Advice needed re America/Chicago flights

P

Pauliej

Well-known member
Morning all, not football related but always good advice on here so here goes.
I have a good mate who lives In Chicago and we are finally planning to go and see him next year, hopefully in April.
Couple of question if you don't mind?
Is there a good time to book flights between now and then to get the best price on the flights and can you recommend flight companies/Web pages to look at?
I've done skyscanner but not a lot showing up at the moment.
Cheers.
 
2 years since I went and the market has changed a lot! Got good prices with Aer Lingus (connections via Dublin) about 3 months before travel.
 
Pauliej said:
Morning all, not football related but always good advice on here so here goes.
I have a good mate who lives In Chicago and we are finally planning to go and see him next year, hopefully in April.
Couple of question if you don't mind?
Is there a good time to book flights between now and then to get the best price on the flights and can you recommend flight companies/Web pages to look at?
I've done skyscanner but not a lot showing up at the moment.
Cheers.
Click to expand...

Book now!!!!

For a flight price comparison, I always use Kayak.
 
bear66 said:
2 years since I went and the market has changed a lot! Got good prices with Aer Lingus (connections via Dublin) about 3 months before travel.
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Cheers Bear, we have the money to book now but happy to wait if you can get better deals closer to the time.
 
Easter is April 17 in 2022. If you are going then avoid travel around then. Either book as soon as you can, or wait until the day before.
 
Soutra said:
Easter is April 17 in 2022. If you are going then avoid travel around then. Either book as soon as you can, or wait until the day before.
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Cheers Soutra, we are sort of stuck to school holidays in the UK as my wife works in a school. We were planning on flying out April 9th
 
Pauliej said:
Cheers Soutra, we are sort of stuck to school holidays in the UK as my wife works in a school. We were planning on flying out April 9th
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The flight prices are very dependent on days of travel. Monday to Thursday was much cheaper than Friday to Sunday!
 
Pauliej said:
Cheers Soutra, we are sort of stuck to school holidays in the UK as my wife works in a school. We were planning on flying out April 9th
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Well then I'd book soon. It's likely to be very busy. You may as well get seats now because the price isn't likely to fall.
 
I flew that route frequently during my corporate years. I mainly used the main carriers - BA/United. But, more cost concious colleagues swore by Iceland Air. They were trying to get into the trans atlantic market so always had deals. I am not sure if this strategy has survived. Of course not direct, you change in Rekyavik
 
I would book soon as well, demand must be near or at an all time low, and it wont stay like that for long.

I would check KLM for Teesside> Amsterdam. Chicago, as well as Newcastle>Amsterdam>Chicago, then check Air France for Newcastle>Paris> Chicago.

I know they are partners but sometimes you will get different prices. I have seen a couple of hundred £ difference at times.
 
masquesmog said:
I flew that route frequently during my corporate years. I mainly used the main carriers - BA/United. But, more cost concious colleagues swore by Iceland Air. They were trying to get into the trans atlantic market so always had deals. I am not sure if this strategy has survived. Of course not direct, you change in Rekyavik
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Cheers mate, their is a flight with Iceland Air and my mate, having used them, says they were really good.
 
Billy69_uk said:
I would book soon as well, demand must be near or at an all time low, and it wont stay like that for long.

I would check KLM for Teesside> Amsterdam. Chicago, as well as Newcastle>Amsterdam>Chicago, then check Air France for Newcastle>Paris> Chicago.

I know they are partners but sometimes you will get different prices. I have seen a couple of hundred £ difference at times.
Click to expand...
Cheers Billy, having a look now.
 
We went to Chicago a few years ago with Air Lingus. Obviously we had to change in Dublin (from Leeds), but they offer immigration in Dublin so you save time and the hassle of doing it in the US. I could be wrong but I think Iceland Air offer a similar arrangement in Rekjavik. If youve never been to Iceland its worth a couple of days on the way back!
 
Make sure to get your ESTA documents from the official US gov site other sites are available but cost a lot more.
 
I'll second Kayak. I got BA first class for the price of business through them - the flights were booked through American rather than BA.
 
I would advise against booking with an agent right now as you may find it hard to cancel should the effects of this pandemic not be over by then. We have been booking direct with airlines for 18 months now.

We find that Aer Lingus offer the best deals at the moment if you want to leave from a northern airport. I've done the Iceland Air flight before and it's decent, the only thing to remember is there are no free meals and no in-flight entertainment in their planes.

Lastly, I have often used KLM to do Chicago/Amsterdam/Teesside and its great apart from KLM are rubbish and there is often a long wait in Amsterdam.

What does your mate do out here? I'm surprised our paths haven't crossed (maybe they have!)
 
goalscrounger said:
I would advise against booking with an agent right now as you may find it hard to cancel should the effects of this pandemic not be over by then. We have been booking direct with airlines for 18 months now.

We find that Aer Lingus offer the best deals at the moment if you want to leave from a northern airport. I've done the Iceland Air flight before and it's decent, the only thing to remember is there are no free meals and no in-flight entertainment in their planes.

Lastly, I have often used KLM to do Chicago/Amsterdam/Teesside and its great apart from KLM are rubbish and there is often a long wait in Amsterdam.

What does your mate do out here? I'm surprised our paths haven't crossed (maybe they have!)
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I was really impressed with Aer Lingus. I booked direct; great price and service. Less than 2 hour wait in Dublin both ways.
 
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