Flights to London
Apr 13, 2003 | 11:31 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 4
Flights to London
Hi All. I am traveling from New York to London and then Barcelona back to New York. I was curious as to what airline combination to take. My choices are American Airlines (direct flight to london ...on the way home connect in Madrid on Iberia and the home to NY on Iberia as well), British Airways (direct to London...on the way home connect in London on BA and then home to NY on BA), and lastly Virgin Atlantic (direct flight to London...on the way home connect via EasyJet to London and then home to NY on Virgin). THANKS for all your help!
Apr 13, 2003 | 12:01 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: OH
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, Marriot Lifetime Gold
Posts: 10,017
What programmes do you have miles in already? Do you have status on any airlines? What class of service are you flying?
It looks like you are based in NYC. Therefore, I would guess AAdvantage (American Airlines) would be your best bet for miles. But Iberia coach is pretty awful.
You can't earn AAdvantage on transatlantic BA flights.
------------------
http://www.benjaminwagner.com
Great music!
It looks like you are based in NYC. Therefore, I would guess AAdvantage (American Airlines) would be your best bet for miles. But Iberia coach is pretty awful.
You can't earn AAdvantage on transatlantic BA flights.
------------------
http://www.benjaminwagner.com
Great music!
Apr 13, 2003 | 12:06 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 4
Thanks for your help Redhead. I am from NYC and I currently earn the greatest amount of miles in my AAdvantage account and my Delta Skymiles account. Iberia coach is not good? I thought I had heard some good things about it? Also, do you know anything about BA coach? Thanks!
Apr 13, 2003 | 1:34 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Falkirk, Scotland,VS Red, BA Gold, HH Diamond,UK Amex Plat
Programs: Master of the Privy Purse des Muccis
Posts: 19,260
Hi TylerLyn1,
You will not be able to earn AAdvantage miles on BA transatlantic flights ( but you will on BA flights LON-BCN)
You will be able to earn Skymiles on Virgin Atlantic flights.
Regards
TBS
You will not be able to earn AAdvantage miles on BA transatlantic flights ( but you will on BA flights LON-BCN)
You will be able to earn Skymiles on Virgin Atlantic flights.
Regards
TBS
Apr 14, 2003 | 7:50 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: EU rotating
Posts: 2,926
It really depends for what purpose you are trying to choose the carriers. If you want to get to BCN A.S.A.P.then Iberia from the U.S. is the go BUT this airline has a shocking service and comfort history, so it may be very wise to avoid it at all costs.
If I were you, then I'd go after the maximum amount of miles and maximum comfort. My solution would be AY (Finnair). You fly from JFK-HEL and from there onto Spain. AY's trans-Atlantic service is very good and intra-European is great in comparison to SK, for example.
Whatever you choose, just avoid Iberia and as you already have been told, you will not earn any AA miles on BA flights unless they are AY codeshares from Canada.
If I were you, then I'd go after the maximum amount of miles and maximum comfort. My solution would be AY (Finnair). You fly from JFK-HEL and from there onto Spain. AY's trans-Atlantic service is very good and intra-European is great in comparison to SK, for example.
Whatever you choose, just avoid Iberia and as you already have been told, you will not earn any AA miles on BA flights unless they are AY codeshares from Canada.
Apr 14, 2003 | 10:04 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: Sir CT-UK - Streaker pour les autres.
Posts: 6,146
I would reccomend that you do not take the Virgin, easyjet option. Not because of Virgin but the fact that you will have to change airports. The Easyjet flight leave from STN about 1 hours bus ride from LHR. Beacause of this you will have to collect your bags and recheck them in for the connection.
Also this itniery would have to be purchased on two tickets and as easyjet is a low cost airline things can and do get out of shape and you will be on your own.
For this reason I would book it all through BA or AA/IB.
Regards
Also this itniery would have to be purchased on two tickets and as easyjet is a low cost airline things can and do get out of shape and you will be on your own.
For this reason I would book it all through BA or AA/IB.
Regards
Apr 14, 2003 | 6:50 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,337
Think of your travel future. If it is mostly domestic U.S. travel, stick with AA and IB. If you plan to visit Europe often, you might prefer to join BA's program. But be warned that it's only good if you pay for Business class or First.
Alternatively, you can go with United and the Star Alliance, of which Spanair is a member.
Personally I do all of the above, but I fly way too much!
