Long haul flights

[Mr E Driver]

I am wanting to fly to San Diego around October 10/11 from MCR and I am flexible on the day I fly out and fly back. I can probably get cheaper flights if I leave midweek but I would like to have the flexibility to choose the day I fly back when I am there.
Anyone had any experience of this and any suggestions who to go through?

[F1sh]

I think you'll find that you'll need to fly into LA then get a transfer or drive down. The drive isnt that bad and there's some pretty coast to stop for some lunch.

I tend to also fly mid-week due to cost savings. Last trip was with Air NewZealand prior it was always Virgin, top service from both.

Fish

[Minemapper]

If you can go from LHR, BA has a direct flight into SAN now.

If that's less of a priority than cost, I would just get on Kayak and pick your poison.

[andrew311]

As the previous post said you can fly direct form London. I live in the north so in the past rather than getting a domestic flight to London it's proven more cost effective getting a connection in the US. Different airlines tend to use one or two cities as there major hubs. Unless you want to visit one of those cities it doesn't really matter which airline.

AA tend to change in NYC as do Continental but at Newark. Delta via Atlanta and US via Philadelphia. Check those for prices.

[Mr E Driver]

hmmm... interesting options.

A bit more background.

I live in Harrogate and MCR is easier/cheaper/taxi than driving to LGW/LHR where the parking is expensive especially on an overstay.

My g/f lives in San Diego and she did suggest driving to LAX to pick me up but I said the fuel cost would be more than the £100ish difference in airfare.
I did know there is a new direct flight to SAN but the disadvantage is I would have to drive home without falling asleep and there would be a big parking charge......

Just checked the BA site and the flight from MCR is £629 so I think that is the best option,

Ta!

[Minemapper]

If you're in Harrogate, I'd suggest a cheapo Jet2 flight from LBA to AMS, and then a KLM/DL from AMS to LAX. The direct flights tend to be more though, so connecting through a DL hub like Atlanta or Minneapolis would be a better bet, as well as giving you direct SAN options.

The taxi fare to and from LBA is probably cheaper than the parking cost, no?

[Mr E Driver]

I hadn't thought about that but thinking about it the cost isn't too much of a factor but less connections is. I can get my mate who drives a taxi to take me to MCR and g/f lives 20 min drive from SAN whereas LAX is about a 90 min drive.

[Ynox]

Pretty good there's a direct flight to SAN now.

I'd still fly into LAX - a lot cheaper and it's an easy drive down to San Diego.

Edit - should have read post. If only £100 in it, I'd probably fly to SAN if just you.

Edited by Ynox on Thursday 18th August 11:17

[Minemapper]

In that case, DL going MAN>ATL>SAN looks to be your best bet, at around £560. Try and fly on Tue/Wed/Thur if you can, for the cheaper fares.

BA is rarely going to be the best option, price-wise, although the service levels are worth it to some, compared to the US carriers. I always do MME>AMS>wherever I need to be, because I'm almost guaranteed a KLM plane, and it's very convenient to me (5 mins away).

[Mr E Driver]

Had a look at DL and travelling midweek out Tue and back Wed staying for about a month it is just under £600 but I won't have long layovers like I would at LHR. Going to LAX isn't really an option because if work commitments mean she can't pick me up I'm knackered whereas she has someone who could pick me up if it comes to that from SAN.
Seems weird that going via AMS is quicker than LHR. If this route works then there could be free miles donated to me for future flights....

[Minemapper]

It's not so much the connection speeds (although AMS is often faster), but more my pathological hatred of anything and everything to do with LHR. In over 130k of business travel miles originating in the UK last year, I had to go through there once. It was by far my worst airport experience of the year.

[Mr E Driver]

Thank you for your suggestions, I looked to see what there was from LBA as I know they do flights to AMS and it would be better than MAN and it turned out cheaper too.
I have booked flights 26/9 to 24/10 LBA to AMS to DTW ton SAN then the return is to ATL to AMS and back to LBA.
Flights sorted, it's going to be a long wait