any advantages to indirect

[crabbie1]

Hi
As VA prices are so damn high for end september We are serioulsy thinking of booking indirect. The flights we have found are from BHX to MCO. Going on the 18th sept( 12 hrs intotal one stop) and 10.5 hrs coming back. ould prefer to go VA but refuse to pay £1700. Mind you they are up and down everyday and I do think they will come down again and as soon as they hit the £1500 mark I will book BUT will feel happier when they are booked as booked SSR on the 20th sept for 10 nights and have to wait on dates to book the other 4 nights whether it be a one night and 3 at the end or 2 at the beginning and 2 at the end.
Anyway how does the check in process work and would we have to do it all again at orlando?
I think the stop is newark though dont quote me.
Also has anyone flown with continental or delta? Do they have tv's and whats the leg room like? Do worry as dont like flying and for some reason feel safe on a VA jumbo sorry if that sounds snobby

 

[wickesy]

You will go through immigration at Newark (or wherever the stop is) which is more than likely going to be quicker and easier than at Orlando. Once you get to Orlando you will be able to just walk off the plane and collect your luggage because it will be an internal flight.

 

[Beep]

We flew indirect last December for the first time and doing it again this October. Advantages for us were:

Going out
Clearing immigration at Newark. This meant just walking off the plane at Orlando and straight to collect the car.
Not having to sit on the flight for as long

Coming back
Seeing the New York skyline and the Statue of Liberty!
Chance to have a good meal at Newark
Last flight was shorter so if felt as if we hadn't been travelling as long

We didn't feel as jetlagged coming home. Going out we did have a bad experience as we were delayed overnight in Solihull but once we got going we much preferred the indirect journey.

The only disadvantage for us was worrying about delays and connecting flights. I know that we would have been on the next available flight but it was still a concern. Our connecting flight at Newark was delayed by 90 minutes as they had to de-ice the plane. We flew back when the weather was bad too but it didn't cause an issue at all.

I suppose that with a direct flight once you are on it you can sit back (well, not literally, more like recline a few inches!) and relax knowing your next stop is in Orlando.

Even though we experienced delays we much prefer flying indirect. To be fair we could have been delayed overnight with any airline, and were a few years ago to India, and the weather was nothing to do with Continental.

The planes and cabin crew were very good, the inflight entertainment was excellent and the food was half-way decent.

We live in Birmingham and used to fly from Gatwick on a morning flight. When we factored in the journey time down there, the check-in times and the journey back it actually worked out longer than flying indirect. Oh, and cheaper as we didn't have to worry about car parking.

The biggest advantage for us was being home within 25 minutes of collecting the bags, and not having to leave 3 hours before the 3 hour check-in time at Gatwick.

 

[Kath2003]

We fly indirect. It adds a total of 6 hours to our journey (3 hours each way). It saves us over £300 on BA/VA direct. So the advantage is £50/hour.

Also you clear immigration at your first stop, so when you land in MCO you literally walk straight out of the airport which is always nice. So I guess it adds LESS than 3 hours each way for us because it at least an hour of that time is spent at immigration.

 

[torsie24]

We flew indirect via Detroit with Delta and would definitely do it again.

Save over £100 each and the planes were new and really great.

 

[Kath2003]

I've never flown transatlantic with Delta, but I have flown domestically within the USA using them and it was the best domestic flight I've ever had

We tend to fly American and have found them to be just fine so far Touch wood it continues!

 

[kristieuk]

Have flown with Delta, no problems at all. As others have said, you are cleared through customs at your first airport which makes life a lot easier when you finally land and just want to get to your bed! I actually prefer indirect as it breaks up the flight nicely, 6 hours or so, then another 3, but time to have some real food and a walk in between. We are flying direct just now because we have two small children, but otherwise wouldn't hesitate going indirect, especially if it means saving some money better spent on margaritas

The only thing to note (if you like a drink) is that the US airlines charge for alcohol onboard, so just be prepared for that

 

[kristieuk]

Just re-read my post - I promise you I do not have a drink problem!

 

[stephensmum]

We flew with Delta last year Manchester-Atalanta-Orlando, our first time in-direct & we much preferred it to our usual direct flight from Newcastle. Much more room, excellent enterainment system, lovely staff that seemed to be continuously coming around with drinks. We were very worried but had no need to be, cleared immigraton at Atlanta very quickly, then straight through at Orlando. Only slight down part was that we had a 4 hour wait at Atlanta on the way there, 3 hours + 1 delay and we got tired but for this we flew mid August for £300 each. Unfortunately, this year the prices have been over double that, so we have booked with Virgin, direct for about an extra £40 each.

 

[2Tiggies]

We flew indirect via Detroit with Delta and would definitely do it again.

Save over £100 each and the planes were new and really great.

I've been filled in over the months on Continental via Newark. How was Detroit as a changeover and what was the flight schedule like in terms of departure/arrival/connections and arriving/departing Orlando? The only thing that puts me off with Continental, well not puts me off but wish it was different, is having to leave in the morning on departure day. It is still high on my list to give it a go though if the price is right next year.

 

[Zeebs]

Have flown with Delta, no problems at all. As others have said, you are cleared through customs at your first airport which makes life a lot easier when you finally land and just want to get to your bed! I actually prefer indirect as it breaks up the flight nicely, 6 hours or so, then another 3, but time to have some real food and a walk in between. We are flying direct just now because we have two small children, but otherwise wouldn't hesitate going indirect, especially if it means saving some money better spent on margaritas

The only thing to note (if you like a drink) is that the US airlines charge for alcohol onboard, so just be prepared for that

That answers my question (no not about the booze) our kids are pretty well travelled and I don't find the flights too stressful but we like to do things the easy way.

Kirsten (who has just discovered we finally have enough virgin miles to cover 1 flight to Orlando YAY)