United airlines... How are they?

[hercamore]

Hi all,

DS has an opportunity to tour Wales, etc. over xmas IF we can find decent airfare out of Lansing, Michingan where he will be a student this fall.

Student universe website has the best price on flight with United to Heathrow.

Anyone have experience flying United either overseas or in the states? I would prefer using Northwest out of Lansing, an airline we are familiar and happy with, but the different in ticket price cost is a good $300.

Thanks,

herc.

 

[The Dog]

Northwest is not $300 better than United.

They are fine.

 

[Eeyore1954]

I fly United all the time and would choose it easily for leisure travel. They provide good service. And if it saves you $300, I would jump on it.

 

[hercamore]

All right, I will talk to DS. $300 will buy a Rail Pass for him in England.


herc.

 

[Chicago526]

I agree. In Chicago, you almost have to fly American or United if you want a non-stop flight, so I use UA all the time. I think they're very good. My parents have also flown with them for almost 30 years now, and also enjoy traveling with them.

 

[hercamore]

Thanks,

Hi Chicago, DS will connect in Chicago from Lansing and then nonstop to Heathrow.

How is United for luggage transfer? I supose that 's not so much an issue tho anymore with the coded tags.

herc.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

If he's in lansing, (MSU?) he's close enough to Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, and Kalamazoo to fly out of any of those, in addition to Lansing. Might want to check these airports and see if the difference in cost is significant.

 

[hercamore]

Good point Syracruse,

HOwever, he'd have to store his car at that airport for 2 weeks which could get pricy.

I'll check some of the othre MIch cities for prices.

herc.

 

[prncess674]

After Labor Day the airlines will typically drop there airfares drastically to Europe. Travelling over christmas is usually very cheap. What kind of airfare are you getting? It is definitly too early to lock into a high fare.

 

[hercamore]

Princess,

I'm seeing $600 from United and $900 with NW for Dec l9 departure.

Are these too high? I was hoping to pay less than $500.

herc

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by hercamore
Princess,

I'm seeing $600 from United and $900 with NW for Dec l9 departure.

Are these too high? I was hoping to pay less than $500.

herc

$900 is absurd, $600 is high as well. I personally would wait for the fall fare sales that come practically like clock work. Europe in the winter is not very pleasant. London is rainy and cold. Also remember that London has two international airports (LHR and LGW). I flew to LGW last November for under $500 if you lived in a hub city (NYC, Chicago, etc) the fare were even cheaper (in the sub $400 range, many in the lower $300s)

 

[LoveThoseLabbies]

Northwest=Northworst..go with United.

 

[bounceytigger]

I haven't flown United overseas, so I can't speak to that, but I fly them almost 100% when I'm traveling within the states. I've always had good experiences with them, and have not lost any luggage yet! (knock on wood!)

Agreeing with the previous poster, it might be worthwhile to wait a couple months before locking in a ticket price... I do recall seeing prices to England always seeming "cheap" in the fall-winter-early spring months...cheap enough to make me want to take a random trip over there sometime, at least.

Good luck, and your son will have a great time in Wales, no doubt!

 

[bounceytigger]

Is there a bus service available from Lansing to Detriot's airport, that might make it feasible to have your son fly out of Detroit instead? Tickets may be cheaper yet from Detroit...cheap enough to make a relatively short bus trip worthwhile.

 

[LoveThoseLabbies]

If all the world's leaders were required to stay at Disney World together for a month each year, maybe there'd be no more war...

Na...they'ed still find a reason to kill each other!!!

 

[hercamore]

All right, we'll wait till fall for better airfare, hopefully.

I don't know about a Lansing bus.

We are unfamiliar with the area. DS is moving in Aug to Lansing from MN to attend MSU.

herc.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Unless the MSU student association sponsors some kind of bus, I'm fairly sure that nothing (except maybe Greyhound or Amtrak) runs between Lansing and Detroit.

Another option would be to have a friend your son trusts drop him off at the airport, take the car back to Lansing, and then pick him up at the airport on the return. A taxi from Detroit to Lansing is NOT a feasible option.

Yet another option would be a short-hop flight from Lansing to Detroit, booked separately from any trip to Europe ... (trip to Europe originates in Detroit, trip from Lansing-Detroit maybe on the day before/day after trip to Europe, spend a night in a cheap hotel near Detroit Metro (there are several))