Zach1213

Looks like there's a company called Ebus that goes between Vancouver and YXX several times daily, though I have never heard of them.

There have been a lot of good responses so far, but I'll echo some of them. There's really no advantage to connecting in the US versus Europe, and if anything Europe is better because you have more options (both air AND ground) if something goes awry. Airports like Frankfurt and (especially) Munich are incredibly efficient, signs are in English, and pretty much everyone speaks English. I'm a big fan of getting to Europe and then connecting, versus connecting in the US.

I once flew in to BOO, and I definitely hold on to that bag tag for giggles

I'm not sure what reasonably priced means to you, but I fly in to Singapore several times each year on like a 12am arrival. As long as I book for that night (i.e. if I arrive at 12:01am on Saturday morning, I book a hotel starting Friday) and let them know a couple days before what I am doing, I have never have a problem. I usually stay either at Quincy Hotel (on Mt. Elizabeth) or a Hilton-brand hotel. Also, Singapore as a whole is super efficient...if you land at 12:10am, even with immigration and luggage, you should be at your hotel well before 2am.

I assume it's making you transfer from ORY to CDG in Paris? Not saying that's a deal killer, but I couldn't find anything from PTP-CDG, or from ORY-UK, that wouldn't force you to transfer airports.

This should be their catchphrase. There are massive pros AND massive cons of Air2Sea, but in either case they really require some research on your own part. The people working there know absolutely nothing about the realities of air travel, they only know how to read a schedule and book it (most of the time).

Eh...while PTP provides a bit of a challenge to get an "open jaws" ticket, it's definitely possible. It may require stops in both directions and missing out on any nonstop UK-MCO flight, but it's definitely possible. AA/BA or AC would definitely get my votes for an airline that can do an open jaws ticket.

When the heck did I suggest anything? I provided an alternative view and showed that other places not only require ID to get to security, but some (several) require it just to get in the front door. That's not suggesting anything, it's providing facts.

I am an AA90 regular...I take it several times each year, and love it. I wish it didn't arrive quite so late, but it's still better that an overnight. Whenever I do fly in on AA90, it helps a lot. If I am staying in London, I usually go straight to my hotel in the city; if I am going anywhere else (either my plane or train), I usually stay at the airport overnight (Sofitel T5, usually), have a few drinks, and fall asleep around 1am...I then sleep in until 9am-ish and I am pretty well adjusted.

This is a real pro/con game. AND it also depends where in the UK you're going...obviously London would have more options than, say, Belfast or Birmingham. So that would be beneficial info. Air France does have a nonstop to Paris, but it's Paris-Orly...and unfortunately, AF have no UK flights from Orly, so you're either transferring airports or taking Eurostar. KLM has a great UK network, but unfortunately it doesn't appear as though they do actually fly to PTP anymore and instead route everyone through Paris and on to AF. The other route is through the US/Canada, which would be much easier if you were going in to London and not, say, Aberdeen. Again, important info. But let's say you ARE going in to London...that opens up not only the airlines that waterbug mentioned, but also Air Canada (via Montreal). This might be easier than going via the US.

Hell, there are some countries you need to show ID to even enter the terminal. India, for example, always requires that I show ID + ticket confirmation (printed or digital) to just get in the front door.

Ah interesting...for some reason I searched March 11, not March 31, so I guess that's why it showed up. But yeah, I can't figure out where that 789 is going to go after that...

It sounds like perhaps you're trying to stick to United? If so, can you get yourself on the one-stop CHS-IAH-SYD routing? It leaves at 4:25pm, with 3+ hours in IAH, and then nonstop from IAH in to SYD. Would avoid a double connection.

Just the worst. I currently live in Kansas City and am loyal to American, so if I am flying to Europe I often have the choice of Chicago or Dallas. If I can't make the daytime ORD-LHR flight and have to do an overnight, I'll often backtrack to Dallas so I can get a longer flight to Europe and allow for more sleep. But I've done BOS-LHR and JFK-LHR a few times, and those are truly awful if you can't get the daytime flight (BUT, that daytime BOS-LHR that gets you in at like 7pm is nothing short of magical...much better than the ORD-LHR that arrives at 10:30pm).

Don't worry, these **** are getting really good at what they do. It's way too easy for even the best of us to get fooled. I think you should call them back, tell them you'd like to upgrade a (fake) reservation to first class ($$$) and take up as much time of theirs as you can. At least, that's what I do...but maybe I have too much time on my hand and am too spiteful and petty 🙂

I am never a supporter of flying out day of departure, but the only reason I would ever even consider in is a nonstop. Flying between two of the largest metro areas in the US via (checks notes)...Kentucky...is an interesting choice.

They may try, yes. No guarantees. There need to be flights to the next stop...and there needs to be seats on those flights, during a holiday week.

Yes, absolutely. My wife and I travel internationally using AAdvantage miles several times each year, including at least 1x yearly on Qantas. Never happened to us.

I guess it depends (a) which locks they are, and (b) if that kind of thing interests you. I'm an engineer and the technology behind locks, though simple, fascinates me. I wouldn't miss our on the chance to be on a large ship going through a set of locks. Others may not give a single darn, and that's just fine.

I'm not sure that's totally necessary with JetBlue. If OP can without having to pay for Internet onboard or in a foreign country, sure, it doesn't hurt. But I think they could just do online check in from their phone while they're waiting to get off at Port Everglades and be just fine.

Even during Covid, I never found one-way fares cheaper than RT on international flights. Plenty of times during Covid I had to pay ridiculous one-way fares...well, my clients did 🙂

Yes, your bags will go through. You will likely need to re-clear security in Lisbon, but that's it. There will also likely be a passport check just to (once again) make sure you have proper documentation to head to London, but not a full immigration check. (Also, just a note, you DO need to get your luggage in the US if you are coming off of an international flights (at least one from a non-pre clearance airport) so that you can clear customs.) If you are delayed, yes, TAP will put you on the next available flight. That may or may not be the very next flight. Two hours is generally fine in Lisbon (even with wheelchair), so I would just stick to that schedule.

Third vote for "do it yourself". Ahem. Anyways, yeah...definitely look at the cost of a one-way YVR-ORD flight, and weight that against the time and expense of spending a day in Vancouver. Not just time, not just money, but the combination of the two and how much it means to you to (a) get home on the same day you leave, and (b) not have to deal with a short redeye (which are usually awful).

I echo the sentiment of getting to Europe and having more options in the unlikely chance something major delays your travel. Lisbon/Munich/Frankfurt/Paris/Amsterdam/Zurich (and even London) would allow you to have many options for plane, train, and even bus if you really, really needed it.

I would agree that anything around Paddington may be easiest and best. There are approximately 1,539,106 hotels within even a short walking distance of Paddington, though many are those fairly mediocre "side street" hotels you find throughout London. The Hilton may very well be the best option there.