Flights to Orlando-which airline/stop over?

23Skidoo

Hi All

I'm looking into booking a much-postponed trip to Orlando for myself and the husband this coming November. Since Aer Lingus are too expensive and the fact that they don't fly every day is restrictive, I've narrowed it down to two choices. I'm just looking to get opinions to see what other people think would be the best option. (Also bearing in mind that neither of us have flown further than France before - this is our first long-haul experience).

First up is Continental with a stop over in Newark for 2 hours 45 mins. Second choice is Delta with a stop over in Atlanta for about 3 hours. Since neither flight would get us in to Orlando til late at night, I thought it might be possible to have dinner or something when we get to either airport during the stop over. Both flights are coming in around the 1000 euro mark for both of us.

I know it will depend on the airport we ultimately choose, but what happens during the stop? Do you need to check in again and go through security? Or do you stay on the departures side until your next flight? Would you have time to get a meal or somthing? And which airline would be best in terms of service/comfort on the trip over?

Thanks

lynchie

You wont have to check in again as you will have your boarding card for your connecting flight issued in Dublin. You will have to collect ur bags and drop them on another carriage belt and then proceed through security again. 3 hours in Atlanta is plenty of time to get some food.

m.j.w

Hi, dont know if its of any interest to you but I booked flights yesterday for 2 weeks at end of august with continental for 445 euro return. 30TH AND 31ST of august both have these prices and the stop of in new york is only i hr 45 mins

flutered

is there not an offer advertised on rte tv for 7 nights hotel + flights from tour america.ie. @ 499.00 euro

ncmc

I have never travelled with Delta, but I have flown with Continental and would highly recommend. Newark is a nice airport and there is a good food court with plenty of food options. As the previous poster said, you will not have to check in again, but you do have to pick up your bags and drop at a different spot but it doesn't take long and it is clearly signposted. COntinental have nice food (as far as airline food goes) and good entertainment options. I would not hesitate to fly with them again.

m.j.w

ncmc wrote: »

I have never travelled with Delta, but I have flown with Continental and would highly recommend. Newark is a nice airport and there is a good food court with plenty of food options. As the previous poster said, you will not have to check in again, but you do have to pick up your bags and drop at a different spot but it doesn't take long and it is clearly signposted. COntinental have nice food (as far as airline food goes) and good entertainment options. I would not hesitate to fly with them again.

hi, was gonna start a thread on this but maybe you can help me. just wondering how much luggage you can check in with continental. seen the page on thier website but its a bit confussing

ncmc

It was a couple of years ago that I flew with Continental, but I think their luggage allowance was very generous. It was 2 bags per person of up to 23kg each, so 46kg per person. It may have come down a bit since then though.

Funny I just booked flights to New York last night with Continental, as they were much cheaper than our glorious national carrier, and I forgot to check the luggage allowance!

lord lucan

ncmc wrote: »

It was a couple of years ago that I flew with Continental, but I think their luggage allowance was very generous. It was 2 bags per person of up to 23kg each, so 46kg per person. It may have come down a bit since then though.

Funny I just booked flights to New York last night with Continental, as they were much cheaper than our glorious national carrier, and I forgot to check the luggage allowance!

Continental allow the first case free up to 23kg,2nd piece will cost $45 iirc. Most of the transatlantic carriers seem to be operating a similar system now.

23Skidoo

Thanks for the replies. Just realised now, the Continental flights will be much longer than the Delta flights, since it's 3 and a half hours or something like that to go from Newark to Orlando but only 1hr40 from Atlanta. Overall it makes the amount of time airborne a lot longer. I just don't know if I trust Delta though having heard some bad things about their service before...

lord lucan

23Skidoo wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. Just realised now, the Continental flights will be much longer than the Delta flights, since it's 3 and a half hours or something like that to go from Newark to Orlando but only 1hr40 from Atlanta. Overall it makes the amount of time airborne a lot longer. I just don't know if I trust Delta though having heard some bad things about their service before...

They schedule the flight down to Orlando for 3 and a half hours but it's nearer 2 and a half - 2 and 3 quarters down in my experience.

lynchie

23Skidoo wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. Just realised now, the Continental flights will be much longer than the Delta flights, since it's 3 and a half hours or something like that to go from Newark to Orlando but only 1hr40 from Atlanta. Overall it makes the amount of time airborne a lot longer. I just don't know if I trust Delta though having heard some bad things about their service before...

Flown Delta to Atlanta twice and thought on both occasions the service was on par with Aerlingus or Continental. Would fly with them again.

Eoin

We flew with Delta this time last year to San Francisco, via Atlanta. I thought the service was good, and we each had our own seat back TVs which really helped the time fly - lots of recently released movies. The second leg of the flight was in a smaller plane, but still had the screens. We also had a 3 hour lay over in Atlanta, and it was a nice enough airport to kill a few hours.

Our bags were too heavy coming back, but we just had to buy a 3rd bag and transfer some of the stuff into it - there was no extra charge.

Slunk

Last year I went with US Airways Dub - Philidelphia - Orl and was grand. Going with continental Via Newark in May. Anyone know if they have the Tvs in the seats on these planes?

lord lucan

Slunk wrote: »

Last year I went with US Airways Dub - Philidelphia - Orl and was grand. Going with continental Via Newark in May. Anyone know if they have the Tvs in the seats on these planes?

Yep,they have the seatback tv's.:)