Cheap international flights

[Paul (SA)]

Hi folks. I am planning an overseas trip to the US next year for three weeks in March. Will include wife and two kids.

I have started the typical Google search and webjet look around, but does anyone have any sites, agents or contacts or even tips that can help get the lowest fares.

I am hoping the responses might help others also and help build this thread as a resource for others travelling overseas.

Thanks in advance for any offerings.

Paul.

[achjimmy]

It's always a gamble but booking too far out can miss some great deals. Often find the best is around 3-4 mths prior but then I am aways flying for work and can be flexiable with dates and trying to get the best seats. If it's a holiday with fixed dates you probably need to be more precise.  Virgin Australia off a good service to US in B777 which are nice to fly in (unless it's a MAS flight).

[ATC]

We just start looking and try various date combinations to see what impact it has on the price.

If you're happy to vary the start / end date you can sometimes save a few dollars.

We often go to LastMinute.com.au for our flights.
Once we have a price, then go and check with the majors eg Qantas, Emirates, BA, Lufthansa (OK - we go to europe but same principal)

Be careful to make sure that there is enough time for transit in connecting flights, particularly through US airports.

[MDS69]

We went to the US west coast last year in September for 2 weeks. Our price was around $14k for flights, airport transfers, theme parks, accommodation etc. We got a call from the travel agent on a Thursday in March 2013 that if we paid a 50% deposit by the following Tuesday and the balance 4 weeks later Air NZ were offering the same options we wanted for $4k less BUT we had to fly via NZ with a stop over there and on the way back of around 2 hours each. That saving was half our spending money
Having never flown overseas before I suppose we didn't really know any different on how much better a direct flight would have been but happy to cop the savings. It was a night flight as well which softened the blow a little.

So I guess I am saying as others have mentioned you can get deals if you don't book too early. We have had excellent savings on ocean cruise by booking at travel shows.

[Doug.b]

i use this http://www.skyscanner.com.au/

[patyv]

Try zuji travel.i have used before for cheap airfares they also do hotels,good luck

[fuji]

Looking at 1100 to 1500 basic flight return L.A. I suggest booking flight through agent and find your own hotels on Trip Advisor/Expedia/booking.com. Where are you going? It may be their spring holidays so it might be dearer. I am going in November, colder but cheaper.