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International Air Travel
Hi, lurker with international air travel questions.
My husband and I are flying to Greece at the end of September. We are flying from SFO to Athens. We plan on flying out on September 26th and flying back on October 8th.
I have been stalking all the travel websites that I can find (kayak, cheapoair and a couple of student ones (I'm a college student)) and prices seem to be pretty stable right now (though I will probably watch them for a bit longer before buying). My questions are:
1. Do you folks have any recommendation for which international airport we should have a layover in? Our choices are Zurich, Munich, Heathrow, CGD, Frankfurt or Lisbon.
2. How long of a layover should we have? I'm a nervous flyer, so I really don't want to wait more then 5 hours, but I'm not certain if we will have to go through customs at our layover spot or not...
3. Will we have to go through customs when we reach our layover spot? I have heard that you can ask to have your checked bags sent through to your connecting flight, but that you may still have to go through customs with your carry on and such...
4. Is ~$1500/per person a fair price for a flight to Greece in September? Should I buy now or wait longer?
5. Any recommendations for ways to power our ipods and mobile devices on the plane that won't require us to have access to USB ports?
6. Is it worth it pay extra money for business class or first class for an international flight? (like I said, I'm a nervous flyer, so being as comfortable as possible, with as many creature comforts (USB power and leg room) would be nice... but I don't know if it's $700 extra dollars a person nice)
I appreciate any advice, recommendations and input!
Thanks!
Re: International Air Travel
1. Some people hate CDG, but honestly any of those would probably be fine. I know less about Lisbon as a major hub.
2. At least 2 hours, but I wouldn't want 5 hours either. I'm not nervous, but why add 5 hours to your total travel time?
3. Probably, as it's where you're entering the EU, although I'm not sure.
4. That sounds reasonable, although it might go lower. I'd set a price alert and wait a while.
5. Are you really going to use your iPod so much that it runs out of battery? I never have. But you can get a regular wall outlet adapter and ask the airline if your plane has outlets between the seats.
6. For the nerves, no. You aren't any safer up front. But if it's only $700 different and you can afford it and want it, I'd go for it - usually business fares are much more than coach + $700, so you might want to take advantage.
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1. Do you folks have any recommendation for which international airport we should have a layover in? Our choices are Zurich, Munich, Heathrow, CGD, Frankfurt or Lisbon.
I'd personally choose either Heathrow or Frankfurt. (Although, when we went to Greece - from India in 2007 - we flew on Qatar Airways and had a layover in Doha)
2. How long of a layover should we have? I'm a nervous flyer, so I really don't want to wait more then 5 hours, but I'm not certain if we will have to go through customs at our layover spot or not...
I'm pretty sure if you don't have to collect your bags, you don't have to go through customs, just another security check.
3. Will we have to go through customs when we reach our layover spot? I have heard that you can ask to have your checked bags sent through to your connecting flight, but that you may still have to go through customs with your carry on and such...
If your ticket is on the same airline (or partner airlines) you most likely won't have to collect your bags. We never have to collect our bags on an international flight, unless our layover is over 12 hours and we're getting a hotel for the night.
4. Is ~$1500/per person a fair price for a flight to Greece in September? Should I buy now or wait longer?
No idea on this.
5. Any recommendations for ways to power our ipods and mobile devices on the plane that won't require us to have access to USB ports?
A lot of planes have access ports/plugs on the seats (try checking the airline website and see what type of plane you'll be flying on.
6. Is it worth it pay extra money for business class or first class for an international flight? (like I said, I'm a nervous flyer, so being as comfortable as possible, with as many creature comforts (USB power and leg room) would be nice... but I don't know if it's $700 extra dollars a person nice)
For the last 3 years, we've only flown business when it comes to international travel - it's important for us to be able to get a good deal of sleep on long flights - and now that we're traveling with a child, the extra room is handy. If you can work it into your budget, then I'd say go for it.
a girl from Hawaii, living the expat experience in India.
I tend to choose by airline over transfer airport (some of my favorites based on your choices being Lufthansa, British Airways, and Swiss Air)
September is a low travel season, so I think you might be able to find something for less, but I've never booked tickets to/from the West Coast.
Depends on the plane. Check seatguru.com for the airline and plane type that you'd be flying, and you can see if they have outlets at the seats. In that case, you can just use your regular charger. Otherwise, make sure you have a full charge before you board. You can check around the walls and columns in the gate area for outlets during your layover.
