Please help with award routing to Croatia
 

Trying to figure out the best AWARD routing to Croatia. Preferably to Zagreb, but other cities OK too - or in to Zagerb and out from Dubrovnik. Also would prefer First in a 777 overseas.

I know we can fly DFW - MAD. Did I read somewhere that the use of a 777 on this route is seasonal?

The best connection is to IB since they have a direct flight, but it appears to be seasonal, which limits our travels to July - mid Sept. If we wanted to travel in May - do we have any other options besides Malev - which would require flights to Budapest and possibly a very long layover?

Would I be better getting a flight to/from LA-LHR and then paying for an Easyjet ticket on my own?

Is there a oneworld Carrier that has better options?

BA fly from LGW to Dubrovnik. Appears to be year round, but not daily in Winter. Getting from LHR-LGW is a bit of a pain, but it can be done.

IB flies from MAD to both ZAG and DBV but they are both seasonal destinations. You can try BA into DBV but that service operates from LGW. If you want to get creative there are also IB flights from DBV to VLC and BIO during the summer. The only other partner flight into ZAG is MA from BUD, as you already mentioned.

My suggestion, since this is an AAward, is to try for LAX-JFK-BDA on AA, then BDA-LGW-DBV on BA. No messy London airport transfer, superior BA product across the Atlantic, and a free stopover in Bermuda if you want it :D

an alternative idea
 

have you thought of flying into Bari (BRI) which has a direct route from Madrid (and also from LGW with BA.)

You can then catch the ferry direct across to dubrovnik, its about 7 hours i think - but could be quite a relaxing way to start a holiday :)

this is the main company:
http://www.jadrolinija.hr/default.aspx?lang=2

but i think there are a couple of others.

i don't think you will have much jioy with low cost arilines to that area out of heathrow, you'll end up going to luton / stansted. LHR to LGW does not have to be a nightmare. just make sure you leave plenty of time and don't do it 8am or 5pm. the coach will drop you terminal to terminal pretty much!

You might want to consider trading with someone who has star alliance miles.

Croatia Airlines (OU) is part of * alliance and it's much easier to find award seats to and from Croatia. I went to Split, Croatia last year. Originally I was going to use my AA miles, but given I can't redeem on BA across the pond, doing the LHR/LGW transfer is complicated, and too many stops going through BUD on Malev, I gave up using AA points! I toped up my US account and redeemed YVR-YYZ-ZRH-SPU/SPU-FRA-SFO.

A little bit OT but you most certainly can use your AA miles on nonstop BA flights across the pond from Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean. My suggestion to the OP involves a BA flight from Bermuda.

Good idea about the *A miles though, definitely something to consider.

Croatia
 

I fly to Croatia several times during the year to mainly Split.

My main options are:
Fly in to Frankfurt from DFW and connect with Malev through BUD. Layover in BUD is less than an hour before continuing on to Split. The downside with this routing is that the return options require an overnight stay in either BUD or FRA given that the SPU departure is later in the day, thus preventing me from making any transatlantic flights the same day. This July, my return leg is departing from Split on EasyJet to Rome connecting on a 1PM BA flight to LHR.

During the winter, I generally fly in to London and take EasyJet from Stansted/Gatwick.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that BA returns to ZAG or SPU.