PHL to London Aug 20, fare advice, tips?

[crossposted to rec.travel.europe, rec.travel.air]

Howdy! Planning a week-long honeymoon in London at the end of
August. Yes, I know that's peak season, no the dates are not
flexible. That said, what's my best strategy for airfare? Prices
seem to have been steadily dropping...started around 950, now the
lowest is 816 (all fees included). We'll have the savings to get the
tickets beginning of April. Should we pull the trigger then, or are
prices likely to continue dropping for a while before they head back
up?

Any generic tips for London also welcomed. :)

Thanks,
Dave

<pastymage@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1173887962.493613.197120@b75g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
> [crossposted to rec.travel.europe, rec.travel.air]
>
> Howdy! Planning a week-long honeymoon in London at the end of
> August. Yes, I know that's peak season, no the dates are not
> flexible. That said, what's my best strategy for airfare? Prices
> seem to have been steadily dropping...started around 950, now the
> lowest is 816 (all fees included). We'll have the savings to get the
> tickets beginning of April. Should we pull the trigger then, or are
> prices likely to continue dropping for a while before they head back
> up?
>

There is not a lot of competition out of PHL. Go a few miles north, to EWR
or to JFK, and fly out of there on VS for $620 return/round trip.

JohnT

On Mar 14, 12:42 pm, "JohnT" <donots...@anywhere.uk> wrote:
> There is not a lot of competition out of PHL. Go a few miles north, to EWR
> or to JFK, and fly out of there on VS for $620 return/round trip.

I'm not seeing that fare - the best Virgin Atlantic has right now
(out of JFK) for our dates is $922...or was your price not including
fees/taxes? I'm trying to compare apples to apples, here, so I'm only
using the full prices.

As far as different departure cities, I know that can save us a bit
and I'm looking at that too. But I'm more looking for *timing*
advice...will the prices keep dropping, or should I grab them as soon
as I can?

Dave

pastymage@gmail.com wrote:

> On Mar 14, 12:42 pm, "JohnT" <donots...@anywhere.uk> wrote:
>
>>There is not a lot of competition out of PHL. Go a few miles north, to EWR
>>or to JFK, and fly out of there on VS for $620 return/round trip.
>
>
> I'm not seeing that fare - the best Virgin Atlantic has right now
> (out of JFK) for our dates is $922...or was your price not including
> fees/taxes? I'm trying to compare apples to apples, here, so I'm only
> using the full prices.

Kayak.com is a good source and the rates displayed are the full prices.
Air India shows as $788 from JFK-LHR. DL at $797, and AA at $805
From PHL, you can get US Airways at $818 nonstop or BA for $826, so I
don't think going to JFK is worth the extra cost in money and time.

If you take your honeymoon a few weeks later, the cost would probably be
less.

>> > There is not a lot of competition out of PHL. Go a few miles north,
>> > to EWR or to JFK, and fly out of there on VS for $620 return/round
>> > trip.
>>
>> I'm not seeing that fare - the best Virgin Atlantic has right now
>> (out of JFK) for our dates is $922...or was your price not including
>> fees/taxes? I'm trying to compare apples to apples, here, so I'm only
>> using the full prices.
>
> Kayak.com is a good source and the rates displayed are the full prices.
> Air India shows as $788 from JFK-LHR. DL at $797, and AA at $805
> From PHL, you can get US Airways at $818 nonstop or BA for $826, so I don't
> think going to JFK is worth the extra cost in money and time.

I wouldn't fly with Air India, particularly not on a honeymoon.

Hilary

Hilary wrote:

>>> > There is not a lot of competition out of PHL. Go a few miles north,
>>> > to EWR or to JFK, and fly out of there on VS for $620 return/round
>>> > trip.
>>>
>>> I'm not seeing that fare - the best Virgin Atlantic has right now
>>> (out of JFK) for our dates is $922...or was your price not including
>>> fees/taxes? I'm trying to compare apples to apples, here, so I'm only
>>> using the full prices.
>>
>>
>> Kayak.com is a good source and the rates displayed are the full prices.
>> Air India shows as $788 from JFK-LHR. DL at $797, and AA at $805
>> From PHL, you can get US Airways at $818 nonstop or BA for $826, so I
>> don't think going to JFK is worth the extra cost in money and time.
>
>
> I wouldn't fly with Air India, particularly not on a honeymoon.
>
> Hilary

It's not like they are going to have sex in the lav.
The seats are standard size seating. The food is comparable to other
normally not good airline food. I'd take AA over them, but they aren't
that bad.

