Confusion over flights for October 2012

Hi everyone im new to all of this so forgive me if my question is one you hear over and over.

I have been talking to several travel agents today about booking flights from Glasgow to Orlando in October 2012. Big named travel agents like Thomas Cook are informing me that the flight is booking up quickly and quoting me nearly £900 for an economy seat. However when I spoke to an independent travel agent they told me the flights are not available until November. I am now scared that if I wait until November there wont be seats avialable. Please help, are the big agents just trying to scare me into booking their inferior flights (which are quoted at much less)and should I wait?

Thanks Ashley

I thought bookings could only be made 330 days in advance

Hi Ashley

Welcome to V-Flyer

Travel agents will have an allocation that they can sell from one particular fare "bucket", and when they're gone, they are gone. Seats for general sale are released 336 days before. Not sure how many seats on any particular flight are reserved for travel agent bookings, but there will be plenty of others left.

Not sure what is a good price for economy though, perhaps someone else can advise. One thing you need to consider is being set on particular dates, especially in school holidays (and sometimes the week before and after) will push up the price.

Edited to add:
Just had a quick look for school holiday dates this year and prices are around the £900 mark, obviously all of the cheapest fares will have gone some time ago, but with what looks like just one flight per week availability is obviously keeping prices high.

Regards
R3dV

I certainly wouldn't pay anywhere near £900 for economy - PE yes. It depends on the dates, if you have flexibility, I would wait and try from 336 days before. Even if not, you should still find a fare and I would guess it would be lower than £900.

As a benchmark, a fly-drive package for 2 adults flying from Glasgow on the 13 Oct 2012 for 2 weeks is coming out at £858 each on the Virgin holidays website.

Regards
R3dV

Thanks for your advice everyone. I think I will wait until November. I'm also willing to fly from Manchester so hopefully I will find a flight. You said that 900 was a bit much for economy does anyone have a rough idea at how much I should expect to be paying for premium economy?

Many thanks
Ashley

Thanks for your advice everyone. I think I will wait until November. I'm also willing to fly from Manchester so hopefully I will find a flight. You said that 900 was a bit much for economy does anyone have a rough idea at how much I should expect to be paying for premium economy?

Many thanks
Ashley

Hello - it does vary greatly througout the year depending on availability but I would say £500-600 is what i've seen when looking.

Luke

£500 to £600?

Crikey, I've never seen a figure as low as that.

Current M + M seems to be around £900 mark.

Looking at the availability for the remainder of season in lower demand weeks in June its £684 and in high demand (school hols) its around £915.

There could be cheaper flights at -336 days (from the return), but I think low availability from GLA will keep prices high.

The GLA-MCO route is seasonal from April to October, and only operates every Saturday and most Sundays.

Ashley, I think if you can go from Manchester you will get better availability and lower prices - for example, a flight around Feb half term next year is £560 if you were to book it this far in advance.

Regards
R3dV