Personal choice. For me, no. For $700 I could fly somewhere else. Once I cashed out some miles for an international upgrade, and it was nice, but it's still not something I'd pay that much for. But $700 extra on a $1500 flight is a good deal for business class! Usually the international business/first fares I see are more like $3000 and up.
1. This one I'm not sure about. I haven't been through those airports.
2. 2-5 hours, ballpark.
3. My experience is yes (laying over in Dublin). Our bags were checked through, but we had to go through customs with carry ons. It was relatively quick, but you've still got to wait in line, pull your stuff out, blah blah blah.
4. That sounds a little high, but not egregious. We did Italy in early October this year for less than $1k/pp, but we were leaving from the east coast.
5. I've never had a problem with this. I like watching movies on long haul flights using the in flight entertainment system on the plane, so I really don't use my iPod, etc. much. Also, on your way there at least, you'll probably be trying to sleep.
6. I didn't mind economy class on an Airbus A330. No seat has more than one seat between it and an aisle, so I don't feel as boxed in as I do on smaller domestic flights (like a 737). I wouldn't spend $700 to upgrade. But then, I'm short, thin, and not a nervous flier. That makes me pretty ideally suited to fly economy.
1. I've been through all except Lisbon. I'd pick Munich-- great airport-- clean, quick, easy. The one avoid for me would be Heathrow b/c England isn't Schagen, so you'd have to double clear customs (clear in England and then clear in Athens). It's not the end of the world, but why do it if you don't have to?
2. 2hrs will leave you enough time at Munich, for sure.
3. PPs covered it (see #1 re: UK)
4. IDK fares from the States, but I know I paid approx 1300 from Naples to Athens in Dec ('11). So 1500 from CA, sounds good to me.
5. Mophie case (the case requires a USB charge, but once it's charge it holds the charge and will re-up an iphone 4 for 2-3days).
6. I wouldn't pay an extra $700/pp. It is much nicer, but I'm cheapie about stuff like that. Plus, I'm short, so leg room doesn't matter that much to me.
1. I would chose Lisbon, I just like the airport there
2. The shorter the better IMO
3. Yes to customs where you have your layover as it's your first point of entry into the EU
4. Seems pricey to me, but we fly to Europe from the east coast, so I wouldn't know what's reasonable from SFO
5. Make sure your devices are charged up before you leave. Bring a currency adapater (be sure it's okay for use w/ iPod first, some aren't) and recharge at the airport during your layover if necessary.
6. We travel too much to pay for business or first class, but on the times we've been given free upgrades it's always been awesome. That's up to you and how much you have to spend on the trip. We would prefer to spend our money once we get there, not ON getting there!
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I've connected in all of those airports save Lisbon.
I'd choose either Zurich or Munich, mostly because my miles are with Star Alliance and both airports are pretty easy for transfers.
That said, if you have no mileage loyalties, I actually quite like T5 at Heathrow and if both of your flights are on BA and you connect in T5 you won't have to clear customs and you can enjoy a beautiful terminal. If the flight requires you to change terminals, then hell no.
I don't hate CDG as much as some, but there's not much there to entertain you if it's a long layover. Not that there's much in Munich or Zurich either, but they are really easily navigated.
As usual, I agree with GilliC on almost everything!
1. I do almost anything to avoid Heathrow and CDG. They are awful. Seriously awful. We've paid a lot of extra money to avoid these airports. I haven't actually transferred through any of the other ones on your list though, I love going through Amsterdam whenever possible. We end up going through Heathrow a lot and it's always a disaster.
2. I'm a nervous flier too and I fly all the time. I never book less than a 3 hour layover if it's an international connection. Particularly for Heathrow/CDG - it always takes ages to get back through security at Heathrow.
3. Other people explained this better. I'm regularly surprised by what happens with customs and security so I don't seem to have a handle on it yet!
4. I think that's a pretty good price. We paid $1500 a person to get from Edinburgh to Cleveland last July and I think I paid a bit more than that when I went to Santa Fe to see my mom. It's really difficult to know what might happen with flights honestly.
5. Check out seatguru.com and see what's available on your flights. I've never had a problem either and you don't need a mobile on the flight anyway. You can always find somewhere to charge stuff at the airport so you can do that in your layover if your phones run out.
6. I never pay extra but it does seem really nice. For us, it's not worth it since we take so many trips each year. It totally depends on your budget and how comfortable you are in a small, cramped space for however many hours. We were bumped up to Economy Plus once and it was great so that's another option if your flight has it. I can't sleep sitting up so I never sleep on long flights so if you're going for a short amount of time and need the sleep it might be worth it for the way over?
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