Flights NC to U.K.
Mar 6th 2004, 4:30 pm
#1
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Flights NC to U.K.
Anyone have experience of booking flights to the U.K. from NC in the summer? I've always gone over Christmas, but have to go back this summer.
From RDU to either London or Manchester (I prefer Manchester), flights are currently starting around the $1,000 mark (leaving early July, return late July).
Is this about the going rate for summer for this route? Is it worth waiting for anything cheaper, or is should I jump at these prices? I've been looking on and off since January, and things haven't changed much.....
From RDU to either London or Manchester (I prefer Manchester), flights are currently starting around the $1,000 mark (leaving early July, return late July).
Is this about the going rate for summer for this route? Is it worth waiting for anything cheaper, or is should I jump at these prices? I've been looking on and off since January, and things haven't changed much.....
Mar 6th 2004, 5:20 pm
#2
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Location: Fort Worth, TX.
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Re: Flights NC to U.K.
Are you going BA? We're looking to go back from Dallas to Edinburgh with BA in April/May but the flights are up around $900 and are similar in price before and after the 15th May, which I understand to be the start of the summer peak time. This makes me think that BA might be going to announce one of their special offers soon so I'd keep an eye out for that.
We'll be taking our baby daughter and they want nearly $180 for her ticket even though she doesn't even get her own seat! Barstewards!
We'll be taking our baby daughter and they want nearly $180 for her ticket even though she doesn't even get her own seat! Barstewards!
Mar 6th 2004, 5:26 pm
#3
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
I don't know why flights within and from the US are so expensive right now. How far away are you from a major 'gateway' airport? I wonder if it would work out cheaper to take one of the smaller regional jets to say, Washington Dulles or to Miami and get a connecting flight for the transatlantic section? (For example, you might want to take a Virgin flight from Florida (Orlando or Miami) to Manchester...have you seen the Virgin Atlantic website?
My husband just spoke with his twin brother. He's going from London Heathrow to Los Angeles with his family over Easter, with Air Canada via Vancouver. The return flights only cost 129 pounds + airport taxes (ie. less than 1000 pounds inc. taxes for 5 of them, only one going at the child rate).
Flights seem to be expensive from the North to Southern destinations from now on, due to all the school and college Spring Breaks.
I think we'll be doing a driving trip instead....
My husband just spoke with his twin brother. He's going from London Heathrow to Los Angeles with his family over Easter, with Air Canada via Vancouver. The return flights only cost 129 pounds + airport taxes (ie. less than 1000 pounds inc. taxes for 5 of them, only one going at the child rate).
Flights seem to be expensive from the North to Southern destinations from now on, due to all the school and college Spring Breaks.
I think we'll be doing a driving trip instead....
Mar 6th 2004, 10:46 pm
#4
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Joined: Feb 2004
Location: England -> North Carolina
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Re: Flights NC to U.K.
Go with US Airways, you can get a relatively decent price and they also go non-stop from Charlotte-Douglas to London Gatwick, best airline i've flown with.
My Fiancee also visited me from NC to the UK last summer and got a discounted ticket just because she flew on Friday the 13th lol, just a thought
.
My Fiancee also visited me from NC to the UK last summer and got a discounted ticket just because she flew on Friday the 13th lol, just a thought
.
Originally posted by dunroving
Anyone have experience of booking flights to the U.K. from NC in the summer? I've always gone over Christmas, but have to go back this summer.
From RDU to either London or Manchester (I prefer Manchester), flights are currently starting around the $1,000 mark (leaving early July, return late July).
Is this about the going rate for summer for this route? Is it worth waiting for anything cheaper, or is should I jump at these prices? I've been looking on and off since January, and things haven't changed much.....
Anyone have experience of booking flights to the U.K. from NC in the summer? I've always gone over Christmas, but have to go back this summer.
From RDU to either London or Manchester (I prefer Manchester), flights are currently starting around the $1,000 mark (leaving early July, return late July).
Is this about the going rate for summer for this route? Is it worth waiting for anything cheaper, or is should I jump at these prices? I've been looking on and off since January, and things haven't changed much.....
Mar 7th 2004, 9:27 pm
#5
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Re: Flights NC to U.K.
Originally posted by dunroving
Anyone have experience of booking flights to the U.K. from NC in the summer? I've always gone over Christmas, but have to go back this summer.
From RDU to either London or Manchester (I prefer Manchester), flights are currently starting around the $1,000 mark (leaving early July, return late July).
