Direct or Indirect Flight Help ???

[cliveywolves]

Hi Guys,

Just pricing up for next year and yes the dreaded August prices again !!

We are going around the 22nd August, Me DW & DD (7) so far cheapest i can find Direct is BA @ £1960 and indirect with Delta @ £1640 Orlando via Atlanta.
Firstly is it worth the saving of £320 or am I going to have head aches as we have never flown indirect before ?? Also there is only a 1hr 30min between our flights is that enough time ??

Any help or advice would be great ....

 

[2Tiggies]

Don't know Atlanta but we had 89 minutes at Newark last month and it was MORE than enough time. We still browsed shops and had something to eat and drink while we waited as well as having done customs and immigration.

For me, I much preferred the indirect - to the point that even if it costs a little more I would pick indirect. Especially with a short change over. If you miss your connection to MCO, are there any later flights that day they could put you on?

£320 is a fair bit of cash.

 

[wayneg]

To us yes its worth it, US carriers have less delays compared to VA(BA don't fly from MAN)
Indirect we get immigration done before MCO, easier at MCO for collecting car.
1:30 is usually enough if no transatlantic delays, make sure there is another internal flight down to MCO on the same day, Delta often have 2, 3 or 4 more they can get you on if you miss your original connection.
I used to have a £100 limit for direct, I have dropped it to £50 now, if we can save £150 (3 of us) then its worth indirect.

 

[cliveywolves]

Cheers guys...

Good point number one I better check they have more flights that day to Orlando just in case of a delay...

So we will clear US immigration in Atlanta and not Orlando, I take it we dont have to worry about our checked baggage they transfer it for us automatically to our next flight ? So when we arrive in Orlando what do we do then that makes it quicker for us >?

Cheers again..

 

[wayneg]

Outbound you have to collect luggage, go thru security and re-check, a very simple process. Coming home they are checked thru to destination.

 

[cliveywolves]

Outbound you have to collect luggage, go thru security and re-check, a very simple process. Coming home they are checked thru to destination.

Sorry Wayne, Im a newbie to indirect, but we gotta depart our plane collect our baggage, go through immigration and security and then re check in for our connecting flight in less then 1hour 30, that seems a close call to me am I missing something

 

[wayneg]

Sorry Wayne, Im a newbie to indirect, but we gotta depart our plane collect our baggage, go through immigration and security and then re check in for our connecting flight in less then 1hour 30, that seems a close call to me am I missing something

Rarely takes more than 60 mins, sometimes do it in around 30 mins if 1st off plane, no line at immigration, luggage straight off but Atlanta is one of the busiest airports, I wouldn't accept less than 90 mins. Is there the option for another around 2hr or 2hr:30? if its your 1st time indirect it might be worth looking at a little longer.

 

[cliveywolves]

Rarely takes more than 60 mins, sometimes do it in around 30 mins if 1st off plane, no line at immigration, luggage straight off but Atlanta is one of the busiest airports, I wouldn't accept less than 90 mins. Is there the option for another around 2hr or 2hr:30? if its your 1st time indirect it might be worth looking at a little longer.

Ok then im understanding now..

Checked with Delta there is a flight every hour from 2PM up till 11PM so if we did push it and miss it we would be ok to jump on the next one ?

So am i correct in thinking when we get to Orlando we dont have to stand in the big massive immigration line we normally get on direct flight ???

 

[wayneg]

Ok then im understanding now..

Checked with Delta there is a flight every hour from 2PM up till 11PM so if we did push it and miss it we would be ok to jump on the next one ?

So am i correct in thinking when we get to Orlando we dont have to stand in the big massive immigration line we normally get on direct flight ???

If you miss it you goto the Delta desk, they will re-book you on the next available, we had friends miss theirs at Atlanta 2 years ago, they were told they were on standby for the next flight, guaranteed the one after that, they got them on the next one, just 1 hour late into Tampa.

When you arrive in Orlando you just get off the plane and straight to baggage reclaim and on your way. Indirect might add a couple of hours onto the journey but then you can save an hour of that missing MCO immigration.