Flying to U.K in September.Would appreciate some help.
Jun 1, 2013 | 8:55 pm
#16
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 657
virgin atlantic is now a chase UR partner!
16500 + $97 for orlando-london non stop flight
13000 + $97 for new york-london non stop flight
other options avaiable that are similar, award space is easy to find even for the next two months.
do not fly back with a virgin atlantic award, the prices are BS. Fly back out of continental europe.
16500 + $97 for orlando-london non stop flight
13000 + $97 for new york-london non stop flight
other options avaiable that are similar, award space is easy to find even for the next two months.
do not fly back with a virgin atlantic award, the prices are BS. Fly back out of continental europe.
Last edited by drdrew450; Jun 1, 2013 at 9:30 pm
Jun 12, 2013 | 1:40 pm
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: In CT,left my heart in Leicester.
Programs: Work in progress.
Posts: 1,237
virgin atlantic is now a chase UR partner!
16500 + $97 for orlando-london non stop flight
13000 + $97 for new york-london non stop flight
other options avaiable that are similar, award space is easy to find even for the next two months.
do not fly back with a virgin atlantic award, the prices are BS. Fly back out of continental europe.
16500 + $97 for orlando-london non stop flight
13000 + $97 for new york-london non stop flight
other options avaiable that are similar, award space is easy to find even for the next two months.
do not fly back with a virgin atlantic award, the prices are BS. Fly back out of continental europe.
I went ahead and booked this.
For the way back,
OR
ANA for Birmingham-Hartford that bypasses LHR completely.
Last edited by jatink129; Jun 12, 2013 at 8:06 pm
Jun 12, 2013 | 4:20 pm
#18
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 20
People mention taxes for flying out of London rather then in, also Dublin having lack of taxes.
Is there a place to read more about this? I am interested as I make the NY -> LDN flight quite often. However, this next time I am doing it out of Dublin since the price is much cheaper.
Is there a place to read more about this? I am interested as I make the NY -> LDN flight quite often. However, this next time I am doing it out of Dublin since the price is much cheaper.
Jun 12, 2013 | 10:05 pm
#19
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 657
why not use 12500 avios for dublin-boston? I think you can check availability on united then call british airways.
Jun 12, 2013 | 11:13 pm
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: In CT,left my heart in Leicester.
Programs: Work in progress.
Posts: 1,237
But I CAN do europe because I'll be getting a Schengen visa.
The two options that i've found so far are
Flying blue Air france - CDG-NYC 25k miles + $170
and Iberia- Madrid- NYC, 20k avios + $123
Are there any other options?
__________________________________________________ _________
Actually,that CDG-NYC option is rubbish because I could just do United from LHR-BDL for 30k + $180
or
CDG-BDL for 30,000 Miles + $89.10
But based on what I read here, I should see availability for 25k+ 50 Euros($66). But I don't. I see 25k + $170.
I am trying to manage a balance between $$ and miles spent. Flying from UK to these other countries makes sense because I could just do 4500 avios for these intra-Europe trips.
I'd appreciate the help.
thanks.
Jun 12, 2013 | 11:21 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: In CT,left my heart in Leicester.
Programs: Work in progress.
Posts: 1,237
People mention taxes for flying out of London rather then in, also Dublin having lack of taxes.
Is there a place to read more about this? I am interested as I make the NY -> LDN flight quite often. However, this next time I am doing it out of Dublin since the price is much cheaper.
Is there a place to read more about this? I am interested as I make the NY -> LDN flight quite often. However, this next time I am doing it out of Dublin since the price is much cheaper.
Jun 13, 2013 | 11:58 am
#22
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 657
you can take virgin back
London-NYC
13,000 + 278.73
Just be careful they charged me a foreign transaction fee when I booked this for a friend on my amex business gold. I was shocked. They also charge around $3 to use a credit card, Who does that?
This is a special and will cost more points after 6/17/13
Another option:
Dusseldorf, germany to NYC on airberlin with american aadvantage miles
direct non stop
30,000 miles +$101.60
London-NYC
13,000 + 278.73
Just be careful they charged me a foreign transaction fee when I booked this for a friend on my amex business gold. I was shocked. They also charge around $3 to use a credit card, Who does that?
This is a special and will cost more points after 6/17/13
Another option:
Dusseldorf, germany to NYC on airberlin with american aadvantage miles
direct non stop
30,000 miles +$101.60
Jun 13, 2013 | 12:41 pm
#23
Flyertalk Posting Legend Moderator: Credit Card Programs, American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Diners Club, Eco Travel, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA, IHG & Marriott Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 51,889
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credi...27-2013-a.html
Jun 13, 2013 | 2:24 pm
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: In CT,left my heart in Leicester.
