Booking Flights

[MargaretMouse]

I have never booked flights separate always a package... all new to me...if I book eg VA or BA, when is the best time to look and also do I wait to my return flight is realised or do I book them separate, I hope that makes sense. I also have 8 thousand VA points I no that’s hardly any, but can I use them at all. I have also thought or maybe doing a fly drive and not picking up the car, but does this make it more expensive usually. I have also heard you can book a flight and add a cheap hotel for the night and not use it and this can make it cheaper and you then have ATOL protection. I’m not going to September 2021 and this is a new process for me, so any help please as I’m a newbie to this.

[mick]

I can only answer a few of your questions.

VS flights are released 330 days out and BA 355. Most people book returns I guess so those dates are from your return dates.

We always hire a car but we did find a couple of years ago that a BA WT+ Fly Drive with a full size car for 4 weeks was cheaper than the VS PE flight alone.

Lots of Dibbers will say that BA is awful and VS can do no wrong - and naturally vice versa. However for us it's a 9 hour bus journey in a tin tube and ££££ matters to us. No discernible difference that would make us pay a substantial amount more for either.

Booking a fly drive will turn it into a package with ATOL protection and you can normally pay just a deposit.

Mick

[MargaretMouse]

Thanks so much, you have been very helpful.

[Lostbrain]

Flights tend to be expensive when first released and then drop a few weeks later. I recommend keeping an eye on skyscanner, although I'm not sure how that works with a fly drive, I've only ever booked separate flights.

[Peko]

With “legacy” carriers like BA and Virgin, one way fares are expensive. Unless you are booking the flight with miles, it’s always better to wait until your return dates are released and book a return.