Anything & Everything New York (PART 2) - [please search thread before posting]

phatbear

Lady_S wrote: »

You get to book your seats with Virgin, you don't with BA.

It is horses for courses, I couldn't personally cope with a flight of that length and being in cattle. I am claustrophobic and not the littlest person. Hence, I pay the extra and enjoy the space because of it.

Everyone has different priorities, mine is comfort over price.

Not strictly too, you request your seat, until you have checked in you are not guaranteed the seat you requested with Virgin. There have been plenty of occasion when people have turned up at check in only to find out their "booked seats" have been given to someone else.

Lady_S

True, but 4 flights later I haven't been bumped around yet.

M4RKM

twinkler wrote: »

Thats so weird, fancy us going at the same time.

I was leaning towards just booking them and not checking again until i recieved a mother of all tax bills this morning which has eaten up my 'flight' money.
Guess i shall be using the 3 month rule thus giving me time to save!
Sometimes i wonder why im self employed.

sounds about as bad as my...... erm.. you're only working a 4 day week and we're cutting your wage, thus you have no money to live off, phone call which i got today....


i now have to seriously consider if i can afford to go to NYC in september....

WolfSong2000

Can anyone recommend a nice, cheap hostel in NY? I'm flying in on 3rd June with a friend...I'm staying for one night, but she's staying for 3 and we're looking for somewhere cheap but cheerful. Any suggestions gratefully received!

becky_rtw

markymoo wrote: »

sounds about as bad as my...... erm.. you're only working a 4 day week and we're cutting your wage, thus you have no money to live off, phone call which i got today....


i now have to seriously consider if i can afford to go to NYC in september....

Marky that is seriously sucky big time :mad::mad::mad:

bexxie90

markymoo wrote: »

sounds about as bad as my...... erm.. you're only working a 4 day week and we're cutting your wage, thus you have no money to live off, phone call which i got today....


i now have to seriously consider if i can afford to go to NYC in september....

And me too only I am having 10% cut and having to work 5 days still absolute carp if you ask me.

Take care

jaycat62

jaycat62 wrote: »

Any ideas gratefully received please.

Thanks.

Anyone

Savvy_Sue

jaycat62 wrote: »

After reading the thread, I am unsure whether to book now with an agent, or do it ourselves, if we do, do we risk leaving it 3 months before? We don't want to mess it up being such an important time for us.

I get the impression that most people reading this thread go the DIY route. As for whether you book now or wait, I think markymoo and others have said about all there is to say.

jaycat62 wrote: »

Also has anybody found it makes any difference to fly Friday rather than Saturday? We'd prefer to fly out Friday, but if it's easier or less hectic....

I'd be surprised if it made much difference, but I know nothing for certain. Only someone who's made several flights on both Fridays and Saturdays would be able to answer that, and given that you haven't had an answer from anyone who's done that I'd guess nobody knows. So why not make decisions based on what suits you?

My understanding is that most flights are fairly full, regardless of which day of the week they fly. What holds you up at t'other end is if several flights have landed just before yours, and you can't pre-plan for that.

What you can give some thought to is ease of getting to the airport at this end. When I was planning our trip, I flatly refused to rely on catching the first train of the day, which was the only one which would definitely get us to the airport in time for our flight, but which required several changes. Nor was I prepared to drive that distance on the day of the flight, nor could we fit the whole family plus luggage into our car. So we had a complicated arrangement of two boys catching the train to London while 3 of us drove with the suitcases, an overnight stay with the in-laws, and a civilised drive at the start of the next day, with the same process reversed at the end of our trip. It worked better than I expected, but I wouldn't do it again.

becky_rtw

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I get the impression that most people reading this thread go the DIY route. As for whether you book now or wait, I think markymoo and others have said about all there is to say.

I'd be surprised if it made much difference, but I know nothing for certain. Only someone who's made several flights on both Fridays and Saturdays would be able to answer that, and given that you haven't had an answer from anyone who's done that I'd guess nobody knows. So why not make decisions based on what suits you?

My understanding is that most flights are fairly full, regardless of which day of the week they fly. What holds you up at t'other end is if several flights have landed just before yours, and you can't pre-plan for that.

What you can give some thought to is ease of getting to the airport at this end. When I was planning our trip, I flatly refused to rely on catching the first train of the day, which was the only one which would definitely get us to the airport in time for our flight, but which required several changes. Nor was I prepared to drive that distance on the day of the flight, nor could we fit the whole family plus luggage into our car. So we had a complicated arrangement of two boys catching the train to London while 3 of us drove with the suitcases, an overnight stay with the in-laws, and a civilised drive at the start of the next day, with the same process reversed at the end of our trip. It worked better than I expected, but I wouldn't do it again.

:rotfl::rotfl:Sorry Sue - but that sounds a logistical nightmare :eek::eek:

(I get on a tube to south ken, change to picadilly line and get to heathrow and relax )

quickstepqueen

jaycat62 wrote: »

Anyone

Hi jaycat..congrats on the upcoming civil partnership. I can't comment on flying Fri/Sat but I can tell you that I've booked my flights to NYC myself. No agent. I do often buy things online (though never anything expensive) so am used to inputting credit card details etc but was worried about inputting the wrong information for my flight. (Very nervous, but took my time to read the terms and conditions, check everything properly before proceeding and it was all fine.)

I checked out the usual flight websites. My partner will be in NYC when i go, so flying out alone, but we are flying back together. He was flying with Delta (and had his seat number all ready) so I decided to go with them. I was going to book through Ebookers but for a few pounds more I went with Delta direct on their website, as I was able to choose which seats I wanted so could pick the one next to my partner! (For some reason he didn't seem that happy about spending a full 8hrs next to me LOL)

Again, I can't comment on when to book but I found a price that I was happy to pay. I price compared to make sure it was reasonable and "value for money" then booked it. That way, I knew it was booked instead of having to think about it. I booked my flight just 6 weeks before I fly so left it late-ish. My partner booked the hotel using priceline. He took time to research the website and how it works (I think he said that you basically bid for a non-named hotel room and often get it much cheaper. You can say which area of NYC you want to be in and what star rating you'd be happy with and it's pot luck. Once your bid's been accepted you're then told which hotel it is. He got a great day deal. We're staying at the Grand Hyatt Hotel and I think he got it for less than £90 per night.)

You could always make some enquiries at a local travel agents and see what they're offering but from reading other posts on here it really does seem very easy to book it all yourself. It's worked for me, but do whatever makes you feel most comfortable.

Am very excited for you and what a treat for you both. Best Wishes.
qsq x