buckeyefanflyer

The direct Paris fight is more attractive then these Iceland Flights. Not mutch better then changing planes in EWR. London also would be nice. I was on the CO first flight 6/30/99 which is more then 18 years ago.

RNE

A nonstop flight to Mainland Europe would be nice. But BA isn't going to do that. And DL/AA wouldn't be nonstop.

RNE, opining that FI is king, for now.

guy44134

It is a very direct routing to Europe (unlike ORD or ATL), KEF is a tiny airport by comparison and avoids the hassle of connecting in a large hub. My last few experiences connecting in EWR (frequent delays), IAD (occasional delays, less than stellar facilities), and YYZ (delayed the last 5 flights home, including one cancellation requiring me to rent a car and drive the final leg home instead of waiting 24+ hours for the chance to be late again, and abysmal 3rd world trans-border terminal-F gates-significantly worse than any other airport i have seen, including LGA, plus poor customer service by AC airport staff, and soaked bags twice-don't they have a place to store them indoors?) have convinced me to give KEF a try. Maybe DTW or BOS could work, too.

I would also much rather clear customs at CLE (despite the sub-standard FIS here, it certainly is functional for a 757 or A321), especially with Global Entry, and be home and in bed within an hour of arrival in the US. I'm looking forward to the option of Icelandair (and maybe WOW for a quick, cheap jaunt to Europe)

RobS

WOW offers the Spirit-style bargains; Icelandair's appeal to me is Saga Class, which I think of as an equivalent to the Euro-version of premium economy (food, drinks, and a bigger seat in both width and pitch). Saga seems to be slightly cheaper than PE (about 10%) and *much* cheaper (up to 2/3s less) than business class, while costing only slightly more than Y on traditional carriers. You also get Saga on both legs of the trip, whereas PE is often available on only one leg.

RNE

I am a booked customer on a mid-May FI trip from CLE to AMS (economy class). Here's what some other airlines want versus what I paid.


CLE-XXX-AMS (RT)
AA $1306.36
DL $1307.36
UA $1307.36
FI $814.32

I'd say that's substantial savings.

FI's price includes the baggage fee and free selection of seats at booking, but food is extra. Baggage is extra on the other airlines (although it's waived for elites and certain CC holders) but food is free. So, there are some fee differences, but not too consequential.

JimInOhio

Yes, definitely a difference. Status may be a factor, too, as some UA flyers in Cleveland can automatically get E+ which really has no comparison on FI (unless you consider a 33" seat pitch "comfort"). I don't think the baggage comments are correct, though. I know UA allows one free checked bag on transatlantic flights and probably the others do, too.

BTW, for comparison I just priced out a hypothetical CLE-AMS for next May in Saga Class and it came out a little over $2300.

RNE

You're right about the baggage fees; good catch.

Anyway, my example was strictly coach class to Amsterdam. Factoring in status, variations between airlines' metal, seat pitch, meal quality, service levels in better classes, etc., are valid but complicate any 4-airline comparison. For simply getting a tourist from CLE to EU in an admittedly E- seat, FI packs a wallop pricewise.

RNE, promising to write an FI Trip Report next May (in the proper forum).

P.S. I'm used to flying over the pond in business class, but SAGA ain't that (as far as I'm concerned), so I'll suffer in FI's coach seat and pocket the $500 fare difference.

gusd

By the way, I'm seeing $480 fares for CLE-KEF-AMS for mid-May.

https://goo.gl/flights/ttjJ

RNE

Grab it! How can you go wrong?

guy44134

Just noticed that the CLE website now lists the status of all of parking in the lower right corner of the page: http://www.clevelandairport.com

RNE

Those lots are way full for a Friday night.

guy44134

Looks a lot nicer.

RNE

What's with that creepy haunted house graphic?

guy44134

It's the Franklin Castle on the West Side of Cleveland, part of the art work throughout the ticketing level called Type City Cleveland. It's actually quite an interesting series of artworks created by Cleveland Institute of Art students using different type fonts to create images of various points of interest in Cleveland.

http://www.clevelandairport.com/airp...city-cleveland

coplatua1k

FI will be the new 737MAX effective May 16, 2018


http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/...routes-in-s18/