If you're thinking of booking flights now for a trip in July of 2004 you won't find competitive fares at all.
It's way too soon.
615 GBP is not a great fare.
I realize maybe you're just researching the trip itself, but I'd hold off on purchasing the tickets unless budget considerations are not an non-issue.

So Continental DOES fly 757s overseas. I'm sure I was on from CLE.

...that would be <are> a non-issue.

Also, Continental has won numerous awards for being the best American based overseas carrier in recent years.
Virgin is still rated higher, though.

Deborah,

I never said that CO 757s did not fly across the big pond. I was talking about AA. :-)

A non-issue on a 757, I don't think so. There is no seatback entertainment and the plane is smaller than a 767. VS also offers Economy Plus which they may be able to get on a Continental codeshare flight with VS. I flew VS in September and they fed us about 4 times, plus free drinks. Don't know if Continental is offering free drinks at this point. They have been a little stingy lately.

I've flown both CO and Virgin to the UK, and Virgin wins hands down for service & comfort.

Do you prefer to fly out of Edinburgh? If you live in London, wouldn't it be better to pay more & fly out of London?

I fly Continental every year to London and I've been on 757s, 767s and 777s. They typically fly the 757 in the winter to lower-demand destinations like Dublin or Amsterdam, I think. Cleveland-London probably is a good low-yield route for this aircraft as well.

I love Continental but recommend the 767 or 777.

I'm from Scotland so an Edinburgh/Glasgow flight would appeal most.

It's for my honeymoon, so I'm loathe to leave it too long!!!

To clairfy a couple of things (cause I'm a bit confused!!)
The Edi-NY COA flight goes via Birmingham?
It won't have seat back tv's?

Am I right?

Thanks

Martin

OK...Please help me - you guys seem to know your stuff!!!
What do you think is the best deal for me on flights??
As said before it's for Honeymoon next July so would like a bit of comfort - decent leg room, seat back tv - while still in Economy.
Am from Scotland so any flight from London will require me to book a seperate flight there - not a problem, just adds a bit to the cost.
My options...all in GBP per person
Edinburgh to NY - Continental - £484 London to NY - United Airlines - £409
London to NY - Continental - £464
London to NY - Virgin - £526
London to NY - British Airways - £531

All are advertised as 'non-stop' flights.

What are your thoughts??

Many thanks for all your help.

Martin

You are wrong about flying to London on a separate ticket. Most of the airlines you have above will get you to London for the same fare or maybe just few pounds more on the same ticket. Price all the above from EDI and you will see that if the airline itself doesn't fly to EDI they usually have partners that will get you to London/Manchester/Dublin, etc... so you could make your connection there.
To answer your first question about the CO flight from EDI-NYC, as I stated before the non-stop flights will start next June, so it will be a direct non-stop flight. No individual monitors and seat pitch very tight.
Virgin is also very tight in the coach, unless you buy economy plus, but that's usually few 100s pounds more.
A good website to start pricing this trip if www.opodo.com.
Also, again, this is way too early to get the best pricing. I realize you may want to secure the tickets as soon as possible, but I would wait till Virgin/British or any one of the US airlines has another sale in few months. For summer months they usually run a sale around March.

I found EDI-DUB-JFK for your dates, flying AerLingus/British for 500BP per person. I could find many more options using different airines, so just take your time and don't limit yourself to 1 or 2 airlines. I don't know if you have something against American Airlines, but it would be everything you are looking for. You would connect in London, probably on BA, fly a 777 with 34-35" seat pitch, individual screens for about the same price you have above. AA does have the most room in coach.

Good luck!

Thanks for the help.
I don't have anything against American Airlines - they sounds exactly what I'm looking for. Just in my searches in expedia/opodo they haven't came back, but I'll keep searching.

Thanks

Martin

I guess it depends on how much the Scotland-London leg adds to the flight, but the United flight from Heathrow to the US does look appealing at GBP409!

Martin,
We are flying from London to NY this December to get married, but my parents are flying from Scotland so I feel I have been through it all already. There is a direct Continental flight that goes Glasgow to Newark but, as there is only one per day so it is not so easy to get a good rate. If you are willing to fly to London the prices should drop considerably.

Having said that (and looking at your post) there is not really "decent" leg room in Economy. Have flown transatlantic on Virgin in Economy and Premium Economy, I would heartily recommend PE, especially as you can get returns to NY for around £600. The same is probably true for BA World Traveller Plus. Economy class in Virgin, BA, AA, UA etc is all pretty similar - although the American carriers have been making more cutbacks on extras like free drinks.

It is possible to get good flight rates this far in advance, but normally only when you book accommodation at the same time, even if it is only just one night. Have a look on Expedia under flight + hotel - they should be able to give you a quote for July 2004. You could also check Airline Network - we booked all our travel through them (telephone rather than via the web). Given the number of flights to NY from this country it may be worth your while waiting to get a better deal as the chances of them all being fully booked are pretty slim.

Thanks for that.
If I could find Virgin Premium Economy for £600 return, I'd take it but the lowest I can find is over £800 which is a bit out our price range.
I had a look at airline network online but I'll maybe give them a call.

Thanks

Martin

Martin,
Of the 2, Virgin PE is probably more exclusive than BA WTP as Virgin only have 3 cabin classes. We flew LGW-Miami last year and the PE cabin was in the upper deck. Much quieter than in the main cabin and there is a separate check in. At the moment PE to NY will not be available for much less than 800 - 900 but it should come down as the time gets nearer. You will need to get to Heathrow of course.

If you call Airline Network, and you haven't got accommodation sorted, ask them about integrated travel fares as that is often the best deal. Guy I dealt with is called Adam - very helpful.

So if the Edinburgh-New York direct flight doesn't offer what I'm after (seat back tv's etc), do you know if the Glasgow-New York Continental direct flight does? Is it a different type of aircraft?

Thanks

Martin

Best to check the Continental website for plane type - have never flown Continental. It is direct so it will save you time and a bit of hassle but there is little or no price competition and I don't think Continental have an "Economy Plus" class. You pays your money.....

Generally I would recommend BA and their World Traveller Plus (Too tall for comfort in economy), but at the moment for the dates you have mentioned it is £950 inc taxes.
We are flying WTP to JFK for Thanksgiving from Dublin via HEathrow for about £600 so if you can wait prices will drop.
All fares to US rise after end of June so you are travelling in peak season.
Make sure you let whichever airline know its for your honeymoon, there's always the chance of an upgrade.