Question for experienced trans-Atlantic travelers...

[Sukhoi]

Which of the following ways would you prefer to get from Cleveland to London?

• Continental 757 non-stop to Gatwick. Nice direct flight, but Continental really jams the rows together in their planes.
• Any major carrier Cleveland to New York on a smaller plane (737), then New York to London on a big plane (747 or 777).
• Drive to Toronto (maybe make a mini vacation of it on the day coming back or something) then take a British Airways 747 or 777 to London.
  
  Also, if you had the choice of a 747 or a 777, which would you take? I would think the 777 since it's newer and I believe every seat now gets a video screen.
  
  Thanks!

 

[radiocore]

I'd take 777 to Heathrow. London's great!

 

[Utterman]

What about a concord?

 

[RossMAN]

Either #2 or #3 ... I'm guessing #3 is cheapest, right?

 

[Sukhoi]

Concord is a bit expensive.

I really don't know which is cheapest...not really worrying about that right now. On the trip I was just on we did #1, and while it was fairly cheap compared to other routes, a 757 is too small to be on for that amount of time, especially overnight.

I love Heathrow, especially British Airways. It's great to be able to check-in at Paddington and then just take the train to the airport and get on the plane. That's why I have the Toronto route listed, since it's the only easy way to take British Airways through Heathrow.

 

[BlueApple]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Either #2 or #3

Yup ^

 

[phatcow]

i flew a 767 from chicago to Heathrow before, and flew it back to los angeles


if you can get any airline that flys 767's, its more comfortable

 

[Triumph]

continental isn't my favorite either, but non-stop flights are niiiice. the last option sounds like you'd rent a car. good luck finding one-way rentals; I've tried it and it ain't easy.

 

[Cyco]

To cross any ocean from my experience (I'm military, so I've hopped ponds a few times) the bigger the plane the better is the only advice I can give you.

 

[amnesiac]

Originally posted by: Utterman
What about a concord?

At $10,000 per seat? Dude, if you can afford that, buy ATOT a round of drinks; you're rich.

 

[ElFenix]

747 or 777 is the only way to go . actually 747 is the only way to go. actually, anything other than sardine class is the only way to go. i like singapore first class... sure, it costs as much as a civic but you get a leather recliner/bed thingy with your own 17" LCD>



actually... flying to england doesn't take all that long, 6 there, 8 back, so a 767 is fine. 757 is a little weird for that. though i guess its probably fine if you get a carrier with enough room. i haven't flown a US flag carrier but american for a while, the seats are nice on that.

 

[geoff2k]

Is money an object? I would assume that option #3 would actually be MORE expensive due to the higher Canadian taxes, airport fees, etc. I've travelled to Toronto from DC a fair bit, and it is often cheaper for me to fly into Buffalo, rent a car, and drive to Toronto than it is for me to fly directly into Toronto.

If money isn't an object, 777 definitely.

 

[Sukhoi]

Originally posted by: Triumph
continental isn't my favorite either, but non-stop flights are niiiice. the last option sounds like you'd rent a car. good luck finding one-way rentals; I've tried it and it ain't easy.

Nope, wouldn't need to rent a car. Just drive from Cleveland to Toronto and park the car at the airport while gone, then drive back home after the flight back.

actually... flying to england doesn't take all that long, 6 there, 8 back, so a 767 is fine. 757 is a little weird for that. though i guess its probably fine if you get a carrier with enough room. i haven't flown a US flag carrier but american for a while, the seats are nice on that.

My dad has flown on an American 757 down to Miami twice, and he said there is more room on the American 757 than the Continental 757 we were just on. Too bad Continental doesn't have more room...that'd be the perfect flight.

I would assume that option #3 would actually be MORE expensive due to the higher Canadian taxes, airport fees, etc.

Thanks, I didn't know about the Canadian taxes and fees. My Aunt and Uncle did the drive to Toronto and fly to London route, and they really liked it. But I have no idea how much they paid.

Assuming the Canadian route is more expensive, it looks like the best way would be to fly to New York and then pick up a nice 777 to London.

Thanks for the help guys!

Oh, one last question. Anybody have any idea how the space on Continental 777s compares to other airlines?

 

[Balt]

Assuming the Canadian route is more expensive, it looks like the best way would be to fly to New York and then pick up a nice 777 to London.

Thanks for the help guys!

Oh, one last question. Anybody have any idea how the space on Continental 777s compares to other airlines?

I'd like to know this as well. I'll be flying to London in late August on a 777 with Continental (non-stop from Houston :frown: )

 

[BarneyFife]

From my experience of about 5 times or so going to Europe, I would take #1. Non-stop is the best. Don't be fooled by a 777 or 747. You will get the same amount of space on that airplane as a 757. I would not take #2 because it would be a pain in the ass. You would have to get off in NY. Grab your luggage and then have to take a bus to the international airport. With the tight security, you have a great chance of missing your plane. I live in Michigan and Detroit Metro airport has a Detroit-London non-stop flight on British Airways every day. Why don't you take that? Just stay away from #2, my parents did that once and missed their airplane.

