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cyclonelifer

cyclonelifer

Active Member
Jan 30, 2007
383
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Manchester, England
daveharm.blogspot.com
I plan on taking a trip across the pond this Christmas season. Prices seem to be a lot higher than previous years. This will be my fourth year of making the journey from Lincoln, Nebraska to Manchester, England.


The last year I found a one stop journey which made it quite bearable. You fly from Lincoln to Chicago and than Chicago to Manchester.


This year though, doing that trip will cost more than a $1,000 more, than taking flights that have an extra stop. Not sure if the reason is because the first flight is United and than the long flight is American.


Anyway, if I book it as separate trips, it is $800 less and was just wondering the pitfalls of doing it this way.


So instead of booking a flight from Lincoln to Manchester, I would book a flight with United from Lincoln to Chicago and then book a separate flight from Chicago to Manchester with American.


I know I'll have to pay a luggage fee on United and probably have to pick up the luggage and recheck in with American, just curious if there are considerations I need to take into account.


Saving $800 to me would be worth the inconvenience...
 
If you have plenty of time to pick up baggage and go through security again it would be well worth $800. Or see if United will check it through to your desination similar to buying a ticket on a secondary site (expedia, etc.).
 
Ya i'll echo what agronomist said, it's worth having to sit a few hours between flights to not miss your connecting flight.
 
I don't know when you're going during the Christmas season but what about leaving out of Omaha? I'm seeing flights leaving in Mid December and coming home on Dec 30th for around $1,000.
 
The biggest thing to keep in mind if you do this is that you are totally out of luck if your United flight is delayed or canceled. American will have no obligation to help you out at all.

If all your flights are on the same carrier and something goes wrong they will help you get onto a different flight. Since they aren't you'll be looking at a small, but real, risk of ending up having to pay that $800 difference or more if something happens with your flight to Chicago.
 
Also, I'm a huge fan of Google Flights. An easy way to look at every flight available from multiple airports to figure out what is cheapest. You can also see how shifting your trip a day or two to the left or right will impact fares.

https://www.google.com/flights/


It is showing me that one week trips from Lincoln or Omaha to Manchester in December on United run around $1,100-$1,200. I really doubt you'll be able to find anything much cheaper than that no matter how convoluted you make your itinerary.
 
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That is a point I didn't think about with United cancelling a flight...

I like flying out of Lincoln because I'm 40 miles south of that anbd going to Omaha would add another 60 miles... in the middle of the winter, I'm really not to comfortable wondering what kind of weather I would have when I returned... the idea of driving on the interstate in nasty weather doesn't really appeal to me...

So while I'd like to save money on the flight, I also have no problem spending an extra hundred or two for leaving closer to home...
 
cyclonelifer said:
Leaving Monday December 9, returning Thursday January 9
Click to expand...


If you are willing to drive to Omaha there is a 1 stop (through Newark) on United that is showing up as $1,036. There are also lots of 2 stops out of Lincoln at $1,047. I am seeing the $1,000 dollar difference to make it a one stop out of Lincoln. I'd say stick with one airline and decide which you want more, to not drive to Omaha, or to only have to switch planes once. Not worth the $1,000 or the hassle of multiple airlines to get both of those things.
 
Last edited:
Judoka said:
Also, I'm a huge fan of Google Flights. An easy way to look at every flight available from multiple airports to figure out what is cheapest. You can also see how shifting your trip a day or two to the left or right will impact fares.

https://www.google.com/flights/


It is showing me that one week trips from Lincoln or Omaha to Manchester in December on United run around $1,100-$1,200. I really doubt you'll be able to find anything much cheaper than that no matter how convoluted you make your itinerary.
Click to expand...

Dude. This is sweet.
 
cyclonelifer said:
That is a point I didn't think about with United cancelling a flight...

I like flying out of Lincoln because I'm 40 miles south of that anbd going to Omaha would add another 60 miles... in the middle of the winter, I'm really not to comfortable wondering what kind of weather I would have when I returned... the idea of driving on the interstate in nasty weather doesn't really appeal to me...

So while I'd like to save money on the flight, I also have no problem spending an extra hundred or two for leaving closer to home...
Click to expand...

Would KC be closer?
 
Judoka said:
Also, I'm a huge fan of Google Flights. An easy way to look at every flight available from multiple airports to figure out what is cheapest. You can also see how shifting your trip a day or two to the left or right will impact fares.

https://www.google.com/flights/


It is showing me that one week trips from Lincoln or Omaha to Manchester in December on United run around $1,100-$1,200. I really doubt you'll be able to find anything much cheaper than that no matter how convoluted you make your itinerary.
Click to expand...

holy crap! How did I never know about this site, amazing. Everytime I try to book airfare, I'm always thinking someone needs to design a site like this. thank you sir.
 
Did you read the other recent thread complaining about airline service? One of the "tricks" that gets you in trouble is booking flights on two different tickets. You get a lower fare, but you are accepting more responsibility in case something goes wrong, such as a flight delay or cancellation. There are lots of ways to save money, but many of them involve increased risk. In this case, neither airline has any responsibility for your connection, so if something goes wrong, you are on your own.
 
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