Just looked on Netflights - 3 Adults and 1 Child for next July came out at £3,400.

For us that's a £1,000 more than a year and a half ago.

Are we still too early for the discounted flights or is this price the new 'norm'?

Bezza

You don't mention where you are flying to? Or whether you're booking return flights? Have you tried http://www.skyscanner.net - you can search whole months (and the year) for cheapest flights?

An excellent point - lord help me when I get older!

Our flight will most probably just to validate so we have a choice of where to go - most probabaly Sydney or Brisbane. They would be return.

Bezza

Have you tried emirates?
They've always been quite competitive to brisbane for us (2 adults, 2 monsters)

Jen

HOLD FIRE

BA and Emirate will have New Year sales. I booked a NCL-BNE return this time last year for £1150 and it was £930 in the sale a month later!

That's the sort of reply I was hoping for .... that's a fair saving with 3 adults.

Hey, how's tricks? When do u actually move over?

Good chance BA will be on strike, no problem with Emirates,

I book Emirates during the week 06/02/11-30/03/11 Gla-Per return £787. Only trouble is the layover time. 10hrs going and 18 hours on the return leg.

I could have got better connections for an extra £400

By the way if your booking with Emirates there's a promotional code box. Go to the Arsenal football website http://www.arsenal.com/membership/emirates-flights and you'll get a further discount.

Hi folks - long time no post but back on task this week.

Has taken an age to sort out when we might be able to fly and validate (our plan is to tick the box and develop some contacts) given a rather unhelpful new Headteacher for the better half.

After an age, and various letters and communications with Australia House no less, he has finally allowed for three days unpaid leave for which we ultimately hugely grateful of course but any dreams of a £3,400 fare are well and truly gone.

Our cheapest option for this summer is £4,250 odd on Emirates - about £1,700 more than we paid last time which hurts a fair bit ...

Any last minute suggestions as to how me might beat this fare for a family of four to Oz (one child fare) leaving 8/9 July and back 16/17 Aug from Birmingham to Brisbane or Sydney or combination thereof.

Planning a solitary internal flight from Cairns to Brissie or Sydney in mid August and so far Jetstar seems the best option - any brilliant thoughts out there?

The Arsenal code takes the price down a bit - the Barclays one a few pounds more. Have even considered Royal Brunei but they are currently coming out just £50 cheaper than Emirates.

It's only money at he end of the day I suppose .....

Bezza

A quick scan around seems to suggest that price is about as good as it gets.

We've done more than scan and it is a good price but still a hefty load of the income.