Scheduled v charter - help please

[LJP]

Thanks to all for their replys to my previous posts, some great tips. I need your help with one more thing - I'm driving DH mad as I can't decide which airline to fly with -

Here are the choices:-

MyTravel flight from GLA to SAN
NW/KLM from EDI via Amsterdam, Memphis then MCO
Easyjet to LGW then Virgin to MCO

The 1st 2 are flight only so we would stay 9nts at Marriott Village or I Drive and the rest at WDW. The last one includes accomodation as it's with Funway Travel. Taking everything into account the price difference is about £120.

Which would you choose? Has anyone gone with MyTravel?

Thanks once again.
:

 

[GO2209]

I'd be nervous combining a budget airline and a scheduled operator. Ie, EasyJet connecting to Virgin.

I prefer to fly schedule than charter, but the number of stopovers you will have to go through with NW/KLM will be very tiring.

I think I would plump for the MyTravel flight.

 

[marlouwrig]

We flew My Travel for our first trip across the Atlanntic last year.
I do not fly happily and was dreading the experience but found it to be far easier than anticated.

We flew economy and I was happy with most aspects of their in flight service including that we were guaranteed that all four of us would sit together.

Only downsides were apart from tea/coffee soft drinks with meals all drinks have to be paid for.

Also we had a 5/6 hour delay coming back because in the pre flight safety check they discovered that something dropped off the aircraft on the way over and they had to send an executive jet to Atlanta to pick up a spare.

When the executive jet arrived back it could not get its landing gear down so had to make an emergency landing itself.

We were nearing the time when the pilot/crew would be out of hours. When we finally boarded we had no idea if the flight would take off or not. We had a ten minute window between taking off and staying in a hotel overnight. However My Travel looked after us very well with meals etc and keeping us informed.

This year we are travelling with Virgin. The main reasons we didnt chose My Travel are their precarious financial situation and also the more comfortable luggage allowance.

I realise this is more info than you probably wanted but once I get started I find it hard to stop.

 

[AlexE]

GO2209 -

Just a small point - I think you meant to stay combining budget with schedule airline - Virgin is a scheduled airline not charter.

LJP -

I think I would choose to fly direct from Glasgow to Sanford, flying indirect is just one big hassle with having to allow connection times along the way it would take for ever to get there.

If the cost between direct and indirect is minimal I would go for direct flights every time. Luckily we are only just over 2hrs from Gatwick but in the distant past we did fly with Northwest from Gatwick to Orlando via Newark on the way out and returned via Minneapolis - never again!

Hope this helps Lynn

 

[LJP]

Thank you all for your comments - we've been talking all day and think that we agree with you AlexE that we'll do the flight from Glasgow to Sanford. We stay in Livingston so it would mean a car journey 40mins along the M8 - leave the car longstay - and only one flight to Orlando.
A couple of ? though - Marlouwrig - thanxs for all your info - are the airline really strict on baggage and do they have seat back tv screens?
Does anyone know if we can get a shuttle bus from Sanford to Orlando - loke Mears and if so the approx cost - we may hire a car but not till later on in the holiday.

Thanxs again - you've been really helpful. Much appreciated.

 

[marlouwrig]

We flew from Gatwick and yes we did have seat back tv. You had to pay for the earphones - but just £1 a pair I think.

We paid a little extra I think to get an increased baggage allowance of 25kg each. As I am an 'including the kitchen sink' packer I found this a bit restricting. However as usual I took loads of stuff I didn't need.

We had loads of leeway on the outward flight but coming back our checked luggage weighed 103kg. They didn't make us pay extra thank goodness.

However they were really strict on the weight and size of the carry on baggage. DS's weighed 6.5kg instead of the regulation £5kg and they made us repack and redistribute at the check out desk with a huge queue of restless passengers behind us.

If I were in your position I think I would also plump for My Travel out of Glasgow and let DH pack the suitcases instead. LOL

We paid My Travel for coach transfers from Sanford to Orlando. I am sure you could arrange independently also. I think it cost us £22 each return.

Hope this helps

Mary

 

[GO2209]

Mears is an option - although you might want to consider a limo/towncar! Depending on how many in your party, but four is usually the 'break-even' point. A round-trip limo hire (with grocery stop) can be $100 approx (MCO) - Sanford is a litle further, so maybe another $30 on top?

 

[LJP]

Thanks guys - DH used to be in the navy - so does have his uses when it comes to packing the cases!!
GO2209 - there will only be the 2 of us - no kids as yet - so I think that a shuttle bus will be our best option. It would be really cool though to travel in our own limo!

Ah well, best get on and book the flight then!
Big thanks to all.