Programs: Work in progress.
Posts: 1,237
you can take virgin back
London-NYC
13,000 + 278.73
Just be careful they charged me a foreign transaction fee when I booked this for a friend on my amex business gold. I was shocked. They also charge around $3 to use a credit card, Who does that?
This is a special and will cost more points after 6/17/13
London-NYC
13,000 + 278.73
Just be careful they charged me a foreign transaction fee when I booked this for a friend on my amex business gold. I was shocked. They also charge around $3 to use a credit card, Who does that?
This is a special and will cost more points after 6/17/13
As for the ticket, I used my Sapphire preferred card, because I (correctly) assumed that I would be charged a foreign transaction fee.
Another option:
Dusseldorf, germany to NYC on airberlin with american aadvantage miles
direct non stop
30,000 miles +$101.60
Dusseldorf, germany to NYC on airberlin with american aadvantage miles
direct non stop
30,000 miles +$101.60
But my knowledge is limited and therefore i'm looking for other options. And I appreciate your help!
^I am trying to do my own research as well, so that you don't feel I'm asking you all to do the work.
Jun 19, 2013 | 10:37 am
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: In CT,left my heart in Leicester.
Programs: Work in progress.
Posts: 1,237
Jun 19, 2013 | 1:02 pm
#28
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: AA, SPG, HERTZ, BA, UA, CO, JB
Posts: 290
Jun 19, 2013 | 2:42 pm
#29
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
AVIOs can be gained via a Chase BA card used to fund bank deposits so they are just not a scarce commodity. If planning to use AVIOS for residency interviews you may find the dates too restricted. Go Option 1.
To be honest, I'm now seriously confused between the two methods.
Here are the pros and cons.
BOS-DUB-BOS
Pros.
-Fly Business class for cheap.
-Get extra baggage allowance (Important to me)
Cons.
-Have to travel from Hartford to Boston.
-Time wasted (a few hours) for flight to EMA
-Cost of travel from DUB to Leicester (on a tight budget)
-Repeat inconvenient process in reverse on the way back.
-Was planning on saving avios for short trips across USA for residency interviews.
Total travel cost: 25k or 50k + roughly 350 ($530) expenses to and from Leicester.(surchages+flight to/from East Midlands+transportation to/from Leicester) + expenditure in getting from Hartford to Logan Airport (Boston) which would be roughly another $100.
________________________________________________
BDL-EWR-LHR-EWR-BDL
Pros.
-Fly directly from BDL.
-Less time wasted.
-Convenient travelling to and from Leicester
-Saves on my Avios.
Cons.
-Will have to travel economy to save on UA miles.
-Even economy costs more than Avios Business class.
-Will have to spend 100k to travel in Business class.
-Poor Business class availability.
-If travelling in coach, will have to sacrifice luggage allowance.
Total travel cost : 60k or 100k + roughly 300 ($460) in expenses (surcharges+travel to and from Leicester.)
Here are the pros and cons.
BOS-DUB-BOS
Pros.
-Fly Business class for cheap.
-Get extra baggage allowance (Important to me)
Cons.
-Have to travel from Hartford to Boston.
-Time wasted (a few hours) for flight to EMA
-Cost of travel from DUB to Leicester (on a tight budget)
-Repeat inconvenient process in reverse on the way back.
-Was planning on saving avios for short trips across USA for residency interviews.
Total travel cost: 25k or 50k + roughly 350 ($530) expenses to and from Leicester.(surchages+flight to/from East Midlands+transportation to/from Leicester) + expenditure in getting from Hartford to Logan Airport (Boston) which would be roughly another $100.
________________________________________________
BDL-EWR-LHR-EWR-BDL
Pros.
-Fly directly from BDL.
-Less time wasted.
-Convenient travelling to and from Leicester
-Saves on my Avios.
Cons.
-Will have to travel economy to save on UA miles.
-Even economy costs more than Avios Business class.
-Will have to spend 100k to travel in Business class.
-Poor Business class availability.
-If travelling in coach, will have to sacrifice luggage allowance.
Total travel cost : 60k or 100k + roughly 300 ($460) in expenses (surcharges+travel to and from Leicester.)
Jun 19, 2013 | 5:07 pm
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: In CT,left my heart in Leicester.
Programs: Work in progress.
Posts: 1,237
Now I'm trying to figure out a return that doesn't have a huge surcharge.
As for Avios being too restrictive, I never thought of that. But I figure, with all my points, I'll just fly a day or two earlier depending on availability.
I've no idea how early I'll know the interview date..and I still have a year before that happens, so I'll have UR points by then as well.