Not a great passenger, but want to go UK to USA...
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Not a great passenger, but want to go UK to USA...
... and back again!
Hi
I've only ever flown short-haul within the EU before... Mallorca, Malaga, Klagenfurt... 10 flights in total (5 round trips). I've never been particularly comfortable on them, getting that claustrophobic feeling after a while and having the "I want to get off soon" feeling after a couple of hours.
80% of these flights have been on 737s and 3 of the flights have been pretty bumpy (one terribly so) which hasn't helped.
One of my friends in the States has invited me over next summer and I really want to go, but I'm a bit apprehensive about the flights. He's only in Philly, so I imagine I'd fly into NY.
I've been looking at flying with Silverjet due to the space and comfort they appear to offer as I think this would really help (being 6'2" and a bit tubby!)... Are they all they're cracked up to be?
Is the 767 going to deal with turbulence better than a 737 (as in stability)?
Any seasoned passengers care to share some tips on how to enjoy the flight?
Valium if all else fails?
Thanks in advance!
Josh
Hi
I've only ever flown short-haul within the EU before... Mallorca, Malaga, Klagenfurt... 10 flights in total (5 round trips). I've never been particularly comfortable on them, getting that claustrophobic feeling after a while and having the "I want to get off soon" feeling after a couple of hours.
80% of these flights have been on 737s and 3 of the flights have been pretty bumpy (one terribly so) which hasn't helped.
One of my friends in the States has invited me over next summer and I really want to go, but I'm a bit apprehensive about the flights. He's only in Philly, so I imagine I'd fly into NY.
I've been looking at flying with Silverjet due to the space and comfort they appear to offer as I think this would really help (being 6'2" and a bit tubby!)... Are they all they're cracked up to be?
Is the 767 going to deal with turbulence better than a 737 (as in stability)?
Any seasoned passengers care to share some tips on how to enjoy the flight?
Valium if all else fails?
Thanks in advance!
Josh
BA fly from Heathrow and US Air from Gatwick (and I think, but not sure, Manchester) non-stop to Philadelphia. So if your friend is in Philadelphia itself that may be a better option. If you do go to New York remember there are 2 airports served from London; JFK and Newark. I reckon Newark would be more convenient for Philadelphia than JFK. Newark is servde by BA and Virgin from Heathrow and Continental from Bristol, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh (I think that's the complete list). If they live south of Philadelphia BA fly to Baltimore as well.
The 767 is a comfortable aircraft. I just flew one two weeks ago Heathrow/Baltimore. I'm going home in 2 days on a BA 777 Washington/Heathrow which is even bigger and more stable. Size does tend to matter but even a 747 will get juddered by bad turbulence. All I can say is the flight out was smooth.
You may want to investigate "Premium Economy". BA and Virgin offer it as a separate class; bigger seats, more legroom. I'm 6'2" but I'm not tubby (my BMI is just about OK!) and BA "World Traveller Plus" works well for me. I find ordinary eceonomy (what BA call World Traveller) cramped.
The other thing to bear in mind is that there are daylight flights from Washington, JFK and Newark back to Heathrow. I find them much more comfortable than spending 8 hours trying to sleep in any seat (even First Class!). It's also perfectly possible to fly Heathrow/Philadelphia and return Newark/Heathrow - you don't have to fly to and from the same airport.
I know nothing about Maxjet or Silverjet or EOS. Sorry.
The 767 is a comfortable aircraft. I just flew one two weeks ago Heathrow/Baltimore. I'm going home in 2 days on a BA 777 Washington/Heathrow which is even bigger and more stable. Size does tend to matter but even a 747 will get juddered by bad turbulence. All I can say is the flight out was smooth.
You may want to investigate "Premium Economy". BA and Virgin offer it as a separate class; bigger seats, more legroom. I'm 6'2" but I'm not tubby (my BMI is just about OK!) and BA "World Traveller Plus" works well for me. I find ordinary eceonomy (what BA call World Traveller) cramped.
The other thing to bear in mind is that there are daylight flights from Washington, JFK and Newark back to Heathrow. I find them much more comfortable than spending 8 hours trying to sleep in any seat (even First Class!). It's also perfectly possible to fly Heathrow/Philadelphia and return Newark/Heathrow - you don't have to fly to and from the same airport.
I know nothing about Maxjet or Silverjet or EOS. Sorry.
