leachster

Having booked the TLL mini-do last time (but unable to take the flights in the end) I am super jealous of this one which I am also unable to make...so jealous that I had to book it anyway, albeit for later in the year!

Thanks to everyone on this board for some great information, but also, a little more specifically, to rossmcd for the worked example in https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29240873-post36.html I was able to get the end of November on most of the planes I wanted and for only a few pounds more!

I realise the late arrival into PHX is a bit harsh, but since I will be 3 months late for the party I don't suppose it matters much!

My issue now is which positioning flights to take. Having spent the last 9 years flying, weekly, the increasingly terrible LHR->NCE, I am reluctant to do a B2B on the same days (and subsequently taking 3 CE flights in one day!). But then again I don't really want to waste too much time sitting in hotels.
What is everyone else doing? Is there a way to create a poll-thingy-ma-jig on FT?



ps: if anyone would like to add my flights to the wiki, I would be very grateful:

Friday 23 November 2018
OTP - LHR
BA887 16:15 - 17:45
LHR - HEL
AY1342 19:25 - 00:15

Saturday 24 November 2018
HEL - LHR
AY1331 08:00 - 09:10
LHR - JFK
AA6214 11:10 - 14:20
JFK - PHX
AA2756 20:35 - 00:13

Sunday 25 November 2018
PHX - JFK
AA2339 09:50 - 16:59
JFK - LJR
AA6137 20:15 - 08:10

Monday 26 November 2018
LHR - HEL
AY1332 10:20 - 15:15
HEL - LHR
AY1337 16:00 - 17:10

Tuesday 27 November 2018
LHR - OTP
BA886 10:00 - 15:20

NoTiersForMe

Heads up you're travelling over Thanksgiving weekend in US! Arguably the busiest travel days in the country all year are the Weds and Sun either side. Expect some busy airports!! [edit: as I note others traveling then this must have been discussed up thread]

And as I consider this run in the late March 2019 window of low fares I may be an even a later arrival to this party!

Flights reformatted and added to Wiki.

onobond

Yes, oth, the reason this fare is available late november every year is the decreased demand for TATL travel that time.

I faced I inventory suddenly disapearing on wednesday afternoon, when finalizing my plans, some 4 months ago. I had to accept an overnight in JFK and a 'semi-red eye' flight to LAX at 06.00 Now there are I seats available, albeit with the last flight, arriving LAX 00.41. Did rebook, the lesser of two evils. Would not have had the opportunity to GUF both TATL if doing the reservation now, but rebooking fee and fare increase was another €400.

A late flight to LAX means sleeping on the plane. A 06.00 departure means getting up waaaay too early, harder to catch up on sleep, at least for me.

A similar situation, previously reported, was travelling to USA on July 3. Happy to arrive JFK mid-day and connect to LAX at 16.00 (booking made when transcons often were booked in F). Two months ahead someone discovered Independence Day coming up on July 4 (quelle surprise!), all flights out of JFK from 15.00 on July 3 and before 10.00 next day were suddenly cancelled . Lucky enough there were A inventory available on the July 4 10.00 departure, but had to cancel prepaid hotel @LAX and reserve new for JFK.

Lesson learned, will try to avoid these sensible days in the future.

SWISSBOBBY

Menu for BA177 on 24th Available... don't know what to choose....

onobond

Desicions, decisions...

The restaurant on BA115 the same day has, of course, the same menu. What if you made the reservation within the pre-choice period and you have a choice of flights not only for departure/arrival times, but also for the menu?

"Oh, great if I can upgrade to F with a GUF! But I see the115 only has Atlantic Cod, versus the 177 serves Dover Sole. Possible to change flights for me?"

bisonrav

I'm thinking the chicken curry looks good.

But artichoke soup on a flight? You have to be kidding. That's just irresponsible.

SWISSBOBBY

The lamb could be good and ask for the salad with the tea service before landing...

OverTheHorizon

Let us know if the "Somerset camenbert" tastes better than it spells

onobond

Fixed that for ya'

MarkedMan

Artichokes are not the same vegetable as jerusalem artichokes (aka sunchokes). The latter vegetable has challenges , not aware of anything too bad with artichokes proper, other than many people find them fussy to eat and don't really like them. Not a particularly unique problem to this vegetable.

bisonrav

I've never had artichoke soup that isn't made of Jerusalem artichokes. I can't quite see how that would work. I think we're talking this sort of thing:

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/...armesan-sticks

I will probably have it anyway. I think deboyzoned is in 2A, apologies for any unpleasantness back there.

LondonAndy

I've booked late March/early April today - my BAEC year ends 8/4, and this trip should get my CCR Card, so I wanted to finish a few days before the year end!

I'm leaving OTP on 28 March and arriving back 3 April, doing the HEL shuffle both ways....I'm in Phoenix from 19.19 on Saturday 30th until 08.50 Tuesday 2nd. Exchange rates have worsened a bit so it's £1,656 for 1,020 TPs.

TravellerFrequently

Will be good to welcome you to the CCR!

Do you know what dates are included in 2019, please?

onobond

So far, dates are the same as 2018, which is surprising due to the Easter scheduled much later than usual

Telecasterman

Thats the price I was seeing. I start my new TP year end Jan 19, already renewed Gold. I'm gonna book this one similar dates.

Be nice get some folks together

'T