V-Flyer

Have been looking at VA website for flights LGW to MCO for next Easter. I am beginning to wonder whether the prices I have seen today are directly related to the number of searches I have done on the VA website ? They have gone up by 100 since this morning.
Or am I being paranoid [ii]

Are the prices likely to keep going up for this busy period next year ? Should we book asap ?
Any advice much appreciated.


Thanks
L2H

Don't know if searches affect prices - I imagine bookings do.

Don't know about LGW - MCO, but MAN - MCO gets very busy over Easter Hols.

If you wish to go on specific date then I would book now. Might be cheaper later on, might be dearer later on, might be sold out later on.

I have made lots of repeat price checks on VS and haave not noticed this happen. Perhaps as stevebrass says it changes due to actual bookings / holds.

I have heard that some of the LCCs do increase the prices to frequent price checkers. I was advised to do the searches then clear all cookies from my browser before making an actual LCC booking.

IIRC when you search for a fare for a particular date the website 'holds' that booking for a specific time (I think about 20 minutes) so if it is the last seats in that bucket then the next search will show a higher fare. It could be therefore that several people are searching for Easter who do not book at which stage the price may go down. I remember one Sunday afternoon searching for a Z or PE to MCO and one couldn't be had for love nor money on that day. The next day the flight was wide open.

Thanks all [y] [:D]

quote:Originally posted by honey lamb
IIRC when you search for a fare for a particular date the website 'holds' that booking for a specific time (I think about 20 minutes) so if it is the last seats in that bucket then the next search will show a higher fare. It could be therefore that several people are searching for Easter who do not book at which stage the price may go down. I remember one Sunday afternoon searching for a Z or PE to MCO and one couldn't be had for love nor money on that day. The next day the flight was wide open.


Yep - I can second that.

Wait out an hour or so then try again

Hackneyguy

quote:Originally posted by tontybear

I have heard that some of the LCCs do increase the prices to frequent price checkers. I was advised to do the searches then clear all cookies from my browser before making an actual LCC booking.


Can I give you some advise Chris ? [:?]

DON'T book with an LCC at ANY price [:w]

quote:Originally posted by hackneyguy
quote:Originally posted by tontybear

I have heard that some of the LCCs do increase the prices to frequent price checkers. I was advised to do the searches then clear all cookies from my browser before making an actual LCC booking.


Can I give you some advise Chris ? [:?]

DON'T book with an LCC at ANY price [:w]



Oh Ian ! I only did it the once and have done my pennance !

Am I forgiven?

[:X]

Also remember that most systems can't cope with splitting fares. What I mean by that is that an airline may have 2 seats left at 100, 2 seats at 150 and 3 seats at 200 on a flight. So if you are checking for 1 or 2 seats, you'll see the lowest fare, but if you are asking for 3 seats, it will give the first fare that it can find 3 seats at. So, the fare appears to have increased, but actually those two 100 seats are still there.

quote:Originally posted by Sealink
Also remember that most systems can't cope with splitting fares. What I mean by that is that an airline may have 2 seats left at 100, 2 seats at 150 and 3 seats at 200 on a flight. So if you are checking for 1 or 2 seats, you'll see the lowest fare, but if you are asking for 3 seats, it will give the first fare that it can find 3 seats at. So, the fare appears to have increased, but actually those two 100 seats are still there.


Well, I never knew that. Something to look out for.

quote:Originally posted by Sealink
Also remember that most systems can't cope with splitting fares. What I mean by that is that an airline may have 2 seats left at 100, 2 seats at 150 and 3 seats at 200 on a flight. So if you are checking for 1 or 2 seats, you'll see the lowest fare, but if you are asking for 3 seats, it will give the first fare that it can find 3 seats at. So, the fare appears to have increased, but actually those two 100 seats are still there.



I never knew that either.
We are gonna book the flights tonight so fingers crossed they don't go up again

Thanks again all

FLO-RIDA here we come !

L2H

Go for it! Keep us posted![y]