Cheap flights?

We were thinking about taking the kids to LA either for the October week (10th-19th October) or at the start of the Christmas holidays (potentially staying for Christmas and/or New Year). We have accommodation with family and only need flights (and possibly car hire) but I'm stumped for cheap flight information. I've just used a site to search which couldn't quote me for the baby, but still gave me a price of £2009 for me, Bob and the boys.

Can anyone give me pointers for finding cheap flights? £2K just seems like a horrendous amount although I know a huge portion of that is taxes. Are we better to leave it last minute? Is £2K a realistic amount to be looking at for flights alone to LA from Glasgow?

[SOLIDBOB]

I think the problem is that you want to go during school holidays. When 1001 other parents have the same idea.

[frostbitejunkie]

I usually check flights on www.travelsupermarket.com then when you find the companies offering the cheapest flights, go to their site direct and put in alternative dates to see if you can get it any lower

Originally Posted by SOLIDBOB

I think the problem is that you want to go during school holidays. When 1001 other parents have the same idea.

Ja man, I don't fancy being charged with whatever it is you get charged with for taking your kids on holiday during schooltime

Originally Posted by frostbitejunkie

I usually check flights on www.travelsupermarket.com then when you find the companies offering the cheapest flights, go to their site direct and put in alternative dates to see if you can get it any lower

Yeah I'd been trying that but I'm so limited with my dates that it's still coming in extortionately expensive I was hoping I was missing some sneaky way of saving a fortune but it's looking unlikely.

[SOLIDBOB]

Originally Posted by Vonnie

Ja man, I don't fancy being charged with whatever it is you get charged with for taking your kids on holiday during schooltime

They've got chicken pox and are highly contagious and should be off school for a couple of weeks!

When my mum had my smallest brother we all had the pox and got packed off up north for a forthnight as it's really dangerous to babies. When's your next baby due?!

Originally Posted by SOLIDBOB

They've got chicken pox and are highly contagious and should be off school for a couple of weeks!

When my mum had my smallest brother we all had the pox and got packed off up north for a forthnight as it's really dangerous to babies. When's your next baby due?!

If they have chicken pox for real they can't fly, although I like the cut of your jib. There won't be a next one, not at least until we've been away because there's NO WAY I can afford to pay for another one to go with us!

[Largest of Gregs]

Any particular reason for LA?

[sickgirl]

Is it not cheaper to get a train to London and fly from there?I don't know about children, it could be a lot of work for you!

Originally Posted by Largest of Gregs

Any particular reason for LA?

Got family still there so we would have good accommodation in a nice area without having to pay for it, and probably use of a car. I'm a bit wary of going places I don't know especially with the kids, but I know LA so I'd be happy pottering about plus it's only a 6 hour drive to Vegas and an hour or so to Anaheim for Disneyland.

Originally Posted by sickgirl

Is it not cheaper to get a train to London and fly from there?I don't know about children, it could be a lot of work for you!

It's not something I'd looked into actually but I don't think it would save a huge amount and for the extra hassle involved in getting from Kings Cross to Heathrow I'm not sure it would be a saving in real terms. I'll have a look and see though - thanks for the tip

[bikuki]

Try Zoom Airlines - the website's not working for me just now or I'd check the flights myself. My dad got some pretty cheap quotes for flying to New York a month ago (as an alternative to me going to Japan).

[PapaZeb]

My flight Virgin airlines Vegas-> London, I got on "mates rates" (their friends and family discount plan), still cost me around $1100ish - with nearly half of that in taxes and fuel surcharges ($700 for the ticket, the rest in fees/fuel/taxes)

It's substantially cheaper come the first couple of weeks of October than the summer so it's a good time to do it. I'd say I'd love to pop over and say hullo, but I'll probably be in Colorado for my best mate's wedding in October

[Jushin Liger]

You might have better luck flying to Vegas and then driving across as a lot of holiday airlines fly into Vegas, eg Thomas Cook etc.

[PapaZeb]

Hmm, if you went the Vegas/drive route - don't forget you've got a fair few of my mates on Twitter following you now - you can appeal to them for a place to crash for an evening to collect yourself before the drive (since that's a boring drive once you get past Zzyzx road)

[djtoast]

the best marie and i could find when we went to LA was about £600 each I think and that was in april - a comparatively cheaper time of year i expect.

hertz have some awesome cars available at LAX or vegas if you do wanna rent something.

GMC Yukon XL, f'rinstance. fit everyone in this, couldya?

If I hire a car, it'll be a hummer!

Originally Posted by Jushin Liger

You might have better luck flying to Vegas and then driving across as a lot of holiday airlines fly into Vegas, eg Thomas Cook etc.

I hadn't actually considered that because I still can't get my head around Vegas having an international airport. Cheers Lovey

Originally Posted by PapaZeb

Hmm, if you went the Vegas/drive route - don't forget you've got a fair few of my mates on Twitter following you now - you can appeal to them for a place to crash for an evening to collect yourself before the drive (since that's a boring drive once you get past Zzyzx road)

is that who all those folk are haha! That actually could be a goer, my uncle could theoretically come and meet us but I reckon I'd be happier just hiring a car and doing the trip myself.