LNv22 From Norway, joined Mar 2008, 95 posts, RR: 0 Posted (2 months 2 weeks 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 2049 times:
Hi,
I'm living in Oslo, Norway and planning a trip to New York, 01.01.2009.
Return flight will be some day around 22.01.2009, but I'm not sure if it will be from New York or Los Angeles.
It's my first transcontinental flight, and I'm looking for some help selecting the carrier / airline after these references:
1. I've never traveled on a 747, 777 or A340 before, so those are aircrafts I prefer for the trip.
2. I'm going in economy class.
3. Good IFE.
4. Comfort.
5. Service and food.
6. Price is a priority.
7. As the aircrafts I prefer for the trip doesn't operate from Oslo, I'm thinking of going from a bigger European airport, e.g. London (all), Amsterdam, Frankfurt etc..
This is what I have so far:
1. Many prefer Continental from Oslo to New York as they go non stop, but that's with a 757 and does not apply with my preferred aircrafts
2. British Airways, 01.01.09 - 22.01.09 return trip London - New York.
With this it looks like I can get a 777 one way and a 747 for the return, and it's a very good price, just under £300.
3. Virgin Atlantic, 01.01.09 - 22.01.09 return trip London - New York.
Looks like this is with an A340-600 both ways.
Same price as BA, just under £300.
After my preferences what do you people recommend ?
Other interesting carriers that would make the trip more exiting?
Thank you all for your help! I'm very grateful
[Edited 2008-09-03 02:11:46]
We have clearance, Clarence. Roger, Roger. What's our vector, Victor?
B777Neuss From Germany, joined Aug 2007, 116 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (2 months 2 weeks 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 1994 times:
I don't know the difference in price, but with LH via FRA you could fly A333, A346 or B747. The Airbus are equipped with IFE also in economy, the B747 isn't. But connection in FRA may be a bit exhausting.
HT From Germany, joined May 2005, 4435 posts, RR: 20 Reply 2, posted (2 months 2 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 1978 times:
Quoting LNv22 (Thread starter): 2. British Airways, 01.01.09 - 22.01.09 return trip London - New York.
With this it looks like I can get a 777 one way and a 747 for the return, and it's a very good price, just under £300.
3. Virgin Atlantic, 01.01.09 - 22.01.09 return trip London - New York.
Looks like this is with an A340-600 both ways.
Same price as BA, just under £300.
These fares are ex London only ? So you will have to pay extra to get from OSL (or TRF/RYG) to LON ?! Taxes & surcharges are included, as the make up quite some portion of the overall fare.
Might be cheaper to look into fares ex OSL with a connection somewhere rather than 2 flights. This will also save you the hassle of a new check-in.
Quoting LNv22 (Thread starter): trip to New York, 01.01.2009.
Return flight will be some day around 22.01.2009, but I'm not sure if it will be from New York or Los Angeles.
Returning out of LAX will increase the overall costs quite a bit and restricts the airlines to choose from. With an open-jaw NYC/LAX you have:
- BA via LHR
- VS from LHR, but with feed from whom ? SK ?
- KL via AMS. Likely a B777 outbound, but a B747M return with not so great personal IFE.
- AF via CDG
- LH via FRA / MUC , possibly in combination with LX via ZRH.
Look into fares and check a/c usage on amadeus.net.
Regarding the IFE etc., I assume you are acquainted with seatguru.com ?
I haven't used any of the above in Y longhaul recently so I cannot make a recommendation.
-HT
Carpe diem ! Life is too short to waste your time ...
LHR27C From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2004, 1061 posts, RR: 16 Reply 3, posted (2 months 2 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 1978 times:
Quoting LNv22 (Thread starter):
2. British Airways, 01.01.09 - 22.01.09 return trip London - New York.
With this it looks like I can get a 777 one way and a 747 for the return, and it's a very good price, just under £300.
I would recommend doing this as you can then get a very easy connection through Terminal 5 direct from OSL. T5 is a great terminal, makes the rest of LHR look like a different country, and I think you'd enjoy the BA service. Food is pretty good in WT and the IFE would be AVOD on the 744 and possibly AVOD or not on the 777. My first trip Europe to USA was on BA, 744 outbound 777 back and they were some of my most memorable longhaul flights to date.
Once you have tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned forever skyward
Ansett767 From Australia, joined May 1999, 982 posts, RR: 2 Reply 6, posted (2 months 2 weeks 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 1929 times:
I would take Virgin but it's a close call between the two - the fun atmosphere and the nice flight attendants do it for me over BA.
But like someone else said, can you get a good deal from Oslo to connect as it will save having to leave a 3 or 4 hour connection in roder so you don't miss your connection having to claim baggage and re-check it.
I had a quick look and found Northwest flights from LHR to NYC for $348 (heaps cheaper than the rest) on travelocity.com - however this doesn't use the aircraft you want to but allows you to arrive into La Guardia which is lots closer to downtown NY.
I tried looking at Air India as I know they fly the 777 on that route - used to be 744 - nothing came up - maybe they haven't released seats yet but it seems odd - but usually a good and cheap option on this route!
Oslo (OSL)
Depart 5:10 pm to London (LHR) Arrive 6:30 pm
Terminal 3 1,186 km (737 mi)
Duration: 2hr 20min
SK Flight: 811
Operated by: SAS NORWAY
Economy/Coach Class, Meal, Boeing 737-800
London (LHR) Depart 8:00 pm Terminal 3 to New York (JFK) Arrive 11:05 pm
Terminal 8 5,565 km (3,458 mi)
Duration: 8hr 5min
AA Flight: 141
Economy/Coach Class, Boeing 777
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
BTW, for that price I'd choose BA over VS just for the chance of connecting out of the new LHR T5. With NYC and LAX there is a big chance you do a 744 on both legs (at least on LAX is guaranteed).
