Flying to San fransisco
Discussion
What would you recommend?
We need options from Glasgow, having had a look it seems there are various options about routes & stops.
We quite like the idea of avoiding Heathrow as we've heard so many horror stories (like our friends who had a 10 hour delay before their 11 hour flight
)
Options seem to range from Glasgow to Amsterdam or Glasgow to Newark or Philadelphia type thing. Anything seems a nicer option than Heathrow. We really just want one stop.
So what's your experience? Any recommendations or routes you would avoid?
We need options from Glasgow, having had a look it seems there are various options about routes & stops.
We quite like the idea of avoiding Heathrow as we've heard so many horror stories (like our friends who had a 10 hour delay before their 11 hour flight
)Options seem to range from Glasgow to Amsterdam or Glasgow to Newark or Philadelphia type thing. Anything seems a nicer option than Heathrow. We really just want one stop.
So what's your experience? Any recommendations or routes you would avoid?
bigdavy said:
What would you recommend?
We need options from Glasgow, having had a look it seems there are various options about routes & stops.
We quite like the idea of avoiding Heathrow as we've heard so many horror stories (like our friends who had a 10 hour delay before their 11 hour flight)
Options seem to range from Glasgow to Amsterdam or Glasgow to Newark or Philadelphia type thing. Anything seems a nicer option than Heathrow. We really just want one stop.
So what's your experience? Any recommendations or routes you would avoid?
My advice would be to NEVER fly across the US if you can possibly avoid it.We need options from Glasgow, having had a look it seems there are various options about routes & stops.
We quite like the idea of avoiding Heathrow as we've heard so many horror stories (like our friends who had a 10 hour delay before their 11 hour flight
)Options seem to range from Glasgow to Amsterdam or Glasgow to Newark or Philadelphia type thing. Anything seems a nicer option than Heathrow. We really just want one stop.
So what's your experience? Any recommendations or routes you would avoid?
Change somewhere this side of the Atlantic and get a direct flight from there to SFO rather than going to Washington or Newark or anywhere like that.
Heathrow's not usually bad, imo, you'll get the odd delay anywhere and that Heathrow is better than many.
I'd rather sit at Heathrow for 10 hours than take an internal flight coast to coast across the US, personally.
M
We go to SFO (and LAX) a lot from Edinburgh. Although on a map Newark or JFK look fairly close to a direct route between the UK and SFO, on a globe they're waaaay off the route. The SFO flight will go in maybe 800 miles WEST of Hudson Bay and arrive in SFO from the north. You will spend a lot longer in the air if you stop off en route in the US.
More importantly, you have to clear immigration at your first landfall in the US. Trust me it's better to be grumbling about an hour or so wait in SFO than panicking at EWR when its becoming clear you're going to miss the connection. Also, even though luggage is checked through, you have to pick it up at your port of entry, go through customs then drop it off again. Sometimes when we've cleared immigration quickly we're still waiting on bags, again jeopardising connections.
KLM is an option, but flying home over Scotland (you can see my hoose from the normal flight path) with still hours to go before getting home is a bit galling. Plus no matter how bad LHR is, it's 1000% nicer than Schiphol. Plus KLM food is cr@p (IMHO), and while BA have some pretty tired 747s, the ones I've been on trans atlantic from KLM look like the Wright brothers had a hand in building them.
Sure we've had delayed and even cancelled flights going via LHR, but it's the best way to get there from Scotland. Make sure you give yourselves 2 hours to transfer, as the website can often propose real short transfers that cause problems if the inbound is delayed.
PS - off to Vancouver in a fortnight and SFO in March...and having tried most carriers and routes both are via LHR.
More importantly, you have to clear immigration at your first landfall in the US. Trust me it's better to be grumbling about an hour or so wait in SFO than panicking at EWR when its becoming clear you're going to miss the connection. Also, even though luggage is checked through, you have to pick it up at your port of entry, go through customs then drop it off again. Sometimes when we've cleared immigration quickly we're still waiting on bags, again jeopardising connections.
KLM is an option, but flying home over Scotland (you can see my hoose from the normal flight path) with still hours to go before getting home is a bit galling. Plus no matter how bad LHR is, it's 1000% nicer than Schiphol. Plus KLM food is cr@p (IMHO), and while BA have some pretty tired 747s, the ones I've been on trans atlantic from KLM look like the Wright brothers had a hand in building them.
Sure we've had delayed and even cancelled flights going via LHR, but it's the best way to get there from Scotland. Make sure you give yourselves 2 hours to transfer, as the website can often propose real short transfers that cause problems if the inbound is delayed.
PS - off to Vancouver in a fortnight and SFO in March...and having tried most carriers and routes both are via LHR.
Edited by tvrolet on Friday 11th January 18:11
bigdavy said:
Ah, thanks marco, thats the sort of reply I was hoping for. What are the reasons? Are the internal flights worse? Smaller aircraft perhaps?
As we've only been direct to Florida we haven't a clue about going to the west coast so appreciate any advice.
Internal flights are like Ryanair, but twice as long.As we've only been direct to Florida we haven't a clue about going to the west coast so appreciate any advice.
davepoth said:
bigdavy said:
Ah, thanks marco, thats the sort of reply I was hoping for. What are the reasons? Are the internal flights worse? Smaller aircraft perhaps?
As we've only been direct to Florida we haven't a clue about going to the west coast so appreciate any advice.
