<p>I am going to purchase my tickets this weekend for my daughter’s wedding in London in July - I don’t even have a passport yet but I want to get the tickets. I’m flying from west coast to London - is Heathrow preferred? Unfortunately only two airlines service my airport - United and US Air - but if I drive farther I can find other airlines. Is there really any big difference in airlines? Also is it better to book a straight shot from SFO or LAX, after connecting from my home airport, to Heathrow (12 hour flight) or is it more comfortable to stop somewhere and walk around for a bit - while taking the risk of travel delays?</p>
<p>Thanks for your help - it’s a huge purchase for me and I haven’t flown overseas since I was a kid.</p>
<p>I always try to fly stop if at all possible, just to avoid the potential for delays or missed planes. These days planes are so full that if you miss a connection you may not be able to get where you are going for several days. Most flights into London go into Heathrow, which has a connection via the Picadilly tube line into London (or a very expensive cab ride). The other main choice would be Gatwick, which is farther from central London, but does have a train connection to the city (Gatwick Express).</p>
<p>If I were in your shoes I’d pick the most reasonably priced non-stop flight from the west coast to London, whether it went in to Heathrow or Gatwick (though I’d bet that 80+% of the non-stops from the west coast fly into Heathrow).</p>
This depends on your time constraints and your budget. Typically, a non-stop flight (i.e. a straight shot) will cost more than an itinerary w connecting flights-- you pay a premium for non-stop convenience. 12 hours in cattle class is painful, but I do it several times a year in the back, so I know you’ll survive. A neck pillow helps a lot.</p>
<p>If you book a connecting flight, it will be cheaper and you will have more airlines to choose from. Check fares on Expedia or Travelocity, then book DIRECTLY with the airline. This will save you a lot of heartburn if there are any changes or hiccups. Same advice for booking hotel & rental car. Shop price on third party website, then book DIRECTLY with the hotel or car rental company.</p>
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Yes, if you are flying int’l business class. Delta’s int’l fleet is entirely LAY FLAT BEDS. Much nicer than those Lazyboy recliner-type chairs or those inclined flat seats that make you slide down and get a wedgie.</p>
<p>FYI, July & Aug are peak season for europe travel. A pity your daughter couldn’t schedule a June wedding. July & Aug will cost u big time… Don’t wait til the last min to get a passport. US State Dept gets backlogged w passport applications right before peak summer travel season.</p>
<p>Yes, if your home airport doesn’t have direct nonstop flights to London, then book it from LAX or SFO. Please remember to make sure you have plenty of time to connect your flight at LAX or SFO.
Last month, we had to connect a flight to eastern Europe from ORD and our flight was delayed out of SFO. We made the connecting flight at ORD but our bags did not even though I had allowed 2 hours of transit time at ORD.
If you can afford it and if it’s possible, the less stopovers (direct, nonstop) the better. In our case, we HAD to make a connection.</p>
<p>Nonstops from SFO are about 10 hours, which is better than 12. Since you will probably have lots on your mind during this trip I would avoid the worry of problems with connections and go nonstop from SFO, if I were you.</p>
<p>Thanks for the tips guys - I agree re LAX vs. SFO. The only problem I have is my local airport has more flights to LAX than SFO so sometimes LAX works out better -</p>
<p>I WISH I could afford business class and lay flat. But I think I will check Delta’s website.</p>
<p>You all are the best. Working on that passport right now. Thanks again.</p>
<p>Heathrow is more convenient to London than Gatwick but flights via Gatwick are usually cheaper. If you go to Heathrow, you can book a mini-cab to meet you; it is almost a third of the price when compared to getting a black cab outside the airport (if you don’t want to do the underground). As to direct or not; if it were me, I would do a stopover in New York for a day or two for a mini holiday before taking the next flight to London rather than do a 12 hour non-stop; 12 hours in coach is not for the faint of heart!</p>
<p>Also…I think you are bit early in buying the tickets…if you check Kayak they state with 70% confidence that ticket prices likely to fall within 7 days. This will likely fluctuate for some time but I understand you probably want to have at least one thing organised and settled.</p>
<p>Whether flights to Gatwick or Heathrow are cheaper must depend on where you live in the US. I prefer Gatwick because it is closer to where my brother lives, but the last few times I have flown into Heathrow because the Gatwick flights have been so much more expensive (I’d pay an extra hundred or so for the convenience, but it is usually much more than that) .</p>
<p>If the prices are similar, you may want to take into account which part of London you will be staying in. Transportation from the airports travels through different parts of London and, if you are not springing for a cab, avoiditg multiple train/tube changes with luggage makes life easier. </p>