New York via Europe?

[Mrmaxwell]

Hi all,

I am planning a trip to Europe over the Xmas break (Spain/France) but also want to 'stop over' in NYC. What are the best flight options for doing an ex-SYD trip to NYC via Europe? I don't mind coming back the same way or continuing home via DFW/LAX. Am WP with QF but don't mind non-one world options.

 

[casanovawa]

I'd do USDM myself...

 

[TomVexille]

If you really want a cash ticket, consider a RTW.

 

[Mattg]

If you want to pay using frequent flyer points, your best option is definitely a oneworld award.

If using cash, I'd suggest either a oneworld explorer RTW fare, or just book it as a Qantas multi-city booking with a RTW routing. It's possible to book (for example) Sydney-Paris-New York-Sydney using this method for around $4000 in economy (due to being peak season).

 

[casanovawa]

$4,000 in Y..... Yikes!!!

 

[Mattg]

$4,000 in Y..... Yikes!!!

Yeah, not great but
1. It's over Christmas & New Years and the OP wants to book 3 months out.
2. It's a RTW ticket
3. It's all on Qantas and oneworld airlines.

With that in mind, a oneworld RTW ticket might not be that much more expensive (as prices don't vary based on whether or not it's peak season) and would offer much more flexibility and the potential to add-on flights for more or less no extra cost.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Assuming you live in SYD I would compare both a SYD/CDG or MAD/SYD return fare & consider the possibility of using QF ff points for a partner award on IB MAD/JFK/MAD.

I would also double check the airfare SYD/JFK/SYD & like the above scenario look at availability for a partner award on IB JFK/MAD/JFK.

 

[dajop]

Also consider booking three one way flights. A quick glance at kayak.com.au on random dates around year end showed total in the order of $3200. That was on QF code (on EK) to Europe, BA/IB to NYC and CX home from EWR. Cheaper options were also available on other carriers. Otherwise if you don't mind going back to AU via Europe you could look at EK or SQ who may allow stopovers in MXP or FRA respectively enroute to JFK.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Also consider booking three one way flights. A quick glance at kayak.com.au on random dates around year end showed total in the order of $3200. That was on QF code (on EK) to Europe, BA/IB to NYC and CX home from EWR. Cheaper options were also available on other carriers. Otherwise if you don't mind going back to AU via Europe you could look at EK or SQ who may allow stopovers in MXP or FRA respectively enroute to JFK.

You could possibly get in down to just two fare components ie half a return fare SYD to Europe via the EH & half a return fare SYD to Europe via the AP otherwise 3 x one way fares will start to get expensive.

I'd maybe contact a good TA to price it as the trouble with doing it with online websites is there are very few websites that will price an airfare eg MAD via JFK to SYD as a through airfare with a free stopover and instead will charge a MAD/JFK sector then a JFK/SYD sector which is unnecessary.

I would be interested to know if anyone has had any luck with a particular website that will allow a stopover of a few days without charging sectors.

 

[dajop]

You could possibly get in down to just two fare components ie half a return fare SYD to Europe via the EH & half a return fare SYD to Europe via the AP otherwise 3 x one way fares will start to get expensive.

I'd maybe contact a good TA to price it as the trouble with doing it with online websites is there are very few websites that will price an airfare eg MAD via JFK to SYD as a through airfare with a free stopover and instead will charge a MAD/JFK sector then a JFK/SYD sector which is unnecessary.

I would be interested to know if anyone has had any luck with a particular website that will allow a stopover of a few days without charging sectors.

I find kayak (and it's different local sites) very useful at picking up some of the various combinations on offer - but not always. It's at least a good starting point. For example, it seems to be quoting MAD-DFW/stopover/DFW-SYD for the same price as AA quotes for MAD-DFW-SYD (no stopover).

It also came up with a BA fare (booking through the travel agent formerly known as bestflights) for ~$2800 and the cheapest it showed for 3 one-ways was around $2500 AUD including a very cheap fare on Norwegian 787 across the atlantic.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I find kayak (and it's different local sites) very useful at picking up some of the various combinations on offer - but not always. It's at least a good starting point.

For example, it seems to be quoting MAD-DFW/stopover/DFW-SYD for the same price as AA quotes for MAD-DFW-SYD (no stopover).

It also came up with a BA fare (booking through the travel agent formerly known as bestflights) for ~$2800 and the cheapest it showed for 3 one-ways was around $2500 AUD including a very cheap fare on Norwegian 787 across the atlantic.

That's interesting to know. I guess the first thing to check is what the airfare is without a stop for your planned trip eg MAD/xDFW/SYD then use that as the benchmark when trying to add a stopover.

If you are then charged more, it's not so much that the fare doesn't allow a stopover, just that the software isn't programmed to charge a through fare MAD to SYD with a stop enroute & automatically wants to charge a separate fare component each time you break the journey.

Sometimes the only way to do it would be to book direct with the airline or a TA.

 

[ftm]

No need to do a series of one ways. Depending on the desired destinations in Europe, there is a good Swiss Air and Lufthansa fare that would work. Also a Finnair. But you will need a TA to build it as none of the online sites can deal with the combinations required.

If it is just NYC and London, then QF/BA also works.

Happy to help more if you let me know the specifics...

 

[vitagen]

Why not SQ? They do Sin-Fra-Jfk.... You can get an award ticket and pay for stop over in Fra? Im sure they would do the same with revenue ticket.

 

[dmitri]

I flew from Dublin to NYC in January this year on Air Lingus. I recommend this route as US customs is on the Dublin side, it saves alot of time getting through JFK. Also the Air Lingus flights were very cheap.

 

[stoneman]

Thanks for that tip dimitri, that route appeals to me!

 

[casanovawa]

I had a look on QF using points for NYC to Dublin with Air Lingus and the taxes and surcharges were MUCH cheaper than doing it JFK to LHR for instance...

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Thanks for the many tips.

LHR is not needed was thinking more along the lines of FRA/CDG/BCN then onto NYC.

I like the SG option of SIN-FRA-JFK, I also like the Air Lingus option with Dublin US customs. I am also entertaining finally using my USDM account with this months promo and rolling the dice but not sure on availability during peak.

Mmmmmm the options.