Booked again!!!

[disneyholic family]

Just booked for October half term, that makes Easter, August, Oct and Xmas this year. Spending more time there than at home
I like to get value from my AP's.

Strange route we are taking, after missing our flight from Heathrow last Oct to Vegas decided to try again.
From Heathrow with a 2hr:30min change in Detroit on this www.nwa.com/travel/trave/seatm/a330/ on 23rd Oct. Come home after 8 nights on 31st with Delta via Atlanta 1hr:20mins change.
Never flown with NorthWorst and not been with Delta for years but at £241pp I would go with anyone.

you have a 1 hour 20 minute change on the way back???????????
wow...you're going to be on a dead run between the planes....and i think i want to start a betting pool as to whether your luggage will arrive back inthe UK with you...

as for northworst and delta.....they're both american....meaning american level of service....i see that in a negative light.....i fly northworst all the time and they typically earn that name every time i fly them...
but they get you where you need to go and if the price is right, who cares...all flying is painful these days....

 

[T16GEM]

What great prices, I am off to check out Orbitz.com

 

[disneyholic family]

continuing where i left off (i had to run out to move my car)...

let's see...incoming you're flying through detroit..
i actually like Detroit airport a lot...
it's a very easy airport to navigate....for me anyway...
it's terribly long, but one straight line....no getting lost...


you first go through immigration...when i was there last month, they had lots of immigration officers on duty, and we literally flew through....super speedy...

then on to customs....i don't know if they do this with the airbus that arrives from the UK, but for the airbus coming in from amsterdam they always do this...the luggage arrives on two luggage carousels...side by side.....it's so strange....so you have to watch for your luggage on both of them....which can be a bit tricky...
but i guess they're able to unload it faster that way...

our luggage showed up super fast this time...and we were through customs in no time at all....

then once you're out you have to check the overhead monitors to see where in that very very very long terminal your exit gate is...
be sure to check before you start, since you might be able to take the overhead train....the train only has 3 stations - on either end of the terminal and in the middle...
the terminal also has moving sidewalks along most of the way (except for a section in the middle)..

and there are lots of places to eat all along the corridor...
anyway, i like it there...nice, big, open, airy....one of my favorite US airports...
and one of the NW hubs (detroit and minneapolis are the two big northwest hubs -but of the two, detroit is far superior)..

 

[luke]

You must have missed post#8
.

I most certainly did, serves me right for browsing DIS from my phone

Looking now but nothing seemingly as cheap as you got, damn those airport taxes

 

[disneyholic family]

i'm back yet again...

have you picked your seat on the northwest flight?

you can do that already...
the moment you book, you can pick a seat..

are you flying business or coach?

probably a stupid question, since i've heard you in the past saying you'd never waste money on business class....

coach on the NWA airbuss is in the second and third sections of the plane..

most of the second section are filled with "P" seats...priority or premium...
saved for their elite frequent flyers...

usually if you're not FF elite you end up in the third section...
BUT, you can sometimes move forward to the second section, if any seats are left, 24 hours before the flight..
at 24 hours before the flight, they release the "P" seats....
so if any are left, you can switch your seats.....

i did that last november when i flew with my daughter.....we ended up with pretty decent seats on the side (a two seater on the side in the second section)...

if you're flying business class, it's pretty nice....the seats aren't flatbed, but they're almost flat....the service is variable....highly dependent on the crew...some crews are outstanding, others are just mediocre....
but they never approach the service on foreign airlines...

the entertainment system is very good.....if i remember correctly, it's VOD in both coach and business (i was just on the NWA airbus to amsterdam 2 weeks ago, but in business....and i can't remember from november if it was VOD in coach as well...but i think it was)...

 

[disneyholic family]

it just dawned on me....what airline are you flying from DTW to vegas?
there is one slight wrinkle at detroit airport, if you're switching to one of the commuter type airlines...
i'm assuming you're connecting to Northwest, which is very easy (to find the gate)...


anyway, if you have any questions about DTW, feel free to ask....

since i used to live in the detroit area (and my family still does), that is very much my hub as well...

 

[wayneg]

Luke keep trying. I look every day, not been anything then yesterday there was plenty to choose from. Their site is a pain, gives you prices then when you try book says not available but I just kept researching and eventually let me book, I think it it fed up of me and just wanted me off their site

Beth will read thru all your advise at home tonight, Thank you. Yes its ecomomy, I will sleep just fine there.
Its a Florida flight not Vegas (just seen that in your last post)
I really should be working and getting my year end accounts done, will have more time tonight.

 

[Lizzybear]

Awesome!

