Bringing Home the Magic - Part 2 - 8/18/07 - 9/01/07- list of cruisers on page 1

[dee47]

Right now my "sources" show an LAX-BCN for 2 adults, 1 child at $624pp lowest fare. Mind you, this is Aug. 2006. And gas prices are still cimbing...

 

[GrayFal]

Right now my "sources" show an LAX-BCN for 2 adults, 1 child at $624pp lowest fare. Mind you, this is Aug. 2006. And gas prices are still cimbing...

Not bad...
Here is what I found on Kayak

Flight Information - Fri., Aug. 18, 2006
! This flight leaves and arrives on different dates.
Aer Lingus Limited
Flight 104 Departs: 6:00p
John F Kennedy Intl (JFK) Arrives: 5:30a
Dublin (DUB)
Economy | 330 | 6h 30m | XHUSIE
Layover at Dublin (DUB) for 2h 0m
Aer Lingus Limited
Flight 562 Departs: 7:30a
Dublin (DUB) Arrives: 10:50a
Barcelona (BCN)
Economy | 321 | 2h 20m | XHWEUOW

$517 per person including tax

 

[dee47]

For all of us in WA: SEA-BCN, 2 adults, 1 child = $619. Amazing -- we beat LAX? Well, OK, it's only $5, but how often does that happen.

If you haven't already, check out SideStep. GREAT travel search engine (SideStep.com).

Keep in mind (I'm a TA, and I try to remind my clients about this when they book Europe): Most flights from the US will get to Europe the NEXT DAY. Be aware of this when it's time to book air. If you book a flight on the 18th, chances are you'll get to BCN on the 19th (unless it's a midnight flight). GrayFal, your flight arrives on the 19th

Keep in mind that if you're trying to catch a ship, and you're NOT going through DCL for air, they won't wait for you if flight delays keep you from boarding. I recommend booking a flight out on the 17th at the latest, unless you're going through DCL or taking a midnight flight on the 18th (and that's still risky). Also remember that midnight on the 18th comes at the end of FRIDAY, not Saturday. Ask me about people who book midnight flights and get to the airport the night AFTER their flight was scheduled...

This ends the public service portion of our show. Nothing to see here...move along...

 

[dee47]

Hey GrayFal, what's a DIS Circle Journal???

 

[DisneyDiva4ever]

This ends the public service portion of our show. Nothing to see here...move along..

Dee, you're too funny! Thanks for the lesson on flying to Europe. I'm a bit new at this & every little bit helps. With that said, I'm totally chickening out on saving $ and just booking airfare through DCL. I'm a whimp, what can I say!

My resolve is simply that this is a once in a lifetime event. No matter what this will be DCL's 1st repo home from the MED. I have regrets about not being able to do the PC repo (which I hope they do again so I can be on it). I guess even more simply we are going to involved with the making of history and Ladies and Gentleman that makes this all worth while.

Well said faireygod mother! I missed your toast earlier, but I'm raising my glass now! Let's make history on the Disney Magic! Here's to all the jolly good fools out there!

 

[NYCMickeyMom]

All this info is so helpful and we have been researching flights alot.....we are flying out of NYC (any of the three airports will do) and it is amazing how much more expensive one-way is compared to roundtrip......we are definitely flying into europe earlier( up to 10 days)...we're just trying to decide london, paris, or where....dee, do you know if there is a european city that is often the cheaper city to fly into? I'm nervous about booking a roundtrip and only using half....I'm afraid we'll get in trouble
has anyone ever done this? anyway, we are super flexible and want to take our time and plan it right.....I think someone else mentioned on here that they bought the lonelyplanet book on spain....i got the one on barcelona and I LOVE it.....they make awesome travel books IMHO
anyway, there is so much to do....and that doesn't count getting ressies and plans made for WDW this aug. ......woo!

 

[J&B_Disney]

Wow, sounds like it'd be cheaper for me to fly from Edmonton - US and then on to Europe from there.

We don't have much selection for airlines here in Canada ...

What does happen if you book a round trip and only use half?

Lonelyplanet's web site is really quite good too!!

 

[rsschneck]

For all of us in WA: SEA-BCN, 2 adults, 1 child = $619. Amazing -- we beat LAX? Well, OK, it's only $5, but how often does that happen.

If you haven't already, check out SideStep. GREAT travel search engine (SideStep.com).

Keep in mind (I'm a TA, and I try to remind my clients about this when they book Europe): Most flights from the US will get to Europe the NEXT DAY. Be aware of this when it's time to book air. If you book a flight on the 18th, chances are you'll get to BCN on the 19th (unless it's a midnight flight). GrayFal, your flight arrives on the 19th

Keep in mind that if you're trying to catch a ship, and you're NOT going through DCL for air, they won't wait for you if flight delays keep you from boarding. I recommend booking a flight out on the 17th at the latest, unless you're going through DCL or taking a midnight flight on the 18th (and that's still risky). Also remember that midnight on the 18th comes at the end of FRIDAY, not Saturday. Ask me about people who book midnight flights and get to the airport the night AFTER their flight was scheduled...

This ends the public service portion of our show. Nothing to see here...move along...

Might have to contact you afterall. We are PDX to CDG and probably train from PAris to Barcelona and then MCO to PDX. Sounds like you are advising RT air and not using the return portion. Then maybe Southwest one-way back home. The airfare is the real inhibiting factor for us right now. I was estimating $2,000 per person for PDX to CDG and MCO to PDX (one-way fares). When air costs more than the cruise it is time to rethink the cruise.

