Flying from Manchester? Tell us where you're going

[Aviador]

I thought it was time we had a Manchester version of the highly successful Leeds and Birmingham threads. Tell us where you're going if you're flying from Manchester airport?

Don't forget to place your review of the airport in the Passengers & Frequent Flyers [Questions & Reviews] thread when you return!

 

[User0001]

Las Vegas on sunday!

 

[Aviador]

Lucky you. Don't spend all your money! :good:

 

[Mega Moggie]

Helsinki between Christmas and New Year. Hoping the snow doesn't let me down or I will have one naffed off seven year old.

Routing via Frankfurt due to direct flight departure times

 

[Aviador]

Hi Mega Moggie! Helsinki is a place I've never considered going to but I'm sure it will be absolutely beautiful in the snow at that time of year. Lets hope the snow doesn't let you down at this end of the journey!

Image from visithelsinki.fi

 

[LBA787]

Orlando tomorrow!

Virgin atlantic 744.

:crazy:

 

[Aviador]

Orlando tomorrow!

Virgin atlantic 744.

:crazy:

Have a good one mate! leasantry:

 

[michael]

Orlando tomorrow!

Virgin atlantic 744.

:crazy:

Have a good one mate! leasantry:

Been lucky enough to fly VS to MCO on a few occasions, always great inflight service, was lucky enough to go upstairs last time in premium - excellent!
Have a great time!

 

[Dobbo]

More of a future question - I've never been to New York and I quite fancy it this year, say around mid September time for a long weekend.

I'd prefer a direct flight from MAN and would quite like to fly out on a Thursday (UK time) and return on the Sunday night (US time - which would be early Monday morning UK time). I don't know much about the carriers on this route, and was hoping to get an idea of which carrier offers what to make a decision. I have done some initial poking around online and have seen that many carriers seem to use a reasonably dated 757 equipment (including such things as on ceiling and not seat back IFE) which is like to avoid if possible.

Can any one spare the time For a reasonably succinct summary of who offers what and the relative pros and cons of each?

 

[User001]

Hi Dobbo,

You basically have 4 options.

Cheap and cheerful is Thomas Cook o JFK. They fly every day except Wednesday and use an A330 on the route. They will be your best priced option.

Middle of the road are American and Delta to JFK. They both use the B767-300 and offer a decent product in all classes.

Most expensive are United to Newark. They use the B757, and while the product is good, the B757 puts some off, and, the fact they use the B757 means it fills up quicker and thus pushes up prices.

 

[Dobbo]

Hi User

Thanks for the info - as a general rule are United considered to be a notch above American and Delta?

The B757 had put me off a little, although indknt think the B767 is a marked upgrade overall and it depends on the interior fitting. I think the American flight times looked pretty good so I may end up there but will see.

 

[User001]

Well, product wise.

All 4 carriers will have private on demand entertainment at every seat, and all of the offer a broadly similar departure and arrival time (the main bugbear is that there is actually little choice of flight times given there are up to 5 flights a day!)

Both Thomas Cook and American have recently refurbished their A330/B767 fleet, so, that should be a plus. Delta is quite recent cabins too, and United is the older of the 4 airlines.

TCX/AA/DL use JFK whereas United use EWR, so, the time it takes to get downtown from those airports may also be a factor.

In terms of my personal preference, the AA cabin is probably the best, but, their on time performance is a worry for me. In terms of cost, TCX will likely win hands down. Their lower cost basis makes fares much cheaper.

 

[Dobbo]

Had a quick scan - Delta is the cheapest that I can see although it is close with Thomas Cook and United. American is around £200 more expensive on a return flight.

Timing choice is not great, it would be good to have a later departure UK time (perhaps a red eye?) and an earlier US departure time (a non-red eye). I think the flexibility offered would be pretty useful.

 

[Dobbo]

User - assuming the refurbished 763 is used seatguru thinks that an overhead TV is provided in economy? Do you know if this is correct?

http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Americ ... 67-300.php

 

[ethanegcc]

For me, at the moment, Philadelphia in April and Kefalonia in August. Possible trips to Southampton later this month and Bilbao in May.

 

[User001]

I never post my work trips, partly because I would be on this thread every week and would get reparative and boring (let's just say I probably account for about 100-150 pax in the statistics every year)

However, just the 2 holidays booked at the moment, staying in Europe as I don't want to take such young children on long haul.

So, we have Almeria booked in Sept with Jet2 for one week, and Faro, Portugal for a week in January.

We have a property in France so will be using that in May 2018 when we usually take our early summer break, and may be booking Palma again for Sept 2018 to look at property out there.

 

[Land23R]

Trying to persuade the wife for a long haul holiday this winter. Two suggestions so far but not convinced about either.
Comments or advice welcome.

We've been to Florida a few times and really enjoy it but felt a change was due.

My first idea was Hong Kong then on to Perth and the Margaret River region. November seemed the best month as it's into the dry season in HK and before it gets too hot in Perth. My better half not enthusiastic about HK though and unsure about Perth. (Flights by CX, possibly P/E, and from a climate aspect maybe better to do HK on the return).

Thailand seems to appeal more so I've started to look at EK with a few days in Dubai first. January may be the best month in this case but with temperatures up to 32 C and high humidity in Thailand, I'm not sure that would suit me.

I also through in Capetown and the Garden Route but we did that some years ago and "it's not the same second time" was the reaction.

User001, we had a week in Majorca in May at a lovely quiet spot (suited us oldies) at Camp de Mar. Very nice hotel too.

 

[ethanegcc]

To update with my plans:
July - Dublin with Ryanair
August- Kefalonia with Easy jet
October - Preveza with Monarch
March - Athens with Easy jet
May - Toronto with Air Transat

May do Dublin with Are Lingua in December at some point.

 

[User001]

Hi Land23R

We are looking at property in Santa Ponsa as we fell in love with a particular area there. It was just near the harbour toward the top of the bay of Santa Ponca. Lovely residential area, it had a small secluded cove nearby which was tree lined and so peaceful. Then, we went to a monument near the harbour and was met with the following sunset:

All I can say was, it was just one of those places you instantly fall in love with, it just really was perfect for what we are after in a holiday home and then retirement area. Would be close to the motorways to get to Palma and the rest of the island too.

 

[Borneobob]

Split - Jet2 next week rtn from Dubrovnik - Jet2 middle of July.
Chania - Thomson September
Malaga - Easyjet November return with Monarch