Itinerary advice

[Roflco]

Hi all,

Been a long time reader, but only registered recently (otherwise I would post this in the flight search assistance and offer a bounty!)

I'm planning my honeymoon trip at the moment, and I'm still wrapping my head around the best way to structure my itinerary. My finance and I live in Brisbane, but we're getting married in NZ. Our goals are to go to Mexico (Yucatan / Cancun), and Cuba for the honeymoon. We could depart from Brisbane or Auckland, depending on whichever has the best connection.

I'm a Virgin Velocity gold member, but I'm not desperate for points - if I can save $1000 by flying another airline I'd rather do that. Not enough points to book a flight or upgrade (only 50K) -happy travelling economy.

What does the AFF group think? Should I go AKL -> LAX - Cancun -> Havana, then back again? Or should I go via DFW or Buenos Aires?

Also - how easy is it to travel each leg on separate airlines? e.g. book AKL -> LAX on Air NZ, then switch to Delta or another US carrier for the Cancun leg. Is it easy enough to collect luggage then re-check in on another airline?

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF Roflco and congrats on impending nuptials.

On a honeymoon trip, but also anytime I think, you should try to stick with the same airline/airline alliance where there are international connections involved. You get a lot more protection if there is a problem. For instance, if you fly Qantas to LAX and then switch to Delta, Delta won't care if Qantas is late - you will be a 'no show'. and probably lose the fare. If its QF connecting to AA and you miss the AA flight, AA will automatically re-book you on a following flight. Also, if your first flight leaves late, there are many hours of stress involved to see if you'll be OK at the other end - you don't need that on honeymoon.

If you did book such that you need to change airlines at LAX (ie separate tickets), you should allow at LEAST 3 hrs transit and probably better with 4 hours. Or, if you needed to have more time, there are things you can do not far away from the airport which are interesting. Besides the time to take your bags to a different terminal, there is the hassle of checking in - long queues are the norm, just to use their machines.

Both DFW and LAX are big, busy airports, so I don't think there is much difference. BA is a bit disorganised.

Personally, I would go to Cancun from SYD or BNE via LAX using Virgin/Delta or Qantas/American. Go via AKL if it saves $ by all means.

ps there are a number of Trip Reports here about Cuba and Cancun - they'll help you plan when you get there.

 

[Roflco]

Thanks!

If I did stick with one alliance (e.g. Virgin/Delta) should I keep it all on the same ticket? Or can I book BNE - > LAX, and then LAX - Cancun separately and still get preferential treatment if a flight gets delayed, etc? I've noticed ocassionally some US specials pop up on Delta that I can't book through Virgin for the same price

 

[RooFlyer]

Yes, definitely keep it on the same ticket if you can. Not done the Virgin-Delta connection thing, so I don't know if you will be protected if on separate tickets, but my suspicion would be no.

Also, if separate ticket, I suspect you will have to pick up bags and re-check at LAX; hopefully others with personal experience will chime in.

I think Virgin/Delta is a 'partnership', not an 'alliance'. May be semantics, but in the airline game an 'alliance' (oneWorld, Skyteam, Star Alliance) is a more formal, closer relationship (although sometimes you have to wonder!!) whereas a 'partnership' is looser, usually related to codesharing flights and linking FF programs.

Delta is in SkyTeam; Virgin isn't (and not in any 'alliance').

 

[n7of9]

Have you thought of breaking up the legs to give yourself the option of choosing the cheapest fare without worrying about missed flights (with the added bonus of a more leisurely trip, time permitting)?

-Air NZ fly from Auckland direct to San Francisco - a wonderful city to spend time in and lots to do and see without needing to leave it (2 or 3 days is lovely city break)
-Virgin America and Delta fly direct from SFO to Cancun - the Yucatan peninsula is a beautiful part of the world with much culture (and please make time for Cozumel!), but while Cancun has ideal Caribbean waters it wouldn't be my first choice for a honeymoon destination (coughpy food and awful nightlife - Ibiza is classy compared to Cancun)
-getting to Havana from Cancun is quite close and should be relatively hassle free (i think on Aeromexico?)
-from Havana, you could start making your way back via a short stop in Cabo San Lucas, and then to west-coast USA and back south

Get your international flights sorted, AKL-SFO-AKL for example (which will also allow you to pounce on a sale fare), then choose the remainder of your flights according to your budget without having to match connections

 

[Roflco]

Yep - agree on Cancun. We're not going to be spending much time there, maybe 3-4 days to de-stress after the wedding and hang out in a resort. We'd then check out Tolum, Cozume, etc

re: Cabo San Lucas - are you recommending it because it's a great destination or because it's a good connection? I think on the way back we will need to go in a straight run from Havana. e.g. Havana > Cancun? -> DFO/SFO/LAX -> AKL/BNEQ

 

[n7of9]

I recommended Cabo as an option to break up the 30 hour transit cuba-mexico-usa-nz-au, and because it looks stunning (i haven't been yet). There's not much point going back to Cancun of you're only going to fly straight out?

 

[Boca68]

Yep - agree on Cancun. We're not going to be spending much time there, maybe 3-4 days to de-stress after the wedding and hang out in a resort. We'd then check out Tolum, Cozume, etc

re: Cabo San Lucas - are you recommending it because it's a great destination or because it's a good connection? I think on the way back we will need to go in a straight run from Havana. e.g. Havana > Cancun? -> DFO/SFO/LAX -> AKL/BNEQ

Cabo San Lucas is amazing! But as a layover for your journey, I would not recommend it. Only because it is out of the way for your journey. It is limited in flights. Would probably create an extra day in travel time to and from.

I did Cuba last year from Cancun. We had a slightly diferent itineary. We did MEL-LAX-MIA-CUN-HAV-CUN-DFW-(throw in a status run here. 5 stops in 2 days)-LAX-MEL.

I'd recommend Miami for a day or 2. Its quite fun and laid back. But if time is of the essence. recommend getting to Cancun from LAX via Mexico City. Underrated Mexcio City! For the flights from Cancun to Havana, we flew Interjet. Highly recommended. Easy to book online and seating is almost y+ in space. Think they also fly from Mexico City as well.

Also agree with trying to avoid staying in Cancun. It's basically the Gold Coast with a Hispanic accent. You tend to get stuck in your resort a little. (tip if you stay in Cancun, forget taxis to get about, just use the buses, cheap, every 5 minutesand run up and down the Zoneria Hotel strip).But honeymooners may want that? Get to Cozumel or Merida. See Chichen Itza.

Good luck and congratulations on the nuptials. Best wishes to both of you.

 

[Roflco]

Thanks for all the advice. Looks like we might hang out at Tulum for a few days instead of Cancun!

Also, United have a pretty good promo going at the moment, so might book everything through them and see if they can status match VA gold with their current status match offer