Alaskan Cruise - flights

We've booked an Alaskan cruise for June 2018. We want to fly Premium Economy/Business class. Would like recommendations with who to fly with please. BA and Virgin seem to be the most popular flying to Vancouver but I don't know anyone who has travelled with either to Vancouver. I would like to go to Seattle and wondered about flying to Vancouver and flying out of Seattle. We're planning on 3 weeks at least which is 7 day cruise, 7 day overland and time either side to explore.

It's also been suggested we don't book flights as soon as they appear as the prices are the highest but to wait until September at least.

Deciding which clothes to take will be a nightmare I know so that can be tackled much later!

Any advice would be welcomed please. Many thanks.
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  • richardw
    richardw Posts: 19,458
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    edited 14 July 2017 at 10:20AM
    With long-haul flying I'm finding new aircraft types are better because of improved air in the cabin which means you feel less tired and less jet lagged.
    Look out for A380 and B787 Dreamliner aircraft.

    Virgin fly to Seattle with B789 Dreamliner aircraft.
    BA fly to Vancouver with A380 aircraft.
    They may use different aircraft on different days of the week.

    Avoid BA business class, it's a poor seat, but their new premium economy is good.
    Many airlines will let you fly premium Economy one way and business class the other way. Returning overnight in business class so you can sleep can be very good.

    Virgin codeshare with Delta in the US. BA with AA and Alaska Airlines.
    But with connecting flights allow extra time for immigration.
    Posts are not advice and must not be relied upon.
  • travellerboy
    travellerboy Posts: 797 Forumite
    edited 14 July 2017 at 3:43PM
    Suggest you check out NORWEGIAN air, they operate direct flights Gatwick to Seattle - considerably cheaper than flying into Vancouver. Car hire is also considerably cheaper in the US than Canada with no restrictions on crossing the border. Also there is a cheap coach link between Seattle and Vancouver as well as a ferry option if your cruise is based in Vancouver.

    We did a similar 3 week tour a few years ago, after the 7 night cruise we hired a car in Seattle crossed into Canada via the Cascade Mountains to Kamloops, Jasper, Icefield Parkway, Lake Louise, Banff, Waterton Park. Then crossing back into the US via the Road to the Sun into Montana. We spent a many days in Yellowstone NP before travelling back to Seattle.

    The highlight were Icefield Parkway, the fantastic Road to the Sun and Yellowstone in all its glory. Alaska was a bit disappointing. Enjoy what ever route you plan.
  • jackieblack
    jackieblack Posts: 10,303
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    Car hire is also considerably cheaper in the US than Canada

    While this has been true in the past, recent research has indicated that the opposite is true at the moment, with the poor exchange rate for USD.Doing some quotes in the last few weeks I've found car rental in Canada working out about 1/3 cheaper than hiring for the same period in the US.
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  • BNU_2
    BNU_2 Posts: 505 Forumite
    We're flying into Seattle and back from Vancouver with BA but found Trailfinders invaluable. They could tell us all of our options and it worked out cheaper than booking ourselves. An agent would be able to advise you on which airline upgrades are worth paying for and when is best to book even if you go on to book flights yourself.
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  • BNU_2
    BNU_2 Posts: 505 Forumite
    (our agent also found us a 10 night cruise for almost the same price as a 7)
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  • jackieblack
    jackieblack Posts: 10,303
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    BNU wrote: »
    We're flying into Seattle and back from Vancouver with BA but found Trailfinders invaluable. They could tell us all of our options and it worked out cheaper than booking ourselves. An agent would be able to advise you on which airline upgrades are worth paying for and when is best to book even if you go on to book flights yourself.

    I have also sometimes, but not always, found it cheaper to book fly drive with Trailfinders.
    It does sometimes depend on the agent that answers the phone. (My last experience was shocking! :eek:) but I'll usually still get a quote from them to compare
    2.22kWp Solar PV system installed Oct 2010, Fronius IG20 Inverter, south facing (-5 deg), 30 degree pitch, no shading
    Everything will be alright in the end so, if it’s not yet alright, it means it’s not yet the end
    MFW #4 OPs (offset): 2018 £866.89, 2019 £1322.33, 2020 £1337.07,
    2021 £1250.00, 2022 £1500.00, 2023 £1500
    Target for 2024 (offset) = £1200, YTD £345
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  • Lara
    Lara Posts: 2,880
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    Many thanks for your suggestions so far. We also have loads and loads of air miles and Virgin miles so are also thinking of looking to see if off loading some of these could be worth while.
  • Caz3121
    Caz3121 Posts: 15,534
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    edited 23 July 2017 at 10:15AM
    Lara wrote: »
    Many thanks for your suggestions so far. We also have loads and loads of air miles and Virgin miles so are also thinking of looking to see if off loading some of these could be worth while.

    for BA flights - there is no guarantee of WT+ redemption availability. BA will release 4 x economy and 2 x CW seats on each flight 355 days before the flight so they are already out. Looks like CW for June all gone but there is a spattering of economy dates (not a good use of miles)
  • blindman
    blindman Posts: 5,659
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    Lara wrote: »
    Many thanks for your suggestions so far. We also have loads and loads of air miles and Virgin miles so are also thinking of looking to see if off loading some of these could be worth while.

    We've flown into Vancouver for an Alaskan cruise, but then flew from Fairbanks to Chicago for the return.

    We're flying into Seattle this August for the eclipse.

    Both times using Virgin FF miles and both times UC ;)

    Look at V-flyer for advise re Virgin.
  • Lara
    Lara Posts: 2,880
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    Having taken all your comments on board we are ready to book in the next couple of days but as said on here we won't be using our Avios due to restrictions. We can use those another time! Lol.
    We shall fly WTP with BA to Seattle, although waiting to hear back from Virgin their prices, stay overnight and then join the train to Vancouver. Reviews on this seem very good. We'll stay in Vancouver for 4 nights then do cruise and overland tour with a flight back from Fairbanks to Seattle where we shall stay for 3 or 4 nights giving us time for some sightseeing before flying home. So many thanks once again for everyone's help. :)
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