LHR - NYC : Options

[TomJackUK]

Hi all,

I am in the process of booking flights to NYC in January next year, and there are so many flight options from LHR to NYC (both Newark and JFK). BA is slightly more expensive, whilst Air France are mid-price and Delta + Swiss/United are cheapest.

Does anyone have any experience flying this/these routes, or any recommendations on the flight quality? My girlfriend is not a regular flyer, and is not looking forward to the long flights. Any airlines to avoid/highly recommended?

Thanks in advance

[mattdaniels]

I used to fly that route quite a bit on business and always went Virgin, as their Upper service was really good.

The airports are a bit of a Hobsons choice - for me Newark is slightly the lesser of the two evils. The biggest issue is the immigration queues which were slightly better at Newark. I've easily queued for an hour at times just to get through immigration.

[surveyor]

Our experience with American Airlines was that the planes were fine (and in fact they have brand new 777's on the route now), and the staff great.

JFK we expected the worse, but found no queue at immigration and were out of the airport 25 minutes after leaving the plane. Top tip - the nearer the front the faster off the plane, and make sure you stay at the front of the rush to immigration.

[The Moose]

Are you looking to go cheapest possible, spend a bit and go premium/business/first or cattle?

[Viperzs]

My two choices were either Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy or American Airlines Business Class on their new planes.

Anything else seems to be expensive (BA) or st.

[davepoth]

From experience, there's less airport in Newark, so you are out of the airport a bit quicker. JFK is also surprisingly far from Manhattan, especially if you are cheap like I am and take the subway.

However, Newark's transport links if you aren't taking a cab or don't have a transfer bus aren't fantastic - I found the Amtrak station a bit sketchy in the middle of the night, buy YMMV.

[escargot]

JFK is only half an hour from manhattan by train, it's not that far!

I flew to JFK quite a lot last year and I guess I was quite lucky with immigration as I don't think I queued for any longer than 20 minutes.

With regards to flights, i found BA to be the best in terms of comfort and entertainment (flying economy). AA were utterly st.

[V8LM]

The Moose said:

Are you looking to go cheapest possible, spend a bit and go premium/business/first or cattle?

If business and want best value for money, often some great deals to be had in Upper Class on the late Virgin flight to Newark (VS001 I think) and the early morning flight back (VS18?) .

[dartfordrob]

I flew out to JFK a lot in the last couple of years, my mrs got posted out there with her job, though we were living on Long Island so didnt do the trip to manhattan from JFK but its a piece of american pie

Flew out with AA a couple of times and then flew BA and refused to fly with AA again. BA can sometimes be expensive but you get a great service - in flight entertainment etc for your mrs who's not keen on the long flight. I've heard that Virgin offer a great service though never flown with them....maybe next time.

[escargot]

Air train to Jamaica and change for LIRR.... I know it well

Where abouts on LI were you?

[dartfordrob]

Small world mate, do you know LI well?

We were living in Smithtown for a while then moved to Hicksville, places that you'd only really know if you knew the area.

What brought you to LI, holidays in the Hamptons?

[escargot]

I know hicksville fairly well, we used to go there for a curry as there were no Indian restaurants where we lived (glen cove).

My mrs was out there for a year with work so similar circumstances as you... Small world indeed!

ETA: I know LI reasonably well now. We did quite a bit of exploring!

[dartfordrob]

escargot said:

I know hicksville fairly well, we used to go there for a curry as there were no Indian restaurants where we lived (glen cove).

My mrs was out there for a year with work so similar circumstances as you... Small world indeed!

ETA: I know LI reasonably well now. We did quite a bit of exploring!

Your mrs was out there for work also? Surprised that Long Island would be a place a lot people go to for work with New York City there.

Hicksville was great for a curry, the only place in LI you can get one from what I remember, and for the mrs to do her shopping, we found it much more convenient than Smithtown for things to do. Glen Cove is on the north shore correct?

We're planning on having a holiday out there next year, we made some good mates we can get free accommodation from now We wanted to be heading back for Christmas but not an option this year. Are the two of you back in England now? Planning a trip out there for the run up to Christmas?

Edited by dartfordrob on Sunday 17th November 18:41

[RobM77]

I find what makes the biggest difference to my tolerance of a long haul flight is the plane I'm on, so try and book with a company that publicise that. I flew BA LHR to JFK last year and we went out on a modern, quiet and comfortable plane, but came back on an old Boeing that was awful in comparison.

[Collectingbrass]

1. Customer service on UK carriers is far better than American carriers - especially comparing Virign to American Airlines which are polar opposites

2. BA & Virgin are bound by European and British trading standards legislation for airlines. In summary this means that should there be a problem with your flight, UK carriers have to pay to repatirate you, and your hotel till they do. The American carriers do not, and you would be on your own till your travel insurance pays out.

[Dr JonboyG]

If you're not flying Business Class, United and the other US carriers will expect you to pay for drinks on the plane, which ought to be indicative of the level of service you'll get.