Flights question

[Ubiquitous2024]

Forgive my ignorance, I just want to get a feel as I have never booked flights before. I have a holiday planned next year and accommodation booked (but all free cancellation until next July).

Looking at BA direct, the flights look reasonable however for my dates there is currently only one option - Gatwick to Cagliari depart on leaving day and Cagliari to Gatwick on the way back. There are no other flight options on the days booked, just one flight out and back. I have held off booking for now as I am expecting prices to change and I want to try and maximize value.

Common sense would say more flights will be added as this is July/Aug next year. But does it work like that or is that flight going to remain the only option, and therefore once booked is gone with no alternatives? I need to know as there are no other airports that I can get a direct flight to or from. Should I book now and secure or will waiting till black friday or xmas be ok to see if prices reduce?

[ffc]

Take a look at Skyscanner for flight options. It should tell you what's available and you can take it from there. https://www.skyscanner.net/

No affiliation.

[Ubiquitous2024]

I did use that bit found it a bit awkward. It didn't show as many options. Will try it again

[Petrus1983]

Take a look at Uber too. I booked flights to Dallas back in June and saved big money. Prior to that I was always BA.com or SkyScanner.

[shirt]

Flights from is good for looking at which airlines and routes operate from a particular airport. Looks like gatwick and stansted are your only options

https://www.flightsfrom.com/CAG

[chip*]

Years ago, I flew into Cagliari (from Gatwick) with Easyjet which is another option.

Worth checking with EasyJet when they release the summer flight time on this route.

[djc206]

The budget airlines won’t have loaded their schedules as above. Easyjet from Gatwick or Ryanair from Stansted will likely be options.

[Cabsi]

Easyjet summer 2025 went on sale earlier this week and looks like they aren't offering CAG. It could be they will at a later date.

BA can hold back cheaper fare buckets until the Easyjet fares are released (BA release fares 355 days ahead and Easyjet release in big seasonal 'waves' so they have different release schedules).

If you're happy with the BA fare I would book it now. However, if you want to set up a price alert you can do so on Google flights.

https://support.google.com/travel/answer/6235879?h...

[Griffith4ever]

Booking very early doesn't usually save you anything, and you can expect the flight times to change a lot in the months leading up to the departure date. Booking very late costs you more. There is a happy medium somewhere in between. Just keep an eye on things. Sky Scanner is a very powerful tool.

[djc206]

Griffith4ever said:

Booking very early doesn't usually save you anything, and you can expect the flight times to change a lot in the months leading up to the departure date. Booking very late costs you more. There is a happy medium somewhere in between. Just keep an eye on things. Sky Scanner is a very powerful tool.

I agree with this although my go to would be Google flights and setting up an alert rather than skyscanner, I just can’t get on with that website.

[Cabsi]

Griffith4ever said:

Booking very early doesn't usually save you anything, and you can expect the flight times to change a lot in the months leading up to the departure date. Booking very late costs you more. There is a happy medium somewhere in between. Just keep an eye on things. Sky Scanner is a very powerful tool.

I don't agree, sometimes booking very early does save money. It depends on the route, airline and fare bucket. Sometimes its better to book earlier, sometimes it's not. School holidays being a minefield to predict.

Sky Scanner is good, but many prefer Google flights. And if you really want to push the boat out, then try ITA Matrix or Expert Flyer.

[chip*]

Cabsi said:

Griffith4ever said:

Booking very early doesn't usually save you anything, and you can expect the flight times to change a lot in the months leading up to the departure date. Booking very late costs you more. There is a happy medium somewhere in between. Just keep an eye on things. Sky Scanner is a very powerful tool.

I don't agree, sometimes booking very early does save money. It depends on the route, airline and fare bucket. Sometimes its better to book earlier, sometimes it's not. School holidays being a minefield to predict.

Sky Scanner is good, but many prefer Google flights. And if you really want to push the boat out, then try ITA Matrix or Expert Flyer.

I prefer Google flight myself, and always use the book direct with the airline option (self check in and select seat). I remember seeing some cheaper flights on Skyscanner, but the flights was booked through some unfamiliar 3rd party/travel agent which put me off.

[Ubiquitous2024]

Skyscanner has bought up the same flights that BA did, they are the perfect times too, its very tempting to just book. I don't want to do easyjet, BA experience just seems so much more consistent and better.

[Ubiquitous2024]

Although to add, the Skyscanner price without a hire car is more expensive than booking direct with BA which includes a hire car?

[Ubiquitous2024]

Although to add, the Skyscanner price without a hire car is more expensive than booking direct with BA which includes a hire car?

[Puggit]

Ubiquitous2024 said:

I don't want to do easyjet, BA experience just seems so much more consistent and better.

If you are flying BA economy, without status, the experience is identical (actually, I'd say slightly better on EasyJet).

Please don't believe the fallacy that current BA is the same as "The World's favourite airline" from the 80s. It's completely not true. BA has joined the race to the bottom.

https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2024/08/03/brit...

[omniflow]

Puggit said:

Ubiquitous2024 said:

I don't want to do easyjet, BA experience just seems so much more consistent and better.

If you are flying BA economy, without status, the experience is identical (actually, I'd say slightly better on EasyJet).

Please don't believe the fallacy that current BA is the same as "The World's favourite airline" from the 80s. It's completely not true. BA has joined the race to the bottom.

https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2024/08/03/brit...

I think it's worth pricing up Easyjet and both BA economy and BA business. Once you add in checked baggage and extra legroom seats you might find that BA business is a similar price to Easyjet. I know that business class in Europe isn't a patch on the long haul experience, but I still prefer BA business to Easyjet with an extra legroom seat.

[Ubiquitous2024]

omniflow said:

I think it's worth pricing up Easyjet and both BA economy and BA business. Once you add in checked baggage and extra legroom seats you might find that BA business is a similar price to Easyjet. I know that business class in Europe isn't a patch on the long haul experience, but I still prefer BA business to Easyjet with an extra legroom seat.

That was half the issue this year, Easyjet appeared cheaper but then when you factor in the cost of luggage and baggage they are pretty identical. Aren't Easyjet prone to more delays?

[Puggit]

Ubiquitous2024 said:

That was half the issue this year, Easyjet appeared cheaper but then when you factor in the cost of luggage and baggage they are pretty identical. Aren't Easyjet prone to more delays?

Nope: https://news.sky.com/story/which-short-haul-airlin...

[Ubiquitous2024]

Avoid wizz air and tui then!