vickiebypass

I'm having a tough time finding information and hope Fodorites can help! I'm considering a cruise that departs from Copenhagen on 6/22 and returns to Rotterdam on 7/3 (I'm coming from NY). I've checked the usual suspects (orbitz, expedia, cheaptickets, etc.) and most of the sites can't even complete the request (Rotterdam seems to be throwing them off). Or, the flights are multiple stops and cost around $1800. Anyone have any suggestions? Even it I trained from Rotterdam to Amsterdam, the flight sites still say no flights are available. I tried one-way tickets, but NY to Copenhagen is $700 and involves multiple changes on LOT. I can't believe this - it's not like these are tiny, out-in-the-middle-of-nowhere cities! Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

enzian

Why not just call SAS? They fly Newark to Copenhagen for $1100 RT on those dates. I didn't check on adding in Rotterdam---the website doesn't do open jaws easily. But the agents are very helpful if you just call them. You might have to train from Rotterdam to somehwere with a major airport to get decent prices.

nytraveler

Continental out of EWR has flights to Copenhagen and back out of Amsterdam (only about 50 miles from Rotterdam) for about $1150 non-stop. United also has some flights.

don;t know your exact dates since I don;t know what time the cruise will depart and arrive - and how much extra time you would want on the gound in either place.

Just check travelocity for your dates - then go to airline web sites to see if you can do better.

(There were numerous other flights - but with connections and at higher prices.)

Barbara_in_CT

Try Icelandair from JFK. They service both Copenhagen and Amsterdam.

mcnyc

Try looking on Travelocity. I was successful in finding tickets on British Airways JFK-CPH; AMS-JFK for $1124 all in. This would require 1 stop in London Heathrow. It would have you leaving NY on 6/21, arriving Copenhagen on 6/22. You'd leave Amsterdam on 7/3, arriving home the same day. Assuming you disembark in the morning, it's about an hour's train ride to Schiphol. Cruise lines don't encourage booking plane tickets earlier than 1pm the day of disembarkation (if disembarkation is in the early AM), so unless you're staying after the cruise, the tickets I found might be problematic.

Alternatively, I'd also check Delta, who had special summer fares to Copenhagen earlier this spring. Since Delta is a codeshare with Northwest/KLM, you might be able to score a direct flight from Amsterdam.

Good luck!

rkkwan

Since BA and CO are about the same price, why not fly CO for non-stop both ways, as nytraveler has suggested? Save a lot of time and trouble, despite having to fly on the 757 for CPH. And you can earn some FF miles, unlike on BA.

[2,000 bonus miles for their new EWR-CPH flight too, till 7/31.]

mcnyc

I'm confused, I thought you could earn FFmiles on BA?

I'm still trying to figure out if I can get FFmiles on my summer Virgin Atlantic flight!

rkkwan

Cheap discount tickets earn a fraction of BA miles, provided that you already have a BA FF account. They won't let you join their FF program unless you buy a high-fare coach or WT+ ticket or above.

VS has its own program, or you can earn CO miles (including EQM) for its US-UK flights.

ira

Hi V,

www.kayak.com has BA flying EWR/LHR/CPH and CPH/LHR/EWR for $967 for your dates.

rkkwan

Or KLM, bookable through nwa.com. JFK/EWR-AMS-CPH, and AMS-JFK/EWR. $1,062 all in. Same price JFK or EWR.

EWR-AMS use either their new 777 or new 330-200. On the 777, even coach gets advanced AVOD (audio/video on demand).

vickiebypass

I KNEW I could rely on Fodorites to help - this is great info!! Clearly, my mistake was focusing on Rotterdam as a departure point, instead of Amsterdam...I should have researched more. Anyway, great tips...non-stops for $1200 are more appealing than stopping in Iceland for $1000, so I just have to figure out the timing vis a vis cruise departures. THANKS again everyone!

mcnyc

Thanks rkkwan! That means I'll be signing my family up for the CO One Pass program.

WallyKringen

The cheapest flights to Europe are often those to London. From there you can fly on the cheap to Copenhagen and also on the cheap back to London from Holland.

The cheapest return to London I see at a quick glance for your dates is USD908 (includes taxes etc.), Air Lingus via Dublin. There might be better fares if you look around, possibly into Manchester and then a train to London?

If you find a decent fare to any of the London airports, fly from Stansted with either Air Berlin or easyjet for GBP24.88 to Copenhagen.

After your cruise you either fly from Rotterdam with www.transavia.com to London for GBP37.19 or take the short train ride from Rotterdam to Amsterdam and fly with easyJet or Air Berlin or bmi to London for GBP20.99, or you go to Eindhoven and fly to London with Ryanair for GBP18.50.

This might involve an extra night because of flight times that don't connect smoothly, and a bit of homework to get familiar with these airlines, their luggage restrictions (!), and how to get to the airports.

But if it saves you a bundle and you're flexible, why not?

Try the same trick with flying into other major European hubs, like Frankfurt, Paris, etc. and to Copenhagen from there and back to there from Holland.

www.skyscanner.net helps, a lot!

WK

WallyKringen

At www.cheaptickets.com I just saw an open-jaw NYC-CPH and AMS-EWR for a bit over USD900.

Start there, and always look at www.kayak.com, they're new and keen and don't sell you, only show you fares.

WK

ivee

I am Dutch and have been to New York frequently justv call KLM for an open jaw. From Amsterdam to Rotterdam is just nothing at all. You could then visit the biggest harbour in the world and .... do have dinner in La Vilette that is is you are a 'foodie' it is just great. Very affordable fixed menu.
I don't know what is the exact purpose of your travel but keep in mind that at the moment Holland has justvfantastic expositions on Rembrandt (anniversary year)