Cheap Flights

I have started to have a look at the likely costs for flights for next year starting in March with the usual candidates Ryanair et al. I am struggling to find anything at a decent price compared to what I have even paying this year.

In particular Ryanair don't seem to have any flight schedules out at all, but something tells me they leave their schedules till last minute.

Is anybody else having similar difficulties in finding flights at reasonable prices or am I being a bit premature and trying to book too early?

Ay thoughts or advice welcome, but on the strength of what I have seen so far this year looks like being an expensive one for flights to Murcia or Alicante.

Jon Faulkner

They seem up across the board and to be honest it seemed to start part way through this year. Ryanair have done for me now with that silly password thing, you get through once, do a couple of changes to see what's available then it makes you type another password in, so i just cba with them anymore, and yes they'll be cheaper on 1st release (anytime now, but they don't initially publicise flight release - you have to do the search)............. so for 2013 ..........

I've just completed my 5 bookings all with Jet2 but going via the TopCashBack site (£1.31 cashback per flight booking from the UK, £3.03 non-UK, so split your flights up if you want £4.34 discount off each return flight, and book individually - messy but it adds up, debit cards are free) www.topcashback.co.uk/ref/shampers67 , and I've also used existing (and newly gained today) Jet2 points to get a couple of the flights at tax only cost (some flights only need 100 points to get them tax free, so isn't always best value to use on the most expensive flights where they usually need 600 points).

Have booked car hire all via Moneysupermarket.com. I've always found them great value if you book early, and the only thing you can get caught out on is flight changes, but the cost of a bit of extra carhire at future prices is easily offset by getting the cheap base price now.

Airport carparking via Holiday Extras (again via TopCashback - 18% cashback). 

Have renewed my annual insurance car hire excess policy with insurance4carhire.com (again using topcashback as 25.25% cashback on the £49 price)

At full price my 5 flights are all Manchester to Murcia (no hold luggage and includes extra legroom seats so you can deduct £8 per flight to get the base price)

28/2 to 3/3 - £115      Carhire - £25 / Centauro      Parking £13

30/4 to 5/5 - £132      Carhire - £55 / Dickmanns    Parking £19

18/6 to 23/6 - £135     Carhire - £56 / Dickmans    Parking £18

30/7 to 11/8 - £163     Carhire - £133 / Avis    Parking £32

10/10 to 15/10 - £95     Carhire - £43 / Avis     Parking £16

Obviously other people to join me on some of these hols so they've got their flights to book, but for me then £1,086 for 5 holidays including flights, car-hire, parking and full insurance cover. I'll live with that.

 

Have generally booked easyjet and ryanair (from LIverpool) around November for the summer departures of following year- have always found Jet2 from Blackpool more expensive..Every single time I have looked at Jet2 have found it a tad more expensive despite friends telling me its a cheaper airline, so will check it out more frequently now.

2007-2010 we frequently had flights below £40, even for twixmas- dont see them now!

Just had a peek at ryanir and easyjet for July 2013 and nothing there for them yet.

Some great advice here thanks. Shampers you have done very well and more in line with what I am hoping for. I will wait a little longer to see what Ryanair release but I also get fed up with their incredibly poor customer service and non user friendly website that has been deliberately designed to con people out of money. JF

We tend to fly with Monarch when we visit Condado these days.

If you sign up to their newsletter, they send you bonus codes every now and then which give £15 off per person per return flight.  Plus you can pay a bit extra for your seat and not worry about the free for all that comes with Ryanair and Easyjet (although I read Easyjet are moving back to allocating seats on now). 

I find the flight experience with Monarch much less stressful than Ryanair, etc and the cost differential is not that significant.  Another bonus is the cost of taking sports equipment (e.g. golf clubs), which with Monarch is much cheaper than others.

The above said I haven't checked any flight prices other than for March,  with adult returns coming in at around £110 to £130 (if you can be flexible on dates).

 

Easyjet flights at 3pm today for summer for 3 people approx £350.00 couldn't get constant internet connection as we were travelling got home and went to book said flights and they had increased to £430.00.

you have to be extremely quick if you want the bargains.

Hi Steeley

We have been flying with Monarch for a number of years now but were not aware of their newsletter

How to I go about getting signed up.

Jan

Hi Jan,

If you go to the Monarch website, there is an option for "Email sign-up" on the home page.

This link should take you there:

http://bookflights.monarch.co.uk/Register.aspx

 

Hi Steeley

Thank you for the link

Very straight forward. I am now sighned up

Jan

Have also signed up for Monarchs newsletter- and out of curiosity had a look at their prices for December @ £565 for 2 people 26th Dec- 1st Jan or £453 for two people 26th Dec to 31st  Dec you could certainly do with one of their bonus codes!!

Bit better for end of June 26/6/13-16/7/12 for 2 people £329- but more than have ever paid on Ryanair or Easyjet before- will definitley be looking out for these bonus codes.

Wondering if there will be any offers if Corvera is open for summer flights?

You should try skyscanner compares the cheapest options with all the airlines

Just booked our flights for next july for 2 weeks 5 of us with baggage and prebooked seats for £750.00 with Easyjet, which was cheaper than i paid this year so i am happy....

Looked on Friday at Easyjet on first release of prices and they've nearly doubled!!

Paid circa £650 last year for 5 and with roughly the same dates we are now looking at £1150 Ouch!

looking at other options now!

have to agree - summer flights for next year looking very expensive - Jet2 prices are a joke , I think they now target the complete package market and don't really want the flight only passenger ? Ah well what can you do if you want to be there in July/August .......

Try British Airways to Alicante, from Gatwick for 4 people only £630 which i thought was ok

 

Bloody hell just look on Ryanair!!!!!!!!!!  shock of my life check out theses prices   lol

A bit expensive from Alicante to Manchester

Easyjet was £100 cheaper than Ryanair for July 2013.- no bag though.