Dear armchair planning experts... I've been to Europe many times and our itineraries have been fairly straight ahead up until now. Let me lay this out for you... My sister and I are flying into London late September and my husband is joining us a week into our trip. We're paying cash for my sister's ticket (into LHR, out of Paris). My husband and I are using mileage points for our tickets and can only go in and out of Heathrow. My sister is returning two weeks into the trip, and my husband and I are staying an extra week, returning together. So that's three weeks for me. My sister wants to see Scotland and my husband wants to surf in southern France (near Bordeaux). I just want everyone to get along! Day 1: Sister and I fly from SF to Heathrow Day 2 - 3: Sleep in York. Day 4 - 6: Sleep in Edinburgh Day 7 - 8: Not sure??? Day 9 - 11: Meet husband in London and sleep there for three nights Day 12 - 14: Chunnel to Paris, connect to Amboise and do Loire Valley. Day 15 - 19: Move to southern coast. Sister trains back to Paris from Amboise and flies home alone Day 20: Either tough it out and train it back to London or fly back to Heathrow from Bordeaux (can't fly open jaws on mileage awards) Day 21: Return to SF
This is the most likely itinerary. We could also blow off France completely and my husband could try his luck surfing in Scotland or Cornwall. The problem is, the surf locations are very remote. It's a long way from London to Cornwall, the surf spots in Scotland are really off the beaten path... any help from you experts out there would be much appreciated. And don't forget... "keep on travelin!"
Posted by
Ann Arbor, Mi
3696 posts
Elizabeth... can't help much on the itinerary, but are you sure you cannot do open jaws on your mileage? I have done it many times and sometimes for less than the round trip. I just did a trip on miles from Detroit to Paris then to Frankfurt and back to Detroit from Frankfurt for only 60,000 miles on Delta. We had the week stay over in Paris included. American will also let you spend days in a stopover city without a penalty.
Posted by
OP
Pacifica, CA
6 posts
Thanks for the response! We're on United and their partners don't participate in the program. It's pretty stupid. Probably doing a commuter plane from Bordeaux to Heathrow is the best option (possibly cheaper and less harrowing). Ugh.
Posted by
Fredericksburg, VA, USA
409 posts
Elizabeth: You might want to call United's reservation number and double-check the availability of their partners. Yes, it will cost you a few bucks, but they can do things for you that are impossible on their website. Example: I am flying Dulles - London in July on points, but could not find a return leg. The folks at the reservation phone number were able to book our return on Air Canada. We also have flown United's partner, Lufthansa, many times.....all on points.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5848 posts
Elizabeth, Did you call United? Their partners do participate; it is just that the United website only lets you book United\Continental rewards ticket. For the other Star Alliance carriers, you have to go through an agent and ask.