Best Routes London - Lima?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 95
Best Routes London - Lima?
Hi,
I'm trying to book a business class flight return from London to Lima, and I would have done it LHR-MAD-LIM with BA and LAN respectively, but that's gone already...
So I'm looking at Delta via ATL, BA/AA via MIA and KLM via AMS.
BA via MIA looked pretty good until I saw that the overnight AA flight from MIA to LIM is on a plane with terrible seats so sleep will be hard. The other problem is that most flights seem to leave early from LHR, and I am absolutely terrible at getting up that early (e.g. 6.30am) to get to check in.
Does anyone have any experience or ideas?
Hope I've put this in the right place!
Thanks for any help you can give.
I'm trying to book a business class flight return from London to Lima, and I would have done it LHR-MAD-LIM with BA and LAN respectively, but that's gone already...
So I'm looking at Delta via ATL, BA/AA via MIA and KLM via AMS.
BA via MIA looked pretty good until I saw that the overnight AA flight from MIA to LIM is on a plane with terrible seats so sleep will be hard. The other problem is that most flights seem to leave early from LHR, and I am absolutely terrible at getting up that early (e.g. 6.30am) to get to check in.
Does anyone have any experience or ideas?
Hope I've put this in the right place!
Thanks for any help you can give.
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,805
Got time and/or money? If you need a ST MR, there's great fares from HNL to LIM (less than 14 cents per basic mile before CoS/elite bonus) on DL with lie-flat seats all the way (330 and 763 HNL-ATL-LIM) but then you have to get to HNL. If not, DL uses lie-flat 763 between ATL and LIM.
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 95
Heya, thanks for the reply. What does ST MR mean?
Also, HNL, as in Honolulu? hehe, that might be a stretch from London, even for me!
Good to know that Delta use lie-flat from ATL to LIM, although the arrival time is very late at night.
Also, HNL, as in Honolulu? hehe, that might be a stretch from London, even for me!
Good to know that Delta use lie-flat from ATL to LIM, although the arrival time is very late at night.
#4
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
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ST MR = SkyTeam Mileage Run meaning to gain mileage at low cost per mile in an alliance/partnership.
Via IAH is also an option on UA which uses a 767 with lie flat Business Class seats on both. Arrives late but before midnight.
Via IAH is also an option on UA which uses a 767 with lie flat Business Class seats on both. Arrives late but before midnight.
#6
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: BDL,CLT,LIM
Programs: AA,BA
Posts: 345
DL all the way as you will have Business Elite on LHR-ATL-LIM, and based on the following:
-AA will give you their new Biz from LHR to the US, but aircraft to LIM have not been upgraded yet (this may have changed; I flew them a few months ago),
-I flew LIM-AMS recently, but was not too impressed with KL, and
-I would simply not rely on UA.
Alternatively, if you have an open budget, find a Biz ticket from LHR-LAX and connect to the LAX-LIM on Lan that YVR mentioned. Service is very good. Enjoy!
-AA will give you their new Biz from LHR to the US, but aircraft to LIM have not been upgraded yet (this may have changed; I flew them a few months ago),
-I flew LIM-AMS recently, but was not too impressed with KL, and
-I would simply not rely on UA.
Alternatively, if you have an open budget, find a Biz ticket from LHR-LAX and connect to the LAX-LIM on Lan that YVR mentioned. Service is very good. Enjoy!
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 95
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I noticed that AA has an evening flight which does have a 767 with moderately good seats but still, as you say, not as good as DL.
If I book a trip like you suggest, LHR-LAX, LAX-LIM can it be done with one ticket so that in case there's a problem I'm covered at the connection? I don't know much about these things..
I also am considering IB from MAD-LIM as the arrival time is great and I am wondering if I might get the retrofitted new plane.
If I book a trip like you suggest, LHR-LAX, LAX-LIM can it be done with one ticket so that in case there's a problem I'm covered at the connection? I don't know much about these things..
I also am considering IB from MAD-LIM as the arrival time is great and I am wondering if I might get the retrofitted new plane.
#8
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: BDL,CLT,LIM
Programs: AA,BA
Posts: 345
Yes. For example, you can do LHR-LAX on AA or BA, while LAX-LIM will be on Lan. All 3 are OneWorld and you can check in and get BPs all the way to LIM. I ran a quick search and saw that connection times in LAX are too long, and therefore may not be the best option. On the other hand, LIM-LAX is operated by Lan 787--quite smooth. Regardless, if you have somewhat of an open budget then you have lots of room to play with and lots of options on your plate.
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 95
Amazing how knowledgeable you guys are.. thank you again.
I managed to price up the trip with BA to MIA and then LAN to LIM, and return the same using aa.com
One thing I'm trying to figure out before I purchase is what the deal is with making changes to an itinerary both before and after the outward journey. I'm having a hard time understanding the fine print. Does anyone know how it works in this case? (I'm booking a business ticket, but not flexible).
On iberia.com I remember from past experience that it was very easy to do, even without purchasing a flexible ticket, and the penalty was only something like 50 euros plus the difference in flight price. That was whether you'd done the outward or not, which was even better if wanting to change the return once in LIM. One of the major advantages of iberia is in fact this!
I managed to price up the trip with BA to MIA and then LAN to LIM, and return the same using aa.com
One thing I'm trying to figure out before I purchase is what the deal is with making changes to an itinerary both before and after the outward journey. I'm having a hard time understanding the fine print. Does anyone know how it works in this case? (I'm booking a business ticket, but not flexible).
On iberia.com I remember from past experience that it was very easy to do, even without purchasing a flexible ticket, and the penalty was only something like 50 euros plus the difference in flight price. That was whether you'd done the outward or not, which was even better if wanting to change the return once in LIM. One of the major advantages of iberia is in fact this!
#11
Ambassador: LATAM
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: PNA
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Posts: 4,648
You can also consider AV LHR BOG LIM. Their A330s are also being retrofitted/delivered new with a horizontal flat-bed herringbone layout. No way of guaranteeing you will get it but the first A330 delivered with this configuration has been doing a lot of London rotations
Last edited by JohnnyColombia; Sep 20, 2014 at 7:43 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
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While I don't know Iberia's fleet the A340-500 is definitely a real aircraft and was used by many airlines including EK and SQ (SIN-EWR) for its ability to fly very far distances and for SQ was seated as business class only. Iberia may be using this classification to refer to another type of aircraft but it's not a model that is only for Iberia.
#13
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Initially outfitted at J & Y+, later converted to all J.
#14
Ambassador: LATAM
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: PNA
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 4,648
While I don't know Iberia's fleet the A340-500 is definitely a real aircraft and was used by many airlines including EK and SQ (SIN-EWR) for its ability to fly very far distances and for SQ was seated as business class only. Iberia may be using this classification to refer to another type of aircraft but it's not a model that is only for Iberia.
I should just have dug out a link to the IB New Business Class thread in the IB forum, they explain it more succinctly (and accurately)
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 95
In case it's of any interest.. in the end availability came up on iberia.com for BA to MAD and then LAN to LIM (and vice versa coming back), so I booked that. I put my BA FF number in - does that mean it should come up in my BAEC account? (Especially as 2/4 flights are actually on BA planes).