Is a non direct flight worth it

Flick216

Morning all!

I am off to Philadelphia in November. I am just looking at flights and I can see one that stops in Iceland before going to Philly - it's £120 cheaper than a direct flight!

I don't know if that £120 is worth losing the 4 hours in Philly or not.

Plus I've never been to Iceland so I could always get a new fridge magnet

Would you pay extra for the direct flight or not?

[Deleted User]

:jNo.
Stopping over in Iceland, you might be lucky and see the Northern Lights too!

Which airline it is might be a factor.

jackieblack

Maybe... it would depend on other factors
Have you tried pricing flights from Dublin?

EssexExile

I would but lots wouldn't.

colinw

Tricky one that...but that is not a bad saving, I flew back from Sydney via Melbourne in April to save a few hundred quid, I usually look at when I arrive as well though, especially if I am picking up a car, you might get some nice views of Iceland though on the way in and out if it is daytime....
You might bump into a handsome Viking in the airport as well!

steve1500

jackieblack wrote: »

Have you tried pricing flights from Dublin?

The other advantage of Dublin, it that you clear US customs in Dublin plus taxes are usually lower

Alan_Bowen

It is not just the added time of travelling, it depends on the airline being offered. Just read the reviews on WOW, for example here (http://www.airlinequality.com/airline-reviews/wow-air/) and decide whether it is worth it or not. Icelandair is a different animal altogether, it may also depend on how long you are travelling for? If it's a long weekend, I would pay extra to get there as quickly as possible, if it was for two weeks, I might take a different view

Fruitcake

Travelling with my family? No. We would just want to get there as quick as possible.

Travelling on my own? Yes. In fact I would make Iceland a stopover if I could for a day or two.

I did find in the past that choosing a more provincial airport in the US could make great savings, and sometimes be quicker. When flying to Cincinnati for egg-sample, it was just as near for me to fly into Dayton, but cheaper, quicker, and a less busy airport.

It might be worth looking at a non-direct flight say to Newark and then an internal flight from there to see if that will save anything.

As said, the airline used makes a big difference sometimes, and also which airports you use can make for a more or less harassing layover.

pollypenny

Oh, Flick, Philadelphia is lovely! And possibly the best place if you want to shop as neither clothes nor shoes are taxed. The Quakers did not believe in taxing essentials.

k3lvc

Iceland's a great place for a short stopover now - airport much improved but they Icelandair tend to encourage an overnight stop to allow you to do Reykjavik or Lagoon. 4hrs is likely to leave you in the airport although I believe you can clear US immigration whilst there.


I've never had an issue with Icelandair flights and know plenty who've travelled to US/Canada via this route in past couple of years

Wizard_of_Id

I would always go for the cheapest option and use the money saved to get extra legroom

As for the 4 hours lost at destination, for me it really depends on arrival time, if the stopover is going to get you there after 5pm local time then that doesn't leave you much room to get your hirecar and to the hotel and get a meal.