Flying back to the US...cheapest way to do it

Hi all, 
So now that my ILR has been approved and I have all of my docs back, I have the opportunity to go to my friend's wedding back stateside which is at the start of August.

My intent was to fly back and stick around for a few weeks (Teeside (MME) to Detroit (DTW) ), and flying out sometime the weekend of 20/07, and flying back around 09/08

...did something drastically change with airfare? When my wife and I were doing the long distance thing and flying back and forth, we never really had prices for a round trip flight much more then £600.

Now I'm looking, and the absolute best I'm finding at the moment for that timeframe  is just under  £900

Did I miss something? Or is there just now some tips and tricks on getting cheap flights that need to be applied?  How have you guys done it?

I think the UK has added another 'tax' to flights out of this country, so that adds to the fees. I overheard that on the Central line, so I have no idea if it is true! HA HA!

Anyway...

Try Kayak.com. They have a UK site. Try Opodo too.

We just booked flights for NYC (thank GAWD!!!!!!), and when we were looking, FOR ONE PERSON, in June was 420 rt, and July was 900 rt! More than DOUBLE!? I was shocked. Big difference! So, we are going sooner rather than later. We booked for June.

So, maybe it is just a more expensive travel month that you are looking at, because it is summer, and the students are off? 

Indeed.  In my experience, they are definitely getting pricier. 

When DH and I were doing the long distance thing (up until 2010), flights were (as you say) about 500-600 pounds.  I recently visited family a few weeks ago and the flights were (at cheapest) 800-900 quid (each)!!

A colleague of mine recently got a flight to NYC for about 500 pounds, but she booked it something like literally a week in advance on one of those last minute sites.  If you're okay waiting right until the last minute, you might be able to snag a similar deal?

Definitely though, the prices tend to be higher during peak travel times (holiday periods, summer, etc).  DH and I used to see each other October and February because the flights were cheapest during colder months and when there were no holidays during those months.  He's had good luck with lastminute.co.uk.

Trouble is that you are looking to fly at the beginning of the summer holidays for children.  Here in Hampshire the last day of school is 25 July. 

Thanks all. Yeah it sounds like I'm just going to have to bite the bullet with this one :-/  wish I could change the date so it wasn't right there in the midst of summer break, but I don't think my friend would go for changing the wedding date at this point lol.

Look at cost of flights from larger UK airports; it may be worthwhile to take the train to London even if you have to pay for a hotel for a night.

A smaller airport such as Teeside = fewer flights, less competition and even higher prices. And summer = higher demand = price hikes, because they can.

Taxes for the UK-US leg are definitely higher. I used FF miles for a trip in February, and of course had to pay the tax portion, which was based on the 'value' of the ticket had I been paying. The difference in the amount for the MAN to PHL leg was astronomical compared to the return flight.

I agree with the others. August is always one of the priciest times to fly. I am in the same boat as my sister is getting married in August and after months of watching and waiting for the fares to drop even a little, I gave up and went with FF miles + ridiculous taxes. Didn't save a huge amount but I have to use them at some point.

Thank god my brother's wedding is in March! 

Try booking the flight on a US site, sometimes it can be cheaper. Also look out for deals on sites like HUKD - there was a flight to San Diego recently for £320!

Check out Skyscanner.net, they can show you the cheapest fares by week, month or even year.  They're based in Edinburgh, and I work for them

I LOVE Skyscanner! Being able to easily see fares for the whole year is fantastic option. 

Check out Skyscanner.net, they can show you the cheapest fares by week, month or even year.  They're based in Edinburgh, and I work for them

Been checking them out actually.  Love the site!

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I also recommend looking at the US and UK version of each site. Last year I was looking for a trip in June and on the US website it was $800 and on the UK version it was $500.

Try flying on Icelandic Airways through Iceland. It could save you money.

Sounds like a combination of things. As others said, you are travelling the worst possible time of year, which gives you no flexibility. Costs are definitely increasing, and as someone else said, you're travelling from a regional airport. Those are nearly always way more expensive.

I generally fly out of London or Birmingham to go to the States. It takes 3-4 hours travel first, but saves loads.  I either catch a National Express bus, or I drive down and book parking in advance. It's still usually much cheaper, even taking petrol and transport fees into consideration. My last trip to the States, I had the whole family with me, including my small children, so we chose to go down and stay overnight in a hotel which had airport parking and shuttled us into the airport.

Think I'm settling for 850 a ticket.  Not finding it cheap enough from other airports like NCL, Manchester,  or London to make it worth it,  and we're getting within two months of the trip which won't help :-(

Will tell my mates to get married at a different time of the year of they want me attending going forward!

So that takes care of birthday gifts to my wife and I from each other for the next decade or so >.<


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