Alternatively, you can go with United and the Star Alliance, of which Spanair is a member.
Personally I do all of the above, but I fly way too much!
Apr 14, 2003 | 8:32 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 4
Thanks for all your help. In terms of miles I have the most accumulated in my AAdvantage account. However, is American/Iberia worth the extra $96 for about 8000 miles? Also, I have hear bad things about Iberia...are they true? I am also having trouble finding info about BA? I will be flying in the regular economy class (world traveler). Thanks!
Apr 15, 2003 | 1:04 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: Sir CT-UK - Streaker pour les autres.
Posts: 6,146
Hi again,
If you colectr miles I would say $96 is worth it for 8k. Also AA will give yiu the largest seat pitch out of any of the options. I wouldn't worry too much about IB as this will only be a short hop in the EU correct?
I can't believe you cant't find any info on BA. There are loads of reports on it on this sight. under FT MILES and reports on airlinequality.com epinions.com etc.
I think you will like BA for the IFE and service but the seat pitch is a lot worse than AA. All food is much of a muchness in coach and not worth being a factor in your choice.
If I had to fly coach then I would take the AA/IB option. Its only a few hours out of your life anyway.
If you colectr miles I would say $96 is worth it for 8k. Also AA will give yiu the largest seat pitch out of any of the options. I wouldn't worry too much about IB as this will only be a short hop in the EU correct?
I can't believe you cant't find any info on BA. There are loads of reports on it on this sight. under FT MILES and reports on airlinequality.com epinions.com etc.
I think you will like BA for the IFE and service but the seat pitch is a lot worse than AA. All food is much of a muchness in coach and not worth being a factor in your choice.
If I had to fly coach then I would take the AA/IB option. Its only a few hours out of your life anyway.
Apr 15, 2003 | 10:30 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Programs: UA Gold MM; AA Gold MM; WN A-List; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold; Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 24,564
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by TylerLyn1:
Thanks for all your help. In terms of miles I have the most accumulated in my AAdvantage account. However, is American/Iberia worth the extra $96 for about 8000 miles? Also, I have hear bad things about Iberia...are they true? I am also having trouble finding info about BA? I will be flying in the regular economy class (world traveler). Thanks!</font>
Thanks for all your help. In terms of miles I have the most accumulated in my AAdvantage account. However, is American/Iberia worth the extra $96 for about 8000 miles? Also, I have hear bad things about Iberia...are they true? I am also having trouble finding info about BA? I will be flying in the regular economy class (world traveler). Thanks!</font>
[This message has been edited by cAAl (edited 04-15-2003).]
Apr 15, 2003 | 10:52 am
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 153
Iberia is nothing short of godd damm awful. AA trans atlantic is pretty bad in coach and so is BA.
However, there are some serious deals to be had right now with the trans atalantic operators and I would look at KLM,( Iceland Air has very good BC across the pond )and also BMI. Both KLM & BMI can get you to Spain as well as part of your travel plans all on the same ticket
However, there are some serious deals to be had right now with the trans atalantic operators and I would look at KLM,( Iceland Air has very good BC across the pond )and also BMI. Both KLM & BMI can get you to Spain as well as part of your travel plans all on the same ticket
Apr 15, 2003 | 1:39 pm
#13
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: Delta PM, United Premier Executive, AirTran Elite, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Gold VIP, Her
Posts: 364
Not sure if you're traveling alone, but Virgin Atlantic just came out with this promotion where your travel companion can fly with you for $1.
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/promotion.view.do?id=622
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/promotion.view.do?id=622
Apr 15, 2003 | 2:26 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 4
Thanks so much for the advice. With the Virgin sale I am saving almost $200 dollars and I will get Skymiles!!! My only question now is how am I going to get from Barcelona to LHR for my flight back home on Virgin? Where should I be looking for the BCN - LHR flight? THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE!
Apr 15, 2003 | 6:05 pm
#15
Original Member, Moderator: Hotel Deals and MilesBuzz
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 14,291
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by TylerLyn1:
Thanks so much for the advice. With the Virgin sale I am saving almost $200 dollars and I will get Skymiles!!!</font>
Thanks so much for the advice. With the Virgin sale I am saving almost $200 dollars and I will get Skymiles!!!</font>
------------------
Addicted to airline miles? Check out: Mileage Workshop --- "You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer." - Frank Zappa (1940-93)