Flying Indirect

[Scrap_Vamp]

Hi All,

Looking to save my family as much money as possible when they come over for my wedding, and wondered what the reality was like when it comes to flying indirect.

Is it worth having to do the 2 flights for the savings that can be made?

One advantage we can see is that we prefer the likes of American Airlines to a lot of the UK airlines, but is is too much hassle, especially with children under 3?

I'd be really grateful if people could fill me in on both sides of the story!

 

[thehails]

For me it's going to be worth it as we are saving £291 by having a 2.5 hour stop over at Chicago instead of going direct! Not done it yet, but we did a 27 hour plane journey to New Zealand last year with 2 young children so figure if we can manage that, a short layover in Chicago is going to be a doddle (although may live to regret saying this)

 

[wayneg]

Its personal choice, some people wont fly indirect for any amount of saving, I have a £100pp rule, If I am saving £300 for 3 of us then I will go indirect.
Big advantage is getting Immigration and customs done at the first airport, then when we get to Orlando there is usually no line at Dollar so what time you lose on changing planes can be gained on getting out of MCO very quickly.
I find US carriers are similar to Virgin. The best we use are BMI via Chicago, used them twice and will be coming home with them in August, great planes, staff, food, entertainment, no complaints with them at all.
August 2006 cost me around £300 each with BMI, Virgin were wanting around £700. massive savings sometimes, other times there are none.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Its personal choice, some people wont fly indirect for any amount of saving, I have a £100pp rule, If I am saving £300 for 3 of us then I will go indirect.
Big advantage is getting Immigration and customs done at the first airport, then when we get to Orlando there is usually no line at Dollar so what time you lose on changing planes can be gained on getting out of MCO very quickly.
I find US carriers are similar to Virgin.

I wholeheartedely agree with Wayne.

We flew American last October into Tampa via Chicago O'Hare - Virgin and BA were suggesting we pay them in excess of £800 each for our flights (£2482 if I remember correctly) - American cost us £1050 for the three of us! No contest.

I ensured we had a connection time of at least 2.5 hours and it worked perfectly.

We anticipated flying American again this August, but believe it or not VA came in a lot cheaper, especially since we're starting our trip in Miami.

I much preferred the experience with American than our last few flights with VA (hope they prove me wrong in August ).

.

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

Thanks for your replies - it seems there are definite advantages - I like the sound of getting through immigration quicker!

 

[paulh]

Paulh

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

We flew last year via Philly - didn't mind it at all.

 

[CHEK]

We're currently thinking of going indirect for next Feb?, this would be our 1st time indirect. Lot's of thinking being done in our house at the moment........Good Luck with your decision

 

[wayneg]

We're currently thinking of going indirect for next Feb?, this would be our 1st time indirect. Lot's of thinking being done in our house at the moment........Good Luck with your decision

Have you seen a good deal direct? Best I have seen is BMI for £324. Virgin direct are £396 for same dates, even though I rate BMI over Virgin I am not sure I would go indirect for £72pp saving. Although it depends how many of you going, can mount up.

Edit, just seen Opodo have BMI for £314 so £82pp saving over direct, probably worth doing if 4 of you.

 

[CHEK]

Have you seen a good deal direct? Best I have seen is BMI for £324. Virgin direct are £396 for same dates, even though I rate BMI over Virgin I am not sure I would go indirect for £72pp saving. Although it depends how many of you going, can mount up.

Edit, just seen Opodo have BMI for £314 so £82pp saving over direct, probably worth doing if 4 of you.

Yes £314 with BMI and there's 6 of us going, every time I look at Virgin's website the prices keep rising , and also don't think it's worth using m+m for the small discount that it's actually giving? also not many dates available on m+m. Just debating the longer travelling time with 2 DD's but they're not so little anymore

 

[Cochise]

BMI seem to be good value at the moment, loads of threads are about asking for advice. We had a couple of unforseen delays going on that airline/route in 2006 which i wont blame on the airline. There is plenty in O'Hare to keep you occupied if there is delay. My personal choices for next October will be between BMI via Chicago, US Airways via Philly and Delta via either JFK or Atlanta Hartsfield (If they have managed to fit the IFE on the 767-400's they run on that route)

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

Thanks again everyone.

