Indirect flights to New York

[LiggyB]

Looking to go in Feb half term for our first trip. Direct flights have now sold out (and those that remain are way over our budget).

What's the consensus on indirect? Any advice? The one I've seen is via Amsterdam? How do they work with luggage, and do you go back into the terminal to change planes? Do you clear security twice? We have bever done an indirect flight before so all information appreciated.

There are four of us, youngest child is 16, and for three nights I've seen a wide choice of hotels for about £2800 which didn't seem bad, compared to over 4.5k for direct?

Thanks, I appreciate your help!

[Guest]

I wouldn’t want to fly indirect to NY, what a faff for a relatively short flight and for a three night stay that will cut into it. Also Schipol is massive and I particularly wouldn’t want to transfer there.

Assume you are not flying from London?

[neilhd]

We did it a couple of weeks ago, going via Madrid with Iberia on the way out. To be honest, it was fine. Quick hop in the morning to Madrid, couple of hours there in the very nice terminal, then onto NYC. Not much different to just getting a later flight from London to NYC. We arrived at about 7pm I think - a bit later than I normally like to, but not the end of the world.

Our luggage was checked all the way through so we just dropped it at Gatwick and picked it up in JFK. When we got off at Madrid they were asking for people with connections and they bussed us over to the right terminal - no 2nd security.

However we went direct on the way home - last thing I'd want to do is fly overnight then have to land somewhere else, wait around, connect, fly again... when I'm going home I just want to go home!

[Mallky555]

Where r u flying from? I went last feb half term with my 2 daughters man-Heathrow-jfk
£1800 5 nights at the Row hote in Times Square x

[Peko]

Dates, origin airport and number of hotel rooms required will obviously impact, but I can see plenty of package options on ba.com for less than £2500 for 4 people (that would be flying economy from London and staying in one room in a decent midtown Manhattan hotel, resort fees may apply).

There are more flights to NYC from London than pretty much any long haul destination in the world, the chances of them selling out are minimal. If you've searched for dates that don't involve a Saturday night stay, that could well be driving the price up.

Regarding connecting elsewhere in Europe, on a single ticket baggage will be checked through, you won't claim it at the connection point. You may or may not have reclear security, depending on the airport layout (and sometimes even which gates are used). I'm not an expert on this at Schiphol, but I think in general you wouldn't have to reclear security for this connection, but there are circumstances when it might be necessary).

[BevS97]

You do generally reckless security for schiphol. It’s not a bad airport to transfer through but I’d prefer to fly direct to NYC. You can be there by noon and gain a half day on your trip.

[LiggyB]

Thanks for all your advice. Much appreciated. I will now have a look again with these factors in mind.