Booked my flights for December

[blue1878]

I know its only February and my trip is in December but I decided to book now because I got a good price.

 

I always fly from Manchester airport which is only about a 35 minute drive from my house

 

In recent years I have flown with Etihad but last year I flew with Emeriates. It was the first time I flew with them for about 10 years.  And I was made up with the airline.  I got a good price with them and I was made up with the 4 flights.  For one I felt that I had more leg room.  The service was good and the inflight entertainment was very good. 

 

So last week I went online with Emirates and put in my dates.  

Fly out on the 6th December 2017

Return flight on the 4th January 2018

Which would mean 28 nights in Thailand

 

Anyway I managed to get the flights I wanted and the price was £651 return

 

The emeriates website offers Economy seats at various prices.  For the outward flights (Man to Dubai and Dubai to BKK) I managed to get the cheapest price.  Which was £254.98 for economy special.  Booking the cheapest has restrictions.  Luggage is 20KG, Refunds not permitted and seat selection is another selection.

For the return journey I got the flights I wanted but the two cheapest Economy prices were already booked.  So I had to book Economy Flex at  £395.80

 

I manged to bring the price down by £70 because I am a member of Emirates Skyward FF and earned airmiles from my last trip.  So my flights cost went down from £651 to £581

 

Whilst online I booked my seats.  I always book my seats well in advance because I want to make sure I get what I want.  I always like aisle seats and aisle seats as near to the front of the plane as possible. I like aisle seats because if I need to go the toilet I'm not disturbing anybody.  And I want to sit as near to the front of the plane so that I can get of the plane ASAP.  Flying doesnt bother me but after a long flight I just want to get off the plane.  If I'm in transit I'd rather spend my time in the Terminal relaxing rather than being stuck on the plane for ages because I'm at the back.  Also if I'm near the front of the plane when I get to BKK airport or Manchester airport at the end of my journeys sitting at the front allows me to get to immigration very quickly and I also get to the luggage carousal quickly which makes it easier to get my luggage.  Anyway when I came to book my aisle seats I had to pay £20 for each of my outward bound flight seats.  From last October Emirates started charging customers who had purchesed the cheapest economy seats.  Customers booking Economy special and Economy saver are effected.  I could have waited till 48 hours before my flights to book the seats for free or wait till I got to Manchester airport BUT by then I think the seats that I wanted would have gone.

For my return flights I was able to book my seats for free.  This was because the cheapest Economy Seats had already been booked so I booked Economy flex which ment I could book the seats for free

 

Anyway I have my flights booked so I now have my holiday to look forward.

 

A short while ago I sent a message to a facebook friend who works at the hotel I always use and told her my dates and she is going to see her boss and book me my usual room and will sort out a special price for me

[Harvey707]

If you're happy with the price all good.....as you say its the inbound premium date thats pushed the price up

[davidge]

Always a nice feeling to have your flights booked.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to go next Xmas. There in July then it looks like a year July will be the next time.

 

There's not a 'best' time to look for cheaper flights any more.

If you see a price you're happy with, on an airline you're also happy with, then just go for it.

 

The first few days in January are always a peak time so fares unlikely to fall much for flying back then.

[blue1878]

Always a nice feeling to have your flights booked.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to go next Xmas. There in July then it looks like a year July will be the next time.

 

There's not a 'best' time to look for cheaper flights any more.

If you see a price you're happy with, on an airline you're also happy with, then just go for it.

 

The first few days in January are always a peak time so fares unlikely to fall much for flying back then.

Yes its always a nice feeling to have the flights booked and I am happy with the price

 

It's a shame your not in Pattaya in December because we could have tried to have met up for a few beers

[samlin]

Seems like a good price, enjoy your trip.

[tez4life]

I would have gone with cheapest £505 with etihad personally

[Tarl]

Recently started flying Emirates. Love then and now my airline of choice.

[Harvey707]

Oman would have been better out of Manchester at £505 live price now standard connections

Cathay Pacific £525

[blue1878]

I would have gone with cheapest £505 with etihad personally

I like Etihad and flew with them for a number of years.  Then last year I got a good deal with Emirates and went with them.  I would have considered Etihad this year but for the fact that I found the emirates flights a lot better than etihad.  I had more leg room on the emirates flights and the planes seemed more modern.  And I actually liked Dubai better than abu Dhabi.

Also I just did my own price comparison.  I went on Etihad's website and priced the flights I used to fly on when I flew with this airline.  And the price that I got quoted was  £642.65 which was only slightly cheaper than the flights I've got booked with Emirates.  I may have got a cheaper price with Etihad had a done a price comparison last week.

Recently started flying Emirates. Love then and now my airline of choice.

I was very impressed with Emirates when I flew with them last December

[spider0064]

I booked myself a week or so ago for £660 flying from Gatwick just after xmas and happy with that price for the time of year, wether or not the the price comes down I'll just have to see but I'm booked and that's what matters to me.

 

With two trips booked and one more to book I'm sure the time will fly, 3 weeks till the next one for me even though the days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like months.

[davidge]

the days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like months.

Tell me about it!

[iluvasians/latins]

Could not fathom booking so far in advance. Anticipation would kill me. One time I took some time off at the instance, got online and got a hell of a price on airline tickets, and was gone the next evening. Love doing shit like this.