Ready to Book Air

So I assume BA means British Air, correct? Why not book with them directly ? If you don't, you may not be able to chose a seat, as I understand it.
In either case, have a great trip!

Hi Pat

yes, B A is British Airways.

If I book through British Airways Lisbon to Austin, I have to transfer planes at Heathrow and I am trying to avoid Heathrow coming home. You have to pay additional fees flying to the USA from. Heathrow.

I have to change terminals if I fly from Lisbon to Heathrow and I think that I will have to go through security..

And then I still have to go through customs in the US A.

I believe that it was a few hundred dollars more to book through British Airways

Plus I have a Citi credit card that is partnered with American.

Also, I have an American Express credit card that is partnered with Delta.

Besides rewards, I get other perks.. The reason that I am not using rewards this trip is that I do not have enough rewards for either American or Delta {but I am thinking of the next trip]. Hopefully there will be another one.

I can choose my seat on British Airways but I have to go to the British Airways site and yes, pay extra. Even if I book through British Airways, you still have to pay to choose your seat.

If you book thru Delta you will not have a segment on BA as they are not in the same alliance. Delta, Air France and KLM are related.

Were you looking at one of the online travel agency websites to see a combo of Delta and BA?

BA= British Airways. Some forum members take offense at shortening/changing its name ( just so you know)

A few things to keep in mind. You will pay to select seats on British Airways if you want to do this prior to the 24 hour check in window. You can select seats if you purchase through American, you just have to sign into BA website with their record locator to do so. I recommend paying for an extra legroom seat with your health issues.

I am also quite surprised at a Delta/BA combination.

Hi Carol and Pam and anyone else who might be interested,

We have one non stop flight a day from Austin to London and it is on British Airways.

Going to the Delta website, I am offered the one non stop on British Airways I am also offered other flights Austin to London but these flights all have one or two stops.

American offers me the same one non stop Austin to London on British Airways as Delta.

I suspect United might also offer the same one non stop.

And of course British Airways offers the one non stop.

I have flown this flight twice and the plane is a very large one but it does fill up.

Hi Carol now retired,

Thank you for letting me know that I should say British Airways and not use BA. Somewhere and somehow I have seen B A used and that is why I have used it.

But now I have gone back and edited all my B A's.

I plan to pay extra to select my seat on British Airways and I do that right after I book the flight.

Hi kernow 1300

Why is Global Entry irrelevant.?

Leaving from the USA, it includes TSA pre but I was under the impression that it makes leaving Europe faster and easier or entering the USA after an international flight faster and easier???

Am I wrong?

it is unnecessary to change all BA to British Airways. The comment was that it is not British Air. It is British Airways. The abbreviation BA is still correct.

Global Entry means nothing outside the US. It helps you in the US, does nothing in Europe or England.

The Global part is sort of like the World part in World Series (plus a baseball team or two in Canada)

Thank you Nigel

As you know, I have not traveled much especially internationally so even getting ready for my trip is an education.

But, I am learning

I just looked at this multi-city trip on the Delta and American Airlines websites.

If you book with Delta, the non-stop flight to London from Austin is on Virgin Atlantic, not British Airways.

The return from Lisbon is on Delta and you can change planes at JFK or Boston.

The price in Economy for the June dates I looked at is $1468.

If you book with American, the non-stop flight to London is on British Airways.

The return flight from Lisbon with only one stop is on American with a plane change in Philadelphia.

The price for the same dates, same class (regular Economy, not the cheaper one) is $1410.

So the real question is which airport you want for your plane change in the US and how long a layover you need to go through immigration and customs, with your Global Entry.

Virgin Atlantic makes sense—-they are a Delta Partner. BA is not.

We have not flown Virgin Atlantic, but I know that my son prefers it to British Airways for his flights from SFO to Europe. I wonder if they offer free seat selection—- that might be an important consideration for bostonphi.

Thank you Sasha

I need a nap and then I will check out Delta and American again.

I am leaning towards American. Do you think that 4 1/2 hours is enough to go through customs and transfer to my plane to Austin in Philadelphia.

Yes, I think 4.5 hours is enough for your transfer at PHL. Global Entry will help speed this up, but it's still an adequate time window for most contingencies. And presumably a shorter travel time overall than the alternative through BOS. I don't think Global Entry will speed up your departure from Europe though. That's a pretty simple process. Note that you'll have some border formalities moving from the UK to the Continent during your trip.

@ Nigel, perhaps it's called Global Entry because it helps Americans returning from anywhere on the globe. Seems like an odd expression though. Point taken re the World Series.

