SusieR

Hello

I'm writing on behalf of my sister, who is currently travelling round China.

She wants to travel back to London via San Francisco (to visit a friend there) around 1 August. Can anyone recommend a cheap airline for a one way SanFran - London ticket??

I've had a look but would be grateful for some guidance as I'm only used to booking flights from the UK!

Thanks in advance.

gail

Kayak.com is a webiste I use quite often to reserch lowest fares. One can not book thru this site, but afgter research fare can be booked thru the individual airlines. Seats are not always still available at the fare listed on kayak, but I have found that usually they are.

I researched for your sister's route on kayak and was surprised that the lowest fare was about $1000 for 1/way trip. But when I broke it into 2 legs, if you really want to save money, USAirways lists a SFO-JFK (New York) flight for under $200. Then Air India lists a flight JFK-LHR for about $400. Not sure how schedules and connection would match up, though.

SusieR

Gail, thanks for your reply - I'll check it out!

LoveItaly

Hi Susie, just keep in mind with two seperate tickets (SFO to JFK via US Airways and then JFK to LHR via Air India) if something happens and your sister does not make the second flight via Air India she no doubt will have to buy a last minute one way ticket from JFK to LHR which would be terribly expensive.

jtrandolph

Virgin Air is coming to San Francisco. I read a newspaper article today which is offering an SFO JFK one way flight after August 8 for $139. You might check with them if it fits her timing.

ElendilPickle

I don't know if it will be cheap, but you could try Air New Zealand - http://www.airnewzealand.com

Lee Ann

Mademoiselle

Hello,
I usually check with the big airlines first (www.delta.com , www.ual.com, etc.), but I also check:

www.cheapflights.com
www.tripmania.com
www.sidestep.com

Hope this helps. LoveItaly made a good comment about using different carriers with regard to missing a leg of the trip.

Good luck!

Gardyloo

Virgin Atlantic already serves SFO. Virgin America (Based in SFO) is starting service next month, initially to JFK only.

Air India from JFK is around $400; add a nonstop on AA from SFO to JFK for $200 and it's $600 or a bit less all in; however the $200-ish AA fares don't connect, so she'd have to pay for overnight accommodations (or sleep at JFK - yuk.) More like $270 for daytime flights that would allow time to connect to Air India.

Best in my mind is leaving SFO on Aug 1 on Qantas (747, pretty empty) to Vancouver BC - US$135. Then (the next day, because the Qantas flight lands too late to connect safely) on Zoom Airlines (budget airline) to London Gatwick, for CDN$499 one way ($649 in premium economy). Call it around US$600/£300 one way. Don't think that can be beat. http://www.flyzoom.com