$1091.16 San antonio to London May 2008--good price?
Aug 24th, 2007, 05:56 AM
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$1091.16 San antonio to London May 2008--good price?
Please put in your 2 cents worth regarding this price. I have world points for 2 tickets but the other 2 will be purchased at $1091.16 each. Will arrive at Heathrow.
Departing May 08 returning June 08. Do you think it advisable I wait a bit longer or lock them in now? British Air is the carrier. I can, of course, change carriers and arrive at Gatwick, but our hotel is close to Paddington Station. Thanks.
Departing May 08 returning June 08. Do you think it advisable I wait a bit longer or lock them in now? British Air is the carrier. I can, of course, change carriers and arrive at Gatwick, but our hotel is close to Paddington Station. Thanks.
Aug 24th, 2007, 07:23 AM
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May is still shoulder season and that fare seems very high to me - watch for the ubiquitous sales after the New Year - of course fares to UK often on BA include about $300 in taxes so is that the net price?
I'd wait.
I'd wait.
Aug 24th, 2007, 07:25 AM
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I got tix last summer for June/July from Miami to London for $about $550 including taxes, so I would say they are a little on the high side. Like PalenqueBob said, that is shoulder season, but then again, you're coming from farther away. I would wait and look for lower prices, myself. If I hadn't found any by February, I'd settle for that... but that's just me. Others may buy sooner, others wait longer.
Aug 24th, 2007, 08:42 AM
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One problem you have to manage is the availability of those FF seats. There will most likely be lower prices in the future, but the FF seat availability may go away. We've made it work to use a combination of good price AND doing some seats with FF miles, but sometimes had to take a less desirable routing, or split our family on two different routes; that may not work for everyone.
United also flies into Heathrow; I'm not sure which is the other US carrier there, maybe Delta? Those could be options for lower fares if you can split up.
United also flies into Heathrow; I'm not sure which is the other US carrier there, maybe Delta? Those could be options for lower fares if you can split up.
Aug 24th, 2007, 09:31 AM
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June wouldn't be shoulder season, but early May might be. I wouldn't rush to lock that in -- BA into Heathrow? I'd avoid that like the plague. The fare sounds about like what it was for continental Europe this year in peak summer season -- and London is often a little cheaper, and BA is usually among the cheapest (because no one likes them). SO I think that is expensive for BA.
Actually, now that I think of it, I'm thinking of East Coast fares, so that is probably about right for San Antonio. But it doesn't seem anything special to me that I would lock up that fare nine months ahead.
Actually, now that I think of it, I'm thinking of East Coast fares, so that is probably about right for San Antonio. But it doesn't seem anything special to me that I would lock up that fare nine months ahead.
Aug 24th, 2007, 01:46 PM
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That flight might be a little on the high side, but not outrageous for flying from TX at that time of year. The fact that you are coming back in June bumps up the return flight cost. When I talked to my travel agent a few weeks ago she broke out the costs for me for a ticket - the base price for flying out of Houston in May 08 was $576, plus $170 fuel charge, plus $95 in security fees (so around $850) - plus more charges if you are flying on a weekend or from a non-hub city like San Antonio. You might get $550-$750 fares in winter, but I doubt you'd get that for May/June unless it was a last minute deal.
Aug 24th, 2007, 02:03 PM
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Check Kayak.com for comparison fares.
Also, there is a new service (free at least for now) called Yapta.com that allows you to tag flights and keep track of them. Sends emails when fares change. It tracks specific flights, not just routes. Even tracks flights you booked already
On international flights, I have had a fare drop after buying the tix. I called the airline and it turned out there was a new fare added that was lower than what I booked. They refunded the difference to my credit card.
That all being said, i just booked DFW to LGW return from Bordeaux (which should be higher than return from LGW) and the fare went from $1100 to $900 over a month. Yapta informed me of the drop and I booked. Was back up to $960 about 2 days later and is now back near $1100 4 weeks out.
Also, there is a new service (free at least for now) called Yapta.com that allows you to tag flights and keep track of them. Sends emails when fares change. It tracks specific flights, not just routes. Even tracks flights you booked already
On international flights, I have had a fare drop after buying the tix. I called the airline and it turned out there was a new fare added that was lower than what I booked. They refunded the difference to my credit card.
That all being said, i just booked DFW to LGW return from Bordeaux (which should be higher than return from LGW) and the fare went from $1100 to $900 over a month. Yapta informed me of the drop and I booked. Was back up to $960 about 2 days later and is now back near $1100 4 weeks out.
Aug 24th, 2007, 03:41 PM
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Try different days on Kayak or one of the other consolidator sites. I found Delta at $855 if you fly out on a Tuesday.
Another thing I look at is the travel time involved. The shorter the better. There were a couple of Delta flights in the 11 1/2- 12 hour range. Depending on which flight the BA flights ranged from about 12hr 50min to about 17 hours.
Have you considered the group flying on two different airlines or does World Points allow you to fly on other airlines?
Another thing I look at is the travel time involved. The shorter the better. There were a couple of Delta flights in the 11 1/2- 12 hour range. Depending on which flight the BA flights ranged from about 12hr 50min to about 17 hours.
Have you considered the group flying on two different airlines or does World Points allow you to fly on other airlines?
Aug 24th, 2007, 06:35 PM
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Thanks so much for all you comments and ideas. I wll hold off on the tickets for a while longer. And, I will consider the split up idea. Have to discuss these new ideas with my kiddos.
Do many of you prefer NW over BA? Would mean arrivng at Gatwick instead of Heathrow.
Do many of you prefer NW over BA? Would mean arrivng at Gatwick instead of Heathrow.
Aug 24th, 2007, 08:02 PM
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I usually travel American or Continental from San Antonio, both are just one lay over in either Dallas or Houston and for the last 6 years have been the lowest in price. Although, it is hard to guess what prices are going to do, in the past 7 years I have waited until early Feb to buy tickets for spring this is when they have historically been at their lowest for May-June travel times.
Clea
Clea
Aug 24th, 2007, 08:24 PM
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If it were me, I would not put off securing the award tickets. Seriously. You can either put off buying the $ tickets, to buy them with the award tickets and justify the price of two by dividing it by four. In either case, I would want to secure the award tickets.
