Any tips on getting an affordable short-notice flight from UK to US?

I'm thinking I may want to go to the US the week after next.  It's short notice as my dad's got cancer and not going to improve, most likely.  I'd be flying from Manchester to Ft. Lauderdale, but I think I'd stop over in Philadelphia first (not because I want to, but because there aren't any direct flights to Ft. Lauderdale).

I haven't had to figure this stuff out in a long time and am dreading it.  I know it's probably going to be expensive, but what can I do?

Any tips in navigating through this process will be very helpful. 

My colleague recently decided that he didn't want to faff about with online booking anymore, so he went to a travel agent and ended up getting a cheaper deal than he could have if he'd booked himself.  TBH I don't think "cheap deals" websites are really that cheap these days, and I suspect he may be on to something.  Maybe try an agent and see if they can help you out?

Sorry to hear about your dad, BTW. 

Definitely check US Airways as they fly direct from Manchester to Philly (I'm sure you know) - and last I knew, they have one of the flexible dates thing search features which shows you which days/dates are cheaper to fly, etc.

However, the time period you are looking to go appears to be in the midst of school holidays here, which usually adds to the price!    (especially for flights to Florida, which I'm not sure are ever cheap anyway!)

I hear good things about:  http://www.skyscanner.net/

We usually find a lot of the airfares (for our route, for the exact dates we want, etc) much of a muchness, I surf around different airline websites & then we pay what seems to be the going rate for the time.  I have yet to find flights at real 'steal' but we usually aren't very flexible about when we can travel either.  YMMV.

I'm sorry about your dad, Andee.  

If you're off this Monday, let me know - making plans to get together with BostonDiner then.

Also, if you are planning to stay overnight in Philly anyway - you would probably book your transatlantic trip separate from your Philly to Florida leg?

Could anyone in the US help you with the Philly to Florida part & maybe get you a cheaper deal in US$?  I've heard that works sometimes.

Sorry to hear about your dad, Andee.

My colleague recently decided that he didn't want to faff about with online booking anymore, so he went to a travel agent and ended up getting a cheaper deal than he could have if he'd booked himself.  TBH I don't think "cheap deals" websites are really that cheap these days, and I suspect he may be on to something.  Maybe try an agent and see if they can help you out?

Sorry to hear about your dad, BTW. 

Thanks historyenne, I may do that, I hate faffing and definitely not in the mood to do it now.

Sorry to hear about your dad, Andee.

Thanks chary.
Mrs. R, thank you.  Have found a flight through Skyscanner and US airways for $518 ish  Don't think I want to stay overnight in Phily at all as there are too many people to see and I won't be in the right frame of mind at all plus it's more of a hassle than I want right now, but not a bad idea for future visits.

Andee, I'm sorry to hear about your dad. Safe travels.

Andre...sorry to hear about our dad, I fly MAN to FLL all the time on US Airways with. Stopover in Philly, it's a pretty easy airport to transfer in and FLL is easy to get around. I usually buy straight from the airline, it's cheaper I find.  Good luck!

Thanks historyenne, I may do that, I hate faffing and definitely not in the mood to do it now.Thanks chary.
Mrs. R, thank you.  Have found a flight through Skyscanner and US airways for $518 ish  Don't think I want to stay overnight in Phily at all as there are too many people to see and I won't be in the right frame of mind at all plus it's more of a hassle than I want right now, but not a bad idea for future visits.

Wow, $518 round trip, all in? That's FABULOUS, considering how much airfare has gone up in the last couple of years.

My advice would be to hoard FF miles for times like these. A lot of airlines will release availability last minute and while there might be fees for last minute booking (usually about $75) it isn't as bad as the whole fare, most of the time. If you still have a good US credit rating and can get away with opening up a CC, there are a ton of offers out there good for enough miles for a round trip transatlantic flight just for opening one CC. Something to think about....

Andee, I'm sorry to hear about your dad. Safe travels.

Thank you PlainPearl.

Andre...sorry to hear about our dad, I fly MAN to FLL all the time on US Airways with. Stopover in Philly, it's a pretty easy airport to transfer in and FLL is easy to get around. I usually buy straight from the airline, it's cheaper I find.  Good luck!

Thanks racheeeee.  Are your parents in Ft. Lauderdale, too?  That's where all the old Jewish people retire to if they can!  Yeah Philly airport is doable compared to Chicago or NYC.  And Mrs. R.'s suggestion actually is great for future visits as we found a cheap flight which required an overnight stay in Philadelphia, I imagine that's why it was cheaper but that would work for future visits as we could see some Philly people that way.

We almost did it your way racheeee, directly through the airline, but it ended up a bit cheaper through Skyscanner (I think it was them) and we got a flight for about £520 each stopping in Philly.

Wow, $518 round trip, all in? That's FABULOUS, considering how much airfare has gone up in the last couple of years.

My advice would be to hoard FF miles for times like these. A lot of airlines will release availability last minute and while there might be fees for last minute booking (usually about $75) it isn't as bad as the whole fare, most of the time. If you still have a good US credit rating and can get away with opening up a CC, there are a ton of offers out there good for enough miles for a round trip transatlantic flight just for opening one CC. Something to think about....

I've never done the frequent flyer thing, something to think about for the future, thanks aimlesstraveller.

Thank you PlainPearl.
Thanks racheeeee.  Are your parents in Ft. Lauderdale, too?  That's where all the old Jewish people retire to if they can!  Yeah Philly airport is doable compared to Chicago or NYC.  And Mrs. R.'s suggestion actually is great for future visits as we found a cheap flight which required an overnight stay in Philadelphia, I imagine that's why it was cheaper but that would work for future visits as we could see some Philly people that way.

We almost did it your way racheeee, directly through the airline, but it ended up a bit cheaper through Skyscanner (I think it was them) and we got a flight for about £520 each stopping in Philly.

Andee...they are snow birds in Pompano, but my grandma lived in Boca for years, so w now have her apartment there. We had an experience with Expedia a few years ago that has turned us off to buying from a website that isn't thr airline directly.  Good luck with the trip, I'll be thinking about you.

Andee...they are snow birds in Pompano, but my grandma lived in Boca for years, so w now have her apartment there. We had an experience with Expedia a few years ago that has turned us off to buying from a website that isn't thr airline directly.  Good luck with the trip, I'll be thinking about you.

My mom was in Pompano for a while, now she's in Ft. Lauderdale and my dad's in Delray Beach.  Thanks for your good thoughts. 

Not a bad price at all Andee!!  Sorry for the reasons you have to go though 

Big hugs Andee! I hope the trip goes smoothly!

My grandfather and step grandmother used to be Pompano snowbirds too!