Direct flight prices from Manchester

[AhoyShipmates]

Our next trip will be 2021. What do you think - are the current Manchester to Orlando direct prices of £1200-plus for August 2020 likely to be the same next year thanks to the lack of competition?
I’ve been tracking indirect prices but our son’s additional needs make it unlikely that we could go indirect. So unless direct flights to Orlando return to £900 we’re left with a choice between Heathrow to Miami or booking a package. As Tui’s come out next month I feel so undecided!

[tllasa]

Keep an eye on TUI fly-drive packages. Whilst more expensive than flight only, they include the hold baggage which is around £60 pp . They are available prior to flight only deals I think. We also found this time that we could find fly-drives on the TUI app on my phone that did not come up on an internet search. Don't know why that would be though. We have just come back from ours and didn't take the included car, just booked our own through Expedia.

[baboons]

Not necessarily lack of competition as much as reduced capacity. Flights are full/nearly full, so only the most expensive seats remain.
There's a lot of time between now and 2021 flights going on sale for this to change. The slots vacated by Thomas Cook will be sold next month so we'll have an idea of what's going to happen then.

As above, TUI will be first on sale so be ready and jump on a price you're happy with.

[Kraken]

If looking at fly-drive packages, take care to ensure that all the insurance cover you need for the rental car is included in the price (or factor it in if not included). With some operators it isn't and this is buried deep in the small-print.

As things currently stand, I can't see prices dropping much as the law of supply & demand kicks in. There is less supply due to the demise of TC & demand for Florida / Disney will not nosedive in a hurry.

For flight only, flying indirect normally helps to reduce the price a little. Also when fares are first released, it's only the expensive ones for the first week or two (the airlines take advantage of the "we absolutely must fly on these set dates" customers who book as soon as they are released). Then a week or two later the cheaper fares start to filter into the system.

[Nimbus]

Originally Posted by Kraken

For flight only, flying indirect normally helps to reduce the price a little. Also when fares are first released, it's only the expensive ones for the first week or two (the airlines take advantage of the "we absolutely must fly on these set dates" customers who book as soon as they are released). Then a week or two later the cheaper fares start to filter into the system.

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Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case for next year. Direct return flights wholly within August 2020 are all over £1000pp. That's about 3 weeks after they've been out. So the prices are still high.

And there's a significant difference between indirect and direct. Indirect flights can be half the price.

We're lucky - we're flying out in late August and returning in early September - and the prices for direct flights outside of school holidays are very reasonable; about £450pp for Econ Light. If our holiday was 2 weeks earlier then we'd have to pay £1370pp for direct flights instead.

[orlandonewbie]

Don’t forget Gatwick to Tampa as another direct option. Less of a drive to Orlando at the other end.