flights london to orlando - can it be cheaper booking via the US?

[ebonyfish]

Horrified at the prices for April next year.

Has anyone booked flights using a US agency/airline and saved money?

TIA

sadly they are always very expensive at Easter but I'm watching with interest to see if anyone has an answer as getting far too expensive for us

bumping

Depends how long you are going for but I have been very surprised that if you are going for a bog standard 2 or 3 weeks as opposed to 2 weeks and 3 days - the likes of Thomson occassionally have the cheaper flights. They had some last month for March/April time for just over £400 per head.

Its pure luck - logging on at the right time because they go very quick.

Also a lady at college (I am studying Travel Services and Airfares & Ticketing) told me sometimes the packages/fly drives work out cheaper at the moment, even if you disregard the chepo accom or car hire for your won accomomodation or favoured car hire co.

The flights are so expensive - am gutted as I had pretty much persuaded DH to go back to Florida next year but he wont agree to the current prices.

I would have a look at Kayak/skyscanner for fares. You in all likelihood won't be able to use the services of a US based travel agency.

I shared your pain when I looked at the cost of Orlando for next April. It was eye wateringly expensive particularly over the Easter break.

Its not just the fares that has increased. The recent APD (air passenger duty) increase has not helped any either. This has also contributed markedly to the overall increase in cost.

A group of four people flying economy to Florida will now pay £240 in tax, an increase of 33%.

Thanks for the suggestions - will have a squizz.

Is there any great negative to flying into Sanford airport - might be cheaper?

Think Thomson fly into Sanford; the only UK carriers that use Orlando are Virgin and BA.

Sanford is about 60-90 minutes further out from Orlando so this extra travel time would have to be taken into consideration.

Last August it was cheaper for me and my family to fly to Newark and then get a Jet blue(easy jet equivalent but very good) flight to Orlando the following day. With a nights accommodation it worked out several hundred pounds cheaper. However with the additional taxes even that might not be do able now.

Good luck

American agents will take UK bookings (happens quite a lot with cruises) you need to do lots of e-mailing though.

I have just checked the prices too to get an idea, and i can't believe how high the cost is, we are going this December and paid 1/3 of the cost for April, its crazy.

Sanford is just a smaller airport, i've had a look on Google maps and its actually only 30 mins longer drive if you're heading towards the theme parks. I've landed at both airports, and the only real difference is the travel time, and it doesn't affect anything, so if its cheaper i would defintly choose it.

Hope you find a good price.

xxx

A lot also depends on what day you go. For example, we went last month and originally intended to fly on a Saturday with DC1 and 2 going for 2 weeks and DH, DC3 and 4 and myself going for 3 weeks. However, it was actually 1,800 GBP cheaper to fly on the Sunday instead Needless to say, DC1 and 2 only went for 13 days instead of 14.

Thanks for your comments. May try a US site. And Sanford looks do-able if its cheaper.

Or go at Christmas next year....!