Itinerary Help - Multi leg IAH-CDG/LHR-IAH
May 16, 2023, 7:26 pm
#1
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Join Date: May 2004
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Itinerary Help - Multi leg IAH-CDG/LHR-IAH
I'm planning a family vacation over Thanksgiving from Houston to Paris - train to London - and then London to Houston. Traveling in Premium Economy.
I realize no one carrier will offer non-stop both ways. My question is on the connecting outbound fly.
Connect through IAD...787 service to CDG
Connect through EWR...787 or 767 service to CDG
Connect through ORD...787 service to CDG
My main concern is weather
TIA
I realize no one carrier will offer non-stop both ways. My question is on the connecting outbound fly.
Connect through IAD...787 service to CDG
Connect through EWR...787 or 767 service to CDG
Connect through ORD...787 service to CDG
My main concern is weather
TIA
May 16, 2023, 7:33 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,639
I'd imagine all 3 hubs will be a mess over the Thanksgiving long weekend. Since you're in Premium Plus and will be in Economy Plus on the domestic leg, I would book whichever connection offers the longest international leg and shortest domestic leg. I believe that would be ORD. Is connecting through FRA or MUC an option?
May 16, 2023, 7:34 pm
#3
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In November, ORD or EWR is likely to have more weather issues than IAD BUT equally important is layover. If IAD connection is significantly shorter then the others, might look elsewhere.
May 16, 2023, 7:45 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2002
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Of the three, IAD is the least prone to bad weather that leads to a disaster.
The next consideration would be seat arrangements. The 787 is 2-3-2 in PE while the 767 is 2-2-2. Not sure the size of your family, but one configuration may be better than the other.
Finally, the noon-ish flights from IAH-EWR/IAD are widebodies. They are less prone to delays/cancellations and a more comfortable ride (though they don’t sell PE seats officially on those legs).
As a curve ball, United will sell you IAH-Frankfurt/Munich-CDG. I prefer the longer flights over the water so that I can rest and be ready on arrival. Those international flights are also very unlikely to be cancelled, even in bad weather.
The next consideration would be seat arrangements. The 787 is 2-3-2 in PE while the 767 is 2-2-2. Not sure the size of your family, but one configuration may be better than the other.
Finally, the noon-ish flights from IAH-EWR/IAD are widebodies. They are less prone to delays/cancellations and a more comfortable ride (though they don’t sell PE seats officially on those legs).
As a curve ball, United will sell you IAH-Frankfurt/Munich-CDG. I prefer the longer flights over the water so that I can rest and be ready on arrival. Those international flights are also very unlikely to be cancelled, even in bad weather.
May 16, 2023, 8:18 pm
#5
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,580
Of the three, IAD is the least prone to bad weather that leads to a disaster.
The next consideration would be seat arrangements. The 787 is 2-3-2 in PE while the 767 is 2-2-2. Not sure the size of your family, but one configuration may be better than the other.
Finally, the noon-ish flights from IAH-EWR/IAD are widebodies. They are less prone to delays/cancellations and a more comfortable ride (though they don’t sell PE seats officially on those legs).
As a curve ball, United will sell you IAH-Frankfurt/Munich-CDG. I prefer the longer flights over the water so that I can rest and be ready on arrival. Those international flights are also very unlikely to be cancelled, even in bad weather.
The next consideration would be seat arrangements. The 787 is 2-3-2 in PE while the 767 is 2-2-2. Not sure the size of your family, but one configuration may be better than the other.
Finally, the noon-ish flights from IAH-EWR/IAD are widebodies. They are less prone to delays/cancellations and a more comfortable ride (though they don’t sell PE seats officially on those legs).
As a curve ball, United will sell you IAH-Frankfurt/Munich-CDG. I prefer the longer flights over the water so that I can rest and be ready on arrival. Those international flights are also very unlikely to be cancelled, even in bad weather.
May 17, 2023, 8:48 am
#9
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I am not in favor of backtracking - e.g. IAH-FRA/MUC-CDG.
I would recommend nonstop IAH-LHR both ways, and then just take the train to Paris.
I would recommend nonstop IAH-LHR both ways, and then just take the train to Paris.
May 17, 2023, 10:07 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2016
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I just did this from DEN. Piccadilly Line to Kings Cross to Eurostar. The only downside to using RT to LHR is if you go higher than coach, there are usually additional taxes.
May 17, 2023, 1:55 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2011
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The UK's "exit tax" which can be very high may figure into your decision on whether to fly out of the UK back to the US or return via somewhere else in Europe that doesn't impose these very high fees on travelers. I've done many a DEN-LHR - Eurostar - CDG-ORD-DEN trip with my family of five and put the saved money towards some fun in Paris
EDIT: Avoid EWR at all costs.
EDIT2: A dummy booking in Premium Economy 11/22 to 12/6 flying into and out of the UK priced at $1589 of which $290 was exit fees. CDG exit fees re about $40
EDIT: Avoid EWR at all costs.
EDIT2: A dummy booking in Premium Economy 11/22 to 12/6 flying into and out of the UK priced at $1589 of which $290 was exit fees. CDG exit fees re about $40
Last edited by limey1K; May 17, 2023 at 2:04 pm
May 17, 2023, 2:08 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2008
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You can also take Thalys from AMS airport to Paris. Perhaps less of a hassle than trekking from LHR into town, and then taking Eurostar. I think it's about 3h from AMS to Paris Gare du Nord. You could do openjaw IAH-AMS / LHR-IAH. Would avoid domestic transfer at all costs.
May 17, 2023, 5:08 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2010
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You can also take Thalys from AMS airport to Paris. Perhaps less of a hassle than trekking from LHR into town, and then taking Eurostar. I think it's about 3h from AMS to Paris Gare du Nord. You could do openjaw IAH-AMS / LHR-IAH. Would avoid domestic transfer at all costs.
Year around service to LHR (x2), FRA, MUC & AMS. That’s it to Europe on UA from IAH. I’ve always thought AMS was an odd choice but maybe I’m missing something. I’ve somewhat frequently found reasonable J fares and/or upgrade space on the AMS route.
May 17, 2023, 5:27 pm
#15
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AMS has historically been related to the KL connections when CO was in ST, and now likely because of energy (O&G) industry.