CLT-NYC-LHR then NYC-CLT

[cindep]

Looking for advice from "those in the know". Ya'll have never let me down.

Starting to do research on flights for our TATL cruise leaving Southampton on September 3, 2010. Since it returns into NYC, will need round-trip air to NYC and then a one-way "across the pond". Visiting with friends in the UK pre-cruise, so flexible on the day we travel across, but preferably August 28 to 30.

Two options are standing out: DL in Business class and VS in PE. DL ticket has restrictions. VS does not. Other than that, cost is very close. Advantage currently with DL for the lie-flat beds in BE. Opinions?

Second quandry: Both DL and US offer non-stops from Charlotte to JFK. Cost pretty equal. Advantage one over the other? I currently don't get a decent price on a CLT-NYC-LHR-NYC-CLT on Delta's web site as it won't let me combine an economy fare with the BE over the pond. Can a travel agent do this at a better price? Would I be better off asking Princess to book for us? Or can I call Delta directly and have them book it with a low-cost RT combined with the BE? I would love to have it on a single PNR so we could through-check our luggage.

Advice please?

[FlyerTalker]

This trip can be done in two ways if you want to buy without using cruiseline air. Either:

1) CLT-NYC-CLT round trip + NYC-LON one way

2) CLT-NYC-LON one-way + NYC-CLT one way

You will not be able to get open-jaw pricing, as the three legs would be:

CLT-LON
LON-NYC
NYC-CLT

and LON-NYC, the unflown one, is not the shortest. Thus, you are end up with the other two options.

I would be playing around with different airline choices of the two options above and see what you get. IMO, far better to fly DL from/to CLT if you use the DL TATL flight -- you won't have to do an inter-terminal change at JFK but can stay within the DL T2/T3 complex.

If I have some time, I'll see what I find.

[fbgd]

Do you need the flexibility? If not then DL wins by a mile. Virgin may have a more refined product but it is still a better version of economy. Delta may not offer the best business class seat in the world but it'll be a damn sight more comfortable than what VS offer.

[cindep]

Thank you so much. I am leaning more and more toward the DL route. We have $50 credit with VS, but that is a drop-in-the-bucket compared with the overall fare. I also just dawned on me to check about doing an upgrade on the one-way with DL from a full coach fare plus miles versus paying the whole thing up front. I don't know if they'll do just a one-way or if it has to be a round trip. If they'll do the one-way, we can scrape up the miles to do the upgrade to BE. Looks like it would save us about $700 per person, which is considerable IF they'll allow it.

Let me know what you come up with. Someone on another board had suggested Kuwait Air ... after checking them out (and realizing they only fly once a day every 3 days), I thought I'd pass on that!

[FlyerTalker]

The DL mileage upgrades are only for higher priced coach tickets, and are priced for one-way upgrades. So, if you are on a Y, B or M fare, you are in good shape for the upgrade IF there is availability.

Be sure to check for that before plunking down money on a ticket that will have change penalties - no sense buying the ticket if you can't confirm the upgrade at the same time.

[scottbee]

Originally Posted by cindep

Looking for advice from "those in the know". Ya'll have never let me down.

Starting to do research on flights for our TATL cruise leaving Southampton on September 3, 2010. Since it returns into NYC, will need round-trip air to NYC and then a one-way "across the pond". Visiting with friends in the UK pre-cruise, so flexible on the day we travel across, but preferably August 28 to 30.

Two options are standing out: DL in Business class and VS in PE. DL ticket has restrictions. VS does not. Other than that, cost is very close. Advantage currently with DL for the lie-flat beds in BE. Opinions?

Second quandry: Both DL and US offer non-stops from Charlotte to JFK. Cost pretty equal. Advantage one over the other? I currently don't get a decent price on a CLT-NYC-LHR-NYC-CLT on Delta's web site as it won't let me combine an economy fare with the BE over the pond. Can a travel agent do this at a better price? Would I be better off asking Princess to book for us? Or can I call Delta directly and have them book it with a low-cost RT combined with the BE? I would love to have it on a single PNR so we could through-check our luggage.

Advice please?

Consider your airport. You're trying to get to SOUTHAMPTON, not London, so your airport choices are;
SOU/Southampton - 7 mins from the cruise terminal, but you'd need to connect in another European city (CDG/AMS etc)
LHR/London Heathrow - 2 hour bus ride to Southampton
LGW/London Gatwick - 2 hour train ride to Southampton
BHX/Birmingham - 2¼ hour train ride to Southampton.

I'd rather do the train ride than the coach...

[cindep]

Oh, I'd rather do the train ride as well from LGW. Slight problem ... I haven't found any flights from NYC to LGW. Actually, we are flying in several days early and staying with friends. She works out of LHR, so flying into LHR is not an issue for us.

The last time we flew VS MCO to LGW but then flew back from LHR to EWR. Unfortunately, you have to go where the planes fly!

[alidor]

There are nonstop flights from Charlotte to Gatwick but it's too early to book next September. These generally can't be booked more than 11 months out. It also would help if you found a good travel agent.

[cindep]

Thanks. I know about the CLT-LGW. Unfortunately, it is operated by US ... and as they are the only non-stop, they want mega-bucks. DL has a great alternative out of JFK, plus will get the BE lie-flat beds. I'll take the puddle-jumper flight over a non-stop hell flight from CLT in Envoy. Heard too many bad trip reports on that flight to make me feel comfortable spending the extra money ... but thanks for the idea.

I'll probably contact AAA in three weeks when I can start looking at flights.