European flights

[Geoff]

I chose to fly from EWR, since Boston was at least 100 higher and/or required connections.

If you live in Southern New Hampshire, it will cost you far more than $100 to get to JFK or EWR plus an awful lot of pain & suffering. Logan at 9pm when all those European flights go out is usually pretty civilized.

I go back and forth often enough in a coach seat that I always take the American or British Airways day flight to London-Heathrow. I avoid needing to sleep in an airplane. With the express train to Paddington, it's really easy to get into the city, checked into a nearby hotel, and fed & beered so you can wake up the next morning in the correct time zone and continue on your way. Those overnight flights in coach are awful. I could handle it when I was in my 20's but there's no point in doing that to my body now.

 

[hammer]

I did exactly what you said and looked at JFK first. Didn't think of Newark. Prices to go out of JFK weren't a whole lot different than BOS.

Something new thrown into the mix. Her travel companion's dad is a FF on United. If I want Nicole to fly with a friend, I may have to pay an extra hundred bucks for her to fly United/Lufthansa vs. Swiss International.

It's never as easy as it could be.

If they are flying Lufthansa maybe they could go direct to Frankfurt and take the train together from there... :idea:

 

[wa-loaf]

That's cheap. Unfortunately, I have to visit during the peak seasons.

I also booked through the company travel agency so I'm sure there's some sort of discount for being heavy users. Our analysts are constantly traveling.

 

[hammer]

That's cheap. Unfortunately, I have to visit during the peak seasons.

Airfares can be a lot different depending on the time of the year...

When I went to Frankfurt on a semi-regular basis, I could get direct flights round trip for about $400-$500 in the late fall and winter. In the summer peak season a fare of $1500 for a flight with a connection was considered to be pretty good.

 

[WakeboardMom]

If they are flying Lufthansa maybe they could go direct to Frankfurt and take the train together from there... :idea:

It would have to be very cheap for me to consider doing that. I think it's a lot to ask of two nineteen-year-old relatively novice female travellers with luggage enough to hold a semester's worth of stuff each...

 

[hammer]

It would have to be very cheap for me to consider doing that. I think it's a lot to ask of two nineteen-year-old relatively novice female travellers with luggage enough to hold a semester's worth of stuff each...

I know...forgot the :wink:...

 

[WakeboardMom]

I know...forgot the :wink:...

Gotcha. Thanks. : )

(The other girl's dad was looking at flights to Rome. I said the same to him. ; )

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

i use an agent as if there is an issue/flight delays/problems, a call to your agent can fix things alot faster/easier than if you are on your own....they can get things done, doesnt cost anymore and you have some assurance....even if you have an issue thats not with the airlines, they can help you out....i also use American Express Land and Sea Travel, they are fantasic as well...

 

[ctenidae]

Watched "A Week in teh Life of American Airlines" last night- apparently, prices can move pretty dramatically thorughout the day, so maybe keep checking. On one flight they analyzed, fares ranged from less than $50 to over $800 for a flight from Chicago to Dallas.

 

[Geoff]

It would have to be very cheap for me to consider doing that. I think it's a lot to ask of two nineteen-year-old relatively novice female travellers with luggage enough to hold a semester's worth of stuff each...

I've done a huge amount of travel in Europe. The Frankfurt to Florence Intercity is a very expensive train ride compared to booking the Lufthansa connection into Florence as part of her Boston flight. It's also close to 12 hours with a change in Milan. Why would anyone want to do that to themselves? If you are flying into Rome and can score a cheap Boston/Rome flight, the economics work a little better but you still have the hassle of the train from Fiumicino to Roma Termini where you have to change trains. I imagine your daughter would be pulling two 45 pound wheeled bags with a day pack on her back. Fly to Florence.