Is this about the going rate for summer for this route? Is it worth waiting for anything cheaper, or is should I jump at these prices? I've been looking on and off since January, and things haven't changed much.....
Anyone have experience of booking flights to the U.K. from NC in the summer? I've always gone over Christmas, but have to go back this summer.
From RDU to either London or Manchester (I prefer Manchester), flights are currently starting around the $1,000 mark (leaving early July, return late July).
Is this about the going rate for summer for this route? Is it worth waiting for anything cheaper, or is should I jump at these prices? I've been looking on and off since January, and things haven't changed much.....
NY to London, Washington to London and Philly to London were all $450
Yet Pittsburgh to London was $850! The $450 Philly flight connects in Pittsburgh then goes to London. These airlines make no sense!
Mar 7th 2004, 10:00 pm
#6
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Re: Flights NC to U.K.
Originally posted by Steff
I was just looking at flight prices for summer:
NY to London, Washington to London and Philly to London were all $450
Yet Pittsburgh to London was $850! The $450 Philly flight connects in Pittsburgh then goes to London. These airlines make no sense!
I was just looking at flight prices for summer:
NY to London, Washington to London and Philly to London were all $450
Yet Pittsburgh to London was $850! The $450 Philly flight connects in Pittsburgh then goes to London. These airlines make no sense!
I have been following the advice I got from Englishmum et al, but there are so many weird flight prices like you described.
What airlines were you looking at?
Mar 8th 2004, 12:13 am
#7
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
Dunroving:
I don't know if you're travelling by yourself or with someone else, but I've just looked at this website and it has a fly-drive package to the UK from many US locations and it's certainly less than the $1000 prices you're coming up with (although you do pay extra from a journey beginning in NC).
http://www.gotoday.com (look for Britain, fly-drive).
The package is for a week, but if you give them a call it's probably quite possible to extend your return date for an additional fee - not so much that the flight cost would be different, the car rental portion would be additional.
Hope this helps!
I don't know if you're travelling by yourself or with someone else, but I've just looked at this website and it has a fly-drive package to the UK from many US locations and it's certainly less than the $1000 prices you're coming up with (although you do pay extra from a journey beginning in NC).
http://www.gotoday.com (look for Britain, fly-drive).
The package is for a week, but if you give them a call it's probably quite possible to extend your return date for an additional fee - not so much that the flight cost would be different, the car rental portion would be additional.
Hope this helps!
Mar 8th 2004, 3:36 pm
#8
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Re: Flights NC to U.K.
Originally posted by dunroving
I agree! I found a similar thing last week - same dates, same fights, etc. I thnk I was looking at major cities (DC, NY) to London and Manchester. They were more expensive than flying from raleigh-Durham - yet the RDU flights had connections with the exact same DC and NY flights!
I have been following the advice I got from Englishmum et al, but there are so many weird flight prices like you described.
What airlines were you looking at?
I agree! I found a similar thing last week - same dates, same fights, etc. I thnk I was looking at major cities (DC, NY) to London and Manchester. They were more expensive than flying from raleigh-Durham - yet the RDU flights had connections with the exact same DC and NY flights!
I have been following the advice I got from Englishmum et al, but there are so many weird flight prices like you described.
What airlines were you looking at?
Any idea if you could just skip the first part of the flight and then turn up for the connection?
Mar 8th 2004, 4:23 pm
#9
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Re: Flights NC to U.K.
Originally posted by dunroving
Anyone have experience of booking flights to the U.K. from NC in the summer? I've always gone over Christmas, but have to go back this summer.
From RDU to either London or Manchester (I prefer Manchester), flights are currently starting around the $1,000 mark (leaving early July, return late July).
Is this about the going rate for summer for this route? Is it worth waiting for anything cheaper, or is should I jump at these prices? I've been looking on and off since January, and things haven't changed much.....
Anyone have experience of booking flights to the U.K. from NC in the summer? I've always gone over Christmas, but have to go back this summer.
From RDU to either London or Manchester (I prefer Manchester), flights are currently starting around the $1,000 mark (leaving early July, return late July).
Is this about the going rate for summer for this route? Is it worth waiting for anything cheaper, or is should I jump at these prices? I've been looking on and off since January, and things haven't changed much.....
I fly a great deal from Charlotte, NC to London and believe it or not i use a British website to buy my tickets on! I use www.ebookers.com
and have found them to consistently the cheapest. When you go to the site click on the 'rest of the world' icon and it will display the price in pounds and dollars.
One thing i'm wondering, with the strength of Sterling vs the dollar shouldn't flights on US airlines be even cheaper right now?????
