Who should I fly with!?
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Extended centre line of 28
Who should I fly with!?
Afternoon,
I am going to Miami in November and the cheapest carriers that are coming up are Delta, AA and Virgin.
My route options are:
Delta: Manchester - Atlanta - Miami (Same return)
AA: Man - Chicago - Miami (Same return)
VS: MAN - LHR - Miami
VS Return: Miami - JFK - LHR - MAN
Changing does not really bother me so on experience which is the best route to fly (i.e stop over airports that are nice and easy to negotiate!) and which airline would you say operates the best in air service for pax?
Thanks in advance.
Any other suggestions let me know!
EGNH.
I am going to Miami in November and the cheapest carriers that are coming up are Delta, AA and Virgin.
My route options are:
Delta: Manchester - Atlanta - Miami (Same return)
AA: Man - Chicago - Miami (Same return)
VS: MAN - LHR - Miami
VS Return: Miami - JFK - LHR - MAN
Changing does not really bother me so on experience which is the best route to fly (i.e stop over airports that are nice and easy to negotiate!) and which airline would you say operates the best in air service for pax?
Thanks in advance.
Any other suggestions let me know!
EGNH.
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,064
Likes: 8
From: Either the back of a sim, or wherever Crewing send me.
Out of those I'd go with AA. My parents went Delta last year, on the way home their flight to Atlanta was delayed due to poor weather in Atlanta and they missed the transatlantic flight
. Delta did nothing for them in Atlanta, they were left high and dry to orgainse themselves for the night till their flight the next afternoon
. My in-laws however went AA through Chicago. On their way home they too were late getting to Chicago, again due to bad weather and missed their transatlantic flight
. AA had everything there for them on arrival in Chicago, hotel reservations, food credits transfers
.
So no contest in my eye's even if AA were a bit dearer.
. Delta did nothing for them in Atlanta, they were left high and dry to orgainse themselves for the night till their flight the next afternoon. My in-laws however went AA through Chicago. On their way home they too were late getting to Chicago, again due to bad weather and missed their transatlantic flight. AA had everything there for them on arrival in Chicago, hotel reservations, food credits transfers.So no contest in my eye's even if AA were a bit dearer.
.
Joined: Dec 1998
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 52
From: .
Well I'd rather do a 4hr leisurely drive to Miami from Orlando than the 4 hrs it will take to check in at MAN get to LHR change terminals at LHR and go throrough security a couple of times in the UK, but hey that's just me, I guess I'll refrain from making suggestions in the future. 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,064
Likes: 8
From: Either the back of a sim, or wherever Crewing send me.
Well it's an additional cost for one thing. It might well be a nice drive, but if you don't need a car by arriving in MIA then it adds to the total cost incurred. By the way have you tried US Airways via Philadelphia, they are usually very competitive on price.
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From: Driving a Train.
Hmmm, If you where to fly with one of the US carriers you would have to Clear US customs at ORD or ALT and re-check you bags in (Which is Long)
If you where to Go with VS all the Terminal Changes, re-checking in and going through Security at Heathrow is quite a challenge.
At my time a AA when people have come of connecting Oneworld (BA) flights from other terminals and found Heathrow difficult to navigate and missed connections with us at Terminal 3.
However I do like the sound of the Drive from Orlando.
Malaysian28.
(I hope I made Sense)
If you where to Go with VS all the Terminal Changes, re-checking in and going through Security at Heathrow is quite a challenge.
At my time a AA when people have come of connecting Oneworld (BA) flights from other terminals and found Heathrow difficult to navigate and missed connections with us at Terminal 3.
However I do like the sound of the Drive from Orlando.
Malaysian28.
(I hope I made Sense)
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: SLF
Posts: 2,222
Likes: 60
From: Anderlecht
Personally, I'd take the ATL option. Been there and done it. Do, however, give yourself at least 2.5 - 3 hours transfer time (inbound from Europe) to be comfortable. You will clear immigration & customs at ATL and then immediately recheck your bag through to final destination. Then it's a simple short train ride to your terminal and gate. On arrival MIA you are a domestic arrival and soon on your way. Transfer time for the return need only be about 1.5 hours (again, to be comfortable). Your bag will be checked all the way through from MIA to MAN.
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Don Rogers Stand
Delta?
Although not my favourite airline I would fly Delta just to avoid either JFK or Chicago! May be doing them an injustice but I've had very unpleasant transits through both places, involving lost luggage on the 2nd sector and miserable Border/Immigration officials. Agree with Avman ATL is fairly painless.
Last edited by Papa Sierra; 16th October 2009 at 22:33. Reason: Add comment
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 360
Likes: 0
From: On the flightpath
A couple of other interesting options:
- Air Berlin flies DUS-MIA with (ex-LTU) A-330s
- Air Europa does Tenerife (North)-MIA also on an A-330
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 776
Likes: 0
From: In my own little world
Why is the VS return MIA-JFK-LHR-MAN ?.
Surely there should be the option to do the MIA-LHR-MAN route on the return ?.
Not it isn't. It's a simple bus ride from T1 or T5 (depending if you fly BD or BA) to T3 if you are on the same ticket with bags through checked. You would only need to collect your bags and re-check in if you book on 2 separate tickets.
If you are capable of following signs it is perfectly simple to transit at LHR. I find that most of the problems arise from people who are unable to read signs in English and don't even know what airline or flight they are travelling on, so end up in the wrong terminal or at the wrong gate.
Surely there should be the option to do the MIA-LHR-MAN route on the return ?.
If you where to Go with VS all the Terminal Changes, re-checking in and going through Security at Heathrow is quite a challenge.
If you are capable of following signs it is perfectly simple to transit at LHR. I find that most of the problems arise from people who are unable to read signs in English and don't even know what airline or flight they are travelling on, so end up in the wrong terminal or at the wrong gate.
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From: Driving a Train.
If you are capable of following signs it is perfectly simple to transit at LHR. I find that most of the problems arise from people who are unable to read signs in English and don't even know what airline or flight they are travelling on, so end up in the wrong terminal or at the wrong gate.
But you are true saying most people are unable to read english or dont know their flight/terminal/gate but their are a few who do but still get lost/run out of time.