 

[Rain]

How about upgrading to Premium with My Travel, that way you have more room increased luggage allowance etc. I think the cost is around £120 per person. If you can afford it it would seem the best of the options IMHO.

 

[BevS97]

I would fly with MyTravel if the price was comparable. I have flown KLM/Northwest via AMS to Miami and they were very very cheap so I have no complaints, but the service on MyTravel was much better (ok, I had to pay for drinks and headphones, but it was a newer more comfortable plane with seatback tvs etc) PLUS you are talking about a direct flight from your local airport, that can't be beat imho.

I looked into the shuttle/limo thing from Sanford recently, and it's quite a lot more expensive to get a limo from Sanford, but there was a coach service which was quite reasonable, I will try and find the link.


Here are a few options

http://www.yourride.net/ (looks like $180 round trip, but the website is not clear)
http://www.coachusa.com/ ($40 each roundtrp)
http://www.tiffanytowncar.com/ ($ 160.00 roundtrip)

 

[banjo]

we flew from glasgow last year with my travel and the flight was perfectly okay, the crew were really good as my son bumped his head at the airport just before we left and he had an awfull journey all the way there with being sick from start to finish , they even called for a doctor on the flight and was advised just to keep drinking fluids so the crew constantly came over checking on him and gave us bottles of water. The only thing was flying from gasgow we unfortunatly for some reason dont ger the seat back tv's on the flight but that wasnt such a problem. All in all i wouldnt hesitate to fly with them again.
margaret.

 

[barnum42]

Originally posted by LJP
Thank you all for your comments - we've been talking all day and think that we agree with you AlexE that we'll do the flight from Glasgow to Sanford. We stay in Livingston so it would mean a car journey 40mins along the M8 - leave the car longstay - and only one flight to Orlando.
A couple of ? though - Marlouwrig - thanxs for all your info - are the airline really strict on baggage and do they have seat back tv screens?
Does anyone know if we can get a shuttle bus from Sanford to Orlando - loke Mears and if so the approx cost - we may hire a car but not till later on in the holiday.

Thanxs again - you've been really helpful. Much appreciated.

Just my tuppence - I always go with the direct flight, and will be using MyTravel for the first time in September.

Mears is a good price for shuttles look at http://www.mearstransportation.com/ from where you can calculate the cost. If there are enough of you it may be cheaper to get a limo.

 

[Highland Lass]

Hi Lynn

Don't know what you've decided to do yet however I just wanted to contribute.

I live in East Kilbride and this will be my 3rd trip to Orlando.

Ist trip was a charter direct from Prestwick to Sanford.
2nd trip was Glw-Heathrow-Gatwick-Orlando Int with BA

and this trip is Glw-Gatwick-Orlando Int with Virgin.

I've heard lots of great reports about Virgin and since I have a daughter travelling with me then I reckoned that Virgin would be the best. I booked last December and got a fantastic deal on-line which no travel agent could match. We go 1-16th December which is traditionally a very quiet time, after Thanksgiving but before Christmas , so maybe thats why.

If you need to leave your car in longstay, have you heard of the Airlink park next to the airport ? we used it for a weekend earlier this year and it was first class. The park is only a short ride from the airport and your car is in a secure site for the duration of your holiday . You are taken to and from the airport by shuttle bus and I found it to be much more reasonable than the airport carparks.

I am up to my eyes in planning this holiday for 6 people, trying to keep everyone happy. the men are going golfing and we women are shopping, going to WDW and going on a Disney cruise......cant wait!!

Hope you decide what to do.

Any questions, just ask...............someone will know the answer.

 

[LJP]

Thanks for all the help - just an update - we've booked the MyTravel flight from Glasgow, total price £676 for 2 adults including the meal. We asked for the Premium upgrade but all the seats are booked. Ah well, we've spare headphones and a tube of Pringles and we'll be fine!!!
Highland Lass, thanks for the info on the carparks - I've looked into the cost of a 2 week stay longterm and it works out at a reasonable £62.
Barnum42 - when in September do you fly and where are you staying?

My next problem is choosing where to stay - too many choices!! Aaaargghhh.

 

[wendym]

LGP
Just another suggestion but the Normandy Hotel near the hotel usually does specials of £50 per room including parking for the whole holiday. Even though you live nearby it would save the hassle of driving on the day - it has a shuttle bus. Also the Holiday Inn Express, at the airport, usually does good deals too.
Have a great holiday.
Wendy

 

[barnum42]

Originally posted by LJP

Barnum42 - when in September do you fly and where are you staying?

Flying from Gatwick 20th September, staying at Comfort Inn Lake Buena Vista