Multi city flight bookings

Legacy_user

We generally use Kayak when booking flights as they tend to be the best option for us since we aren't frequent flyers.
We are looking to book business class flights to Orlando in November out of Dublin and via London.
On Kayak we can get a great price by using the round trip search - Dublin - Orlando.
However we want to stop in London overnight on the way out and take in a show as a surprise for our daughter. To do this we need to use the multi-city search option of Dublin - London, London - Orlando, Orlando - London, London - Dublin.

The price is much the same and includes most of the same flights.

What I need to know is if I book using the multi city search is each flight classed as a single flight and so on the way back from Orlando would we need to retrieve our baggage in London and then check them in for the onward flight to Dublin or would the return be classed as a through flight.

I hope I've explained that ok.

richardw

If you want to travel Orlando-Dublin without retrieving your bags, then that is what you detail in the final part of your search.

callum9999

While you're searching for single flights, that's not what they are. Whether you can check the bags all the way through depends on your connection - if it's the same day then yes, if it's overnight then no.

Though it doesn't really matter, you also don't have to search for those 4 flights (unless you want a stopover on the way back as well?) - Dublin-London-Orlando, Orlando-Dublin would be fine.

richardw wrote: »

If you want to travel Orlando-Dublin without retrieving your bags, then that is what you detail in the final part of your search.

It wouldn't actually make the slightest difference but your suggestion is the most logical. Even if Orlando - London, London - Dublin were different tickets the baggage could still be sent all the way through. I've had baggage interlined from a United ticket into Amsterdam where I connected to BA on a different ticket.

System

Unfortunately that puts the price way up for some strange reason.
I take it from what you've said we would have to retrieve the bags then check in again and go through security again.
From the options that came up that would be ok because there is a long stop over in Gatwick. I just wanted to check if that was what we would have to do.

System

Just have another thought too. If I book the 4 flights as the multi city option does that mean if we are delayed for any reason we could miss an onward flight and be stuck?

Voyager2002

Pam17 wrote: »

Just have another thought too. If I book the 4 flights as the multi city option does that mean if we are delayed for any reason we could miss an onward flight and be stuck?

Yes: that is the case if you book them as four distinct single flights.

callum9999

Pam17 wrote: »

Unfortunately that puts the price way up for some strange reason.
I take it from what you've said we would have to retrieve the bags then check in again and go through security again.
From the options that came up that would be ok because there is a long stop over in Gatwick. I just wanted to check if that was what we would have to do.

What does? Booking it as Orlando-Dublin instead of Orlando-London-Dublin? Are the actual flights themselves the same?

No it is not the case that you have to pick up your bags at Gatwick and recheck them if you're flying on the same airline (and occasionally with partner airlines) and you don't have an overnight connection.

Nor will you get stuck if you book a multi-city trip. I have no idea why Voyager2002 assumes you're booking 4 singles, that's not how multi-city generally works.

Though it would be far easier if you'd just post your flight options instead of getting people to make assumptions and guess at what would happen!

System

Hi Callum,

We are looking at the following -
5th November - Dublin - London
6th November - London - Orlando
21st November - Orlando - Dublin and since it is a celebratory holiday for my daughters 30th birthday (and a surprise treat for her) we would prefer to fly BA or Virgin so she gets the full business class experience including the business lounge.
The cheapest we can get it within those parameters is about £1250 pp.

Searching a return journey of Orlando-Dublin does not give the same flights as Orlando - London - Dublin For some reason and the price is higher too.

bagand96

If you search multi city:

5th Nov LON-DUB
6th Nov DUB-ORL
21st Nov ORL-LON
22nd Nov LON-DUB (needs to be 22nd as the transatlantic flight is overnight)

Then you'll get a result all BA for around £1100. Booking this itinerary does count as one ticket so BA would be responsible for your connection to DUB should the Orlando flight be late.

However the problem you do have is BA's flight from Orlando operates into Gatwick. But they don't operate LGW-DUB so you'd have to get accross to Heathrow or London City.

richardw

Pam17 wrote: »

....Searching a return journey of Orlando-Dublin does not give the same flights as Orlando - London - Dublin For some reason and the price is higher too.

Including a stop in London is a different market to the Dublin-Orlando market, hence the difference in prices.

callum9999

Ah I see, it was probably trying to route you via the US on the way back unless you specified London because of the airport change.

I don't know how easily the website will be able to show it, but BA codeshare on Gatwick-Dublin with Aer Lingus - so it might be worth phoning them to see if you can get an Aer Lingus flight on the way back to avoid changing airports. The way there doesn't matter as you're stopping over anyway.