Flights

[tracy hunt]

Can anyone tell me how to go about getting the cheapest possible flights for a trip over to check out Melbourne. We weren't going to go first, but I've had a think about it today and after talking to Bradley we feel it is the sensible thing to do. So, we'll cancel our Cornwall holiday (only paid a £30 deposit) and go to Australia instead. We're thinking 3 weeks but it might have to be late June - early July when the children are still meant to be at school because what with all our children we need the flights as cheap as possible!
Any help on where to start would be most appreciated. Never booked any flights on the computer before.

Tracy xx

[koala12]

Hi Tracy
It's quite easy to do a search online for flights, try expedia or just google search and see what it throws up. We always found Flight Centre excellent for our flights here and they also do a price match guarantee so if you find a cheaper deal anywhere else they will either try and do it cheaper or at least match it for you. Sometimes 'good' airlines like Singapore or Cathay Pacific do a seat sale for a limited time and if you get in there quickly you can sometimes pick up some very good fares too. It will be dearer during school holidays so if you can avoid those times would be better - good luck and happy hunting
Karen

[tracy hunt]

Hello Karen
Thanks for that, I've made a note of those names. Any idea how much we can expect to pay?

[koala12]

Hi Tracy
Not really sure what to say re prices as we have paid all different fares according to what time of year we have travelled and what airline we used. You can pay anything from an amount in £600s to £800s per adult fare, not sure about children's fares. A friend of mine has recently booked to come out and and see me in Sydney at the beginning of June and she paid £745 flying out from Heathrow but I think that was quite expensive and she could have got cheaper! Just spend some time looking online and hopefully you'll come up with something - also contact your nearest Flight Centre (think you can do that online too!). Another good site can be www.dialaflight.com or www.dealchecker.co.uk or as I said expedia who I booked my daughter's flight through last year when she came out as they gave me the cheapest fare.
Karen

[tuckerfa]

Don't go with China Eastern. the food is awful, the lack of alcholic drinks is unbeleivable (had one beer fron Sydney to Shanghai then the "ran out") English subtitles on a Chinese dubed French film!!!
I believe the hotel on the return leg was 45mins from Shanghai airport and of a poor standard. We had booked into the Ramada previously and it was like a palace. Two rooms 4 3 course meals, wine, beer and breakfast £200.
The Maglev train into Shanghai does 431kph (270mph) great experiance. Bit dodgy in the city though.
They were the cheapest we found 3 adults 1 child (13 and 11 at the time) at around £2000 next time I'll pay £500 to £800 extra and go with Singapor or BA.
Hope this helps

[dwaldron]

The cheapest flight is not always the best flight, particularly if you are not sure of where you want to live. For a little more, or sometimes no more you can get an open jaw ticket, go into one city and out another, seeing things between the two. I get all of my flights from a fab agent at Travelmood - kate.s@travelmood.com she can jig things around for you and come up with a really flexible route, usually around the same price as an 'ordinary' ticket.

[gilly]

I book flights with airline network on line and they have always been fine. Its a bit nerve wrecking at first when you press that button but just check all your details, again and again and you should be fine. At the moment we are looking to travel late June returning early July and find Cathay Pacific comming up with quite good prices, they do change the nearer the flight date though and quite often increase. At the moment we are looking at £1,020. for three adults (my boy is 16) When we travelled before we went state to state using Virgin Blue they can be booked on line also and you just print out the paper ticket with bar code which you can use for ease of check in. Hope this helps. Best wishes Gilly. Moving to Coffs Harbour August (fingers and toes) if house sells in time.

[gilly]

Sorry looking at that price it can't be right (£1,020) see what I mean about buttons. I will go online now and try and get right price for you Gilly

[gilly]

Sorry flight price today for Cathay Pacific flying 25th June rtn 10th July is £2070. for three adults incl taxes. Im sure there may be cheaper, lets see. Gilly

[samozsoon]

Hi Tracy

We've been looking for flights in June too and the cheapest we've got so far is with
www.affordableflights.co.uk they'll do £537 per adult to Brisbane on June 15-July 1st with JAL(japanese airlines). Kids about 25% cheaper.
Also looking at www.dialaflight.com as they have some good deals to.
Last time we booked with Airline Network & Emirates 4 adults 1 child to Bris in July £3900.
But we booked this in the Dec before and it was 2 yrs ago now.

Good luck searching

Sam xx