Flight dilemma....advice needed

[Sue F UK]

Hello everyone, I hope you are well. I haven't been posting lately but have been having the occasional 'lurk' to keep up with the news.

I need your advice on my flight dilemma: DH and I are planning our next trip to our villa on Sunset Lakes. DH is adamant that he wants to fly direct from Manchester with Virgin and will not consider travelling through a hub airport in the US. This is due to a nightmare 2 day layover in a blizzard last year in Philadelphia. He also wants to take advantage of Downtown Disney checkin. Anyway, due to work commitments the only day that we can fly is Sunday 8th Feb. and in the winter months Virgin do not fly on a Sunday or Monday from Manchester.

So: To get a Virgin flight we would have to get shuttle with ba to Gatwick and then have a 5 hour wait for the Virgin flight to Orlando. (We could drive down from Stockport but don't fancy that option much) Total journey time 16 hours!

OR: I have to convince DH to fly with Continental through Newark meaning a connection in a hub but 3 hours less journey time.

So, what do all you experts think. Is it really worth the extra time and hassle of getting to Gatwick just so we can fly Virgin?

 

[sam_b]

Oh dear - I don't envy you this - it's a dilemma we have had more times than I care to remember as my DH also hates to fly via US hubs.



Is there any difference in flight times if you fly Continental? If, for example, the Conti flight leaves Orlando slightly later than the Virgin one, then other than getting rid of your bags, you won't have gained anything from the DD check-in. Also, from memory, as the flight from Orlando to the Newark is internal you only have to be there 1 hour before -so you could get a longer last day with this option.

Personally, I find the delay of changing in London really frustrating on the way home. I'm tired, I'm in the right country, but I still have a way to go. When you change in America it still feels like a civilised time of day.

If there is no price difference then I would be tempted to persuade your DH to fly Continental.

Good luck with your choice.

 

[edie w]

I'd definitely change in the US if you can't go direct. You do the whole immigration thing at your transfer airport which saves time at MCO. You can then dash out of the airport sans luggage, sort out car hire ahead of the crowds and then go back to the carousel.

Or I'd go charter to Sanford!

 

[Sue F UK]

Thanks for the advice. The problem is Sam, that the Continental leaves Orlando around 3.30ish whereas the Virgin doesn't go until 8.40pm so he's got me on that one!

Charter is out as we can only make 10 days due to work.

Still no nearer a solution. Both are equally as unappealing!!

Perhaps I could persuade Virgin to change their scheduling from Manchester

 

[Hilary]

I have never been on an indirect flight, so can't help with that side of things, however.......

Originally posted by Sue F UK
the Continental leaves Orlando around 3.30ish whereas the Virgin doesn't go until 8.40pm

....one year we had a charter flight which left Orlando much earlier than usual, and I felt really disappointed that we'd effectively miss out on most of our final day in Florida, as we'd previously always flown out during the evening.

Our flight left early afternoon, we stayed awake all the way back, landed at our local airport around 1 or 2 in the morning (UK time) and arrived home feeling no worse than having a bit of a late night. It was brilliant! No jet-lag at all.

We said we'd always choose as early flight home in future if there was a choice!

 

[Peebee]

Hi Sue, how about Delta via Atlanta ? Less chance of a blizzards in that neck of the woods, and the flight back according to Expedia is at 17:35 - not quite as good as Virgin, but better than Continental. Not sure how cost compares though.

Paul

 

[Leeds Utd Fan]

There is no real argument that a direct flight is better, but if it is a non starter then I would if it was my family take an in direct flight via a US hub. You had a bad experiance last time, but you were very unlucky. It is luck of the draw, you could have been delayed by Virgin in the UK or on the return leg on a direct flight!!

We took our first indirect flight to Orlando in February via Washington and we were very lucky as the airport was closed for bad weather two or three days before our flight day, but by the time we flew everything was back to normal. My wife who is the worst flyer in the world thought it was good, we cleared all the entry requirements and then took the one hour flight to MCO and arrived as a domestic passenger so no immigration or double bag handling at MCO, it was very smooth! And I much prefer on the return to the UK to arrive back at a local airport and get in the car and be able to drive home than wait for an internal flight.
In the past year for work I have flown 14 indirect flights to the USA and back to the UK,as my final destination in the USA does not have international flights, I have apart from a 2 hour delay on one occassion had very smooth trips without hold ups.
With regard to the late Virgin flight, if their is a strong tail wind on the day you will get back earlier, last week in Chicago they delayed all the UK flights that were due to go between 5.30 and 8pm to 8.30 and later because if they left any earlier they would have got to LHR too early!! Sorry I have spent too much time on my own at airports, I have picked up all this useless info lol!!
We are flying to Orlando via Atlanta in december via Delta and I had no hesitation in booking it as the cost was 50% less than Virgin and Val [who takes god knows what medication and booze to get on a plane] had no problem with that, so it must be ok lol!!!!!
Don't know if this helps?
Whatever you choose good luck!!

Chris

 

[Sue F UK]

Thanks for all the advice. We are now in agreement that Gatwick is just too much trouble so are looking at going through Newark with Continental Airlines. I have heard good things about them and the times aren't too bad.

Trouble is now the head chef at work is threatening to leave (hopefully just a tantrum) so we can't book anything until the situation settles down. If he goes we wont be going anywhere until we find a replacement. Fingers crossed the flights will still be available then......

 

[RUSHBURY]

We always fly indirect, Glasgow via Newark and find that getting immigration over and done with in Newark is great and saves a lot of time etc when you reach Orlando - ie get luggage - get the car - get into the pool - all quicker!!!!!

Helen