 

[slindamood]

I've been checking airfares today as well. I know that airlines can charge you the full fare if you don't return as reserved - don't know if they would really do it.
I tried www. kayak.com - a poster listed it on another thread - looks good for booking one-way flights. Putting this August in, I found really good flights on Delta - at cheaper than the roundtrip fare and no worry about not using the return trip. Then, I can book Southwest for the return trip from MCO, but Kayak had some reasonable ones also.

The cost per person comes out to less than $1000.

 

[dee47]

The prices I was quoting were 1-way. I wouldn't do RT without showing up for the return flights.

I think from either coast it's cheapest to fly into London. If you go on SideStep right now, you can find JFK-LON for $319pp (1-way), based on 8/16/2006 departure, 2 adults, 1 child (2-11). I plan on flying to LON, going by train to Paris and Switzerland, then taking the train to BCN. Yeah, I'm getting a rail pass for me and my son.

Any of you who have airline miles to use, consider saving them for the MCO-home trip. Unless you're lucky enough to have enough miles for a Europe trip.

 

[J&B_Disney]

Decisions, decisions. Before the Aug 2007 airline schedules/prices are released, I'll probably have a 100 different flight schedules figured out.

Dee I checked Air Miles for the Orlando to Edmonton flight home and YES I do have enough miles (I think this is just RT though, I have to see if they do one way). Not enough for Europe though, I'd never be able to hang on to the miles for that long. Thanks for pointing that out, don't know why I never thought of it

 

[slindamood]

AH - the joys of a complex trip for the compuslive planner

Anyone who is planning to use miles for the trip - be aware of a few things - it is like booking DVC - do it at the 11 month window or you may be out of luck.

There is a lot written about problems getting to Euorpe on miles, but any DVC vet can do it. We book most every summer to Euorpe using miles - I call ahead and get the exact date they will open the 11 month window for reservations, then call first thing that day. You can book outgoing flights separate from returning - they will hold it for you until the window for return opens. Also, I usually am willing to book any city available and that is where we start the trip.

One way costs the same miles as round trip. I will not be using miles for the repo cruise because on Kayak I can book a cheap one way, so I will save my miles for another time and use cash to get to Europe for the western repo.

Sometimes flights in Europe are cheaper than rail. For cheap flights in Europe, check out http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/flights.htm

 

[slindamood]

Dee - just tried sidestep.com - what a great site. Thanks!!!

I was able to get $599 to CDG-Paris in August. So, Paris it might be. Then train down to BCN.

 

[nanaguide]

Slindamood - thanks for the info about airline miles. I'm new at this so appreciate all the information I can get. I plan to use my 130,000 miles for 2 tickets from Orlando to Zurich. I used some miles last week to get a ticket to Calgary and back for this June. On the same call I asked the International agent when I could make reservations for next August. She told me to call back in November or December. What is this 11 month thing? I don't want to miss using my miles to get my tickets. Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

[rsschneck]

If you use sidestep or kayak can you still earn airmiles with the airline you book through the web site?

These one-way fares are GREAT!!! I would like to earn the airmiles if possible

 

[slindamood]

nanaguide - most airlines start booking their flights on miles about 11 months before the flight. It varies by a few days. A week or so before the 11 month date for the outgoing flight, call the airline frequent flyer desk and ask when they will start booking. They might even tell you what time of day to call. They generally will let you book the outgoing flight at 11 months before the flight, then hold that flight for you until the 11 month window opens for the return, When you book the return flight they ticket the entire trip. If you wait to book both flights at the return 11 month window, you may be out of luck.

I have found the frequent flyer people to be most helpful and very free with information about how their system works. I have had very good luck booking flights at the 11 month window, but the number of seats available varies to different destinations - which is why being flexible works. If Zurich is not available, maybe Geneva or Munich is available, even Paris or Frankfurt are easy train rides to Zurich. I generally take Frankfurt if my exact city is not available because the intercity trains run right through the airport, and it is so easy to arrive at the airport, take the escalator downstairs, get on a train, and get over jet lag while riding a few hours to my destination.

Good Luck!

 

[dee47]

If you use sidestep or kayak can you still earn air miles with the airline you book through the web site?

These one-way fares are GREAT!!! I would like to earn the airmiles if possible

Well, SideStep searches various web sites, and when you select a fare you are connected to that web site. If it's something like Orbitz, you can enter your FF#. Sometimes you'll be connected directly to the airline site, and then you may get bonus miles (like Delta does) for booking directly through them. Either way, you get mileage if you use SideStep. I've never used Kayak, so I can't answer that one

 

[DisneyElf]

Sorry - I haven't updated page one yet - still under the weather - but hopefully the update will be done soon.

I guess when you book the ticket - on kayak - they direct you to the actual site to purchase the tickets.

Quite a few people are planning to be on the train from Paris to Barcelona on the night of the 17th .... The once nice thing about the overnight in Barcelona is IF for any reason we are delayed - we have until the 19th to get to the ship

 

[Scratch42]

Erica ~ Hope you feel better soon. This weather is not helping one bit!

Have you heard anything from the Rail People?

j

 

[wackywexler]

Feel better soon Disney Elf - Erica