Just booked for Xmas with BA from Newcastle -Heathrow-Mumbai then Jet down to Goa. Was around £650 each which is £100 more than we paid last year with Qatar but is cheaper overall as we don't have the train fare to Heathrow and the overnight stay in an hotel. Quite good transfer times too.

I've already booked on Monarch, Gatwick to Goa on 13th December for two weeks.
Fare was £717 (inclusive of all extras) through Avro Flights, and slightly cheaper than directly with the airline.

i was puzzled by the Qatar flight via Doha.
On the outbound leg we were whisked straight through immigration/ security as we were "in transit".
On the return leg we had to go through security which was very busy, meaning we didn't have time to visit duty free.
Considering that all we had done was sit on a plane for 3 hours since going through dabolim security, what did they expect to find?

The last four times we've transited Doha going or coming from Goa we've always had to go through the carry on of going through the very crowded security, and it usually means that you miss the Duty Free as it's , without exception, very crowded, with long queues. I think the only time they whisk you through, is if your flight is late and time is limited. This of course, begs the question, that if they can overlook it then, why not always. It's doubly annoying for us as my wife has a pacemaker, and cant go through the metal detector, invariably, she has to wait till they russle up a female to search her, often in a closed booth, they then find her knee replacement which sets of the hand held scanner, sometimes causes more hold ups. Not sure how many white 70+ bombers are around, not too many I suspect. Invariabley her searching going through Doha, is far more stringent that that applied to the run of the mill passenger, and as a result, no visit to the duty free.
Alan

we weren't short of time on the outbound, 2.15 hours
coming back we only had 1.5 and had to go through the rigmarole.
What baffles me is, as you have been nowhere since your last search, why the checks at all ?

I am sitting on my hands not to book just yet. Qatar still seems to be coming up the cheapest from Manchester on the travels sites. at £749 each. I am checking every day because last year we paid £712 each and a couple of weeks later they were down to £450 apprx. Have even looked at going from London but they are coming up dearer . I am a diehard but perhaps that is because we don't stay in one of the resorts (cost more with the taxis but we think worth it).

when are you looking for carol?

Del949 we were the same in the way out to Goa we had a 4 Hour transit at Doha and didn't have to go through security. In the way back we only had 1.5 hours and had to queue at security for ages we managed to get to the duty fee and a quick fag but it was tight. We couldn't work their logic out either as on the way in the queues we bypassed we're a lot shorter than the ones on the way back.

well, bitten the bullet and bought Qatar flights ex Manchester, £760 !!
Several sites were showing limited availability on the dates we wanted , so decided to go with it rather than chance not getting the flights with short stopovers that we wanted
I keep telling myself that life is not all about money............ but it doesn't help

Nice one Del !!
We are due out tomorrow morning, for 2 glorious weeks - reading the thread about new eating places and chilling in a shack just makes you want to be there all the time..

have a great time Spike!

Qatar have a few offers to various destinations, from Heathrow to Goa flights advertised at £560 valid to Nov 30th ? None from Manchester to Goa as yet.....Keith

manchester to goa has gone up by £20 since I booked 3 weeks ago
for January to March anyway.
Good luck to those who are brave enough to wait

Prices are definitely rising!

Booked for Christmas period (13/12 to 28/12) from Gatwick back in January on Monarch, through Avro Flights.
Paid £712 including all extras. It's now £767.

Plenty of flight only deals online, but beware of the first price quoted. These don't necessarily include all extras, such as baggage.

So, waiting might not result in getting a better deal.

Booked Qatar Manchester to Mumbia in Feb £550 looked today as they have a sale on and it's gone up to £806 that's a rise of £256.

I don't think today's tax increase for flights introduced by dodgy Dave and his cronies will help...but don't forget as he said we're all in this together.... ...... Keith

Flight prices for next season seem to have gone mad!!! I have been watching jet prices for a week or so and the other night they just started to go mad in front of my eyes, as i was online watching and comparing!!! the ones i had on my screen dissapeared when i refreshed my page to be replaced with flights a few hundred quid dearer... couldnt believe it..... particularly if you want night flights or particular times and dates... October right through the season seem to be so expensive and also little availabilty on some dates/times .. its not just jetairways either.... i know they might release more flights later (or come down) but its scary all the same!!!
I was viewing by searching through many various agents (all the usual ones) not through the airline direct (jetairways page will not load once you put in your search it just takes ages and then comes back with problems plse try your search again!! this has been happening to me for weeks now)

anyone else noticed this???

Chilly

Just booked tonight to go Dublin to Dubai ..Dubai to Mumbai...got it for a brill price £900 and thats for the two of us the flight is with Emirates so there are good deals about if you go looking them ...we go mid Jan to end of Feb 2013 ...colleen

I have only been looking from Heathrow colleen ... and those going heathrow - mumbai ...but did look at Qatar too, out of interest although only ever intended booking with Jet whatever, as their times suit us... but all the flights going this way aren't cheap and seem a lot dearer than usual ......... i have booked though ... I know i am chancing it on two counts, one they could drop (doubt it) and two as we might not even get to go... but wanted to know i had the flights, dates and times of my choice ...
glad you did alright, you didnt let the grass grow you only just got back ...hopefully we will get to see you next year

Chilly