Internal flights are like Ryanair, but twice as long.As we've only been direct to Florida we haven't a clue about going to the west coast so appreciate any advice.
Internal flights are almost as bad as Ryanair, but four times as long.
They are also an enormous pain in the arse if you come out with a lot of baggage, as they tend not to have a great deal of storage space. My first US internal flight was delayed 30 minutes purely because it took them that long to cram everything in.
tvrolet said:
...Although on a map Newark or JFK look fairly close to a direct route between the UK and SFO, on a globe they're waaaay off the route. The SFO flight will go in maybe 800 miles WEST of Hudson Bay and arrive in SFO from the north. You will spend a lot longer in the air if you stop off en route in the US...
Indeed.LHR - JFK = 8hrs 5mins - 3440 miles (Boeing 747)
JFK - SFO = 6hrs 25mins - 2780 miles (Boeing 757)
or...
LHR - SFO = 11hrs 15min - 5350 miles - (Boeing 747)
davepoth said:
bigdavy said:
Ah, thanks marco, thats the sort of reply I was hoping for. What are the reasons? Are the internal flights worse? Smaller aircraft perhaps?
As we've only been direct to Florida we haven't a clue about going to the west coast so appreciate any advice.
Internal flights are like Ryanair, but twice as long.As we've only been direct to Florida we haven't a clue about going to the west coast so appreciate any advice.
The shoulder room, particularly, was very tight on the A333.
I had an hour and 50 mins to change at Philly and although the airport didn't seem anything like busy, I didn't have much spare time.
I've also flown through LHR using US Airways direct to SFO and they have an a whole cabin of extra legroom seats for about $100, which to me is an absolute no brainer.
I guess the other downside of changing in the US is that internal flights often get messed up be the weather and even once that's cleared they have planes in the wrong places etc.
Are there any flights from Ireland? It's on the way and you can do US immigration there (Shannon and now Dublin as well, I think), saving time when you land in the US.
Never tried Icelandair, but maybe they do something similar? No idea what either of these routes do the the journey distance.
We went via KLM once but never again - as said above, it was a pain to be hours from home as we passed overhead in both directions.
Personally, I'm sure that a carrier could afford to send a single flight from Scotland every week that would be full, simply with people like me who can't be arsed going via London - and if they all dd it, the congestion at London would be better too.
Never tried Icelandair, but maybe they do something similar? No idea what either of these routes do the the journey distance.
We went via KLM once but never again - as said above, it was a pain to be hours from home as we passed overhead in both directions.
Personally, I'm sure that a carrier could afford to send a single flight from Scotland every week that would be full, simply with people like me who can't be arsed going via London - and if they all dd it, the congestion at London would be better too.
I fly out via SF up to 5 or 6 times a year. My tip is always try to fly as far internationally as you can. My other tip is if you have to fly internal in the USA always fly first class. Its a few dollars more but you get decent seats and no charges on your baggage.Oh and 1st Class internal is nothing like 1st class International. What is important to remember is that a number of carriers are limiting or combining their flights. EG BA and American have an alliance so merge flights so even if you book BA you might end up on a flight operated by AA and vice versa. United Airlines now have stopped flying direct to LAX concentrating on San Francisco. So the number of international direct flight has reduced considerably.
What i do is research my flights by looking on the web sites. That will give you a good idea of the flight alternatives. I personally always try to get the first flight out of London as that will get you in to SF around lunchtime. BA and Virgin are usually the most expensive. I personally fly United Airlines and rack up quite a few air miles plus as i have said elsewhere...United offer, economy, premium economy, Business and 1st class.. My suggestion to you would be go via London. To book flights i use Dial a Flight and they will give you your seat, passes all by email instantly. These guys are really good. I usually speak to a guy called Bobby who i have always found to be really helpful. PM me if you need any help.
What i do is research my flights by looking on the web sites. That will give you a good idea of the flight alternatives. I personally always try to get the first flight out of London as that will get you in to SF around lunchtime. BA and Virgin are usually the most expensive. I personally fly United Airlines and rack up quite a few air miles plus as i have said elsewhere...United offer, economy, premium economy, Business and 1st class.. My suggestion to you would be go via London. To book flights i use Dial a Flight and they will give you your seat, passes all by email instantly. These guys are really good. I usually speak to a guy called Bobby who i have always found to be really helpful. PM me if you need any help.
Always, as others have said, fly long haul as far as you can is my advice.
As all the others have said, internal US flights tend to be cramped (Deva_Link's experience is contrary to mine), basic (no food or free drink on flights from Washington to Portland, OR, for example) and staffed with the most unhelpful and unfriendly cabin crew to walk the earth.
For some reason, although large distances are involved, US carriers seem to think Greyhound bus service is acceptable on domestic flights (That said I never think much of transatlantic services by the US carriers either, but domestic are EVEN worse).
Ryanair quality is fine for an hour long hop, for 4+ even twice that good is unacceptable, imo.
M.
As all the others have said, internal US flights tend to be cramped (Deva_Link's experience is contrary to mine), basic (no food or free drink on flights from Washington to Portland, OR, for example) and staffed with the most unhelpful and unfriendly cabin crew to walk the earth.
For some reason, although large distances are involved, US carriers seem to think Greyhound bus service is acceptable on domestic flights (That said I never think much of transatlantic services by the US carriers either, but domestic are EVEN worse).
Ryanair quality is fine for an hour long hop, for 4+ even twice that good is unacceptable, imo.
M.
Edited by marcosgt on Saturday 12th January 14:21
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