Best route for LHR to PHX?

It seems that the above route is best accomplished by flying to either LAS or SFO and then catching a connecting flight with USAir or Am West. Other options are available, but I would rather spend a longer time in the relative comfort of the UCS and a shorter time couped up on an internal flight.

Of course, there is a direct flight with the dark side, but I am going for 40+ TPs and probably won't make it if this is not a Virgin flight. Such a shame that I won't get any TPs on the internal flights now.

Anyone have experience of these routes/airports that can make a suggestion as to the best one?

The flights will be taken at the end of August.

Thanks

The best route is "dark side" direct to Sky Harbour as they have some good deals on at the moment. If you must go VS I'd suggest going to LAX and then either an internal with Southwest or a 4 hour drive across the desert.

We're doing the latter next week.

Good luck

Miopyk

Thanks for the driving suggestion, but after two drinks of anything I am relatively incapacitated and I like the odd glass of champagne and Baileys on a flight.

Why do you suggest LAX. Does that airport have better facilities?

Why do you suggest LAX. Does that airport have better facilities?

This would be my personal preference but of course it depends on your own requirements. Some things to consider though would be that VS to LAS is from Gatwick while LAX has 2 flights a day from LHR. SFO is much further away and only has 1 flight a day although this is from LHR.

I think you'll have a better choice of internal flights from LAX although other may disagree.

That's it really

Miopyk

If it has to be on VS, go via SFO. Less of a hell-hole than LAX. Nice Clubhouse on the way back too.

Or, go out via LAX, and back via SFO, as one of the nice things about LAX is that VS don't use the dump that is the TBIT (Tom Bradley International Terminal), so the entry lines are seldom super nasty.

Entering via SFO on the VS19, it's a bit of a lottery. At it's worst, you have 3 other Transatlantic flights all arriving within about 30 mins of each other (there's the VS, a BA, a KL, and AF). That's over 1000 people through the inspection facility in a short space of time.

Out via LAX and back via SFO might be a decent option.

Cheers,
Mike

[ChuckC]

What Mike Smashing said.

Chuck-

Hi,

From LAS ( you have to change terminals form T2 to T1) but lots of flights ( HP/US and Southwest). Immigration usually quiet

From LAX ( change tetminals from T2 to T1 for Southwest/HP) again lots of flights

Both flight times LAX/LAS to PHX around 1 hour

From SFO ( VS clubhouse very good) but fewer flights.

Regards

TBS

Originally posted by mike-smashing
Out via LAX and back via SFO might be a decent option.

This option gets my vote.

You have the choice of the 7 or the 23 to LAX - giving you the best options for a connecting flight down to PHX.

On the return you gain the benefits of SFO and probably the best CH outside of London.

Out to LAX and back through SFO. I would not have thought to do that so great suggestions guys. I suppose I will have to make this booking via phone rather than on the website.

Have you guys arranged internal flights through v
Virgin succesfully before or should I get my own tickets from expedia/travelocity?

Originally posted by dunbarm
Out to LAX and back through SFO. I would not have thought to do that so great suggestions guys. I suppose I will have to make this booking via phone rather than on the website.

Have you guys arranged internal flights through v
Virgin succesfully before or should I get my own tickets from expedia/travelocity?

VS may be able to through ticket this, but be careful - it's possible that the only Upper fare combination which will allow this is a full J.

It may be cheaper to do this as a pair of open jaw tickets - one with VS, LHR-LAX/SFO-LHR, and another one with someone like HP or UA, LAX-PHX-SFO.

The VS website will definitely cope with the first combination, as I did that particular one last November myself, and have booked more than one open jaw through the VS website.

The only thing with doing it as two seperate bookings is that it's not tolerant of missed connections - because they are two seperate bookings, the airlines don't consider it a connnection. Also, you would have to claim and re-check any bags, along with transferring them between terminals yourself.

A sufficiently early flight into SFO, or arriving into to SFO a day early and staying overnight (there's lots to see and do in SFO), will usually take care of that risk.

Cheers!
Mike

Any of the routes lax/las gives you soutwest and hp/us while sfo gives you hp/us or a couple of ua flights. So i guess it's down to a) what london airport you want to fly to from (either way any of the three us west coast gateways mean you're going to have to change terminals) and b) which time suits you best.

If you're looking for conveniece- the dark side fly 6x weekly to PHX.
But VS seems MUCH mroe fun!

I'm flying out to PHX on the 26th Aug - this Saturday. I researched the options for ages. Have you considered LGW and flying into Gatwick?

I became frustrated with Virgin as the price of full fare economy to get an upgrade with miles was way too high.

As I'm based in the north I ended up booking with American from Manchester and connect in Chicago - only 1 change.

I paid £501 for an economy seat.

Damn have you seen the weather out there ... seriously hot.

I'm off out to stay with a mate who is training to become a commercial pilot. He's at Oxford Aviation, passed all his ground school exams and is now in Phoenix doing the practical flying.

Have a safe trip.

Thanks for the post Qwerty and welcome to the forum.

I am flying out on Thursday 24th, but will be in Upper which will get me towards getting my Gold FC card this year.

I have recieved some excellent advice on here, but in the end the timings only worked for me if I flew into and out of LAX. I will be connecting with America West.

Does anyone know if you get access to their lounges if you are travelling in First on America West?

Interestingly, I too am considering spending some time in the states to get a few pilots licences some time next year.