London to Denver

[Vino Collapso]

I have searched the internet, googled and checked airline websites with no result.

Other than British Airways is there any other carrier who flies London to Denver direct in February 2010?

Normally we would use BA but with the latest risk of industrial action by cabin crew and the 'pay for advance seat selection' fiasco we are inclined to take our trade elsewhere.

[Dave Gittins]

United used to do a daily flight from LHR but look to have stopped

After we got fed up with BAs pricing we opted to go via someplaceelse and the difference in price paid for a couple of days stop over in Chicago or wherever via American / United.

I guess that doesn't help if you are wanting to get there ASAP and rush up I-70 for the skiing.

[Vino Collapso]

That is the problem. School half term holiday is only one week so to get the longest time on the slopes we would like to avoid stop overs.

[Dave Gittins]

My only suggestion then is use Expedia or somesuch to find the earliest start from London with the shortest stopover. Should be able to leave Heathrow at 9.00 and be in the Hertz compound on Pena Boulevard by about 4.30.

JFK is out because to go to Denver you need to get over to La Guardia.

Via Chicago or Dulles is probably the best bet maybe go via one and back via the other to minimise the stopover times and hanging around in the middle of the night on the way home.

I always check the cost on Expedia and then check that with the airline's own web sites.

Currently I'm ex Doha so get a nonstop DOH-IAD with Qatar then a DEN on United. Back is via LGA and JFK-DOH with a 4 days stopover in the big apple.

[Gary Brown]

UK to Denver via DFW (Dallas / Forth Worth) also works well as a route. DFW to Denver is a short-ish hop, with good choices, and the now-finished upgrades and re-building at DFW have worked well to produce a pretty user-friendly airport.

AGB

[Scumbag O'Riley]

That is the problem. School half term holiday is only one week so to get the longest time on the slopes we would like to avoid stop overs.

The problem you should really be bothered about is the road over the continental divide from Denver, whether it is clear, or just plain safe to be on full stop. Stopping over on the east coast and flying direct to the closest regional airport to your resort is far more sensible. And in any event, flying direct to Denver will not help the jet lag or the altitude, which will get you far quicker on a weeks trip than stopping over.

[ConstantFlyer]

Vino Collapso

You can avoid BA if you wish. Lufthansa flies daily from Frankfurt-Denver on A340-600s. Currently the flight leaves FRA at 1350, giving plenty of time for a connecting flight from most LH exit points in the UK.

Alternatively, you could go Air Canada via Toronto.

Either of these might be a bit easier than changing at a US hub. However, BA is the only non-stop option.

[Doors to Automatic]

Where is your final destination? If it is Aspen or Crested Butte you can probably get there direct via Dallas on AA rather than driving from Denver.

[Vino Collapso]

Final destination is Breckenridge. I am familiar with the altitude problem, 5,000 at Denver and 10,000 at Breck.

The I-70 from Denver is well maintained even in February and snow closures are short. CO-9 down to Breck is a flat run and any decent 4x4 has no problems. Two hour drive at the most.

Previously we went to Jackson Hole, Wy. with an AA connection at Dallas. The outbound connection was tight enough to be worrying if the BA flight was delayed. The return required a long wait at Dallas. Ideally we would fly London to Salt Lake and drive, but there are no flights to SLC from London.

Strange that in peak ski season very few direct flights to popular resorts exist!

Virgin advertise package holidays in Vail but you appear not to be able to access the flights without a full holiday package.

[Blueskyrich]

We're making the annual half-term jaunt to Beaver Creek that week. We'd ideally go at a different time, but her indoors being a teacher and all that...

It's a problem we face every time. The BA flight is always very expensive even if you try to book as the seats are first released.

This time around, we've got a bargain with US Airways via Philly from Heathrow. £340pp all in with the Philly-Denver sector a codeshare with United. Only issue is a relatively tight connection outbound.

Believe me, I tried any way I could to make it work better. Looked at options into Denver, Vail etc. but the timings just didn't work.

Last year, we flew AA via Dallas which wasn't bad.

The trip from Denver up into the mountains isn't bad - mind you, I would say that seeing I usually sleep most of the way

[Avman]

United have a 1 stop option via IAD. Depart LHR 0740 arr DEN 1425. Since DEN is a UNITED hub, I would consider using them. Don't know what their fares are like though.