Everything & Anything New York City

hab92

M4RKM wrote: »

I'm sure I could give you a list of airlines that fly TO New York, but there would be so many airlines that don't fly FROM the airport you're flying from. Why would you need to know that JetBlue fly to NYC, when they're only internal flights?

Yes, I'm being pedantic, It's what I do on a Saturday Morning!

Seriously though, the main airlines that fly to NYC are as follows

BA
Virgin
Delta
KLM (Via AMS)
United
American Airlines

Any other ones are code shares, and probably you're flying on one of the above anyway. You could add US Airways into the list, but they fly to PHL and then you change there, so that's not entirely convenient, and they are no longer cheap either.

M

Haha, you can be as pedantic as you like, I would be exactly the same.

Which one of the main airlines would you recommend, in terms of quality, price, safety, etc? Also, I'm in the Midlands, so which airport would be the best to leave from, because as far as I'm aware (correct me if I'm wrong), there are no (or limited) flights from Birmingham.

Also, if I'm planning to go on the last weekend of March (Friday 29th/Saturday 30th), would it be cheaper than leaving in the first week of April?

M4RKM

hab92 wrote: »

Haha, you can be as pedantic as you like, I would be exactly the same.

Which one of the main airlines would you recommend, in terms of quality, price, safety, etc? Also, I'm in the Midlands, so which airport would be the best to leave from, because as far as I'm aware (correct me if I'm wrong), there are no (or limited) flights from Birmingham.

Also, if I'm planning to go on the last weekend of March (Friday 29th/Saturday 30th), would it be cheaper than leaving in the first week of April?

Aah, someone with a sense of humour, excellent! And now, a much better question.

OK, from Birmingham you only have United. You don't have a choice, and therefore you're stuck. Also, it means you're flying into Newark, New Jersey, which sometimes doesn't really work well, depending on what hotel you're staying at.

Manchester, you get American Airlines, and United. AA fly to JFK, but prices still ain't much different, and AA are universally awful IMO with terrible leg room, and old uncomfortable fabric seats.

That doesn't leave many airlines left. KLM are good, so you could look at EMA - AMS - JFK and see how much that costs. Schipol is a great airport, and easy to change at, but it does add a couple of hours to your trip.

From LHR, you have BA, Virgin, and Delta. I personally like Delta, I've been flying with them a fair bit in the past few years, and have now got enough points to get a free(ish) flight. Their legroom is good in economy with an extra 1" or 2" over AA, Virgin and BA, and also their flight times work well too.

I can't fault their service, though some may feel that flight attendents are somewhat brusque, I prefer being left to my own devices anyway. Economy Comfort is a cheapish upgrade ($100 each leg), and gives even more legroom, but not a separate product like BA and Virgin have for their Economy Plus products.

BA are OK, but legroom is just as bad as AA. Virgin I've never flown, but again, legroom is just as bad according to seatguru.

xxlouisexx56

Churchmouse wrote: »

We fly to New York next week, and have collected our dollars. We've been given a load of $100 bills, with $500 in $50s $20s and $10s. While surfing the net planning on things we want to do my husband came across articles saying it's really hard to get places to take the $100 notes. Does anyone know if this is true, and if so, can we go into a bank and ask them to change them down for us. Sorry to sound stupid, only ever done California before where they don't seem to have a problem.

Thanks .

I went in jan and both my partner and I had $1000 EACH in $100 bills.

All the shops took the bills with no problems, but you won't be able to spend $5 and expect them to take it.

We saved most of our big bills for paying for dinner or our more expensive purchases in Bloomingdales, Macy's, the ugg store.
Also used them to pay at the Empire State Building (we went twice)

We also used them in the apple store.

Churchmouse

xxlouisexx56 wrote: »

I went in jan and both my partner and I had $1000 EACH in $100 bills.

All the shops took the bills with no problems, but you won't be able to spend $5 and expect them to take it.

We saved most of our big bills for paying for dinner or our more expensive purchases in Bloomingdales, Macy's, the ugg store.
Also used them to pay at the Empire State Building (we went twice)

We also used them in the apple store.

Thanks for answering that Louise We've never encountered problems in California, but as I say there were a few articles saying nobody wanted to take them in NY. I thought it odd as that's what currency exchange places tend to give you. Even in laid back California I wouldn't dare offer a $100 for less than a $20 purchase

bb69

Hi
If anyone is looking to go to NYC for a weekend break before Christmas lastminute.com have some deals.

E.g:
Sat 15th Dec - 0840 LHR
Tuesday 18th - 1915 - JFK
United Airlines - Direct

Staying at Cosmopolitan Tribeca (other hotels are available, the cosmo has been mentioned on here a few times)

for £563 each.

Hope this helps someone planning a trip in the near future.

Annie021063

hi guys
getting a tad frustrated with this booking malarky
we need 2 rooms (suite??) with the sofa changing to bed, nice relaxing area with tv etc. 2 x adults, 2 x teenagers (15 & 17)
central to times square etc
really hard to find hotels that offer this or am I not looking properly?
would prefer package with say virgin or other but happy to book seperately if it means we get what we want. The room descriptions etc are very confusing and I just need a little help please
been offered flatotel by virgin but cant find 'family apartment' on website
any ideas???
or am I searching for something not there?

bb69

Annie021063 wrote: »

hi guys
getting a tad frustrated with this booking malarky
we need 2 rooms (suite??) with the sofa changing to bed, nice relaxing area with tv etc. 2 x adults, 2 x teenagers (15 & 17)
central to times square etc
really hard to find hotels that offer this or am I not looking properly?
would prefer package with say virgin or other but happy to book seperately if it means we get what we want. The room descriptions etc are very confusing and I just need a little help please
been offered flatotel by virgin but cant find 'family apartment' on website
any ideas???
or am I searching for something not there?

Hi again
Do you firm dates in mind yet or happy to go with the flow from Christmas Day onwards?

I haven't researched them all, but have found there are not many hotels which have this availability and although some junior suites have separate living areas they don't have a door from bedroom to living area.

I have had a look on Flatotel website. Make sure you check with Virgin thats its not an 'Executive Junior Suite' as that would mean you would be in the same room.

Have you checked out Affinia hotels? Stayed there in the summer (Dumont). Near the Empire state building etc

I'll have a look for you now. If you have preferred dates, let me know.

Annie021063

bb69 wrote: »

Hi again
Do you firm dates in mind yet or happy to go with the flow from Christmas Day onwards?

I haven't researched them all, but have found there are not many hotels which have this availability and although some junior suites have separate living areas they don't have a door from bedroom to living area.

I have had a look on Flatotel website. Make sure you check with Virgin thats its not an 'Executive Junior Suite' as that would mean you would be in the same room.

Have you checked out Affinia hotels? Stayed there in the summer (Dumont). Near the Empire state building etc


I'll have a look for you now. If you have preferred dates, let me know.

xmas eve/day or boxing day are preferred leaving no later than 2nd
thanks will look at affina

bb69

Annie021063 wrote: »

xmas eve/day or boxing day are preferred leaving no later than 2nd
thanks will look at affina

Do you need to be there for NYE?

Annie021063

just to throw spanner in works we have now looked slightly further afield and appear to get better deals. IS it hassle to be say 30 mins away from central NY??