Mar 8th 2004, 4:38 pm
#10
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Re: Flights NC to U.K.
Originally posted by Muswell Hill
I fly a great deal from Charlotte, NC to London and believe it or not i use a British website to buy my tickets on! I use www.ebookers.com
and have found them to consistently the cheapest. When you go to the site click on the 'rest of the world' icon and it will display the price in pounds and dollars.
One thing i'm wondering, with the strength of Sterling vs the dollar shouldn't flights on US airlines be even cheaper right now?????
I fly a great deal from Charlotte, NC to London and believe it or not i use a British website to buy my tickets on! I use www.ebookers.com
and have found them to consistently the cheapest. When you go to the site click on the 'rest of the world' icon and it will display the price in pounds and dollars.
One thing i'm wondering, with the strength of Sterling vs the dollar shouldn't flights on US airlines be even cheaper right now?????
Mar 8th 2004, 5:05 pm
#11
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Re: Flights NC to U.K.
Originally posted by dunroving
Just tried Ebookers for various dates in early to late July, various departure points (RDU/CLT) and destinations (LGW/LHR/MAN), and got the same answer every time - no flights available. Maybe I'm doing something wrong. I checked carefully that I had the right dates, left everything open (i.e., did not restrict airlines or direct/connections), etc.
Just tried Ebookers for various dates in early to late July, various departure points (RDU/CLT) and destinations (LGW/LHR/MAN), and got the same answer every time - no flights available. Maybe I'm doing something wrong. I checked carefully that I had the right dates, left everything open (i.e., did not restrict airlines or direct/connections), etc.
Mar 10th 2004, 4:49 pm
#12
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Joined: Dec 2003
Location: From Northfleet, Kent to Kansas City, Kansas
Posts: 153
Re: Flights NC to U.K.
I know it sounds sadistic and twisted, but (before I moved here) I was planning some travel from the UK to the US in September of 2002, so dellberately booked flights for the 11th, because they were half the price of the ones for the 10th/12th...
I've flown from Gatwick to Charlotte before (and back), with US Airways, for under 300 pounds...
Best
Gary
>> My Fiancee also visited me from NC to the UK last summer and got a discounted ticket just because she flew on Friday the 13th
I've flown from Gatwick to Charlotte before (and back), with US Airways, for under 300 pounds...
Best
Gary
>> My Fiancee also visited me from NC to the UK last summer and got a discounted ticket just because she flew on Friday the 13th
Mar 10th 2004, 5:27 pm
#13
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
Re: Flights NC to U.K.
Originally posted by Steff
I was looking on expedia.com and the airlines were Virgin (New York) and US Airways (Pittsburgh and Philly)
Any idea if you could just skip the first part of the flight and then turn up for the connection?
I was looking on expedia.com and the airlines were Virgin (New York) and US Airways (Pittsburgh and Philly)
Any idea if you could just skip the first part of the flight and then turn up for the connection?
****I'm absolutely certain that the airlines cancel the complete booking as a 'no show' if someone doesn't check in for the first flight sector!****** (I would double-check by asking on the Travelbuzz forum at http://www.flyertalk.com which are forums used by 'those in the know' in the airline industry and regular/business frequent flyers. (need to register to post though)
There is a consolidator (posh word for 'bucket shop') which specialises in flights to the UK and Ireland. I think they're based in NYC, but they have a freephone number so it's probably worth giving them a call or getting on their e-mail list:
http://www.ukair.com
Another thing to investigate is the British companies such as Airtours, Cosmos, Thomson etc. who offer charter flights from various UK destinations (inc.Manchester) to Orlando (Sanford airport). It might be worth taking one of those small regional planes to Orlando then connecting with the charter flight. It might be worth sending an e-mail or getting a relative in the UK to phone the 'freephone' numbers and enquiring for you.
Hope this helps!
Mar 10th 2004, 5:36 pm
#14
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Re: Flights NC to U.K.
Originally posted by Muswell Hill
How odd...i've never had that experience. Why not try again in a few hours...
How odd...i've never had that experience. Why not try again in a few hours...
"Sorry: We have NO available fares for your destination, on the airline or dates that you have selected. Please go back and try again."
Maybe if you have a spare minute you might try just to see if you get the same response? I'm trying from RDU or CLT to MAN or LGW or LHR, leaving either July 1, 2, 3, 4 and returning either July 28, 29, 30, 31....
Englishmum, haven't forgotten your package deal advice, took a quick look but haven't yet done an in-depth search. Too busy....
