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Flying to US (for yosemite)

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Ok folks, I've flown long haul with BA and KLM before and both were ok. US Airlines is coming up a little cheaper for getting to Oakland or San Francisco.

Anyone flown with them before? Any real difference?
In reply to Fultonius:

Ooooohh they're horrible. But to be fair they're all pretty horrible. US Airlines is more likely to be late and the staff are likely to be marginally more rude. But cheap is cheap. I'll probably end up flying with them in June for that very reason. =[
 Trangia 06 Mar 2013
In reply to Fultonius:

Have you tried Virgin? I've found they are by far the best experience to SF
In reply to Fultonius:

Got stuck at a US airport a couple of years ago, quite a significant number of the *american* passengers didn't rate any of the 4 US carriers. Given that Americans are very patriotic, that's saying something. The impression I got was that they were in such cut-throat competition with each other that they were heading the way of Ryan Air.

I flew with both United and Delta BTW.

ALC
 Styx 06 Mar 2013
I fly to the east coast regularly with US Airways, they're alright, not amazing but I've never had a single problem or cause for complaint either.
In reply to Styx: Well, it's only £70 more for BA and it's 1 less connection so I'm erring on that side just now...

Anyone know what the baggage allowance is like on US?
 Enty 06 Mar 2013
In reply to Fultonius:

There was a good thread on this recently but I can't find it

My thoughts are:

AA are (were) bobbins. We flew with then in 2010 from Manchester to San Fran via Chicago. I think we paid about 450 but it was like being on an Easyjet flight but for 8 hours not one hour. They were strict with baggage and the drinks on the flight were like 4$.

In 2011 I decided to go with Virgin direct from Heathrow to San Fran, no changes and it was like a different world. I paid just over 600 quid and it was awesome. Free drinks, choc ices and almost 80kilos of luggage for just an extra 32 quid.
Highly recommended.

E
In reply to Fultonius:

I've flown recently with Delta, United and AA. The plains can be little old and tatty, but have had good expirence. It's only a few hours anyway. Just take an Ipod and go to sleep!
 Banned User 77 06 Mar 2013
In reply to Styx: I fly US airways a lot.. philly whch will probably be the hub has a bad rep for losing bags.. as an airline they aren't great..
 Enty 06 Mar 2013
In reply to Fultonius:
>
>
> Anyone know what the baggage allowance is like on US?

Here's how I did the baggage on Virgin;

1 x 23kg free
1 x 23kg free as sports allowance
1 x 23kg extra bag £32 per flight
1 x 6kg hand baggage (actually had 10kg in there but they didn't weigh it)

E

 IPPurewater 06 Mar 2013
In reply to Fultonius: From memory I think two peices (bags) and 32Kg, but you'd be best to check that on BA.Com. Depends to some extent on which class and subclass you purchase your ticket for.

Ian
 Styx 06 Mar 2013
In reply to IainRUK:
> (In reply to Styx) I fly US airways a lot.. philly whch will probably be the hub has a bad rep for losing bags.. as an airline they aren't great..

I've flown via Philly onwards more than 10 times in the last 12 months, not one lost bag, or any in the preceding 3-4 years. Maybe they just don't like you?
 Styx 06 Mar 2013
In reply to Fultonius:
> (In reply to Styx) Well, it's only £70 more for BA and it's 1 less connection so I'm erring on that side just now...
>
> Anyone know what the baggage allowance is like on US?

First 50lb bag is free, the second is $100, 3rd is $200. They aren't picky about how much your carry on weighs, just so long as it'll physically fit in the lockers.
 Banned User 77 06 Mar 2013
In reply to Styx:
> (In reply to IainRUK)
> [...]
>
> I've flown via Philly onwards more than 10 times in the last 12 months, not one lost bag, or any in the preceding 3-4 years. Maybe they just don't like you?

I've lost it twice.. and stayed there unintentionally once and another time was re-routed.. I've been in the US every month for well over 2 yearsso % wise not too bad.. I still use them but unless a long trip just take hand luggage.
We're going from Glasgow, so Virgin need a stopover and are more again. £800+
 Styx 06 Mar 2013
In reply to IainRUK:
> (In reply to Styx)
> [...]
>
> I've lost it twice.. and stayed there unintentionally once and another time was re-routed.. I've been in the US every month for well over 2 yearsso % wise not too bad.. I still use them but unless a long trip just take hand luggage.

Ouch. It has to be said, internal flights in the US are a bit of a shambles compared to internationals. I suppose the best thing I can compare it to is the train system in this country.
geomac 22 Mar 2013
In reply to Fultonius:

Since its the US I'll give you my two cents worth -

I've flown to SF for Yosemite twice with Virgin. I never paid more than £500 return. Also, I put my haul bag and other assorted bits into a large snowboard/ski bag I use for ski touring expeditions and Virgin buy this as 'sports equipment' unlike many other airlines. I never paid a penny of excess baggage in either direction. I had 23Kgs in my main bag and the rest including the ledge in the 'sports bag'. They asked about it and I said it was a specialist bit of rock climbing kit, which it is. Worked a treat.
I like Virgin and think the experience is better on long haul.
 oliwarlow 23 Mar 2013
In reply to geomac:

What might be interesting is when Virgin start there domestic service http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21625591
might mean that you could pick up a proper connection via london (currently virgin uk connections are crazy expensive) for not much more than a london flight.
 SteveSBlake 24 Mar 2013
In reply to Fultonius:

We fly out in August and chose BA as we can stay in their system from Newcastle - Very little difference in overall cost, given we have to fly from Newcastle etc.

I've flown US carriers in the past, didn't compare with either BA or Virgin.

Note there are extra bag charges with BA, if you fly economy.

Eventually when your brain is fried by the options either will do......

Have a great trip,

Steve
 DaveHK 24 Mar 2013
In reply to Fultonius:

Check and double check the baggage allowance with US carriers. Either that or make sure you have some vaseline with you at check-in.
 Fredt 24 Mar 2013
In reply to Fultonius:

Never,

ever,

fly with,


Air France.

Ever.
 RichardP 24 Mar 2013
In reply to Fultonius:
> Ok folks, I've flown long haul with BA and KLM before and both were ok. US Airlines is coming up a little cheaper for getting to Oakland or San Francisco.
>
I went ther in 1997,
Back then the luggage allowance was better with a US carrier.
We has an hour stopover in Dallas and changed planes.
On the second flight the only spare set was between my mate and I ( the transfer checking staff had seen we had just flown in from the UK)
We flew into LAX collected a hire car and drove upto the Valley.
We bivied inside the park and drove upto the village the following morning.
After checking into Sunnyside (better know as Camp 4) I drove out of the valley and droped the hire car off at the closest town with that the car hire company had an office and a transfer bus back to the valley

That's how we got there

Richard


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