Flight for Egypt

[Kathy W]

We are starting to look at flights for our trip to Egypt in February. We are flying from the USA (Ohio, Michigan area) and are looking for suggestions of airlines and routes.

 

[sayhello]

I haven't done this ABD, but I know folks have said that Turkish Airlines is very good. They fly from Detroit to Cairo. They might fly from other airports in the area, also.

Sayhello

 

[jimmymc]

Detroit offers a few flights. Here's the order I would recommend them in:
1. Turkish Airlines, connecting in Istanbul
2. Lufthansa, connecting in Frankfurt
3. Air France, connecting in Paris
4. Air Canada, connecting in Toronto

However, if you were paying to park the car anyway and are willing to drive, you can drive to Toronto and fly direct from there. The price is usually similar to connecting, but it's a way to avoid connections.

 

[Kathy W]

Looking at information on connecting flights in Istanbul. We have never flown international, is luggage automatically transferred to our connecting flight? Do we need anything other than a passport if we are not leaving the airport?

 

[jimmymc]

Looking at information on connecting flights in Istanbul. We have never flown international, is luggage automatically transferred to our connecting flight? Do we need anything other than a passport if we are not leaving the airport?

Checked bags will automatically be transferred to your second flight, and you won't even need to go through customs as long as you stay in the international terminal.

 

[sayhello]

Looking at information on connecting flights in Istanbul. We have never flown international, is luggage automatically transferred to our connecting flight? Do we need anything other than a passport if we are not leaving the airport?

As long as your flight is all one ticketed reservation though one airline's website (could include partner airlines) then your luggage will usually be transferred for you. If you have separate tickets for different legs, or purchase a multi-airline ticket through a consolidator like Expedia or Kayak, then you may have to retrieve your luggage and go through security again, etc. I advise to book directly on the airline's website and NOT through a consolidator. The consolidator may be cheaper, but if there's issues, you have to go to them, you generally can't get the issue addressed by the airline.

If, coming home, you are changing planes in the USA, you MAY have to grab your luggage at your first airport in the USA and take it through customs and then re-check it in. But that will all be handled internally, you won't have to go back out into the main airport. You need to ask the agents when you check in how it will be handled

Detroit offers a few flights. Here's the order I would recommend them in:
1.
4. Air Canada, connecting in Toronto

Stay far, far away from Air Canada unless you have no other choice! They are awful, and their planes frequently end up being Air Canada Rouge planes which are small and cramped and just horrid. I'm flying them next month because they are the ONLY airline that worked for my Canadian itinerary. I never would have booked with them otherwise. And the final leg home from Halifax, I booked with Delta, as I had points, and the flight was better than Air Canada's (and NOT Air Canada!)

Sayhello

 

[jimmymc]

Stay far, far away from Air Canada unless you have no other choice! They are awful, and their planes frequently end up being Air Canada Rouge planes which are small and cramped and just horrid. I'm flying them next month because they are the ONLY airline that worked for my Canadian itinerary. I never would have booked with them otherwise. And the final leg home from Halifax, I booked with Delta, as I had points, and the flight was better than Air Canada's (and NOT Air Canada!)

I'll just add that their customer service is also pretty bad and hard to get ahold of when things go wrong. It's only worth it if there's a cheaper, direct flight out of Toronto and I drive there.

 

[AquaDame]

I was curious as we're planning on Egypt next Nov and I only see a nonstop from Toronto to Cairo on Egypt Air...? We flew Canada Air to Osaka a couple weeks ago and it was... fine. Meals were pretty bad in coach is my only complaint, but we were on a 787 so it was pretty new.

 

[Lesverts]

Detroit offers a few flights. Here's the order I would recommend them in:
1. Turkish Airlines, connecting in Istanbul
2. Lufthansa, connecting in Frankfurt
3. Air France, connecting in Paris
4. Air Canada, connecting in Toronto

However, if you were paying to park the car anyway and are willing to drive, you can drive to Toronto and fly direct from there. The price is usually similar to connecting, but it's a way to avoid connections.

Air Canada does not fly to Cairo. Canada and Egypt are in a bit of a spat currently. From Toronto there is about a dozen options. I would rate Emirates and Etihad as the best even if you are paying a bit of a premium. Even before AC pulled the plug on their Cairo flight it was Montreal only.

Also I think for most locations along the Michigan/Ohio frontier area. Chicago would be closer. That would also open up Qatar as a viable good option as well.

As long as your flight is all one ticketed reservation though one airline's website (could include partner airlines) then your luggage will usually be transferred for you. If you have separate tickets for different legs, or purchase a multi-airline ticket through a consolidator like Expedia or Kayak, then you may have to retrieve your luggage and go through security again, etc. I advise to book directly on the airline's website and NOT through a consolidator. The consolidator may be cheaper, but if there's issues, you have to go to them, you generally can't get the issue addressed by the airline.

If, coming home, you are changing planes in the USA, you MAY have to grab your luggage at your first airport in the USA and take it through customs and then re-check it in. But that will all be handled internally, you won't have to go back out into the main airport. You need to ask the agents when you check in how it will be handled
Stay far, far away from Air Canada unless you have no other choice! They are awful, and their planes frequently end up being Air Canada Rouge planes which are small and cramped and just horrid. I'm flying them next month because they are the ONLY airline that worked for my Canadian itinerary. I never would have booked with them otherwise. And the final leg home from Halifax, I booked with Delta, as I had points, and the flight was better than Air Canada's (and NOT Air Canada!)

Sayhello

Rouge flights always begin with AC8---. And it clearly tells you. Only routes that have both options from Toronto are Kingston, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale. And those are only in the winter when there is need for the widebodies to fly. Rouge also doesn't fly over the oceans.