Which Airline Would You Choose?
11-23-2007, 08:19 AM
#1
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Which Airline Would You Choose?
Dear APC,
Something came up yesterday that we have to go to Spain next week. I checked airfares and they are incredibly reasonable. The question I have now is which airline to take. These are my options:
Delta – cheapest, have to stop in ATL on the way over and JFK on the way back, arrive in MAD at 9:00 am, return to SEA at 8:30 pm. Only 1 hour at JFK to go through customs and all that. I am not sure that is enough time; I really don’t want a heartburn. All four flights are pretty empty, though. DAL is practically flying an empty 767 to MAD.
NWA – next cheapest, good connections to AMS going, but have to leave MAD at 5:50 am coming back. I’ve done that before and it’s hard to get to the airport so early in the morning. Trust me on that. We are at AMS for 4+ hours on the way back and I would dearly love to visit Anne Frank's chestnut tree, if there is time.
SAS – third cheapest, leaves SEA in the early evening for CPH and we don’t leave MAD until 11:05 am on the way back. However, the stop at CPH is only 1 hour and some minutes and again, I’ve done that before and came close to missing the SEA flight home. Flight is pretty full and usually full of beer-drinking skiers and grumpy businessmen with hairs in their nose.
So what is a girl to do!?!
Something came up yesterday that we have to go to Spain next week. I checked airfares and they are incredibly reasonable. The question I have now is which airline to take. These are my options:
Delta – cheapest, have to stop in ATL on the way over and JFK on the way back, arrive in MAD at 9:00 am, return to SEA at 8:30 pm. Only 1 hour at JFK to go through customs and all that. I am not sure that is enough time; I really don’t want a heartburn. All four flights are pretty empty, though. DAL is practically flying an empty 767 to MAD.
NWA – next cheapest, good connections to AMS going, but have to leave MAD at 5:50 am coming back. I’ve done that before and it’s hard to get to the airport so early in the morning. Trust me on that. We are at AMS for 4+ hours on the way back and I would dearly love to visit Anne Frank's chestnut tree, if there is time.
SAS – third cheapest, leaves SEA in the early evening for CPH and we don’t leave MAD until 11:05 am on the way back. However, the stop at CPH is only 1 hour and some minutes and again, I’ve done that before and came close to missing the SEA flight home. Flight is pretty full and usually full of beer-drinking skiers and grumpy businessmen with hairs in their nose.
So what is a girl to do!?!
11-23-2007, 08:26 AM
#3
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Joined APC: May 2006
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Are you hijacking my thread? 
If we could bump my husband somehow, you and I can go eat paella to our heart's delight!
Anyway, we should be careful in case they make us take this conversation to PM. [Lighten up, guys, we are in the bizarre and interesting section of the boards!]
If we could bump my husband somehow, you and I can go eat paella to our heart's delight!
Anyway, we should be careful in case they make us take this conversation to PM. [Lighten up, guys, we are in the bizarre and interesting section of the boards!]
11-23-2007, 08:42 AM
#5
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Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: 767 FO
Posts: 857
You will miss your connection in JFK. No, trust me, you will.
I have 100K delta international FF miles and I am very pleased with them, but you need 2 hours minimum to clear customs coming home, unless you are going through ORD then you need 4 hours.
Based on your schedule I'd go for the NWA flight.
I can't believe you can't find an Iberia flight between MAD and ORD and with an American connection to and from SEA.
I have 100K delta international FF miles and I am very pleased with them, but you need 2 hours minimum to clear customs coming home, unless you are going through ORD then you need 4 hours.
Based on your schedule I'd go for the NWA flight.
I can't believe you can't find an Iberia flight between MAD and ORD and with an American connection to and from SEA.
11-23-2007, 09:24 AM
#7
New boss = Old boss
Joined APC: Mar 2005
Position: Ca B737
Posts: 2,762
SAS all the way. CPH is a great airport. The connection sounds tight though. If you have to spend the night CPH will be a good option.
Delta is fine if you don't go through JFK. Miss you connection there and you are in for one sucky night looking for a hotel.
NWA is OK. AMS is another great city to be stuck in. I would not want to leave at 5 am though. Ugh.
SAS flies the A340 on that leg. It is a beautiful, new aircraft for that flight. Talk your way in to business class if you can. You won't regret it.
Have fun over there!
Delta is fine if you don't go through JFK. Miss you connection there and you are in for one sucky night looking for a hotel.
NWA is OK. AMS is another great city to be stuck in. I would not want to leave at 5 am though. Ugh.
SAS flies the A340 on that leg. It is a beautiful, new aircraft for that flight. Talk your way in to business class if you can. You won't regret it.
Have fun over there!
11-23-2007, 10:23 AM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: 767 FO
Posts: 857
Sure, for terrible seat pitch, horrible movies, having your window seat replaced by a back row middle of the middle seat for no reason, no suduko puzzle in the magazine and bouncing sidways landings in the eurobus. The free wine isn't good enough to justify the flight.
Three words for the best international coach exerience... United Economy Plus. (Until Delta gets their new entertainment system in all its aircraft then I'll take the the two bazillion movies and eight gagillion songs over the extra few inches of leg room.)
Three words for the best international coach exerience... United Economy Plus. (Until Delta gets their new entertainment system in all its aircraft then I'll take the the two bazillion movies and eight gagillion songs over the extra few inches of leg room.)
11-23-2007, 01:29 PM
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: E190
Posts: 103
Are you using Orbitz or all those other web based fare finders?
Go offline of these web sites and get to Amsterdam, Dublin, or London.
Take the cheapest fare to the EU then pick up Vueling, Easy Jet, or Ryan. Most flights are 30 Euro or less. You will need to book time between connections and you will have to check your bags but the fare combo can be drastic.
Go offline of these web sites and get to Amsterdam, Dublin, or London.
Take the cheapest fare to the EU then pick up Vueling, Easy Jet, or Ryan. Most flights are 30 Euro or less. You will need to book time between connections and you will have to check your bags but the fare combo can be drastic.
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