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Mr Joshua, I know my frequently flown routes are different than where you want to go but in my experience you seem to get more turbulance on short flights than you do on long haul ones - probably something to do with plenty of opportunity to avoid 'weather'............but in saying that I don't think I have ever had a smooth flight over the Bay of Biscay
- anyway I digress - I think you should go and visit your friend and enjoy the flight because (although I can't guarantee it) in all likelehood it will be as smooth as silk - if you can find a cost effective airline flying 777's or the larger Airbuses you will not feel so crammed in - and if this is going to be a once in a lifetime experience, fly premium economy or business class 
- anyway I digress - I think you should go and visit your friend and enjoy the flight because (although I can't guarantee it) in all likelehood it will be as smooth as silk - if you can find a cost effective airline flying 777's or the larger Airbuses you will not feel so crammed in - and if this is going to be a once in a lifetime experience, fly premium economy or business class
Aircrew, especially the Americans, will do their utmost to avoid known areas of CAT. You can, on occasions, be confronted with turbulence from high cloud. This is generally light chop and nothing to get concerned about. If you don't like flying at night, the advise given above regarding daytime eastbound flights is a good option. I've made plenty oceanic crossings on the B767 and all have been very pleasant.
Everything is under control.
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You can also fly in to Washington DC. It is about equal-distance from Philly.
I can feel claustraphobic if I am stuck in the middle of a row or at a window, so an aisle seat helps me.
Watching the movies, no matter how bad, helps the time fly.
You could take the Amtrak train from from NY (or DC) to Philly, but I think that would be more of a hassle than connecting to another flight. US train service is not good generally, but the NY(DC)-Philly run is not bad.
I have flown both United and BA between DC and London, and, generally find BA to be more comfortable and roomy in Economy.
I can feel claustraphobic if I am stuck in the middle of a row or at a window, so an aisle seat helps me.
Watching the movies, no matter how bad, helps the time fly.
You could take the Amtrak train from from NY (or DC) to Philly, but I think that would be more of a hassle than connecting to another flight. US train service is not good generally, but the NY(DC)-Philly run is not bad.
I have flown both United and BA between DC and London, and, generally find BA to be more comfortable and roomy in Economy.
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Recently flew to JFK with family on Maxjet which was brilliant. Seats are near horizontal, CC excellent and meals/IFE superb. There are only 100 seats in their 767s albeit they are older a/c and can be a bit noisy on takeoff and landing. Ample room in cabin; seats in 2-2-2 formation.
That said departure from Stansted (which was very pleasant) with VIP lounge both ends. Cheaper than silverjet also.
Would happily fly with them again over the pond.
That said departure from Stansted (which was very pleasant) with VIP lounge both ends. Cheaper than silverjet also.
Would happily fly with them again over the pond.
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"I want to get off soon" - you're going to get that anyway, on any airline, but that will be boredom rather than anxiety. Take a good book or a supply of Sudoku puzzles.
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If you do end up in Newark (whether with Silverjet or another carrier), the easiest way to get to Philadelphia is to take the train from the station (linked to the airport by monorail). Trains run every 1-2 hours, travel time is an hour and costs around $65 (single).
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Wow! Thanks for all your responses!
I'll have to check out Maxjet as I'd not heard of them before...
I'd prefer to keep the cost of the flights at or below a grand return if possible, but love the thought of being able to recline and chill out.
I've also been advised that the Flying without fear website has some great products that can help, so I'm going to check that out!
I'm glad to hear that 767s are a bit more stable than the smaller planes, that makes me less anxious.
Keep the experiences and advice coming! I appreciate all your comments.
Thank you!
I'll have to check out Maxjet as I'd not heard of them before...
I'd prefer to keep the cost of the flights at or below a grand return if possible, but love the thought of being able to recline and chill out.
I've also been advised that the Flying without fear website has some great products that can help, so I'm going to check that out!
I'm glad to hear that 767s are a bit more stable than the smaller planes, that makes me less anxious.
Keep the experiences and advice coming! I appreciate all your comments.
Thank you!
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Whatever you do, don't forget to inform the flight crew that you're a bit nervous. Don't make a big fuss out of it, but do let them know. They're used to dealing with nervous pax (trained for it actually) and will keep an eye on you. If nothing else, it means you get that extra bit of service and attention.
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Or take a cargo ship from Liverpool to Philadelphia (may exceed your budget though)? 
Coming back from Washington/Dulles yesterday on the day flight we made our way up the east coast at 41000 and somewhere north/east of Boston began to pick up some light turbulence. The solution? Descend to 39000! I think one of the benefits of transatlantic flying these days is that there is some flexibility in level assignments which means that if you do pick up some turbulence the pilots can sometimes (not always) get out of it by requesting a different flight level.
Thinking about it, I reckon you're more likely to get turbulence eastbound. Why? Because the airlines try and take advantage of the prevailing wind in the jetstream and fly in the jetsream to get the tailwind and that stream, like a water stream that flows quickly, tends to have more turbulence than a calm, slow flowing river. Going west they try and keep out of the jetstream because it causes a head wind which slows them down. However, based on yesterday it seems to me that they are getting better at avoid the turbulence when it does occur.