This all sounds really positive.

My next question would be where do you start looking for deals/prices? Do you look at the first leg to start with or the second?

Sorry if this is a dim question!

 

[wayneg]

You really need to book it all in one. Look at Travelsupermarket.com you have more protection if your 1st leg is delayed, they will get you on next flight available. I have booked seperate once when we had a 4 day stop in NY but if you are not stopping over then book it all together.
Just enter your departure airport and arrival as MCO and it will work it out for you.

 

[wicket2005]

Personally I just like getting from a to b as quickly as possible and the thought of having more journey time just doesn't appeal because any extra journey time is coming from my Orlando time.

However, if it meant making a trip to Orlando a reality with the money saved then obviously it would be a sensible thing to do.

 

[Andy B]

Personally we have used connection flights a few times, We have only used American once in 1996 as we had to go to San Francisco afterward and had connection flights on every leg, I was not impressed by them then, also via Chicago you are going a longer route, it is actually in the next time zone and you then come back east. I would prefer to change on the coast or nearer orlando, ie New York, Washington, Atlanta or Charlotte but hey thats me.

 

[luke]

Looking to save my family as much money as possible when they come over for my wedding, and wondered what the reality was like when it comes to flying indirect.
!

Are you me? Lol.

We also looked at lots of flights to help people get over for our wedding, even tho we're STILL (annoyingly and stressfuly) waiting for some to book.

Were definitely savings to be made when we're there (October half-term - i'm a teacher) and with the lateness that everyone seemed to book with, meaning things like VH had sold out!

My mum, dad and nan are flying via Philly, and their trip, for flights and hotel (Lake Buena Vista Resort Village and Spa) came to £580, for 8 nights stay during October half term - which is pretty damn good!!

My fiancées mum and her boyfriend are flying via New York (Newark i think) and also made good savings!!

Now if only the rest would book so we can reserve a private room at Shula's for our meal!! We've sent out the rsvp's which need to be back by the end of April, so maybe this will finally pull them into action!!!

, oh and congratulations

 

[tigger137]

Something to bear in mind if you take indirect flights.

Travel insurance generally only covers delays on your flight from the UK or back to the UK.

A couple of years ago we flew from Manchester to Denver via Chicago. Flight from Manchester to Chicago was fine. But we were then delayed 3 days in Chicago due to weather problems in Denver. Not the airline's fault, so no compensation from them. Came home, tried to claim from the travel insurance, no joy. If we had been delayed in Manchester they would have paid delay compensation, and over a certain time delayed we could have cancelled the holiday and they would've paid all costs. But because we made it across the Atlantic, we got nothing.

It made us think differently when booking flights. We now consider what we are doing once we get Stateside and how would a delay affect us. Certainly if we are heading for a cruise, we will now always book a direct flight so that if there is a delay and we miss the cruise, at least the travel insurance will pay out.

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

Thanks again for all the advice

Luke - not quite you, but also a teacher, hence getting married in August!

I think I will start sourcing flights with a change in NY or similar - thanks again for everyone's input!

 

[disneyvillainlover]

I just wanted to say depending on how many people you are taking group booking may be the best way .. if there are over 10 people, with BMI you only pay a deposit until 6 weeks befor ( I think) and upto the time of final pament you can change names without having to pay an amendment fee etc.

we have done this with BMI via Chicago this year as there are 11 of us .. our seats are booked too and I have the seat numbers for the main flight. The lady who is dealing with my booking has been great and answered emails promptly and been very helpful over the phone.

I think that the incovenience isnt too bad and you go through immigration/customs during your 2.5 hour break, can eat something at a reasonable time (regarding your body clock ) and when you arrive at your destination you only have to wait for your bags and car
it is a long day but so long as you don't plan on doing anything that evening you can just go to your accomodation and relax

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

Thanks Villainlover - I'm convinved that this is the right option for my DF and I but it seems that, at the moment, my brothers aren't convinced. Over the last few years my younger brother has become somewhat phobic of flying in general and is therefore only willing to make the minimum number of flights!