Author Topic: Help!! Europe vacation Summer 2016.  (Read 12225 times)

Offline Emkay

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Re: Help!! Europe vacation Summer 2016.
« Reply #20 on: January 07, 2016, 02:51:16 PM »
Great suggestion. That's what we will do. Now, if I can just get the trans-Atlantic flights sorted first :)
also keep in mind the nasty UK tax on award seats when choosing your destination

Offline Emkay

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Re: Help!! Europe vacation Summer 2016.
« Reply #21 on: January 07, 2016, 02:52:38 PM »
Problem is I dont have that many miles in AA, only 75K, and for 3 of us, thats not enough.

Plus, I am a cheap xxxxxxx
plenty of time to get another AA card or two.it will be worth it, a great way to end the vacation

Offline Chapshnell

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Re: Help!! Europe vacation Summer 2016.
« Reply #22 on: January 07, 2016, 03:23:24 PM »
Here are my thoughts:
3 Weeks is a long time for 4 European cities.. You also dont want to leave London back to the USA, you want to make it your first stop (due to very high taxes).. How about something like this?

You'll get to see London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Venice, Mykonos & then fly back to SFO via ZRH

I dont know how updated the YQ thread is but being that this is in June there is no reason why this cant be done in style.
« Last Edit: January 07, 2016, 03:30:15 PM by Chapshnell »

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Re: Help!! Europe vacation Summer 2016.
« Reply #23 on: January 07, 2016, 04:40:41 PM »
also keep in mind the nasty UK tax on award seats when choosing your destination

I noticed that too. Flying out to LHR, tax is only $5.60 (United), while coming back it jumps to almost 200$. I tried couple other cities like Paris, Frankfurt, it was still above 100 bucks  >:( Are there any places from where it will be less or reasonable?

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Re: Help!! Europe vacation Summer 2016.
« Reply #24 on: January 07, 2016, 04:41:58 PM »
plenty of time to get another AA card or two.it will be worth it, a great way to end the vacation

You think I have plenty of time to get new cards, earn the bonus and then book the reward flight? It might take almost 2 months, and I am worried that reward seats might get sold out. 

Or I should just leave it for next vacation??

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Re: Help!! Europe vacation Summer 2016.
« Reply #25 on: January 07, 2016, 04:42:16 PM »
I noticed that too. Flying out to LHR, tax is only $5.60 (United), while coming back it jumps to almost 200$. I tried couple other cities like Paris, Frankfurt, it was still above 100 bucks  >:( Are there any places from where it will be less or reasonable?

see what I posted for you

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Re: Help!! Europe vacation Summer 2016.
« Reply #26 on: January 07, 2016, 04:43:06 PM »
see what I posted for you

I saw that. That is awesome. I am in the process of replying to that one :)

Offline Emkay

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Re: Help!! Europe vacation Summer 2016.
« Reply #27 on: January 07, 2016, 04:43:59 PM »
You think I have plenty of time to get new cards, earn the bonus and then book the reward flight? It might take almost 2 months, and I am worried that reward seats might get sold out. 

Or I should just leave it for next vacation??
Yes, should be enough time for you

Offline Chapshnell

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Re: Help!! Europe vacation Summer 2016.
« Reply #28 on: January 07, 2016, 04:45:52 PM »
I saw that. That is awesome. I am in the process of replying to that one :)

you can get nonstop SFO-LHR but I believe SFO-EWR-LHR has more options

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Re: Help!! Europe vacation Summer 2016.
« Reply #29 on: January 07, 2016, 04:46:33 PM »
Here are my thoughts:
3 Weeks is a long time for 4 European cities.. You also dont want to leave London back to the USA, you want to make it your first stop (due to very high taxes).. How about something like this?

You'll get to see London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Venice, Mykonos & then fly back to SFO via ZRH

I dont know how updated the YQ thread is but being that this is in June there is no reason why this cant be done in style.

I agree with you about 3 weeks for 4 cities.Now that I know that 2-3 days are more than enough for what we want to do, we can either cut down the time (and save money) or cover more places and have a hell of vacation. Need to check into vacation time and run by wife, cant do anything without that :)

Flying into London and back is ruled out based on earlier responses. That is why you guys are so awesome!!

How many miles we need for the things that you planned? That is looking like a great plan. How do I go about getting it done??

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Re: Help!! Europe vacation Summer 2016.
« Reply #30 on: January 07, 2016, 04:51:34 PM »
I agree with you about 3 weeks for 4 cities.Now that I know that 2-3 days are more than enough for what we want to do, we can either cut down the time (and save money) or cover more places and have a hell of vacation. Need to check into vacation time and run by wife, cant do anything without that :)

Flying into London and back is ruled out based on earlier responses. That is why you guys are so awesome!!