 

[disneyholic family]

Beth will read thru all your advise at home tonight, Thank you. Yes its ecomomy, I will sleep just fine there.
Its a Florida flight not Vegas (just seen that in your last post)
I really should be working and getting my year end accounts done, will have more time tonight.

if it's a florida flight, then for sure it's northwest.....i don't know when your flight gets into detroit, but if it's early in the day, you'll have lots of back up flights, if for some reason you miss your connecting flight...
NWA has a flight from detroit to orlando every two hours or so..(last time i looked)...so you shouldn't have any problem making the connection...

i'm sure there is a desk for redepositing your luggage once you get through customs, but i've never used it, since i always stop in detroit, before continuing to Orlando.......you can just ask the customs guy where it is...so many people are continuing on domestic flights, the customs officer will certainly be able to point you in the right direction (i think it's just off to the right, before you actually exit the area, but i'm not sure....and i suspect you probably walk out a different way as well, so as not to leave the security area)...

by the way, in detroit, everything in the terminal is on the plane side of security....that is, all restaurants, stores etc are on the secure side..

the nonsecure side only has the check in desks (and domestic baggage claim)..

so you're not missing anything by remaining within the secure side of the terminal...

oh....one more thing...
of course, you'll get food on the flight from the UK to detroit, but on the internal flight from DTW to MCO, you'll only get a soft drink....no food....
i think they offer snack boxes for purchase....but nothing else...
so lots of people buy stuff in the terminal to eat on board...
and there are lots of places to buy food, if you're interested....

 

[wayneg]

you have a 1 hour 20 minute change on the way back???????????
wow...you're going to be on a dead run between the planes....and i think i want to start a betting pool as to whether your luggage will arrive back inthe UK with you...

as for northworst and delta.....they're both american....meaning american level of service....i see that in a negative light.....i fly northworst all the time and they typically earn that name every time i fly them...
but they get you where you need to go and if the price is right, who cares...all flying is painful these days....

Never had a problem coming home, last one we only had 50 mins in Chicago and did it with about 15 mins spare, always chance of problems but no worries they will get us and luggage home sometime, we have never been ones for worrying over missed/late flights, we are very laid back with flying.

Flown with just about all US transatlantic carriers now, I rate most better than Virgin and BA. BA are by far the worst we have been with but flying from Manchester both Virgin(MCO) and BA(NYC) are the oldest and worst planes they have.
Still can't believe I got a school holiday week at £241. Just logged into NWA and its there confirmed. Won't let me access seats until 90 days out, another 17 days to go.
You are correct about Dinner on 1st fleg then nothing on 2nd leg, we arrive(if on time) at Orlando-Int'l, FL (MCO) at 5:41PM so will eat in Orlando unless any delays.
Been thru Atlanta before but never Detroit, another to add to the long list .
Thanks again for all info.

 

[Frances999]

Awesome, Wayne! You sure know how to get those bargains.

 

[disneyholic family]

Never had a problem coming home, last one we only had 50 mins in Chicago and did it with about 15 mins spare, always chance of problems but no worries they will get us and luggage home sometime, we have never been ones for worrying over missed/late flights, we are very laid back with flying.

Flown with just about all US transatlantic carriers now, I rate most better than Virgin and BA. BA are by far the worst we have been with but flying from Manchester both Virgin(MCO) and BA(NYC) are the oldest and worst planes they have.
Still can't believe I got a school holiday week at £241. Just logged into NWA and its there confirmed. Won't let me access seats until 90 days out, another 17 days to go.
You are correct about Dinner on 1st fleg then nothing on 2nd leg, we arrive(if on time) at Orlando-Int'l, FL (MCO) at 5:41PM so will eat in Orlando unless any delays.
Been thru Atlanta before but never Detroit, another to add to the long list .
Thanks again for all info.

the northwest transatlantic airbus is their showstopper plane....
they're the newest ones added to the fleet and they went all out...
fancy entertainment systems etc.
the only problem in coach is it's rather cramped...
i hadn't been in transatlantic coach for many years, until i flew with my daughter in november (we were on free frequent flyer tickets)...
the distance to the seat in front of me seemed really small - i have practically no legs at all, and i felt cramped...
but the seat back entertainment system took my mind off of it..
i'm pretty sure we had VOD even in coach, which is very nice...lots and lots of movies (and other stuff) to choose from....

i haven't been on BA in years, so i can't compare service...(never been on VA)...
but the northwest transatlantic airbus is a very nice plane, and flies pretty well (nothing flies as well as the 747, but c'est la vie)...

northwest is called northworst mostly due to the service (or lack thereof) on the ground.....the ground agents tend to be rude (and that's when you're getting good service - the rest of the time, they're just plain nasty)..

once on board, the service is much much better....and since you won't really encounter the ground agents in detroit, you'll probably have a much better experience than most people.....i'm sure the ground agents in the UK are better than in the US (in amsterdam, the northwest ground agents are much better than in the US)....

and as i've said repeatedly, i do love detroit airport....i've been in most of the big US airports (though not atlanta) and detroit is very very easy....and pleasant to be in as well....lots of place to sit...lots of places to eat...very open and bright....easy to get around.....the only place i don't like there is the northwest club lounge....but again, because the agents there tend to have an attitude....and the place is terribly crowded....you're much better off being in the regular airport than in the lounge...(in other words, you're not missing anything by not being in the lounge)...

as for seats, by all means do go in there as soon as you can....even if you're stuck in the 3rd section of the plane, there are better and worse seats to be had...
if you go to seatguru.com, you'll be able to see what they consider good and bad...
personally, i like to be in the two seater by the window when in coach (also in business)...

