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.
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).
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.
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 :cup:
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.
i use this http://www.skyscanner.com.au/ (http://www.skyscanner.com.au/)
Try zuji travel.i have used before for cheap airfares they also do hotels,good luck
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.