Englishmum

As many of you know, the only US carriers which were allowed to fly into LHR have been United Airlines and American Airlines.

Due to the new 'Open Skies Agreement', Continental Airlines will begin a daily service in March 2008 into LHR from Newark, NJ (2x daily - year round) and Houston, TX (if approved).

They will still fly daily between Newark and Gatwick.....but be warned, don't take the 757-200 flights! They have a single aisle and may not have individual televisions...

There will also be a seasonal, daily Cleveland, OH - Gatwick flight.

Here's the proposed timetable:

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix....cle&ID=1078367

Bill_S

Cleveland - Gatwick has been on again/off again for a number of years. There is probably just barely enough demand for it.

NC Penguin

Ah. Continental is reinstating the LGW-CLE route that they offered seasonally 7-8 years ago.

Duncan Roberts

They offer it every year between April and October, roughly speaking. I've flown it the last 2 years in the summer, I flew about 5 years ago for Christmas too and a few other times over the last 6 years during the summer. All 757-200 flights. I don't mind them, beats the hell out of changing in Newark, Washington, Toronto, Chicago, etc!

Paul S

too flippin cramped for my liking
but it'll do

NC Penguin

I've done the LGW to CLE via Newark and that's awful...

Fortunately, I live in the US now so there's no need to do transatlantic on Continental, only domestic. Continental flights suck big time on longhaul flights.

Paul S

We did some work in Belgium a few months back that required a connecting flight in Newark. Usual cramped flight from Cleveland up to Newark and then a really nice flight on one of their new 777's over to Brussels (vast improvement over the norm).
Shame my return flight originated in the UK so it was cramped city all the way back

Duncan Roberts

I like Continental, I've flown a few different long haul carriers and with the exception of Virgin I've preferred Continental. Recently Continental is all I've flown, mostly it's the cheapest airline out of Cleveland for the flights we take. The 757 on the CLE > LGW route isn't my personal favorite plane but given the choice of a 777 via Newark (or anywhere else) or the direct on a 757, I'll take the 757 every time.

Deedee13

the 757s have been revamped for the transatlantic flights, less seating and more room and although no individual tvs they do have more of them in the overheads!

the good thing is with the 757s is they cant fill them to full capacity because of the fuel. So u have a good chance of getting a row of three to urself. My kids went to germany last week on a 757 only 48 pax on the plane.. coming back was full to the weight limit so had a pretty nice trip.

and there are a few others put in for a bid for heathrow and it will probably be decided in the new year who and what is getting

Paul S

I must have been unlucky when i came back. Flight was packed. Can't say as i noticed any more room and the passengers next to me had problems as the seat was falling apart

Englishmum

Well in my experience the flights to and from Newark have been frequently filled to capacity....but of course the journey is shorter than to Cleveland.

Personally I find it too difficult to watch the overhead TVs so don't bother watching them unless there is an individual screen, where you can choose what you want to watch, not the film the airline chooses to show.

britex01

You wouldn't catch me flying in or out of LHR or Gatwick! Damn awful hustle and bustle!

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big_fish

where else is there??!!!

Englishmum

Continental flies (daily) to: Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast as well as Gatwick and currently code shares with Virgin for flights to Heathrow.

I know that American Airlines has resumed it's service into Stansted. Think they also fly into Manchester? Def LHR.

Silverjet (biz class - only 100 seats) flies 2x daily between Newark and Luton(!) and Maxjet and Eos (also biz class only) from JFK to Stansted and Gatwick.

Paul S

Birmingham's good (well for me)