 

[wayneg]

as for seats, by all means do go in there as soon as you can....even if you're stuck in the 3rd section of the plane, there are better and worse seats to be had...
if you go to seatguru.com, you'll be able to see what they consider good and bad...
personally, i like to be in the two seater by the window when in coach (also in business)...

I had a good look last night, went onto Delta's site (return journey) and it let me pick seats for both legs, looked at seat Guru and think I matched up the correct planes. Don't think there were any seats any better than any other, we want 3 together so didn't go for the 2's this time although we got 2x2's on Virgin at Easter and they were nice seats at the back (apart from the lady behind me that never stopped talking very loud from take off to landing)
I actually prefer no entertainment onboard, that way we sleep most journey's, good entertainment keeps DS awake, I have no idea how anyone watches a film on anything less than a 32" screen

 

[disneyholic family]

I actually prefer no entertainment onboard, that way we sleep most journey's, good entertainment keeps DS awake, I have no idea how anyone watches a film on anything less than a 32" screen

i have to wear my glasses to be able to see the screen.....the one thing i hate about getting "old"...

i tend to doze as i watch the movie...
i just watched the bucket list at home the other day on DVD -i was surprised to see that i'd actually only seen about 20 minutes of the movie on the plane (a minute here and there throughout the film), though i still enjoyed it immensely..

when i fly non-stop to new york - a twelve hour flight for me - i definitely need an entertainment system....no way can i sleep 12 hours....even in a flatbed....actually i've never been on a plane with a flatbed pod....
the airline i usually fly, just installed them in business class, so next time i fly with them, i'll get to see if it's an improvement for me (the almost flats aren't that comfortable for me, for some reason - not sure why)...

actually, i'm a bit leary of flying again.....on the last leg of my most recent trip (june), the KLM flight out of amsterdam hit a doozy of an air pocket that scared me to death (and considering the number of screams i heard, lots of other people were a bit nervous as well)....it was such an extreme drop that the pilot immediately checked the cabin for injuries....and there was no run-up turbulence...just a sudden massive drop accompanied by an extremely loud noise.....talk about shocking....
so i've started thinking again about hopping on the QM2 to get me across...
but it would take me so long...first i have to get to the UK....there are no ships from where i am....don't even know how i would manage....no ship...no train....hmmm...maybe i can hitch a ride on a yacht across the mediteranean...
once on the QM2 it would be easy....get off in new york - rent a car - drive for 2 days to detroit (or orlando if that's the direction i'm heading)..
sort of the pony express form of travel....
well...don't they say that getting there is half the fun?...do they?

 

[disneyholic family]

one more reason i love detroit airport - i love detroiters and michiganders...
say what you will about the city (and much has been said) the metropolitan detroit area has very nice people....very very friendly people.....midwesterners.....

and if you ever have a chance to visit michigan, especially northern michigan - it's well worth it...the great lakes are amazing...
and places like mackinac island, charlevoix, traverse city are lovely to visit....

even southern michigan - just north of detroit - oakland county is beautiful with thousands of lakes (left over from the glaciers)....hills, forests and lakes....what could be more lovely than that? (where my family lives and where i grew up)...

this ends the michigan travel bureau advertisement

 

[wayneg]

this ends the michigan travel bureau advertisement

You sure you don't work for them?

 

[Ware Bears]

Well done Wayne

 

[Netty]

Just booked for October half term, that makes Easter, August, Oct and Xmas this year. Spending more time there than at home
I like to get value from my AP's.

Strange route we are taking, after missing our flight from Heathrow last Oct to Vegas decided to try again.
From Heathrow with a 2hr:30min change in Detroit on this www.nwa.com/travel/trave/seatm/a330/ on 23rd Oct. Come home after 8 nights on 31st with Delta via Atlanta 1hr:20mins change.
Never flown with NorthWorst and not been with Delta for years but at £241pp I would go with anyone.

wayne congrats on booking again!!! bloomin heck you sure must like flying the cm's in wdw will soon be calling you all by your first names when you go into a park

 

[higgy66]

Fantastic news Wayne - if anyone can spot a bargain its you!

By the way - you need to delete the first few rows of your signature as you can't see the bottom and all the lovely trips you've got booked

 

[wayneg]

wayne congrats on booking again!!! bloomin heck you sure must like flying the cm's in wdw will soon be calling you all by your first names when you go into a park

I love flying, even going thru storms, beeing hit by lightening I love it.

Fantastic news Wayne - if anyone can spot a bargain its you!

By the way - you need to delete the first few rows of your signature as you can't see the bottom and all the lovely trips you've got booked

I think you will find its you that needs a bigger monitor
I see tham all perfectly at home on a 19" widescreen but at work on 15" they are missing.
Maybe I should try condense it.