MAN - LAS in 2011

Quick question for those in the know.

We are looking to visit family in Bakersfield and quite fancy taking the direct flight from Manchester to Vegas. Last time we went via Heathrow and it meant for a v long day on the return journey.

Anyway. I can see from online booking that its a 747. Will this be an "old" layout or will it have a refitted PE cabin ?

Also, the prices for the dates we want are now out, and are coming in at a shade under £5K for the four of us. Are these likely to get any cheaper as time passes or during January sale time ?

Thanks.

V

[Darren Wheeler]

At present, if the flight is showing a 747 ex-MAN then it will be the cloth PE seats and PE upstairs. Having said that, a lot can happen in between now and your planned flight, including the long-awaiting refurbishment of the LGW/MAN fleet.

As for prices, again, anything can happen as fares can go up as well as down. Best rule is find a price you are happy with and book it there and then. Once booked, never check what the current price is, as it may be a sickener.

I know what you mean about not checking prices once booked.... but you just cant help yourself can you

It is quite a difficult decision, especially as Air NZ will have their flash new PE cabins in circulation by then from Heathrow. but then again, that means a 15hr return trip as opposed to 10.

[Neil]

LAS is one of those routes that rarely seems to be in the sale, and whilst part of me thinks they might do something to help launch the route, another part thinks that it will probably popular enough without anything.

As for the refits, it is going to be mid next year before they start, so I guess you would be lucky to get a reburfed one for your flight, but it's not totally out of the question.

Neil

Although you say you have dates you didn't say what they were or how fixed they are.

If they are are busy times so 1/2 term / easter etc then it maybe better booking now rather than waiting for a sale that may or may not happen.

If your dates are flexible then waiting might be better but thats still no guarentee that there will be better fares.

Dates are fixed in so much it has to be departing Sunday 24th July (first flight after school closes) and back on either the 18th or 21st Aug as GCSE results come out the week after.

There is scope to go on the Thursday flight, missing 2 days school, but there is not much in the prices.

Air NZ PE is coming in at £800 more and would give me a bit more flexibility on the dates as the flights run daily.