Flights Orlando

july11

Can you please recommend which agent or online booking site to book flights from Cork/Shannon to Orlando. I have prices from skyscanner and ebookers which seem to the best for price but I am nervouse booking flights with skyscanner.
thanks

VG31

Why not use the airline's sites?

https://www.aerlingus.com/
https://www.aa.com/
http://www.delta.com/
https://www.united.com/

Aer Lingus have direct flights from Dublin to Orlando.

Graham

You don't book the flights with skyscanner. You're either re-directed to book on the website of a specific airline or one of the other online booking engines.

july11

THank you for the infoVG. Our preference is flying from Cork but the sites above and Virgin will not give a price from Cork. Maybe I am inputting something wrong. Mr preferred flight is Cork via any UK airport and then to Orlando. As we are a family with 4 kids I am trying to source the cheapest flight available out of Cork.

dudara

If you're willing to make the effort to go to Dublin, you can fly Aer Lingus direct to Orlando. You'll also pre-clear US Customs & Border Patrol in Dublin, which means you won't have to do it when landed in Orlando. And finally, you'll avoid the hassle of transferring 4 kids in London.

I'd really urge you to think about Dublin.

naughtysmurf

We have done Shannon - Newark - Orlando with United, short layover in Newark, enough time to stretch the legs and grab a bite, wouldn't be arsed going through UK unless the savings were substantial, have booked direct with United & expedia in the past

irishbloke77

july11 wrote: »

THank you for the infoVG. Our preference is flying from Cork but the sites above and Virgin will not give a price from Cork. Maybe I am inputting something wrong. Mr preferred flight is Cork via any UK airport and then to Orlando. As we are a family with 4 kids I am trying to source the cheapest flight available out of Cork.

Flights from Dublin direct are normally very expensive, although clearing customs is a help. Its never really the cheapest way to go but probably is the easiest if you live at Dublin. By the time you would drive from Cork to Dublin, there isn't much difference timewise to flying via the UK.

The only real places from the UK to Orlando are via Gatwick or Manchester. You should get offered Cork to Manchester with Aer Lingus Regional connecting on to Virgin Atlantic to Orlando direct.

As Ryanair are the only airline flying Cork-Gatwick, if you get a connecting flight via london, it will mean flying to Heathrow with Aer Lingus, then you paying extra to transfer to Gatwick for the Orlando flight.

Websites, try momondo.ie or jetcost.ie

Both are like skyscanner, they don't sell the seats but they show you the prices from places that does.

irishbloke77

naughtysmurf wrote: »

We have done Shannon - Newark - Orlando with United, short layover in Newark, enough time to stretch the legs and grab a bite, wouldn't be arsed going through UK unless the savings were substantial, have booked direct with United & expedia in the past

I must say, if OP can get to Shannon, this flight is ideal and usually very competitive. Delta and American Airlines do something similar, if flying between May and October.

naughtysmurf

OP, have a look at the American Holidays & Tour America websites also if for nothing else comparison, they do packages with direct & indirect flights

july11

Thank you for your suggestions, after looking at options again we still feel cork via Heathrow or Manchester are our best options. Best price with expedia at the moment.

naughtysmurf

Just a couple of things, expedia could or will have a service charge, maybe €70 ish, also the flight home is tough enough, you really don't want to be stuck in a UK airport waiting a long time for a flight to Cork, you will all be VERY TIRED unless flying back business class, it's pretty hard to sleep so ideally you really need as short as time possible between arriving in UK & flight to Cork, 5,6 or more hours waiting for your last flight will be gruesome especially with tired kids, my 2c

How much are you actually saving going this route?

Personally, if it was just to save money, I'd look at less theme park tickets or what accommodation cost was, should be able to get a nice villa with pool for $100 per night.. before doing that route, but that's just me

You will have a great time though, either way, enjoy

irishbloke77

july11 wrote: »

Thank you for your suggestions, after looking at options again we still feel cork via Heathrow or Manchester are our best options. Best price with expedia at the moment.

What dates are you planning on and what cost for how many people?

Cianob1

irishbloke77 wrote: »

What dates are you planning on and what cost for how many people?

