wishing you could go all the way (in J)

The new reasonably priced all premium class airlines now flying between the U.S. and London's small alternative airports are a great innovation. MaxJet flies 757s outfitted with 102 business class seats from JFK, IAD, LAX, and LAS to London Stansted. Eos flies 757s with 48 lie-flat first class seats between JFK and Stansted. And Silverjet equips widebody 767s with only 100 flat bed seats on its route between EWR and Luton.

If you've checked their fares, these new airlines offer the best value-to-price ratio in the sky for travelers who wish to travel in comfort. There's something missing, however, from the product mix. If I've flown across the pond in comfort, I want a seamless transfer (with my baggage checked through to my final destination) onto another flight with comfortable business class seats and advance seat assignments. Sorry, EasyJet doesn't do it for me.

A viable alternative to Heathrow would be a blessing. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic do offer perhaps the best service in the sky, but the quality of your experience is jarred the moment you step off the plane and into one of Heathrow's terminals. Crowds and security lines contribute to a most stressful environment. I avoid having my clients transfer at Heathrow for just this reason. (See Travolution blog's recent submission on the topic.)

So here's my wish list:

• well-timed connecting flights from Stansted and Luton, on full service carriers, to the major European destinations
  
• baggage agreements between MaxJet, Eos, and Silverjet and those carriers

Is this too much to ask?


copyright (c) 2007 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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great summer offers to London

Last minute vacation planning? Great summer offers to London. Copyright 2007 by David Ourisman. Published at http://TravelHorizons.blogspot.com. All rights reserved. I am a Virtuoso travel consultant, specializing in luxury travel. Please visit my travel website at http://MetaphorTravel.com.

Your friends are about to go away on a great European vacation this summer, and now you wish you had planned ahead! Are you stuck at home, wishing your family was visiting the world?

Well, you may still be in luck. Because Italy is hot, crowded, and expensive this summer, I encourage you to think about England. It's far enough north that you're spared the heat and humidity of the Mediterranean, and London is a city full of museums, history, parks, and shopping. (Not to mention great restaurants and pubs).

BUDGET PACKAGES
You can get round-trip air from New York, six nights in a three-star London hotel, and daily continental breakfast for as little as $1,196 per person. With a four-star London hotel, prices start at $1,318 per person. Five-star prices begin at $1,599 per person. These prices include round-trip economy flights and six nights in central London hotel. (Prices as quoted when this article was published, using an Aug. 15 departure and a Aug. 22 return). Click here if you'd like more information.


FLY IN STYLE AND COMFORT
There are great values as well for upscale travelers. First, you can get there in style and comfort without blowing your budget.

• MaxJet flies all-business class 757 jets from JFK to London, and fares begin as low as $699 + tax each way.
  
• Eos is an all-first class airline with only 48 guests on a plane built for 220; fares are as little as $909 + tax each way.
  
• British Airways and Virgin Atlantic offer business class products with completely flat sleeper seats for as little as $1132 + tax each way.

LUXURY PACKAGES
If you want to make it a quick weekend getaway, British Airways offers a London in Style package that includes round-trip air in ClubWorld (lie-flat sleeper seats), three nights in a great luxury hotel, round-trip private limousine transfers, daily continental breakfast, theater tickets, and all hotel taxes, fees, and VAT.

The price is as little as $4,015 per person, and the list of hotels includes names such as Claridge's, The Ritz, and The Landmark. Extra nights at these hotels can be added, or you can even add extra days on your own before enjoying ClubWorld back to the United States. Click here if you're interested in the London in Style package.

GUARANTEED U.S. DOLLAR RATES AT THE RITZ
[Note: these rates are subject to fluctuation.]
If you don't like packages, I can get you a terrific Guaranteed U.S. Dollar rate at The Ritz for as little as $450 per night (and probably get you the Virtuoso amenities as well - including complimentary Full English Breakfast for two each day). If you've checked the exchange rates recently, this is a fabulous luxury value.

Want to live it to the fullest at The Ritz? Bring your children as well, and enjoy a Deluxe Two Bedroom Suite -- 1,180 square feet of living space with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a beautiful living room (pictured above). The price? $1,585 per day. Click here for more details.


If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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