Booking a one way ticket from London

[queenbee99]

We are contemplating the transatlantic cruise in May and I would love to go to London and Paris after. The one way tickets for airfare are so high. Do any of you have any tips for me? How to find cheaper airfares? I am wondering if we would be better off flying straight home airfare wise.

 

[wayneg]

Might be better if you post as much info as poss, dates, rough times, airports etc then I will do some searching and and see whats available but unfortunately 1 way flights can be expensive.

 

[queenbee99]

The cruise ship docks in Barcelona on the 28th of May and I figure we may do a day there...then fly or take the train to Paris...I have never planned a trip overseas myself. Then fly or take the Eurostar to London and fly to Houston, Texas or even New Orleans, Louisiana from there. So somewhere around the 6th of june give or take a few days. How many days would we need in London to hit some high points? Paris? My little girl wants to see the Eiffel Tower so bad! LOL It would be for 2 adults and 1 7 year old. I am not sure how we are better off price wise taking the train or plane and time wise. My husband may end up vetoing the whole thing after all the recent events with security and warnings. THanks for any help!

 

[ford family]

Have you tried asking Disney to price in the delayed return flights?
We are considering the reverse process. It is an NCL cruise that leaves Barcelona towards the end of October 2011, has a couple of ports of call then arrives in Miami in early November. The cruise cost includes flights from UK to Barcelona and then Miami to London. BUT, you can delay the return flight by up to three months at no additional cost so our plan would be to have thirteen nights on board then drive up to our vacation home for a month and fly home in mid December. If you mentally strip out GBP500 per person for the regular return flight UK/FLA it means you are only paying GBP600 each for thirteen nights with a balcony cabin, food, shows, cinema etc etc.
We were not aware that the return flights could be delayed until we asked NCL so it is well worth enquiring.

ford family

 

[queenbee99]

That might would work but I don't live in the UK. I just thought someone here might have info about what airlines to try for tickets. I did call DCL today and they only price out from Barcelona to your house. We wouldn't be able to do anything else. I would hate to be over there and not take advantage of that. Thanks!

 

[wayneg]

Had a quick look (sorry not getting much time) From Barcelona it looks like getting to London is easier than Paris, Orbitz.com have a 1 way Barca-London with British Airways for $111pp on the 30th May, a little more for 29th May at $139pp
From London you can fly to CDG for $110pp incl for days I checked 3rd & 4th June
Then it gets expensive getting back to US. Only way I could see to get the price down was multi stops, Paris to NYC via Dublin $556 then NYC to Houston $164, a long way around but far better than direct.
The direct route from Paris to Houston is silly money $3,406

I just tried Orbitz for ease as its in $US for you. If its something you really want to do post exact dates, and route you want and I will search multiple sites but that gives you an idea of costs.

 

[ford family]

That might would work but I don't live in the UK. I just thought someone here might have info about what airlines to try for tickets. I did call DCL today and they only price out from Barcelona to your house. We wouldn't be able to do anything else. I would hate to be over there and not take advantage of that. Thanks!

I appreciate the fact that you don't live in the UK. What I was suggesting was that if the DCL one way air fare from Barcelona to your home was an acceptable price then you could ask them if they would let you do that journey, say, a week later. You could then get off the ship and proceed to London on your own, then on to Paris then back to Barcelona to pick up the delayed flight back home.

ford family

 

[queenbee99]

I appreciate the fact that you don't live in the UK. What I was suggesting was that if the DCL one way air fare from Barcelona to your home was an acceptable price then you could ask them if they would let you do that journey, say, a week later. You could then get off the ship and proceed to London on your own, then on to Paris then back to Barcelona to pick up the delayed flight back home.

ford family

forgive me, sometimes I am a little slow on following. I did call today and asked them about the flight from Barcelona and it is like 940! I am not even sure if we are going but I am trying to weigh out all of the options. Thanks for giving me another one to consider!!

