueenzebra,

Do you know exactly as yet when their Christmas half term starts and ends?. In my case it starts December 21st and finishes Janury 6th. You need to work out exactly how many days this will involve him being absent from class.

I can certainly see why you want to go in early December - it is my experience also that the fares are far cheaper then than going say a week or two later.

Plead your case to the school asap - as this is for a family reunion (I note you are visiting family and anyway I would state this on the form you submit) this may help your case re the holiday absense. It took school about a week to decide in my case to give me the three days at the end of term I requested.

I hope your school is not as strict as my DS's infants'- they've really cracked down on such absenses this year in term time (new head asserting herself in our school).

Hope you get this sorted out asap, are you still planning on going to LAX via Amsterdam?.

Meerkats

Fqueenzebra I would definitely check for permission first. As I understand it they are not legally allowed to grant more than 10 days per year so I think you may have a problem with 14 that is why we are returning on New Years Eve as New Years Day the prices go up again.

Good Luck