Travel to USA Questions

[MDS69]

We are travelling to the US east coast in Jan 2016. We have booked Disney World accommodation due to needing to be there for a certain event.
We haven't booked flights or other accommodation like New York or Hawaii on the way home yet. We are considering doing this part ourselves to try to save some $$$ by using airbnb etc. When we went to the US west coast in 2013 we booked everything through a travel agent.
My question is there is a USA travel expo in Sydney on the first weekend in August. We are considering holding off on flights etc and try to get deals/bargains at the expo. Do you think this leaving it too late.

[achjimmy]

August shouldn't be too late. You can pay more booking flights to early.  I suspect that the airlines watch there yield and if bookings are not to a certain level they start discounting. Unless it's a known high traffic time I've found a bout 3 mths out usually gets good tickets to to the U.S. but once they drop they go quick.

[below sea level]

I've always been able to match a travel agent's price just by doing a little searching. Go direct to airline websites and try a bunch of options to find the best one for you.

I lived on the east coast for 5 years so feel free to ask if you need advice about things you're planning to do.

[jw2170]

We have been to USA in 2012 and 2013. Both times booked all our own accommodation online direct with hotels/motels.  I found prices were better than from Wotif   etc.  Good discounts if you book a early.

2012, flew to New York and drove back to LA via "all of the US"..LOL
2013, flew to LA and then to NY.

Booked the air fares via a travel agent and got good deals through Virgin Aust.

There was a travel expo in Sydney recently, so not sure when the next one will be. 

Next trip, in May 2015, is via Hawaiian Airlines to Las Vegas and back to Hawaii.   They seem to be advertising good prices at the moment..

[MDS69]

We have been to USA in 2012 and 2013. Both times booked all our own accommodation online direct with hotels/motels.  I found prices were better than from Wotif   etc.  Good discounts if you book a early.

2012, flew to New York and drove back to LA via "all of the US"..LOL
2013, flew to LA and then to NY.

Booked the air fares via a travel agent and got good deals through Virgin Aust.

There was a travel expo in Sydney recently, so not sure when the next one will be. 

Next trip, in May 2015, is via Hawaiian Airlines to Las Vegas and back to Hawaii.   They seem to be advertising good prices at the moment..

Thanks Jim and bsl.

Other Jim, we went to that expo but is was too early for airfares to the US to be released.

Thanks all for some more ideas.

[Paul (SA)]

I kept an eye on flight prices using skyscanner.com

Flight Centre were happy to price match anything I could book through that site.

[Palmer]

Handy info coming here.

[oldmate]

we have always booked our o/s holidays ourselves. we have found alot of times, the airlines own website has sometimes been the cheapest. same with hotels. keep an eye on them also.

[gronk]

Just got back yesterday from USA, and we found Flight Centre was as cheap as anyone ...keep an eye out for specials..

We booked a few hotels before leaving ( Hotels Combined ) as we wanted to be assured of accommodation on some days, but mostly we rocked up on the day.

We used some discount vouchers out of travel leaflets which were available from servos or information centres for each state or area we were in..

As for expos etc, know your prices so you know if your getting a bargain or not !!

[jw2170]

Also keep in mind, if you have airline points you want to use, you have to book direct with the airline.  You cannot use the points if you go through FlightCentre or Escape Travel (who we used in 2012 and 2013)...

[achjimmy]

Personally I find best use of points is upgrades rather than flights.

[achjimmy]

This article claims 6 weeks before is the best time to buy?  Maybe cutting a bit fine for holiday planning I think.

http://www.traveller.com.au/when-is-the-best-time-to-book-your-holiday-3244h

[MDS69]

We don't have frequent flyer points. I might register for this trip for future.
Are they a specific airline thing or general air travel. How do they work and any recommendations. Thanks.

[dales133]

In my experience frequent flyer programs don't save the average person much if anything at all.
We fly several times a year and usualy pay for tickets 6 months or so ahead when  there are sales on and we arnt bound by airline loyalty due to programs.
You'll get much better deals by being a bit flexible with your dates and booking everything else around the cheapest flight you can find

[jw2170]

In 2012 and 2013 we flew to NY via Virgin/Delta.

IN 2015 we were going to fly Las Vegas, NY and return.

We had a enough points for the Las Vegas -NY sector to be free...[had a change of mind with the dropping $, and now going Las Vegas - Hawaii via another air line - Hawaiian] - and due to my error, that was only 1/2 the points we should have accrued....

[HuskyInAuz]

Kayak and Expedia are a couple other sites used while in USA.

I book our own airline tickets directly with a US airline which usually beats the other sites.. (Sunday and Monday nights here)

[Oldandslow]

If you google "cheap flights" it will come up with many online booking agencies. Check them all then check the airlines directly to compare their prices. We have always booked our flights and accommodation ourselves when travelling OS and the differences in prices between the different booking agencies is often substantial. We usually start looking about 6 to 12 months before departure and jump in when prices take a major plunge.