Why on earth fly direct? A personal view.

[Just_Pete]

I think all we can ascertain is that it has to be a fairly personal and specific decision.

For me, I do enjoy an indirect, as I quite enjoy the experience of travelling, and it's all part of the adventure for me. Plus I live very close to LHR (but also only realistically one hour max from LGW). And if travelling with BA/Virgin, you generally get a better quality of aircraft, although there is now the refurbed fleet from LGW. I'm also more comfortable doing this as a solo traveller then when with friends or family, as it's a lot smoother with less variables.

I also like direct, and my flight in two weeks is a direct one, as it was a quick impulsive booking, and you know what you're getting (it was also less than £400, so that helped) and gives me my first chance to try the aforementioned refurbed 777's out of LGW.

[Disneysocks]

We are seriously considering indirect for our first ever trip in 2020 as the Newcastle direct prices are so high and there are 5 of us travelling so the savings could be quite significant.
I am not really tempted to drive to Manchester or Edinburgh for a direct flight as the drive home after the holiday doesn't appeal at all but I suppose this could change if the price was right.
The best so far seems to be BA indirect.

[mrsbenny]

Originally Posted by Disneysocks

We are seriously considering indirect for our first ever trip in 2020 as the Newcastle direct prices are so high and there are 5 of us travelling so the savings could be quite significant.
I am not really tempted to drive to Manchester or Edinburgh for a direct flight as the drive home after the holiday doesn't appeal at all but I suppose this could change if the price was right.
The best so far seems to be BA indirect.

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We get the train back from Manchester rather than drive. Would do the same if we fly from Edinburgh.

[GenoviaPrincess]

Originally Posted by BevS97

£200 or £300 for a family of 4 is a saving of £1000. For that we can take the stress. When it’s just the two of us we may feel differently.

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There are just the two of us and obviously I am speaking anecdotally for myself, rather than about what other people may wish to do. Similarly, this applies to me at the moment and may change as and when our financial situation does. What other people do with their money is none of my business.

[Loobylou_82]

I prefer to get to my destination asap. If I am doing Orlando I prefer to fly direct , if other members of my family are coming with us and are on a budget and want to fly indirect cos it's quite a bit cheaper then I will go indirect with them.
When I go to Australia I do stop offs in different places and stay 3 or 4 nights . Last year enroute to Australia we stopped off at Dubai and Bangkok and had a few nights at each.
When I want to see lots of different places I book a cruise.
Each to there own, you do what suits you best and in your price range.

[mrsbenny]

Originally Posted by BevS97

We are quite happy with an indirect but as we live nowhere near London we don’t have much choice in the matter. It’s pay way over the odds for the one direct flight a week or leave from another airport. As soon as I start factoring in a drive and an overnight stay then I think I might as well fly to my stopover. Whether that’s in Europe or the USA.


However, My friend is a single mum. Nervous traveller. And she always books direct from Newcastle. She pays significantly more than we do. But she is more comfortable doing that and I can understand that.
And if we left home at the same time I do think she’d be at her hotel many hours before us.

Our next trip involves a flight to London. Overnight in London and then an indirect via NYC. It was cheap but it’s not for the nervous traveller.

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Did you end up booking the BA flights to Heathrow? Are you stopping there overnight? Just wondering for future trips. Prices are going up and I need to travel further for cheaper flights! Only been from Newcastle or the last few years we have gone from Manchester. Thanks

[duchy]

When it comes to regional airports and however you fly is indirect I think I'd prefer to transit anywhere rather than Heathrow so can see why somewhere like Frankfurt is more attractive ... not CDG though !

[ERICSMUM]

Originally Posted by BevS97

£200 or £300 for a family of 4 is a saving of £1000. For that we can take the stress. When it’s just the two of us we may feel differently.

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Exactly, that’s a massive saving.

[duchy]

Originally Posted by ERICSMUM

Exactly, that’s a massive saving.

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For a lot of families that kind of saving would be the difference in making it affordable or not. It's the equivalent of nearly two weeks in a villa or Disney passes for three !

[spinone lover]

i Prefer to have no stress or delays and once I’m seated on the plane it’s great to know when I depart I will be at my destination and I’ve been doing the same route 3 times a year since 1998.