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Booking WIndow?

PostPosted: 16 Nov 2011, 13:43
by mdvipond
Afternoon all. Just a quickie: wondering if there's anyway of seeing/booking flights beyond the 11 month window shown online. Rather desperate to find some Gs out to MCO for late October next year...

Re: Booking WIndow?

PostPosted: 16 Nov 2011, 13:47
by Neil
No, no and no again. Unfortunately you will just have to wait until your 11 month window opens up.

G's to MCO? Good luck with that one!!. Out of MAN it will be impossible, ex LGW, maybe, but I certainly wouldn't expect them to open up straight away at the 11 month window. It seems to be much more random nowadays especially to MCO, and even more especially during what will be half term.

Re: Booking WIndow?

PostPosted: 16 Nov 2011, 13:55
by mdvipond
Thought so. Bit of a bugger, 'cause they've got the free dining thing on at Disney at the mo, but it runs out at the end of the month.

As for grabbing Gs, it'll be the arse-end of half term (Tizer's school holidays are a bit different to the norm) which might help, or I'd be willing to look at MIA again if need be. Just a bit frustrating having to play the waiting game.

Re: Booking WIndow?

PostPosted: 16 Nov 2011, 14:07
by clarkeysntfc
via JFK and then JetBlue to MCO might be the best option I'm afraid. My GF is a teacher so you have my school-holiday related sympathy.

Re: Booking WIndow?

PostPosted: 16 Nov 2011, 14:16
by Neil
mdvipond wrote:As for grabbing Gs, it'll be the arse-end of half term (Tizer's school holidays are a bit different to the norm) which might help, or I'd be willing to look at MIA again if need be. Just a bit frustrating having to play the waiting game.


We usually go the last week of October in to early November, and I can honestly say the flights are always full and I have never managed to grab a G at that time in 4 attempts (plenty of PE rewards!) to MCO but have to MIA, which will probably be your best option.

Re: Booking WIndow?

PostPosted: 16 Nov 2011, 14:23
by pjh
mdvipond wrote:Just a bit frustrating having to play the waiting game.


We know the feeling :w

Re: Booking WIndow?

PostPosted: 16 Nov 2011, 15:18
by mdvipond
pjh wrote:
mdvipond wrote:Just a bit frustrating having to play the waiting game.


We know the feeling :w

Subtle as a breeze block, Paul. I'm on with it. Honest.

Re: Booking WIndow?

PostPosted: 16 Nov 2011, 16:29
by Travelling man
Sorry if this is obvious but please humour a newbe to the site. What is a G?

Re: Booking WIndow?

PostPosted: 16 Nov 2011, 16:39
by tontybear
Travelling man wrote:Sorry if this is obvious but please humour a newbe to the site. What is a G?


A 'G' is an Upper Class Reward Ticket i.e. paid for (other than the VS fuel surcharge, taxes and airport fees) using miles rather than hard cash.

Re: Booking WIndow?

PostPosted: 16 Nov 2011, 17:52
by RedVee
Once upon a time you could see a bit further by using a date where there was no availability and it would return a calendar of alternatives which often went more than 336 days out. But no longer, alas.

The only flights out of MAN to MCO with upper are on Tue, Wed, Fri and Sat, so basically just 14 seats x 4 days.

I had a look out of curiosity. Z round trips are coming out at just over £2,200 p.p. But coming back on the 17th Oct (the last possible date you can book atm) they are only showing J availability for the return leg, pushing the price up to a whopping £4200. Might give an indication of how unlikely G's will be.

I'd consider the Miami or JFK options if you really need to go in October in Upper. JFK will probably have the better availability but more of a faff. Or you could contemplate slumming it in PE :)

Is the hotel offer advance purchase? If not you could always cancel later.

Regards
R3dV

Re: Booking WIndow?

PostPosted: 16 Nov 2011, 22:58
by northernhenry
You could always fly PE......
Or BA....

I'll get my coat.

Re: Booking WIndow?

PostPosted: 17 Nov 2011, 11:25
by mdvipond
Thanks for the info RV. Hoping the G gods smile on us for MCO, but fully prepared to go via MIA. Have to cough up a considerable deposit to book a Disney hotel (in order to get the free dining, that is), so flights have to come first, unfortunately.

NH - PE is always an option (although not a particularly appealing one). However, I very much doubt that BA will accept my VS miles...

Re: Booking WIndow?

PostPosted: 17 Nov 2011, 11:52
by AlecK
I'd forget the free dining and book with a US TA who could probably get you a decent room only discount. We do Disney 3 times a year and never bother with free dining. AP or public codes plus a TIW card if you have an AP is the way to go.

Let me know if you want the name of my agent.

Re: Booking WIndow?

PostPosted: 17 Nov 2011, 13:43
by mdvipond
Hi Alec - many thanks for the suggestion. It would certainly take the pressure off working to the free dining deadline. I take it we're still talking about Disney hotels?

AP or public codes plus a TIW card if you have an AP is the way to go.


Okay. I'll be honest here. I only understood about half of that. Any chance of a brief translation please...?

Re: Booking WIndow?

PostPosted: 17 Nov 2011, 13:59
by Neil
AP = Annual Pass
TIW - Tables in Wonderland Card, which gives you discount at Disney table service restaurants.

Re: Booking WIndow?

PostPosted: 17 Nov 2011, 14:07
by AlecK
Yeah, Disney Hotels.

The US WDW booking system releases several different classes of discount codes :

PIN codes - usually in the form of an email, specific to the person the email is addressed to.

AP rates - for Annual Pass holders - can be booked by anyone who has or will have an annual pass at the time of check in.

Public codes - available to anyone.

Disney Visa codes - available to anyone holding a disney visa card.

TIW card - Tables In Wonderland card - available to AP holders at a cost of $75. It gives 20% discount on WDW table service restaurants on the full bill including alcoholic beverages. They do add the tip back on at 18% but it does save you money. In a good year ( 3 two week trips ) I can save $4500 on tips using one.

Re: Booking WIndow?

PostPosted: 17 Nov 2011, 14:13
by AlecK
This shows the maths of the TIW card :

With a TIW card :

100.00 - Original Menu Amount
*20.00 - Discount
*80.00 - Subtotal
*18.00 - Gratuity Added based on $100
**5.20 - Sales Tax on $80
103.20 - Final amount charged, takes into consideration discount, gratuity and tax.

Without TiW Discount (and still figuring 18% Gratuity)

100.00 - Original Menu Amount
*18.00 - Gratuity
**6.50 - Sales Tax on $100
124.50 - Total

$21.30 - Savings using TiW Card.