Ireland to south west America - best options

Cmar-Ireland

Hi everyone,
I'm looking for the best options to get to south west usa later this year. We're planning our honeymoon, a self drive around California/Nevada/Arizona.

Now I'm not too keen on flying, between travel sickness and aerophobia I am dreading the flight. Almost to the point of looking for alternative (closer) destinations.

So how do I go about making the flight as bearable as possible? Are there any non stops from Ireland to the west coast? I can't afford business or 1st class, but I would like to have space and comfort for the flight. Is it true, the bigger the plane, the smoother the flight?

Help please

vicwatson

Recreation > Travel should help you also

LoonyLovegood

When I did a similar trip, we went DUB-ATL-SFO. While the Dublin-Atlanta flight was long (8 hours, IIRC), it made the the second leg (4 and a half hours) more bearable (to us) than if we were going through BOS/ORD/JFK. I believe you can fly it in less time if you go via the other airports, but the attraction for the Atlanta connection was going the whole way on one airline (this was before Aer Lingus' partnership with Jet Blue, so that wasn't an option).

murphym7

This thread will probably be moved but anyway here are my thoughts.

I fly to the west coast a few times a year, so have tried loads of different options. My preferred now. Get to Heathrow and choose either BA or Virgin direct to San Francisco. If you can fork out a little extra cash, choose to go Premium economy, it should make things a little more bearable to for you.

Comhrá

If you go via Heathrow. I believe British Airways has a direct flight to Phoenix Az. which might be the shortest option.

dm09

Cmar-Ireland wrote: »

So how do I go about making the flight as bearable as possible? Are there any non stops from Ireland to the west coast? I can't afford business or 1st class, but I would like to have space and comfort for the flight. Is it true, the bigger the plane, the smoother the flight?

Help please

Smooth?? I find air travel one of the smoothest forms of travel! I flew 250,000KM last year on about 70 flight segments spread over long haul and short haul carriers. I've encountered moderate turbulence on about 5% of flights (I judge the turbulence to be moderate if the beer starts to spill over the side of my glass! ) and even a spell of moderate turbulence never lasts beyond 10 minutes!

For me unsmooth transport would be taking a bus journey from Newry to Leitrim.. One of the most horrendous journeys I've ever taking in my life winding around probably the worst roads in Europe! A lot more dangerous than air-travel than my opinion!!

As regards to your question If you're less likely to encounter turbulence on a larger aircraft, the answer is no! All aircraft are vulnerable to air turbulence, however some people reckon the effects are less if you sit in the middle of the aircraft (over the wing)

If you're looking for large comfortable aircraft for flying to Southwest US, I'd recommend flying with Air France. They Operate A380 from Paris to Los Angeles directly and its only a short hop over to Paris!

galwayjohn89

dm09 wrote: »

Smooth?? I find air travel one of the smoothest forms of travel! I flew 250,000KM last year on about 70 flight segments spread over long haul and short haul carriers. I've encountered moderate turbulence on about 5% of flights (I judge the turbulence to be moderate if the beer starts to spill over the side of my glass! ) and even a spell of moderate turbulence never lasts beyond 10 minutes!

I find air travel extremely smooth most of the time as well, (not sure if this is applicable to OP) but a lot of people are uncomfortable flying and even moderate turbulence and they get worried. I had one woman scream beside me saying the wing was about to snap. It was just flexing a bit -completely normal. My favorite commercial flight was an Alaska Airlines Q400 landing in Vancouver in a thunderstorm. We were being flung around the cabin, I really enjoyed it, just like a rollacoaster!

Stealthirl

I'm doing Dub-Las Vegas in sep and I'm going with IE to gatwick overnight there in the pod hotel and then onto Vegas direct with virgin on a 744.
1k for economy and 1.5k for PE
were booking end of this month.

I prefer to my transfers outside the US and hate CDG and airfrance
Virgin fly from Manchester,Gatwick and Heathrow to the west.
Other option I was looking at was via FRA to San Fran on the A380 with Lufthansa

faceman

I'm flying BA from London to San Francisco direct in a few weeks. Like you OP, flying isn't my favourite thing to do but I endure it as I have to fly alot, short haul and long.

I reckon you're better off going as direct as possible and just get it out of the way. Bare in mind that no matter how are anxious of flying, your flight(s) will be completely safe so you will arrive in one piece! Therefore cut out as much airtime as you can by flying as direct as you can!

Larger planes tend to handle turbulence that bit better than smaller planes but lets be honest, no one likes turbulence. But as another user commented, it never lasts more than a few minutes and pilots do their best to avoid turbulent areas.

If you have an android or iPhone, there's a great app called "Flying Without Fear" that Virgin Atlantic released and its pretty good. Also Allen Carr's book "The Easy Way To Enjoy Flying" is probably the best book on the topic I have read.

Do your best to endure it, as the alternative, not getting to visit all these cool places, is not a fun option!

Enjoy your travels!

Cmar-Ireland

Thanks for all the replies folks.

My anxiety is not of the safety of flying, but the travel sickness and claustrophobia. So a smooth, turbulence free flight is important.

The least amount of airtime would help too I think, what's the most direct/quickest way over? Any of the major cities in the south west can be our self drive start point.

My other half has no problem flying so I don't want to let her down. But I'm already anxious about it and we're not going till November!

knockon

I use Delta and United out of SNN for the West Coast USA destinations.

I am not a fan of use in London as I have been stuck there for Technical, weather and terrorism related delays. If our use SNN or DUB you pre clear US Immigration and Customs avoiding long delays Stateside. I use the above carriers as they depart early morning facilitating an afternoon arrival in LAX or SFO. Newark Terminal c , United Airlines hub is a fairly decent place or shopping and food. Deltas Terminal 2 & 3 in JFK is a bit if a dump but they have plenty if regular connection flights so the waiting time is minimal.

I know the fear can cause anxiety which may be easier if you leave from Dublin or Shannon as you are "straight into half the flight" rather than sitting in LHR pondering a 10.5 hour flight.

The down side (claustrophobia) using the US carriers out of SNN is not helped that they are using single aisle B757's ( alhought not the case in Dublin where most carriers are using twin aisles allowing you to walk around)). You might consider spending an extra €50 per leg on a Premium Economy seat? I did with Delta 5 months go going to LA and did it on the JFK legs over and back and it was a great idea. Guy next to me was an anxious passenger also popped a Zopiclone (Prescription sleeping tablet) that he uses for flights only and was out for almost all the flight. Premium Economy was definately worth it. I hope you enjoy it and you should, remember the statistics say you have a better chance of been hit by a meteor!