How to get to MSY (New orleans)

Having a tricky time trying to get mrs nh to MSY, from MAN origin. Whilst looking at options with CO and US, (Delta's full out of MAN) wondered if VS would do a MAN-MSY ticket (via LHR)?
i.e. would they ticket through from EWR to MSY ?

Thought I'd get a quicker answer on here than waiting for 1/2 hr on the phone to VS, to be told "no".

Thanks

NH

[Neil]

You can book onwards connections with VS, but quite often their internal flight costs can be pricey, so it might be worth checking a DIY version.

Out of MAN, could she do MAN-MCO-MSY? I know WN fly MCO-MSY.

Out of MAN, could she do MAN-MCO-MSY? I know WN fly MCO-MSY.

Now why didn't I think of that!

VS flights seem reasonable with Y+PE inbound at £679 + circa £200 for WN

Pricing looking good, however having to book WN as stand alone..Are they reliable?

[Neil]

Pricing looking good, however having to book WN as stand alone..Are they reliable?

Reliable, I don't know, but regular, yes. So, even if one flight is late or Mrs NH was delayed, there are plenty of other WN flights she could change to. Also, WN allow free checked baggage, something you don't get on other US airlines for internals.

We have booked LAS-SFO with WN for this very reason. VX were our preferred option, but with only one flight that would work, and that being tight as it was, we went with WN.

Neil

[honey lamb]

I use VS's Flight Connector tool to give ideas of routes and connections and have found it helpful before going on to book it myself.

Sorry, but I still haven't mastered posting links with text otherwise I would have done so ?|

[Neil]

I use VS's Flight Connector tool to give ideas of routes and connections and have found it helpful before going on to book it myself.

Sorry, but I still haven't mastered posting links with text otherwise I would have done so ?|

It is here

[honey lamb]

Thanks, Neil

Are they reliable?

Reliable, I don't know, but regular, yes. So, even if one flight is late or Mrs NH was delayed, there are plenty of other WN flights she could change to.

I ask, as VS arrival in MCO only leaves 1 real option to get over to MSY that evening, although there is plenty of time bewteen the two- its the pulling of flights (aka BMI style) I'm more concerned about, as this would then need O/N at MCO to fly up in the morning. (Saying that the old Plat insurance should then kick-in..)

[Neil]

Ah yes, just had a look and see if would be the flight just after 7pm.

Flight stats shows this flight as having a 3.8 out of 5 on time rating, so quite good, and it is a flight the originates and ends elsewhere so I would imagine it should be okay.

At worse, as you say, Mrs NH can use the Plat travel insurance, stay on airport at the Hyatt and catch the early flight the next morning.

Neil

It shouldn't be an issue with WN, and it is one less connection. FWIW, connections in the US booked with VS don't seem to suffer from the same overcharge problems when you do onwards connections to Europe. I once did MSP-ORD-LHR with VS, and the MSP-ORD segment was added from UA at about $70, which was the lowest price. UA then through checked my suitcase with no issues, and in general you will be protected by the responsible airline if anything goes wrong.

[RichardMannion]

My god, why on Earth do you want to go to MSY? It is an absolute dump - I had the misfortune to have to go twice pre-Katrina and it is quite possibly the worst city in the US. When we are advised to go around in groups of FOUR minimum, alarm bells ring.

Via MAN is a challenge; I did LHR-EWR-MSY, or LHR-IAD-MSY in the past.

Neil - it's worth checking thru fares with VS, as they are often cheaper as there are reduced taxes on them if combined with an international segment (though it woun't work for reward flights). Even on standalone connecting flights, VS have been cheaper than elsewhere for the last couple of times - I used them for my SFO-SEA internal flights in conjuction with a G BD reward on VS, and they were £20 cheaper. It also saved me on the $25 baggage fee each way with UA, as I could show they were booked by VS for relation to my international segments (the agent just asked for my receipt as proof).

