h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Just wondering, MoG - are you and Ben organising it so you will arrive in Seville on the same night?


az

The nebulous plan is that I'll spend a night or two in London, travel to Seville (and you ) with the gang, then spend another several nights in the UK with Ben.

I'll begin to get the flights reserved tonight after work, will worry about finding hotels and such once my flights are committed.

Wooooohoooooo!

Step 1 is complete!

I'll be ariving in London early Wed., Mar 22 and will be returning to the US Wed., Apr 5.

Next step will be to book the Seville flights, will do that when my next paycheck arrives.

I'm sooooooo excited!

This is great news!

Will you be coming to Seville on the same flight as Ben, Teucher, et al on Thursday night? How long will you be staying?


az

I'm hoping I'll be able to travel with the gang, az. Unless their plane is filled up already or I find a much better deal with another airline I figure it'll keep things easier. I haven't even looked into that aspect of it yet-- no idea what the going rate is. Hope it's not *too* outrageous! So I'm expecting to be in Seville Mar 23-28.

For any other USA folks thinking about hopping across, New York (JFK) to London round trip total was $386 with British Airways. They're running a special right now, depending on which days you fly.

WOW! Flights to Seville *are* cheap!

I could book to fly directly from Heathrow to Seville rather than spend the night in London, and then fly Seville to Gatwick with the rest of the gang.

Big question, though: My flight arrives at Heathrow at 9:15 and would depart for Seville at 11:10. Is slightly under two hours enough time to make sure I'm able to get from one plane to the other? I'm not sure how time consuming it is to do that.

Any advice from those who're better placed to know?

I've done it (going to and returning from Toronto) in less than an hour. Though of course my bags didn't make it either time - but they were delivered to the house the next day. So I'm sure you will be fine. Just be sure to bring toothbrush, pj's and one change of clothes in your carry-on.

Another time, flying to Toronto via Madrid and Paris (with less than an hour in Paris) the Madrid flight was delayed for 45 minutes and they actually held the plane for the two of us who had to change to the TO flight *and* bumped us up to first class (as they had re-sold our cheap seats).

Anyhoo, the only problem I can see is if your flight from NY gets delayed by more than an hour and a half. Or if your flight to Seville leaves from Gatwick, not Heathrow.


az

If people are making all this effort I suppose its not too much to drag my lazy self over to Seville

This means planning and doing things

Yay! We also need you to be the social director in case anyone wants to go out clubbing (or to Huelva ).

Have you checked Ryanair? You came BA last time, didn't you?


az

MoG - Terminals 1, 2 and 3 at H'row are fairly close together and T4 is a short bus-ride away from them.
If your flight into H'row arrives on time there shouldn't be a problem making the connection to Seville.

(I didn't think this could get any more exciting - but researchers popping over from the US puts it into another league of )

By social director do you mean someone you can all laugh at for being a grown adult who cant get to the bus station on time or even a ticket for the bus



Yeah I'll do that, if anyone wants a nightout with random madness, Im your boy.

Random? I thought you'd be *organising* it

Since when was direction synonimous with organisation

Right I really must sort out getting some flights and that.

Looks like it's time to do another list update:

Confirmed:
Teutcher & Mr T
Ben & Z
MoG

Possible:
Kerr & Bruce
Ferrettbadger
blickybadger
Lucky & Dai
Matholwch & wife
zoomer
Bagpuss
Blues and SLG

Interested:
Potholer
Malabarista
Tavaron
Fathom
Jane Austin
Tartaronne
Jordan


Five people confirmed now!

Well, seven including me and Noggin . . .


az

What time is your USian flight due in? I have a vague feeling that transaltantics may be more or less reliable depending on the time of day, and I can ask my consultant-buddies who used to do it regularly what they think.



Only thing is that two weeks is not NEARLY long enough to enjoy your company here.

Note to self: Book the full two weeks off tomorrow.

PS - don't rely on them holding the flight unless it is a two stage journey with both stages provided by the same airline and booked as a single journey.

Personally I'd be really really careful about checking the terms and conditions of the second flight - if you miss it because you are in the air with another airline you want them to put you on another flight, not say 'sorry, it is a non-transferrable ticket and same-day flights are umpty-hundred pounds'.



B

*nods in agreement with Ben*. Check the small print, or check your travel insurance. It's the sort of thing that might well be covered by travel insurance, thought it would be annoying to have to pay and then claim it back.

Oooooooh! Bouncing badgers and all!

Ben, two weeks is waaaaay better than no weeks. I'm so glad you're able to schedule the entire time off! I fear the UK may never be the same.

The JFK-->H'row flight is on British Airways, and I went through the B.A. website to find the Seville flights. H'row-->Seville was on Iberia, if I remember correctly. I'd assumed they'd be bound to get me there at no additional charge if it was a BA flight being late that caused a problem? I'm scheduled to arrive at 9:15 and depart at 11:10 if I book that flight. Ask your friends what they think, ok?

Travel insurance? Do I need it?