Which positioning flight?

richardw

So I'm thinking of starting 'my cheaper than UK departure' business class flight from AMS or DUB, so in order to minimise the risk of not getting there what are your tips.

Fly the day before and stay in an airport hotel.
I'm going to avoid the last flight of the day.
A 3.30-4pm departure would be better.
Also avoid LCY - risk of fog in winter.
If the UK airport has more than one terminal pick the terminal with most flights.

Any other thoughts?

k3lvc

You've a whole load of variables you've not shown


Time of year
Departure point from UK (which narrows down choice of airlines)
Why only AMS/DUB ? What about BRU/CDG and using Eurostar to get there
Are you wanting the stopover to be part of the 'adventure' or just a bed for the night ?

richardw

December
Any London Airports
CDG is possible, but seems a bit of extra hassle getting there from Gare du Nord.
Bed for the night.

Kernow666

best thing is price up all the options and see if the savings outweigh the hassle

dickydonkin

If the option is available to you, BA reward flight savers are the way to go. You are fortunate insomuch that you are flying from the Capital, for me in the regions, choices are restricted.

If you are prepared to take the risk, back to backs can reduce time and hotel costs - for me, I prefer (like yourself) to avoid the last flight of the day and I always travel the day before - using the departure point as an add on to my trip.

Even adding on hotel and positioning flight costs, departing mainland Europe is still worthwhile and saves a considerable amount of cash and travelling to the departure point a day early certainly reduces the risk of the additional stress delays can bring.

I use Dublin and Amsterdam as departure points and (hoping not to tempt fate), everything has worked out well on previous departures.

silvercar

Ideally you want the positioning flight to be on the same plane as the start of your main trip. that way, if there is some problem getting to the start position it will also impact the start of your trip.

Disadvantage of your suggestion of taking the last flight out the day before is that a problem with that flight or the first flight of your trip could mess things up.

If you are thinking of British Airways, there is plenty of advice on ex-EU fares on the flyer talk BA forum.

PeacefulWaters

My approach flying ex-Dublin (but starting in Manchester):

Book same day afternoon Ryanair business-flex flight MAN-DUB with two later Ryanair flights just in case it's missed. Know the Aer Lingus later flight times and ferry options as well just in case anything goes wrong. Know Reward Flight Saver options for MAN-LHR-DUB too!

Book overnight hotel in Dublin using Avios accrued from previous trips.

Check in, security, breakfast in lounge, US pre-clearance, fly.

Flexible on same day ticket back from DUB-MAN too. Also booked "insurance" Ryanair flight for the following morning for €9.99 just in case - only add luggage costs on if needed.

richardw

PeacefulWaters wrote: »

My approach flying ex-Dublin (but starting in Manchester):

Book same day afternoon Ryanair business-flex flight MAN-DUB with two later Ryanair flights just in case it's missed..

Does the business flex fare allow you to change to that later Ryanair flight?

PeacefulWaters

richardw wrote: »

Does the business flex fare allow you to change to that later Ryanair flight?

Yes.

You can switch to any later Ryanair flight the same route for the same day. The switch can take place up to an hour after the original flight.

There is a "subject to availability" clause.

The fare includes 20kg hold baggage, fast track security, priority boarding, advance seat selection etc.

Having just flown a route using Ryanair, AA and BA to get to the USA I don't have a bad word to say about Ryanair. Other than trying to flog me dodgy lottery tickets towards the end of the flight.

lady1964

If you're going business class you'll get a larger hold allowance than a carrier like Ryanair even with 20kg allowance.

When we took our positioning flight to ARN (& doing the same for KUL), we got reward flight savers, on BA in CE, which gave us 32kg each as we had 40kg each allowance on QR. We went to SYD for 3 weeks so wanted the bigger allowance plus we took Xmas gifts for our daughter. If you are able to take RSF, it's worth looking at but bear in mind you won't get TPs or Avios.

We also took the middle flight of 3 daily flights to ARN which gave us 6 hours layover but we had use of the lounge for the whole time. When we go to KUL, we've booked the last flight out to HEL so we'll have an overnight stay.

PeacefulWaters

lady1964 wrote: »

If you're going business class you'll get a larger hold allowance than a carrier like Ryanair even with 20kg allowance.

When we took our positioning flight to ARN (& doing the same for KUL), we got reward flight savers, on BA in CE, which gave us 32kg each as we had 40kg each allowance on QR. We went to SYD for 3 weeks so wanted the bigger allowance plus we took Xmas gifts for our daughter. If you are able to take RSF, it's worth looking at but bear in mind you won't get TPs or Avios.

We also took the middle flight of 3 daily flights to ARN which gave us 6 hours layover but we had use of the lounge for the whole time. When we go to KUL, we've booked the last flight out to HEL so we'll have an overnight stay.

It's a fair call on the hold allowance and Ryanair. Another I'd add is ensuring hand luggage sizes comply with the lowest common denominator if you're using multiple airlines. AA and BA are certainly not identical.

Another word on my Ryanair experience - they had a specific bag drop desk for business passengers at Dublin airport, and you don't have to pre-print boarding cards. This allowed avoidance of a massive queue that had built up for the other desks.