[Neil]

That's interesting to know Richard. When I asked VS to look at an internal for us between LAS and SFO in May, not only were they more expensive, but I was also told I would have to pay and baggage charges locally at the airlines usual rate.

My god, why on Earth do you want to go to MSY? It is an absolute dump - I had the misfortune to have to go twice pre-Katrina and it is quite possibly the worst city in the US. When we are advised to go around in groups of FOUR minimum, alarm bells ring.

Via MAN is a challenge; I did LHR-EWR-MSY, or LHR-IAD-MSY in the past.

Mrs NH has a conference about gut diseases which is quiet apt, and looking into it, VS to MCO seems best options (logistically & cost-wise, they'll pay for Y, but even with rtn PE still coming in cheaper than routing thru east coast in Y via others), think she'll pay the extra for Outbound, to reduce the tattooed monster with hyper 6 yr old neighbour risk. Then a quick WN flight to MSY. Sounds like they'll be grouped together with conference people, but thanks for the heads up. y)
However good to see some form of discipline in costs/expenses in the public sector, shame this doesn't seem to apply to the civil service..oh forgot they need a higher class cabin for work reasons...

[RichardMannion]

NH - if she is at the Morial Convention centre - tell her to pack some good walking shoes. The building is absolutely enormous, its over a kilometre long and can take ages to get from one end to another if you're on another level of the building. There is a good shopping centre at one end though

[Decker]

Depart – Sat Apr 24 2010
US Airways
Flight 735 Departs: 11:15a
Manchester (MAN) Arrives: 2:00p
Philadelphia (PHL)
Coach | Airbus A330-300 (Wide-body Jet) | 7h 45m
Layover in Philadelphia, PA (PHL) for 2h 10m
US Airways
Flight 1133 Departs: 4:10p
Philadelphia (PHL) Arrives: 6:17p
Louis Armstrong (MSY)
Coach | Airbus A319 (Narrow-body Jet) | 3h 07m

Return – Sat May 1 2010
This flight leaves on Saturday and arrives on Sunday.
US Airways
Flight 3134
Operated by US Airways Departs: 2:59p
Louis Armstrong (MSY) Arrives: 6:43p
Philadelphia (PHL)
Coach | Embraer 175 (Narrow-body Jet) | 2h 44m
Layover in Philadelphia, PA (PHL) for 1h 57m
US Airways
Flight 734 Departs: 8:40p
Philadelphia (PHL) Arrives: 8:45a
Manchester (MAN)
Coach | Airbus A330-300 (Wide-body Jet) | 7h 05m

cheers Decker, y) yeah looked at this routing with US, and before the VS MCO idea, was the most favourable, (going out on the 31st -fri, rtn on the 5th ,wed).
Main issue is the internal trfrs on the fri to MSY from anywhere Nth East coast generally full/ limited availability.
Also the VS MCO route gains more background benefit for VS incentives/ cheaper/ fairly hassle free routing and option of PE on rtn, for similar money. Just waiting on funding confirmation before a booking.

Richard: The mention of the shopping centre has gone down well....I see more shoes returning to the NH household.. :0
NH

[Decker]

Tis just seemed the shortest and a LOT cheaper than VS. Don't listen to Richard I loved the place - I bought my hoody there ;P

[honey lamb]

I bought my hoody there ;P

Well that says it all ):

I bought my hoody there ;P

Well that says it all ):

MSY - High Crime rate....

Crimes against fashion maybe :0

I bought my hoody there ;P

Well that says it all ):

Says the lady known to wear green deeley boppers... :w
Nowt wrong with any of Mr D's hoodies .

Tis just seemed the shortest and a LOT cheaper than VS. Don't listen to Richard I loved the place - I bought my hoody there ;P

Been back into your suggestion to double check, would be fine, except trying to do that on a friday, ain't great; minimum of 2 stops via US Airways, for a minor saving or slightly more saving getting into MSY at midnight. Agree if we had more flex, there are some good fares. The VS route offers MSY before 9pm and Circa £100 here-there difference, with just 1 change at MCO.