 

[queenbee99]

Some of the airfare is just crazy...one quote I got was like 2500 per person...that is so not happening. I mentioned the cheapoair fare to my husband and he said it didn't sound legit. I priced it sort of how you did and got a cheaper airfare but it required multiple airports and I am not sure my husband would be up for that. THANKS SO MUCH! I will keep looking. I have considered doing the EuroStar from either London to Paris or vice versa. I haven't inquired about the cost on it yet though. I am getting confused checking out air, hotels and some having to be converted. I don't know what a decent hotel in London would cost. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Had a quick look (sorry not getting much time) From Barcelona it looks like getting to London is easier than Paris, Orbitz.com have a 1 way Barca-London with British Airways for $111pp on the 30th May, a little more for 29th May at $139pp
From London you can fly to CDG for $110pp incl for days I checked 3rd & 4th June
Then it gets expensive getting back to US. Only way I could see to get the price down was multi stops, Paris to NYC via Dublin $556 then NYC to Houston $164, a long way around but far better than direct.
The direct route from Paris to Houston is silly money $3,406

I just tried Orbitz for ease as its in $US for you. If its something you really want to do post exact dates, and route you want and I will search multiple sites but that gives you an idea of costs.

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

Hi!

I don't know how much help I can offer - but I am an expat American living in Turkey and I often fly from Europe back home to Houston. Flights from Turkey to Houston can be expensive so I often travel home via Paris or London. I book through Orbitz or cheap tickets as they let me originate outside of the US. Unfortunately one way tickets are ridiculously priced so you might just need to booked round trip even though you are doing the transatlantic cruise. (I booked that for next year, have since canceled but still want to do it one day - so may see you there one day!- )

I think it is a good idea to travel around while your in this neck of the woods so to speak. Traveling within Europe is fairly affordable really. I have found the best priced tickets going back to the States through London - Continental or sometimes even BA direct London to Houston is usually the best option for me. This time around I am flying through Charles De Gualle Continental - still not a bad price but a couple of hundred dollars more than the London option. I have an annual pass for Disneyland Paris so want to spend time there on my way home.

So in a nutshell I might look at booking round trip - not using a leg - going through London. Don;t know if that is possible if you don't use the first leg though - maybe check with the airline. You could easily get from London to Barcelona for your cruise departure (can't remember which direction you are going?) - check flights - easyjet is a low cost option - but you have to pay for baggage. Hotels in London are expensive but the cheapest out near the airport or you might look into hotwire. I booked hotels in Budapest and Paris with hotwire and it was VERY helpful - nice hotels for a decent price. Betterbidding.com is very helpful in booking hotwire hotels especially in London.

Book train tickets from Paris to London and vise versa with Eurostar.com. I booked my last ticket that way - printed it at home and it was easy breezy. I got a pretty good rate too - $60 for PAris Disneyland to London St. Pancras. Parisbytrain is a helpful website for train travel in Paris and France.

Anyway - hope this is helpful rather than confusing!! Good luck and happy planning!

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

Did a little googling and it looks like you may not be able to use only the second half of a round trip flight. But it looks like you might could book - London (or Barcelona) - Houston - London ( or Barcelona) and use only the first half. Anyway - maybe other have more info!

I have done this before - booked round trip and used only the first half of the flight. I have read that some just cancel the return flight after taking the first flight but I never bothered to do that.

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

Did a little googling and it looks like you may not be able to use only the second half of a round trip flight. But it looks like you might could book - London (or Barcelona) - Houston - London ( or Barcelona) and use only the first half. Anyway - maybe other have more info!

I have done this before - booked round trip and used only the first half of the flight. I have read that some just cancel the return flight after taking the first flight but I never bothered to do that.

I was just going to say that - I can't remember who, but I know I have spoken to someone whose return flight was cancelled because they didn't turn up for their outward flight, so be a bit careful

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

I was just going to say that - I can't remember who, but I know I have spoken to someone whose return flight was cancelled because they didn't turn up for their outward flight, so be a bit careful

Yeah I have heard of this as well! You have to use the first leg of a round trip flight or your return will be canceled. So you'd have to book using the first part of the flight. It hasn't made any difference for me if I haven't showed up for the second part - but I have heard of people who cancel the second flight after taking the first and actually getting money back! Hmm maybe should try this next time I have to do that - . Well if it is any consolation - expats have to do this all the time!

Advice from e how-
http://www.ehow.com/how_5011219_use-ticket-go-one-way.html