 

[Oscar1613]

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
From my experience of about 5 times or so going to Europe, I would take #1. Non-stop is the best. Don't be fooled by a 777 or 747. You will get the same amount of space on that airplane as a 757.

yes... but on a 777 you get your own personal tv screen with your choice of movies, shows, and music

 

[BarneyFife]

Originally posted by: Oscar1613

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
From my experience of about 5 times or so going to Europe, I would take #1. Non-stop is the best. Don't be fooled by a 777 or 747. You will get the same amount of space on that airplane as a 757.

yes... but on a 777 you get your own personal tv screen with your choice of movies, shows, and music

I flew the 777 BA from Detroit to London a few years back and the only thing that they showed on those screens was one movie and you couldn't switch channels unless you were business/1st class. Economy class people only had 1 choice.

 

[Sukhoi]

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
From my experience of about 5 times or so going to Europe, I would take #1. Non-stop is the best. Don't be fooled by a 777 or 747. You will get the same amount of space on that airplane as a 757. I would not take #2 because it would be a pain in the ass. You would have to get off in NY. Grab your luggage and then have to take a bus to the international airport. With the tight security, you have a great chance of missing your plane. I live in Michigan and Detroit Metro airport has a Detroit-London non-stop flight on British Airways every day. Why don't you take that? Just stay away from #2, my parents did that once and missed their airplane.

Thank you, I had forgotten about the mess of trying to transfer from international to domestic flights.

I like that Detroit idea, I'll have to check into that.

Any idea if British Airways still flys the 777 between Detroit and London Heathrow? I've been looking on British Airways' site and all I see for that route are 767s.

 

[BlueApple]

Orbitz is your friend

 

[bunker]

747 from L.A. to Fiji. SUCKED!!!

That's a 12 hour flight for those of you that don't know. I don't care how big the damn plane is...unless you're in first class, it's too small.

 

[StattlichPassat]

I took a 777 from Dallas to Gatwick- the triple seven OWWWNNNNS!!!!!! :Q

American Airlines Boeing 777 cabin
LCD screen in mapping mode
Boeing 777 wing

But I got an Airbus A-300 something from Frankfurt to Dallas on the way back.

 

[StattlichPassat]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi
Concord is a bit expensive.

I really don't know which is cheapest...not really worrying about that right now. On the trip I was just on we did #1, and while it was fairly cheap compared to other routes, a 757 is too small to be on for that amount of time, especially overnight.

I love Heathrow, especially British Airways. It's great to be able to check-in at Paddington and then just take the train to the airport and get on the plane. That's why I have the Toronto route listed, since it's the only easy way to take British Airways through Heathrow.

Heathrow is that close to Paddington? I stayed at the Rose Court hotel while I was in London (Paddington) last May.

 

[StattlichPassat]

Originally posted by: Oscar1613

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
From my experience of about 5 times or so going to Europe, I would take #1. Non-stop is the best. Don't be fooled by a 777 or 747. You will get the same amount of space on that airplane as a 757.

yes... but on a 777 you get your own personal tv screen with your choice of movies, shows, and music

Ya darn tootin'- that was the coolest freaking part. Also, I recommend Lufthansa. The food and service is superb!

 

[StattlichPassat]

Originally posted by: BarneyFife

Originally posted by: Oscar1613

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
From my experience of about 5 times or so going to Europe, I would take #1. Non-stop is the best. Don't be fooled by a 777 or 747. You will get the same amount of space on that airplane as a 757.

yes... but on a 777 you get your own personal tv screen with your choice of movies, shows, and music

I flew the 777 BA from Detroit to London a few years back and the only thing that they showed on those screens was one movie and you couldn't switch channels unless you were business/1st class. Economy class people only had 1 choice.

On a 777 from Dallas to London Gatwick, we had the choice between 4 movies or a few sitcoms in any given hour, plus the hypnotizing GPS mapping displays!

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: bunker
747 from L.A. to Fiji. SUCKED!!!

That's a 12 hour flight for those of you that don't know. I don't care how big the damn plane is...unless you're in first class, it's too small.

singapore air would have been perfect for me for the 14 hours to taipei except that they put this fold down foot rest in the economy section for their shorter people. with the thing down i couldn't stretch out far enough, with it up my knees were right up against it. they had the screen in each seat, and you could select all sorts of things. i played dr mario for like 4 hours straight.

its completely the airline's decision on whether to have the screens and what to put on them. the airplane you're in doesn't matter much.


never fly china air. avoid it like the plague.