On Wed, 14 Mar 2007 13:41:10 -0700, Mike Hunt <postmaster@localhost> wrote:

>It's not like they are going to have sex in the lav.
>The seats are standard size seating. The food is comparable to other
>normally not good airline food. I'd take AA over them, but they aren't
>that bad.

Work at an airport Air India uses you will soon see the regular problems they
cause and their total lack of customer care, on the ground and in the air.

I agree with Hilary avoid AI at all costs.


--
Lansbury
www.uk-air.net
FAQs for the alt.travel.uk.air newsgroup

> Howdy! Planning a week-long honeymoon in London at the end of
>August.

Congratulations.

>seem to have been steadily dropping...started around 950, now the
>lowest is 816 (all fees included).

ITA Software shows a $762 or $769 fare on Northwest via Detroit from
either PHL or Allentown where the parking is surely much cheaper.

> Any generic tips for London also welcomed. :)

The prices are the same as here, but the money is twice as expensive.

R's,
John

John L wrote:

>> Howdy! Planning a week-long honeymoon in London at the end of
>>August.
>
>
> Congratulations.
>
>
>>seem to have been steadily dropping...started around 950, now the
>>lowest is 816 (all fees included).
>
>
> ITA Software shows a $762 or $769 fare on Northwest via Detroit from
> either PHL or Allentown where the parking is surely much cheaper.
>

Does the ITA price include all fees?
Of course, I don't see spending that much extra time flying or waiting
for the connection to save $50 or less. Additionally, connections make
problems more likely.

> Does the ITA price include all fees?

Yes, that's the beauty of ITA...you cannot book there, but you can find out
the 'real' price of the ticket.

Then you can print the details (very extensive) and use them to book either
online or on the phone. I did this for an open jaw to vancouver, return
from anchorage on delta....worked great.

On Mar 14, 10:59 am, pastym...@gmail.com wrote:
> [crossposted to rec.travel.europe, rec.travel.air]
>
> Howdy! Planning a week-long honeymoon in London at the end of
> August. Yes, I know that's peak season, no the dates are not
> flexible. That said, what's my best strategy for airfare? Prices
> seem to have been steadily dropping...started around 950, now the
> lowest is 816 (all fees included). We'll have the savings to get the
> tickets beginning of April. Should we pull the trigger then, or are
> prices likely to continue dropping for a while before they head back
> up?
>
> Any generic tips for London also welcomed. :)
>
> Thanks,
> Dave

One of our favorite modestly-priced (for London) British-food
restaurants was Bumby's, between Victoria Station and Buckingham
Palace. Guided tours of all sorts with the Blue Badge Guides can be
quite good. If you are a walker/hiker, the London Walks book gives a
number of very interesting self-tours of many parts of the city. Take
the boat to Greenwich and see the observatory.

On 15 Mar 2007 08:40:06 -0700, "SemiMike" <mmocella@gmail.com> wrote:

>If you are a walker/hiker, the London Walks book gives a
>number of very interesting self-tours of many parts of the city. Take
>the boat to Greenwich and see the observatory.

maybe walk there, boat back
--
Mike Reid
London & London walks inc. Thames path
"http://www.fellwalk.co.uk/london.htm"
(see website for email address)

Thanks for everyone's help! That ITA site in particular is *very*
nice. There's a NWA flight showing for $714 (all fees) now, and the
only downside is it uses different airports in London (Heathrow in,
Gatwick out). There's also an incredible $615(!) from Air France,
with short layovers at CDG each way. Does anyone know if CDG has
connection issues (i.e. is there a larger-than-average chance of
getting hosed while trying to make our connection)?

-Dave

> Thanks for everyone's help! That ITA site in particular is *very*
> nice. There's a NWA flight showing for $714 (all fees) now, and the
> only downside is it uses different airports in London (Heathrow in,
> Gatwick out). There's also an incredible $615(!) from Air France, with
> short layovers at CDG each way. Does anyone know if CDG has connection
> issues (i.e. is there a larger-than-average chance of getting hosed
> while trying to make our connection)?

When you say "short" do you mean 45 minutes short or just under 2 hours
short? In general, if it's under an hour, I'd be sceptical. 1-2 hours -
doable, as long as there are no major delays.

Hilary

On Thu, 22 Mar 2007, pastymage wrote:

> Does anyone know if CDG has connection issues (i.e. is there a
> larger-than-average chance of getting hosed while trying to make our
> connection)?

Connections at Paris Charles de Gaulle are indeed pretty bad, but if both
flights are on the same ticket, the airline is responsible if you miss
your connection.

--
Yves Bellefeuille
<yan@storm.ca>