Thinking about it, I reckon you're more likely to get turbulence eastbound. Why? Because the airlines try and take advantage of the prevailing wind in the jetstream and fly in the jetsream to get the tailwind and that stream, like a water stream that flows quickly, tends to have more turbulence than a calm, slow flowing river. Going west they try and keep out of the jetstream because it causes a head wind which slows them down. However, based on yesterday it seems to me that they are getting better at avoid the turbulence when it does occur.
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Re the above.
The winds aloft are the reason why the return flight from the USA to UK is quicker than when flying uk to USA. Or east to west coast USA for that matter etc...
Maybe a pilot could indicate if it is possible to take advantage of those winds whilst still avoiding turbulence, as I've often tolerated lots of turbulence on the assumption that eastbound it comes with the territory.
The winds aloft are the reason why the return flight from the USA to UK is quicker than when flying uk to USA. Or east to west coast USA for that matter etc...
Maybe a pilot could indicate if it is possible to take advantage of those winds whilst still avoiding turbulence, as I've often tolerated lots of turbulence on the assumption that eastbound it comes with the territory.
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Mr Joshua (I had a teacher called that but you're too young to be him!)
From my experience of seeing other passengers if you can fly in a 737 around Europe like you have done then you are not afraid of flying, do not panic about long haul, there are some people who would never have flown the return leg of their first flight because they're so scared of flying.
The problem you get with long haul is boredom and morale dropping as you get nearer to landing, then frustration when you can see the airport but its still ages until you're out of the aircraft. Flying to the US watching Scotland, Iceland and Greenland keeps me busy for some of the flight, flying back I'm normally so tired from my holiday that after a few glasses of wine I'm asleep for 6+ hours.
If you're worried about getting frustrated, wait until you get to the US Border Control, that'll make the flying part of your journey seem like a 100m sprint!
From my experience of seeing other passengers if you can fly in a 737 around Europe like you have done then you are not afraid of flying, do not panic about long haul, there are some people who would never have flown the return leg of their first flight because they're so scared of flying.
The problem you get with long haul is boredom and morale dropping as you get nearer to landing, then frustration when you can see the airport but its still ages until you're out of the aircraft. Flying to the US watching Scotland, Iceland and Greenland keeps me busy for some of the flight, flying back I'm normally so tired from my holiday that after a few glasses of wine I'm asleep for 6+ hours.
If you're worried about getting frustrated, wait until you get to the US Border Control, that'll make the flying part of your journey seem like a 100m sprint!
Icelandair; now there's a thought.
Good points:
Shorter flights, good fares, departures from Manchester and Glasgow (I believe) as well as London, possibility of an inexpensive overnight in Iceland in one direction.
Disadvantages:
flights east of Iceland in narrow body (757/737) aircraft; west of Iceland can be 767 but not always so check; destinations (from memory) do not include Philadelphia so would have to be JFK or Baltmore.
Might also be worth investigating Aer Lingus. Again, they don't fly to Philadelphia but the transatlantic leg will be on a wide body (A330) and slightly shorter that from the UK and they have connecting flights from all over the UK.
The disadvantage with both these options is the aircraft change and, for my money, unless I particularly wanted to visit Iceland, I would pay extra NOT to have to change planes.
Good points:
Shorter flights, good fares, departures from Manchester and Glasgow (I believe) as well as London, possibility of an inexpensive overnight in Iceland in one direction.
Disadvantages:
flights east of Iceland in narrow body (757/737) aircraft; west of Iceland can be 767 but not always so check; destinations (from memory) do not include Philadelphia so would have to be JFK or Baltmore.
Might also be worth investigating Aer Lingus. Again, they don't fly to Philadelphia but the transatlantic leg will be on a wide body (A330) and slightly shorter that from the UK and they have connecting flights from all over the UK.
The disadvantage with both these options is the aircraft change and, for my money, unless I particularly wanted to visit Iceland, I would pay extra NOT to have to change planes.
Paid...Persona Grata
Paul,
Can you expand on this. Reason is I have been promising the GF a West Coast holiday for a while but we have both been put off going back to the USA again by the terrible hassle at the airport when you arrive. How do Aer Lingus get over this?
Mr Joshua, I have travelled to Newark with Continental (from Birmingham), very happy with them, the Premium Economy (or whatever Conty call it) looked pretty good (we were in ecenomy, about GBP300 return IIRC). In your place I would be looking to go from Manchester with them if Maxjet is above your budget.
UFO
Can you expand on this. Reason is I have been promising the GF a West Coast holiday for a while but we have both been put off going back to the USA again by the terrible hassle at the airport when you arrive. How do Aer Lingus get over this?
Mr Joshua, I have travelled to Newark with Continental (from Birmingham), very happy with them, the Premium Economy (or whatever Conty call it) looked pretty good (we were in ecenomy, about GBP300 return IIRC). In your place I would be looking to go from Manchester with them if Maxjet is above your budget.
UFO