Global Entry will get you to baggage claim faster, but the real slowdown with connecting stateside after an international arrival is collecting your bags and rechecking them. Having elite status with an airline or flying in a premium cabin expedites that process a bit, but it still takes a significant portion of the minimum connection time. I prioritize connections in Europe on the way home for that reason. Would LIS-AMS-AUS work with your preference for Delta/KLM? Approximately 3.5 hour layover in Amsterdam and your bags would be checked through to Austin in Lisbon. At this point, Global Entry would get you to baggage claim quickly on landing, and then you'd depart the airport as soon as you have your bags. I wouldn't purchase tickets just yet, but I also understand that other people operate differently.

hi Nancy,

I travel light: one spinner and a carry on. I will probably be taking my spinner on the plane with me. I believe that I am allowed one spinner and a carry on that can fit under the seat. I am not certain whether or not I will have a purse.

If I can not bring my spinner on the plane with me, I will check my spinner and pray that it arrives at the correct airport . I will keep my valuables and necessities in the carry on bag.

KLM has recently begun flying out of Austin to Amsterdam. I think they fly like three non stops a week. I will check it out.

Hello Sasha and Lola,

Sasha, you are right. If I book Austin to London through Delta, I will be put on Virgin Atlantic. VA is partnered with Delta and I can even use my Delta rewards on VA. VA has just recently begun flying non stop between Austin and London. There was an announcement on their. website.

It is only recently that Austin has an international terminal and I can not keep up with all the flights now offering service between Austin and cities in Europe and probably other places.

I went to the Virgin Atlantic website and it is impressive but if I booked through VA, I would be taken to Heathrow from Lisbon (going home) and have less than 2 hours to change planes. I would also have to change terminals.

This comes down to preference, I believe. I dont mind Heathrow, but I know plenty that do.

KLM will fly Lisbon-Amsterdam-Austin.
Delta will fly Lisbon-Boston-Austin
American has connections in Dallas, Philidelphia and elsewhere
TAP (Portugal's airline) has connections in Miami to an American flight.

I'm a Oneworld guy, so I usually choose flights on American, BA, etc. I've done the BA non-stop LHR-AUS and at least in my case, it was lovely the last time I did it. Virgin Atlantic also have a non-stop I believe.

If its me, I connect outside the US if I can, as any connections Stateside will require you to reclaim your luggage (assuming you check) and recheck it. That is where a significant chunk of time is lost connecting, in my experience.

Hi Tom formerly of St. Louis

Correct me if I am wrong but wouldn't I have to pay some sort of fees and taxes over the cost of the ticket to fly from Heathrow to the USA and these additional fees and taxes really add up.

Maybe you have flown Heathrow many times and are comfortable with it but I have only flown it two times and found it overwhelming. And that was changing planes within the same terminal.

If I changed planes flying home from Lisbon, I would also have to change terminals.

If I checked my luggage in Lisbon, I believe that the airline will pass it on and supposedly and hopefully it will arrive on the same plane as me when I get in to Austin. I know that travelers are being encouraged to avoid checking luggage if possible.

I was going to remark that flying Delta will more likely see you on a Virgin Atlantic flight as Delta own a 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic, while American partner with British Airways (perfectly acceptable to refer to them as BA!). American and BA are linked as partners in the oneworld global alliance group (that’s not to say they are owned by the same company - they just have a partnership agreement).

We have a Delta Amex Skymiles credit card and fly Delta whenever we can, we prefer it to United and American.

American would be my last choice among Delta, United and American.

Occasionally, we might fly another airline if the fare is significantly lower on another airline. I don't understand why Delta would put you on BA.

Flying Delta, we have flown on Air France and KLM, which are excellent airlines (they are partners with Delta). United partners with Lufthansa, which is also excellent.

The Heathrow departure fee you're talking about is rolled into the purchase price of the ticket - the only place you'll see it is itemized on your receipt. If you pay for a flight departing Heathrow with miles, the departure fee is added to any fees your airline has for redeeming miles when booking the award ticket. For example, the airline would collect $192, as opposed to $10. It sounds like you're paying for your ticket, not redeeming miles, so you wouldn't need to budget extra for it.

Hi geovagriffith

I made a mistake in my original post and have just updated it. I am talking about my saying booking through Delta and being put on BA. If I book through Delta, I will be put on VA

I also have a Delta Amex Express Sky Miles with them as well but I do not have enough rewards to use rewards. Buying rewards is too expensive.

With American, I have a Citi Credit Card AA Advantage but also do not have enough miles.

Earning miles towards the next trip ....

Hi Nancy,

Thanks for helping me to understand departure fees leaving from Heathrow.

When do you buy your tickets?

Yes, I made a mistake in my original post thinking that Delta might put me on BA. I have just added an UPDATE and correction on the post.

Delta puts me on VA and American puts me on BA.

Whichever one I book, it is getting exciting.

For a big deal trip like yours, if I were helping my parents, I would recommend 4-6 months ahead of the trip. If you find a price you like now, that's fine too. If you book this early, check your reservation occasionally to make sure nothing changes significantly (like a 4.5 hr layover in Philadephia becomes 46 minutes or a route is canceled). If you pre-select your seat, check on that too, because if an aircraft type is swapped, you may end up in a different seat that is less desirable.