MHG From Germany, joined Dec 2004, 258 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (2 months 2 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1787 times:
I have another 2 options for you:
1) Brussels - EWR+JFK on Jet Airways using B 777-300ER
2) Frankfurt - JFK on Singapore Airlines using B 747-400
At least regarding SQ i know they frequently offer great deals. just check on their website where you can even choose the fare depending on whether you collect miles or not !
Next to this SQ is the first transat flight out of FRA every day which means you´ll arrive at JFK quite ahead of most european flights - that´ll save you quite some time through immigration ...
Just how to get to FRA from OSL in time to catch the SQ flight is another question.
If the overall travel time is no big issue you may either fly on a LCC to Cologne (CGN) and get a high speed train to FRA (total travel time CGN-FRA is about 1h) or fly on Ryanair to HHN and shuttle by bus to FRA (i would avoid it since you´ll need at least 5hrs between arrival at HHN and departure from FRA to be on the safe side)
But still you may check SK or LH on OSL-FRA vv. since at least SK offers reasonable fares if booked EARLY...(and you may check-through your luggage as all involved airlines are star)
CastropRauxel From Israel, joined Sep 2008, 299 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (2 months 2 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1785 times:
Quoting MHG (Reply 9): Frankfurt - JFK on Singapore Airlines using B 747-400
I think that would be a great choice and the price would be good on that SQ route - but I don't think SQ have fares originating in OSL for flights to JFK, so they won't get you to FRA to begin with. and as their departure is very early, that would mean a night in FRA on top of the seperate flight OSL-FRA...
I would suggest BA - as the prices and services are good, though personally I would really like to try the 9W product out of BRU. they will also connect you there with SN out of OSL.
MHG From Germany, joined Dec 2004, 258 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (2 months 2 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 1778 times:
I just checked out FRA-JFK-FRA with SQ
dep.1.1.2009 rt 22.1.2009:
The lowest fare being 419,87 EUR rt incl. tax ! (~339,-GBP) which leaves the OSL-FRA distance still to be covered. You´ll hardly get an OSL-FRA rt for 75,-EUR but slightly more than that may be possible...
If you depart on dec 30 from OSL and return on the 22nd on SK your total price will be 114,-EUR (long layover upon return) or 141,-EUR (for short layover at FRA on return)
Dep on dec 31 is prohibitive expensive.
LH would be 118,-EUR rt all tax incl. dep 31.12. and rt on 22.01.09 (schedule wise better choice!)
LH through fare OSL-FRA-JFK-DUS-OSL would be 540,-EUR all incl.(OSL-FRA A 320 / FRA-JFK B744 / JFK-DUS A 343 / DUS-OSL CRJ 200)
Be aware !!!
The mentioned price of 540,-EUR is a throughfare OSL-JFK and back where all other options mentioned in the forum require you to buy additional tickets to get to the "hub".
Next to this there´s no hassle with luggage as it´s checked through and if things go wrong (e.g. delayed flight) you´ll be taken care of professionally (LH doesn´t have a certain reputation accidently)
Still the SQ/LH combi is possible at exactly the same price albeit with 2 separate tickets but less favourable itinerary on the outbound due to early dep of SQ from FRA
LNv22 From Norway, joined Mar 2008, 95 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (2 months 2 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 1722 times:
Ok - Deal closed!
I booked with BA, and this is what I ended up with:
Flight number: BA0763
From: Oslo
To: Heathrow (London) Terminal 5
Depart: 29 Dec 2008 11:30
Arrive: 29 Dec 2008 13:05
Class: Euro Traveller
Flight number: BA0179
From: Heathrow (London) Terminal 5
To: John F Kennedy (New York)
Depart: 29 Dec 2008 18:00
Arrive: 29 Dec 2008 20:45
Class: World Traveller
Flight number: BA0176
From: John F Kennedy (New York) Terminal 7
To: Heathrow (London)
Depart: 26 Jan 2009 19:45
Arrive: 27 Jan 2009 07:50
Class: World Traveller
Flight number: BA0766
From: Heathrow (London) Terminal 5
To: Oslo
Depart: 27 Jan 2009 13:00
Arrive: 27 Jan 2009 16:15
Class: Euro Traveller
When I booked, BA0179 was listed as a 777, and BA0176 as a 747. I hope I can count on that it stays like this?! (and, does anyone know whether this is the RR or GE powered aircraft?)
I also hope the 777 is fitted with the new/updated AVOD IFE BA is installing to they'r 777 fleet. If anyone have any updated information on this, please tell!
Now it's time to book flights from NYC - SFO/OAK, and MIA - NYC
Thanks again for all the useful feedback!
We have clearance, Clarence. Roger, Roger. What's our vector, Victor?
Well done! I'm sure you'll enjoy it, be sure to post a TR.
Quoting LNv22 (Reply 14): I hope I can count on that it stays like this?
Should do.
Quoting LNv22 (Reply 14): does anyone know whether this is the RR or GE powered aircraft?
For East Coast US, more likely to be GE, but not set in stone, I've had an RR-powered BA 777 out of IAD in the past.
Quoting LNv22 (Reply 14):
I also hope the 777 is fitted with the new/updated AVOD IFE BA is installing to they'r 777 fleet. If anyone have any updated information on this, please tell!
To be honest, the chances will probably be a little under 50% when you fly... however when they did the 744s, as soon as they had enough to run on all the JFK routes they made sure that happened and marketed it as guaranteed to JFK. So they might be keen to do the same with the 777, especially as theoretically they'd only need one aircraft to guarantee it since the 777 does JFK no more than once daily.
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