How many miles we need for the things that you planned? That is looking like a great plan. How do I go about getting it done??

no, you fly JMK-ZRH-SFO (Aegean & Swiss) for the way back. Outbound is only $5.60 in taxes..

You will need 60,000 UA for the RT PP x 3 = 180,000 Chase UR or UA Miles/points

Intra europe just book using cash (book RT as its usually cheaper than OW)

LHR-CDG you can use 4,000-4,500 Avios from BA (Chase, Amex MR & SPG transfers into BA) PP (or check a paid flight)

To Berlin you can probably use Avios too same as above with Air Berlin

Offline Emkay

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Re: Help!! Europe vacation Summer 2016.
« Reply #31 on: January 07, 2016, 04:54:18 PM »




How many miles we need for the things that you planned? That is looking like a great plan. How do I go about getting it done??
do not book intra-europe with miles, 99% of the time revenue on LCCs is significantly cheaper if you travel light (which i highly recommend. trust me, your trip will be immensely more relaxed and laid back) if you figure out your specific days PM me and I'll find you the cheapest route around Europe with sooper seekrit scripts and stuff


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Re: Help!! Europe vacation Summer 2016.
« Reply #32 on: January 07, 2016, 04:55:57 PM »
no, you fly JMK-ZRH-SFO (Aegean & Swiss) for the way back. Outbound is only $5.60 in taxes..

You will need 60,000 UA for the RT PP x 3 = 180,000 Chase UR or UA Miles/points

Intra europe just book using cash (book RT as its usually cheaper than OW)

LHR-CDG you can use 4,000-4,500 Avios from BA (Chase, Amex MR & SPG transfers into BA) PP (or check a paid flight)

To Berlin you can probably use Avios too same as above with Air Berlin

I have over 200K united miles, so that will give us RT flight using miles. How do I find availability now? It is very tempting if I can pull it all off!! Am already excited.

Thinking more, it would be great if we can somehow use the train from London - Paris, isn't that undersea?? Anyone knows how much is it?

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Re: Help!! Europe vacation Summer 2016.
« Reply #33 on: January 07, 2016, 04:56:47 PM »
do not book intra-europe with miles, 99% of the time revenue on LCCs is significantly cheaper if you travel light (which i highly recommend. trust me, your trip will be immensely more relaxed and laid back) if you figure out your specific days PM me and I'll find you the cheapest route around Europe with sooper seekrit scripts and stuff

Thanks for the offer. I will take you up on your offer as soon as I have the main flights figured out.

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Re: Help!! Europe vacation Summer 2016.
« Reply #34 on: January 07, 2016, 04:57:11 PM »
I have over 200K united miles, so that will give us RT flight using miles. How do I find availability now? It is very tempting if I can pull it all off!! Am already excited.

Thinking more, it would be great if we can somehow use the train from London - Paris, isn't that undersea?? Anyone knows how much is it?

why not just fly? Its like a 35 minute flight. Plus its so cheap too.

You can check on United.com Aeroplan.com etc.. etc.. Call if you need to. 800-864-8331

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Re: Help!! Europe vacation Summer 2016.
« Reply #35 on: January 07, 2016, 04:58:35 PM »
why not just fly? Its like a 35 minute flight. Plus its so cheap too.

You can check on United.com Aeroplan.com etc.. etc.. Call if you need to.

Just to get the experience to be on underwater train :)

Can I use United miles on Aeroplan?  Sorry, dont know much about all these programs.

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Re: Help!! Europe vacation Summer 2016.
« Reply #36 on: January 07, 2016, 04:59:43 PM »
Just to get the experience to be on underwater train :)

Can I use United miles on Aeroplan?  Sorry, dont know much about all these programs.

United you need United miles. For Aeroplan (Air Canada) you need Amex MR points.. Both are good to use & are the same price (60,000 RT PP).
United overall is better to use because they dont charge fuel fees.

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Re: Help!! Europe vacation Summer 2016.
« Reply #37 on: January 07, 2016, 05:01:03 PM »
United you need United miles. For Aeroplan (Air Canada) you need Amex MR points.. Both are good to use & are the same price (60,000 RT PP).
United overall is better to use because they dont charge fuel fees.

Well then I will prefer to use United since I have enough miles for 3 RT tickets. And is overall better :)

Now how do I search the availability and flights???

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Re: Help!! Europe vacation Summer 2016.
« Reply #38 on: January 07, 2016, 05:03:12 PM »
Well then I will prefer to use United since I have enough miles for 3 RT tickets. And is overall better :)

Now how do I search the availability and flights???

You can check on United.com Aeroplan.com etc.. etc.. Call if you need to. 800-864-8331

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Re: Help!! Europe vacation Summer 2016.
« Reply #39 on: January 07, 2016, 05:04:25 PM »
You can check on United.com Aeroplan.com etc.. etc.. Call if you need to. 800-864-8331

Shouldn't I have flight numbers and all figured out before calling or the agent will do everything for me?