Hi

We have been lucky enough to go to Orlando several times. We absolutely love it over there and it becomes an addiction!!! Our no 1 route is of course direct with AL dub-mco. After that though I'd Def recommend going indirect thru US with delta or United. We have also done the UK route and believe me it's hell on the way back. Plus the fact you won't clear here so maybe facing queues of up to 4 hours in an immigration hall after 2 flights.

naughtysmurf

Flying the route the OP wants via the UK, door to door you are probably looking at 16 hours travel time AT VERY BEST, probably longer on the way back, it's tough going, first day there they will be wrecked tired & really wrecked for two days after returning

A lot of people from the UK book DUB - UK- MCO RETURN, get a cheap flight to Dublin the night before & then just don't take the last leg to Dublin, the OP's plan is slightly different

In fairness to the OP, Orlando / Disney / Universal is an expensive holiday & they want to keep the overall cost down BUT sometimes less is more, assuming a two week holiday on a tight(ish) budget, maybe just do Disney & waterpark not Universal or Universal & SeaWorld & water park, family is going to need a few non park days as it's also a tiring holiday plus maybe a day shopping

Having been a few times myself with kids, think I'd want to be saving at least €2k and going for at least 16 nights before I'd go through the UK, not because I'm loaded BUT convenience of pre clearance, much shorter travel time & the ability to be able to hit the parks early on day 1 would be worth it

tonic wine

naughtysmurf wrote: »

via the UK, door to door you are probably looking at 16 hours travel time AT VERY BEST.

I was going to book this flight.

DUB LGW 1H 30 MIN
Change of planes 2H 50MIN
LGW MCO 9H 15MIN

Total 13HR 35 MIN

The above flight is working out 500 cheaper then AL for two adults.
I'm only going to Orlando for 3 nights before heading to FLL for a cruise, and flying back to DUB via FFL

Going DUB LGW MCO, will i clear immigration?

naughtysmurf

tonic wine wrote: »

I was going to book this flight.

DUB LGW 1H 30 MIN
Change of planes 2H 50MIN
LGW MCO 9H 15MIN

Total 13HR 35 MIN

The above flight is working out 500 cheaper then AL for two adults.
I'm only going to Orlando for 3 nights before heading to FLL for a cruise, and flying back to DUB via FFL

Going DUB LGW MCO, will i clear immigration?

No, you will clear immigration & customs in MCO, but 500 is 500

When I said door to door,, meant total travel time, not just flying time, I was taking into account having to be in the airport an hour before first flight & travel to Cork airport, clearing immigration & customs in MCO, sorting hire car & traveling to accommodation

irishbloke77

tonic wine wrote: »

I was going to book this flight.

DUB LGW 1H 30 MIN
Change of planes 2H 50MIN
LGW MCO 9H 15MIN

Total 13HR 35 MIN

The above flight is working out 500 cheaper then AL for two adults.
I'm only going to Orlando for 3 nights before heading to FLL for a cruise, and flying back to DUB via FFL

Going DUB LGW MCO, will i clear immigration?

What time of year are you going?

ScouseMouse

tonic wine wrote: »

I was going to book this flight.

DUB LGW 1H 30 MIN
Change of planes 2H 50MIN
LGW MCO 9H 15MIN

Total 13HR 35 MIN

The above flight is working out 500 cheaper then AL for two adults.
I'm only going to Orlando for 3 nights before heading to FLL for a cruise, and flying back to DUB via FFL

Going DUB LGW MCO, will i clear immigration?

That looks like an aerlingus - virgin combination. If it is, I did it two years ago. We cleared customs and immigration in Orlando (as far as I can remember)

highlydebased

No direct flights from Heathrow to Orlando, only Gatwick or Manchester.

Aer Lingus do interline with Virgin but you may have to contact an agent to book for via Manchester.

My folks flew with United from Shannon last year and it was 1100 for 3 via Chicago, ended up being so cheap as they flew on Friday 13th!

tonic wine

irishbloke77 wrote: »

What time of year are you going?

Last week of june

ScouseMouse wrote: »

That looks like an aerlingus - virgin combination. If it is, I did it two years ago. We cleared customs and immigration in Orlando (as far as I can remember)

Correct. AA and BA.

Kerry Gooner

Quote: A lot of people from the UK book DUB - UK- MCO RETURN, get a cheap flight to Dublin the night before & then just don't take the last leg to Dublin, the OP's plan is slightly different


Is the luggage on the return journey not going to end up checked throught to Dublin, even thought you get off in the UK

naughtysmurf

Seemingly, when checking in for the return flights, they just explain this to the check in staff & it's not a problem, luggage is offloaded in UK

They call them boomerang flights, long thread on the dibb website, which is all Disney / Orlando related

july11

Best option for flights times and overall travel time is fly from cork to Manchester and then on to Orlando. Flights times are excellent but alot more expensive than flying out of Shannon or Dublin. Prices are coming in 400 euro more with this option for a family of 5. I am trying to find best price with this flight option. I am aware we will have customs in Orlando but still can't match the overall travel time.

naughtysmurf

@ July 11, when are you thinking of travelling?

july11

around the 15th June

naughtysmurf

july11 wrote: »

around the 15th June

Are you dead set against flying out of Shannon?

