Scheduled Flights versus Charter Flights....?

[Madeye]

Hello!

I've finally booked a flight for my trip in October and the best i could find was a scheduled flight from Manchester to Orlando International with a stop to re-fuel at Boston for £360 p/p.

Last year I flew on a charter flight with MyTravel and was just wondering if anyone knows the difference??? :confused:

Should i expect it to be better or worse???

Thanks! :)

[Slowhand]

Generally speaking, a scheduled flight is more likely to depart on time and invariably you will also find more legroom in the cabins.
Apart from that, you would hardly notice any difference.

[ukwdwnut]

we went chartered in 02 never again leg room was cramped, but the main reason was a very narrow seat and it was really uncomfortable during the flight, could not see the movie on the aisle screen as i was near the window had to crick my neck to watch it so i gave up in the end, the food was not upto much either, no extra drinks :(

so i am only gonna fly scheduled from now on

[Madeye]

Oooo so scheduled are generally better??? Wow i'm even more exited now!
Thanks for your quick replies! :D :thumbs:

[ukwdwnut]

but they are dearer, you can get some very good deals tho even with virgin :D thru third parties

[Andy B]

Yes as a rule scheduled flights are better, also if a charter flight plane is taken out of service as ours was in 1998 due to a bird strike in the engine then there is not a replacement plane or alternative flight to take you. We were delayed over 24 hours waiting for a plane and eventually were placed on a scheduled Virgin flight.

[simbo]

How did you get this price? I can never find cheap flights! How long before I go do I need to book flights to get the best deals.

Someone let me in on the secret.

Thanks

[Melfuzz]

Secret is do not go direct the american companies tend to have stops at their hub airport means your travel time is a few hours more but you save money. Also book to travel on weekdays not weekends.

[ukwdwnut]

my cousin once did a non direct flight and it took her 15hrs overall :eek:

[Keith]

my cousin once did a non direct flight and it took her 15hrs overall :eek:

yeah.. I really like us air but they go to their hub first then there's a wait then to Orlando. We were getting to manchester airport about 6am and not getting to our hotel at Disney till 6am (uk time) the next day! 24hrs up and travelling :( that's the extreme case, but even best case it was 3 hrs at airport, 8hours flight, 2 hours wait, 2hours flight, 1hour to disney :/

Direct is MUCH better

[pluto]

There are some good savings with the U.S airlines and the service is better than a charter. but yes the changing planes thing can be a pain... its good to check when booking how long the layover is at the HUB. It can be as little as an hour which is barely enough time to get to the second aircraft... but as Keith mentioned sometimes it can be quite a lenghthy wait

[Vikki]

I think there is definately a place for indirect flights, and to be honest, it woulnd't bother me to go indirect going.......since you're so happy when you're on the way. I think it'd be the journey home which would be a slog.

I think I'd rather pay the extra bit and fly direct.....

[Andy B]

Most of our trips have been indirect, either due to combining it with a visit elsewhere in the states or just as the journey. While it does add to the time taken if the total time, layover wait and arrival time is ok it is an acceptable alternative to save money or to charter flights where the overall service or back up/ delays may be more likely.

Andy B

[ukwdwnut]

yeah.. I really like us air but they go to their hub first then there's a wait then to Orlando. We were getting to manchester airport about 6am and not getting to our hotel at Disney till 6am (uk time) the next day! 24hrs up and travelling :( that's the extreme case, but even best case it was 3 hrs at airport, 8hours flight, 2 hours wait, 2hours flight, 1hour to disney :/

Direct is MUCH better


have to agree with that mate, on the extreme cases its 2 days out of your holiday :eek:, even when direct you dont get much time to do anything after arriving at around 4pm us time as you are soo tired, we just go shopping then spend the rest of the time at the villa in the pool :D

[Bev]

we flew to orlando via Atlanta in April this year. First part was fine, we landed in Atlanta on time, collected our baggage and cleared customs. Problems started when the internal flight was delayed due to dreadful storms. By the time we got to Orlando we had been travelling 24 hours.The kids were asleep on the floor whilst I queued in the car rental line for over an hour. Got to the desk only to be told that even though I had booked and piad for an 8 seater van, all the cars were out and had to wait until someone brought one back!!
Coming home we nearly missed our connecting flight at Atlanta. We followed the baggage claim signs but our luggage had gone directly to the new plane and we were then the other side of security. it was amad panic to get back through and to the gate which was closing.
Never again, I will stick to Virgin direct.

[metalguru]

Yep Virgin direct can't beat it.

[PaulaK]

We have flown Delta via atlanta outbound and JFK inbound and it was all pretty painless. Each stopover was around 2 hours. JFK was a little boring because we didn't have to do anything but Atlanta was fine, by the time we'd cleared customs, had a coffee and found our next gate it was time to board. I just had enough time to run into the Disney Store for 5 minutes retail therapy inbetween flights :whistle:

The seats are usually bigger on scheduled than charter and then of course there are never anywhere near as many delays. I'm sure you'll be fine. :)

[Madeye]

I'm not going to be changing planes, just stopping at Boston to re-fuel. I don't think i even get off the plane. Has anyone else had experience of this???

[PaulaK]

I'm not going to be changing planes, just stopping at Boston to re-fuel. I don't think i even get off the plane. Has anyone else had experience of this???

I'd check that if I were you. Usually you have to clear customs whever you touchdown first. Even when we had the old re-fuel stops at bangor, we had to clear customs there. I may be wrong but I doubt you'll even stay on the same plane. :unsure: