Flights to LA - Dec/Jan

The Black Oil

Hey,

I've been looking at flights Dublin - LA for around the third week of December, returning first week of January. They were low-mid €700 not so long ago (2-3 weeks ago), now they're coming up at €800-1,000 ish. I've checked Delta, AA, BA, Aer Lingus and so on. Not looking to book urgently, but I'm hoping they drop. If not, what should I expect to pay for flights around this time of year? Thanks.

Novella

Did you search on http://www.skyscanner.ie/?

I just did a search on there for the third week of December, returning first week of January and got prices less than 600 with KLM + Delta.

The Black Oil

Thanks. I saw one or two options - one with 3 flights to get LA. Hmm, I've done that before for the US...long day and my bag was held up by 2 days. Happens. Also saw sub €700 US Airways with a 14 hour layover in Philadelphia on the return...

Novella

The Black Oil wrote: »

Thanks. I saw one or two options - one with 3 flights to get LA. Hmm, I've done that before for the US...long day and my bag was held up by 2 days. Happens. Also saw sub €700 US Airways with a 14 hour layover in Philadelphia on the return...

Oh, really? I flew to LA in June and I booked through Skyscanner and there was just one short stop in London. It cost me less than 550. I do tend to watch flights on there a lot though, so I could have been monitoring that for a few weeks before I booked!

The Black Oil

I think like most of us, I'm a little suspicious that the airlines know your PC is looking at the site and through cookies, etc might adjust the flights accordingly. :pac: Or they drop when it's quiet. Who knows. I probably won't book until late Sept/Oct.

I read another thread saying you don't book through Skyscanner - is it just that the link takes you out to another third party or the airline?

Novella

The Black Oil wrote: »

I think like most of us, I'm a little suspicious that the airlines know your PC is looking at the site and through cookies, etc might adjust the flights accordingly. :pac: Or they drop when it's quiet. Who knows. I probably won't book until late Sept/Oct.

I read another thread saying you don't book through Skyscanner - is it just that the link takes you out to another third party or the airline?

I was clearing my cookies and checking on different computers - my laptop, my brothers, my work computer! :pac:

I am actually going to Oregon in two weeks and I found that flight on Skyscanner, pretty sure it then directed me to KLM which is where I booked and paid.

FISMA

The Black Oil,

Airlines no longer release their sale seats 10 months ahead of time. Instead, they now wait until about 3 - 4 months ahead to release these seats.

Thus, we are somewhere in between the 3 & 4 month time to buy. Your best deal could have past, if a lot of seats were sold. However, it could be yet to come.

I have noticed spikes in prices, only to retrace.

I am not sure if it really works anymore, but I have had good luck with prices when checking on a Tues or Wed at 15:00 EST. I have noticed higher prices on a Fri or Sat evening/night.

So, I would keep checking the American sites everyday at 10:00GMT.

Note, that you have a Friday 13th, Christmas, and New Year's day in your schedule. If you are willing to fly those days, I bet you'll save some money.

I just tried United.com flying out on Dec 13 and returning on Jan 8 and found a price of $849 (€632) with one stop in DC.

Good luck.

The Black Oil

Thanks both. Flight dates are roughly Dec 18th - Jan 3rd, or a day two either side.

BA's prices seemed to drop a little there. Delta's seemed to be heading up, then dropped again, but were higher than when I posted originally.

The_Morrigan

The Black Oil wrote: »

Thanks both. Flight dates are roughly Dec 18th - Jan 3rd, or a day two either side.

BA's prices seemed to drop a little there. Delta's seemed to be heading up, then dropped again, but were higher than when I posted originally.

Aerlingus have a sale on I just booked flights yesterday to LA for 680euro.

The Black Oil

Coming it at a €1,000 there^^. Delta came in at €727, so room for optimism, hopefully.

The_Morrigan

The Black Oil wrote: »

Coming it at a €1,000 there^^. Delta came in at €727, so room for optimism, hopefully.

Must be a peak time you are flying then. I'm flying October/ November

The Black Oil

Aye.
Have you been there before?

The_Morrigan

The Black Oil wrote: »

Aye.
Have you been there before?

Nope, first time. I'm only in LA for three days before I hop on an escorted tour across the States.

The Black Oil

Out of interest, who is that with?

The_Morrigan

The Black Oil wrote: »

Out of interest, who is that with?

The tour is with topdeck travel.

The Black Oil

I've booked a trip for earlier in December rather than over the Christmas period. That very much affects the cost of flights, which are closer to the 5-600 mark. I'm still checking each airline to find a good deal. One thing that's popped up is to fly via Heathrow - Dublin - LHR - LAX and it says the LHR to LAX leg is on a 747. I realise that might change, but I've never been on one before and all told it's coming in at about €500. There's a 2 hour wait in Heathrow after coming from Dublin, and I'm wondering that's enough time to navigate LHR to make the connection. I did it before a few years ago and didn't find it too bad, don't recall how much time I had, though. Also, I presume customs happens in LAX when I arrive, then?

The_Morrigan

The Black Oil wrote: »

I've booked a trip for earlier in December rather than over the Christmas period. That very much affects the cost of flights, which are closer to the 5-600 mark. I'm still checking each airline to find a good deal. One thing that's popped up is to fly via Heathrow - Dublin - LHR - LAX and it says the LHR to LAX leg is on a 747. I realise that might change, but I've never been on one before and all told it's coming in at about €500. There's a 2 hour wait in Heathrow after coming from Dublin, and I'm wondering that's enough time to navigate LHR to make the connection. I did it before a few years ago and didn't find it too bad, don't recall how much time I had, though. Also, I presume customs happens in LAX when I arrive, then?

If you fly to the UK you can't get pre clearance im Dublin or Shannon and you have to do it on America. I wouldn't advise that. You're best to fly straight to the States.

The Black Oil

Less hassle?

The_Morrigan

The Black Oil wrote: »

Less hassle?

Less hassle and less time consuming if you imagine the amount of flights that will hit LAX, the majority of which will need to go through immigration. We have a great preclearance facility to use here to avoid all that crap, especially if you've been travelling for up to 20 hours.

The Black Oil

I've booked through BA, have done that before. Flying with American Airlines - DUB - JFK - LAX, same on return. €566. Happy with that. I wasn't really prepared to go to up a few hundred more with Aer Lingus - I'd rather spend the difference in the US than on getting there.