June 15 - 29, 2 adults + 3 under 12 with Air France & Delta via JFK, 12 hrs both directions is €2141

That's pretty good in fairness

shelly22

Try American sky
I got some quotes from them great prices

http://www.americansky.ie/

july11

naughtysmurf wrote: »

Are you dead set against flying out of Shannon?

June 15 - 29, 2 adults + 3 under 12 with Air France & Delta via JFK, 12 hrs both directions is €2141

That's pretty good in fairness

thats an excellent price, haven't seen that.. I will have to reconsider...where can I get that price?

naughtysmurf

july11 wrote: »

thats an excellent price, haven't seen that.. I will have to reconsider...where can I get that price?

€2105.20 on the delta.com site

Graham

july11 wrote: »

thats an excellent price, haven't seen that.. I will have to reconsider...where can I get that price?

Just make sure the stop-overs are both JFK only, you probably don't really want to be dragging yourself/family across New-York to switch airports.

naughtysmurf

Graham wrote: »

Just make sure the stop-overs are both JFK only, you probably don't really want to be dragging yourself/family across New-York to switch airports.

No airport change

Graham

naughtysmurf wrote: »

No airport change

Some are, depending where you look. I didn't check the delta.com site directly but I did spot it on skyscanner.

highlydebased

naughtysmurf wrote: »

€2105.20 on the delta.com site

I found a better one still, but just by €100

With United from Shannon on those exact dates listed above (15-29 Jun), out via Newark ( 11hrs 40 total) and return via Chicago (12hrs total)

€500.80 per person.

naughtysmurf

Tempted to book myself at that price except eldest doing leaving this year,

wingnut32

Im planning to go 16th-30th of June from Dublin. Does anyone know if those Aer Lingus direct flights go down in price at all?

Graham

wingnut32 wrote: »

Im planning to go 16th-30th of June from Dublin. Does anyone know if those Aer Lingus direct flights go down in price at all?

Nobody is going to be able to say for certain but it's unlikely they will get cheaper getting closer to the date.

wingnut32

Graham wrote: »

Nobody is going to be able to say for certain but it's unlikely they will get cheaper getting closer to the date.

I kind of thought so. Ive always used Aer Lingus but its looking more and more like Delta with the stop in Atlanta. Has anyone used Delta before? What are the planes/service like?

naughtysmurf

highlydebased wrote: »

I found a better one still, but just by €100

With United from Shannon on those exact dates listed above (15-29 Jun), out via Newark ( 11hrs 40 total) and return via Chicago (12hrs total)

€500.80 per person.

Would prefer United over Delta even if €100 dearer

fabvinny

heading there myself the first 2 weeks in june. €1,400 for me and the wife with car hire included. flying Dublin-Gatwick-Orlando. booked it last september. thought the price was good.

roroliam

Would any one have an idea how long it takes to clear customs in Orlando if you fly in from UK around midday.?

naughtysmurf

roroliam wrote: »

Would any one have an idea how long it takes to clear customs in Orlando if you fly in from UK around midday.?

Somewhere between one and two and a half hours worst case, depends on a few things, if your last off your plane, there are 300 in front of you straight away, if a couple of plane loads disembark just before yours etc etc, you may get lucky & be out in an hour or slightly less

There are supposed to be self service kiosks for those who have visited before in the last few years which may speed the process up but we have never used them as we prefer to clear customs & immigration here, last trip it took 35 mins from landing to sitting in rental car, I went to sort car, the rest picked up the bags

finbarrk

Shannon is my local airport. But if I was travelling with small kids I would definitely consider the direct flight from Dublin.

tankbarry

Some advice folks looking at going to orlando with wife and kids will try direct with AL when do the flights go on sale wouldn't mind being 1 of the 1st so we can get them cheap as possible

VG31

tankbarry wrote: »

Some advice folks looking at going to orlando with wife and kids will try direct with AL when do the flights go on sale wouldn't mind being 1 of the 1st so we can get them cheap as possible

I'd buy them as soon as possible to get them at their cheapest. They're unlikely to go on sale.

naughtysmurf

tankbarry wrote: »

Some advice folks looking at going to orlando with wife and kids will try direct with AL when do the flights go on sale wouldn't mind being 1 of the 1st so we can get them cheap as possible

Flights usually available to book 330 days / 11 months in advance of your departure date, if that's what your asking, also worth checking with United, air Canada, KLM, BA as they code share with AL, so you could book with one of those & still fly AL