In all honesty, we book 4-6 weeks ahead, partly because we're still working and value the flexibility. This would be anxiety-producing for many people, but for now, it works for us.

Regarding the Heathrow “departure fees”, there are two parts to that, and both are rolled into the price of the ticket, not collected at the airport.

The big one for international travelers is the Air Passenger Duty (APD), which is high for US-bound flights because it is based on flight distance and the cabin flown (so it is higher for business class travelers). But—-and this is the important part—-it only applies to flights which originate within the UK. So if you are starting at an airport outside the UK (such as Lisbon) and merely connecting at Heathrow, the APD does NOT apply (as long as your Heathrow layover is under 24 hours).

https://onemileatatime.com/guides/uk-air-passenger-duty/

The smaller fee, which applies to all passengers, is the Passenger Charge, which supposedly goes to help cover airport services. Currently it is in the range of £32-£43, depending whether the most recent price increase has been approved.

https://onemileatatime.com/news/heathrow-raising-passenger-charge/

So, while one might have other reasons to avoid a connection through Heathrow—-it can be a confusing airport, especially if one must change terminals—- the Airport Passenger Duty is not a problem.

Edit: I just checked the price breakdown on British Airways tickets for 2 separate 2023 European trips.

Trip A has a 3-night stay in London on our way home, so APD’s do apply. Total taxes and fees on the ticket $352, of which $242.40 is the APD per person. (This is a Business Class flight, so APD is nearly double what it would be in Economy).

Trip B has our homebound flight originating at Bologna, with a 19-hour (overnight) layover at Heathrow. Total taxes and fees $103 per person.

This has been an important lesson for me, as I just learned we can save around $500 on our trips by planning our “London time” on our way TO Europe, rather than saving it for the end, on our way home.

Lola, that's a great explainer for the fees when flying out of Heathrow. Thanks for sharing the details!

Nancy,

Booking air four to six weeks before trip is kinda cutting it but you live in Houston and have two (is it) huge airports. Do you ever have trouble getting a flight by waiting until close to your trip?

Lola,

Thank you for your detailed explanation of flights from Heathrow.

Phil, you're correct, two huge airports, one of which is a United hub. We haven't had any difficulties getting where we want to go for that reason. I wouldn't recommend such a tight timeframe for everyone, but it suits us. In your case, I think getting the combination of flights that suits you best means buying that itinerary when you see the price that feels right.

I'm curious about the two huge Houston airports... years ago when Houston was the nearest big town the choices were Interplanetary and Hobby. Nobody could have thought that Hobby was big, let alone huge. Basically a place for planes from Love Field to land (there was that little kerfuffle between Southwest and American).

Has Hobby taken growth pills or has somewhere else become the other huge airport? I seem to remember that Interplanetary, other than being miles from anything, was fairly large...

It's been a few years....

British Air charges for seat selection on just about EVERY fare so keep that in mind Your savings go fast.

Delta and Virgin will give you at least basic seats without an upcharge.

It is British Airways. And they do give you a seat without an “upcharge”. You just don’t get to choose which seat it is without a fee, unless you wait until online checkin. Then it is free.

I want to pick my own seat whatever airline I go with. If I fly BA, I will pay the extra to pick my own seat in advance..

Does anyone have any idea what it costs to pick your own seat on BA or does it depend on the flight?

I flew BA 2019 and I was surprised by how much it costs to pick your own seat in advance but it was still doable.

Hi Nigel,

Houston now has two major airports. I have never used either of them so I am not an authority but I am aware of this.

British Airways does not have a chart for seat selection fees on their website any more, and it is hard to find information online. This blog is from 2021 and uses old numbers, so they are no doubt low.

https://www.headforpoints.com/2021/04/01/does-british-airways-charge-for-seat-selection-2/

If you have actually made a booking they will show a seat map with prices. In economy they vary, depending on location (back of the plane is less expensive) and type ( exit row seats are the priciest). I can’t tell you what we have paid because we have only flown in business class on long-haul flights ( thanks to miles). But I would expect seats in Economy to be at least $50 for a flight from the US to London.

Hopefully someone who has actually done this recently can report back. You may have to start. New thread to get their attention.

Thank you Lola

When I flew BA in 2019, I feel like it was something like $35 to pick my own seat between Austin and London. I think that I had to pay extra London to Copenhagen but that I can not recall.

I was surprised that I had to pay to pick my seat early and thought that it was expensive but doable. It did not break the bank but you are buying a ticket for a flight. Why should you have to pay extra to pick your seat early?

I had not done this before but I had not traveled internationally before.

They sure nickel and dime us.

Whatever the cost, I am paying to pick my seat early (at the time of booking).