Hi all, I'm no experience booking flights but i'm looking to do that very soon. I know about sky scanner, but also know if you look up sky scanner, then look up the airline that are offering flights on skyscanner you can get the flights cheaper direct from the airline company. So i had a look and was getting flights directly on british airways website to manila for just over £500. That was a week ago, and now when i look it says they have no flights. Or the flights are still on skyscanner for like 8 amd 9 hundred quid or more, but not of the actual airkine company website. Should i maybe call the airline company to ask for flight prices or what do any of you guys think here? i am hoping to buy a ticket in next 2 days, and all the better if i can get some idea what is best way to go about it. I find the whole thing with flying quite unintuitive and stressful to be honest. So if anyone is willing to give me any pointers i'd be most appreciative. I'm considering calling a travel agents tomorrow to see what they say, is that a good idea or will they just try to lure me to getting a booking with them? Any thought will be welcomed. Thanks
Clear the cache and cookies on your browser, and then check your original search again. Do that after each search. Skyscanner, then direct to airline is the method I prefer also. No middlemen. Better to pay by credit card too, if you have one, then your money is protected if anything goes wrong.
BA doesn't fly to manila. In fact dont think any direct flights any more since Philippine Airlines pulled out of route. Used Qatar in the past which will code share with BA I suspect as part of one world alliance. I use sky scanner to identify potential airlines and flights. There are cheaper options via agents on there but normally prefer to book direct even if more expensive as makes life easier if any issues and cost difference isn't hugh normally. Travel agents are there to sell you a ticket although I like trailfinders as they gave been able to find decent deals before especially if have shop nearby. One thing to be aware of is if flights are cheap normally taking a hit with long layover on way. Also potentially using some no name middleman which may have other restrictions on stuff like luggage or changes.
Seats are repriced constantly depending on how long till the flight departs and how well the flight has sold already. So if you try to book a long time in advance the airline may just be asking full price as it expects to sell out. As the departure date approaches you could find that the flight is not selling well so the airline makes some promo offers available at a really good discount but if it is selling well then expect them to still be asking full price. Usually when it's really close to the departure date prices will be close to the full seat price but sometimes you will get a bargain if the flight is still not full. Airlines make their money on business and first class but they need economy to be full just to pay the basic costs of the flight, the profit comes from the business customers filling up the good seats up front. I check-in about four hours from now I will almosst certainly be offered a chance to upgrade to business class and the offer will almost certainly be silly money north of £700 if they offer me it for £490 I'd think about it but they'll only do that if there are a lot of business seats unoccupied, if it's only a couple they'll ask the higher price. BR28016 is correct there are no direct flights from the UK since Philippine Airlines pullled out of that route, I think you might have been on a dodgy website if you got a direct flight price of £500, however flights will be available one day and gone the next, the travel agents get allocated a certain portion of the seats on a flight at a predetermined price but once they've sold them they're gone and there will be an expiry date on those prices where the travel agency will basically hand back the rights if they haven't sold by a particular date, that's why you will sometimes see deals on skyscanner that are cheaper than the going direct to the airline website but that really applies to the big online agents these days like Expedia. I agree with PhilPensioner I will check skyscanner but ultimatley book on the airline website and pay by credit card. For me the only real advice I can give is buy your flight when you see a price that you are willing to pay if you try to shop around too much you stand a good chance of missing that opportunity. Also as PhilPensioner mentions airlines do traffic shaping based on the interest they see on their websites and feedback from the likes of skyscanner, if you appear interested in a certain set of dates you will see the price starting to go up if you come back to a website after a day or two, so clearing cookies or browsing using "InPrivate" mode will give you a clearer view of the actual prices on offer.
Sorry if I’m repeating anything already said but also prices are often based on length of flight including stop overs and number of stops. “Cheap” flights will often take 30 hours or more to get there with a lengthy stop over or even 2 stops. I always prefer Middle East airlines with stops of 3 hours as it’s roughly half way and you’re ready for a stretch. Although my last 2 flights were both excellent - Brunei airlines (14 hours then 2+ to Manila) and Singapore airlines who definitely have the most gorgeous female staff !!!
Thanks. I am useless at this stuff. Have only booked flights about twice in my life and they were not so long flights. Italy twice. Is it better that i phone the airline to book so they can kind of guide me through the process?
I think it’s always a case of sitting down with a cup of coffee and spending a while searching. Important as already mentioned - clear all search history first. I have used Opodo, cheap flights, sky scanner, and on the odd accasion, the airline itself (but rare). The gamble is always when you actually book, are you getting the best price today or will it go down or even up, I’m afraid most of the time it’s just your decision on when to book. I think any return flight London to Manila (return) of 20 ish hours with one stop over and around £600-£700 is good. I’ve just done a quick search on Opodo and Oman airline return 18 hour one stop flight June/july £652 which I would be happy with !
Would someone please supply me the correct skyscanner link. I see skyscanner.com And skyscanner.net I don't know if there's a difference and want to be sure i'm not on a dodgy site.
Yeah, i'm going in October as i have too wait to acrue holidays in my job. Not the best month to go as i understand but can't do much about it. But i see flights for about the same prices you state..... Actually i take it back, i see nothing as liw as that now and i cleared my chache and browsing history before searching. Man i find this super stressful.
My two pennies : https://www.skyscanner.com.ph/ About £450 at todays rate - dunno what else they add on ! Hmmm maybe Covid24
I'm ot getting ANYTHING NEAR that price. I'm in Scotland so that'll make a difference. All i'm seeing for similar flight times from glasgow, which seems the cheapest port is like £860
Flying from Glasgow will make a massive difference to the price, I'm near Birmingham but we always fly from Heathrow and occasionally Gatwick so much cheaper but not so convenient.
Don't they do a bus down to Heathrow? When I lived in Norfolk, a while back admittedly, I used to be able to get a bus to Heathrow... much cheaper if you can do that
Try Emirates or Etihad or Qatar, from Manchester. Then your bus/train ride won't be so long, and you'll be on a first class airline.
Using Opodo (which I tend to favour) cheapest Manchester flight 1 Oct - 1 Nov £774 Going from Heathrow £446 (same dates )just over 18 hours with air China, be hard to beat that
We just flew to Manila via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines for just shy of £600. I bought the tickets in June 23 for a flight 8/9 months later. My missus tells me that it's always best to buy the flights six weeks before you fly. Curious, I checked the price of the tickets I'd bought. Six weeks before we were due to fly, they were over £1000 each A word of warning. Turkish Airlines treat you like a budgerigar. They tell you to close the window blind in the hope that you will fall asleep for the duration of the flight, and not bother them by asking for things. Again, my missus told me off, saying that I was exaggerating as usual. I nearly choked on my cuttlefish bone! In short, don't fly Turkish. Not a great experience. Next time, we are planning to stop over in Bangkok. At my age, it's the cultural side of things that attracts, and a boat ride and a stroll round some of their spectacular temples appeals more than a soapy four-hander, but we might get the best of both worlds when we visit the elephant sanctuary if they've got a big bucket.
Just checked skyscanner and the cheapest month is October, from Heathrow and booking through Air China the fare comes out at £460 return with 1 checked bag. https://www.airchina.co.uk OUTBOUND: London - Manila Tuesday 01 Oct 2024Tue 01 Oct 2024 From 20:25LHRLondon , Heathrow AirportTerminal 2 Boeing 777-300ER Economy Class (P) Adult 1 Piece(s) Breakfast , Hot Meal Connection time: 6h15m Wednesday 02 Oct 2024Wed 02 Oct 2024 From 19:30PEKBeijing, Capital International AirportTerminal 3 Boeing 737 Max 8 Economy Class (P) Adult 1 Piece(s) Hot Meal Total Duration 20h55m INBOUND: Manila - London Thursday 31 Oct 2024Thu 31 Oct 2024 From 06:20MNLManila, Ninoy Aquino International AirportTerminal 1 Boeing 737 Max 8 Economy Class (P) Adult 1 Piece(s) Meal service available Connection time: 1h35m Thursday 31 Oct 2024Thu 31 Oct 2024 From 12:40PEKBeijing, Capital International AirportTerminal 3 Airbus A350-900 Economy Class (P) Adult 1 Piece(s) Meal service available Total Duration 17h35m Fare Details Flight price Adult Base Fare £ 100.00 Tax, Fees and Charges £ 360.49 Number x1 Total £ 460.49 Flight Total £ 460.49 Round trip total for all passengers including taxes and fees. Total price £ 460.49 I have flown with Air China they are much better than our own local no frills airlines, they are without doubt the cheapest and if you are on a budget you won't find any that are cheaper, bit of a long wait in Beijing on the way out but short and sweet waiting time coming back, personally I would go with them and get a National Express or Megabus return to Heathrow, they do drop offs at the various Heathrow Terminals.
Just looked at National Express and Megabus not cheap and takes forever with 2 changes, I would consider flying to Heathrow from Glasgow return, that cuts out the hassle and aint that much more expensive, might be cheaper from Edinburgh..
