Alternative routes to get to Miami during school holidays

Hi all,

Serious first world problems here...my parents want to pay to take their kids (plus OH/kids) on a cruise around the Caribbean next year (life is tough!)

I thought I would save them some money by getting them to book me and the OH for the cruise only and that we could sort our own flights out using copious amount of Virgin FC / Avios (as well as a BA Companion voucher) we have accumulated between us. Not to mention that I can't remember the last time I flew EC

Problem is we are going at half term April 2017, so obviously absolutely no flights to Miami or back on the dates we want. I've been playing around with other itineraries, flying out to Atlanta / Boston / NY and then getting internal flights to Miami, but the internal flights are coming up pretty pricey (in my opinion) at around £250-300 for one person.

Anyone here tried to get to Miami indirectly so they could fly PE/UC on the long haul? Suggestions on alternative routes would be much appreciated. If we don't come up with something we'll just book the economy cash flights.

I'm not sure the exact dates you are referring to, but ex-DUB in first week of april has BA/AA as just under 1200 and VS at just over.

For me, if it is peak times (Easter, christmas, summer holidays), then try ex-Dub. Offpeak times (middle of Feb for instance), try for a reward flight.....

Start your cruise from elsewhere?
How about fly into Washington DC & Cruise from Baltimore?
Think it is possible to start your cruise from Barbados as well.

Since your parents are paying.. if direct rewards become available - why not book them in UC instead of yourselves as a surprise.

You'd have to give FC a call to do it but are there any rewards available on DL?

Have you tried flights into Fort Lauderdale? It's a big JetBlue hub so there are flights from all over the US which may work. FLL to Miami is only a half hour cab or shuttle ride, very easy. However I have a feeling JetBlue flights only go on sale at 6-8 months before so you may have to wait a few months. Worth investigating though.

Thanks all for your suggestions.

I'm not sure the exact dates you are referring to, but ex-DUB in first week of april has BA/AA as just under 1200 and VS at just over.

For me, if it is peak times (Easter, christmas, summer holidays), then try ex-Dub. Offpeak times (middle of Feb for instance), try for a reward flight.....

Thanks Smid, just used ITA Matrix for the first time ever to try and get some ex-Dub options with some reasonable prices. The DUB-LHR flight is BA and the LHR-MIA is Virgin, im guessing this means that bags can't be checked through because the two airlines are not interlined? Thats what I want as its the same on the way back and obviously I won't be taking the flight back to Dublin....

Start your cruise from elsewhere?
How about fly into Washington DC & Cruise from Baltimore?
Think it is possible to start your cruise from Barbados as well.

Since your parents are paying.. if direct rewards become available - why not book them in UC instead of yourselves as a surprise.

Unfortunately the cruise is all booked....so no wiggle room there. My parents will already be out in the States as they are doing a Panama canal cruise before meeting my brother and I for the Caribbean cruise. They both turn 60 next year as well as celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary so they are planning a 2 month holiday!!

Thanks Smid, just used ITA Matrix for the first time ever to try and get some ex-Dub options with some reasonable prices. The DUB-LHR flight is BA and the LHR-MIA is Virgin, im guessing this means that bags can't be checked through because the two airlines are not interlined? Thats what I want as its the same on the way back and obviously I won't be taking the flight back to Dublin....

Yes, those sectors (DUB-LHR/LHR-MIA) would be on a single PNR, with your baggage checked through (and the same on the way back) because VS and BA do interline.

There are many posts about how to stop your luggage at LHR on ex-EU trips if you don't want to take the final sector (and the risks associated with it) in this thread.

By the way, do also check CPH/BRU/AMS for ex-EU.

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Yes, those sectors (DUB-LHR/LHR-MIA) would be on a single PNR, with your baggage checked through (and the same on the way back) because VS and BA do interline.

There are many posts about how to stop your luggage at LHR on ex-EU trips if you don't want to take the final sector (and the risks associated with it) in this thread.

By the way, do also check CPH/BRU/AMS for ex-EU.

Thanks for confirming NYLON, I thought I read somewhere that they don't...

I shall check that thread, thanks for the tip.

I checked a whole bunch of other European cities but DUB was definitely cheapet.

Trick is to change airport on the final leg, then you'll get your bag back and can go your own way.

Trick is to change airport on the final leg, then you'll get your bag back and can go your own way.

Yup after reading all 22 pgs of the Ex-EU thread I am clear on that now Actually changing it from LHR to LGW bumped the price up by £100+ but I could mess about with the dates and not change the airport and book a flight for the following day for no change in price so that's what I'll do as I understand they won't/can't keep your bag overnight and you have genuine reason for asking for short checking of bag. Learned a lot this week!

Smid, whilst you are here...I did post on the Ex-EU thread but no responses yet. Do you know if eBookers works in the same way as Expedia whereby if you use your Virgin CC you get the extra miles as it is Virgin that invoice? I couldn't get my itinerary up on Expedia so had to use eBookers.

Trick is to change airport on the final leg, then you'll get your bag back and can go your own way.

Yup after reading all 22 pgs of the Ex-EU thread I am clear on that now Actually changing it from LHR to LGW bumped the price up by £100+ but I could mess about with the dates and not change the airport and book a flight for the following day for no change in price so that's what I'll do as I understand they won't/can't keep your bag overnight and you have genuine reason for asking for short checking of bag. Learned a lot this week!

Smid, whilst you are here...I did post on the Ex-EU thread but no responses yet. Do you know if eBookers works in the same way as Expedia whereby if you use your Virgin CC you get the extra miles as it is Virgin that invoice? I couldn't get my itinerary up on Expedia so had to use eBookers.

Don't forget London City as an option for another airport, especially for Dublin. LGW might be more costly because its a change to Aer Lingus.

I'm unsure of the Virgin CC usage, I've only ever booked ex-EU with BA which doesn't charge fees. I believe ebookers are the same people as expedia though, but someone else would have to confirm the points/not pay fee way.

Do you know if eBookers works in the same way as Expedia whereby if you use your Virgin CC you get the extra miles as it is Virgin that invoice? I couldn't get my itinerary up on Expedia so had to use eBookers.

I just checked a booking from last year and can confirm it was VS that charged my credit card, not eBookers (apart from a £10.50 fee) so yes, you should get the extra miles if you use your VS Amex.

I just checked a booking from last year and can confirm it was VS that charged my credit card, not eBookers (apart from a £10.50 fee) so yes, you should get the extra miles if you use your VS Amex.

Great, thanks that is good to know and keep in mind.

Well I can't believe it....last night I found one G for LHR>MIA so snapped it up. Told the OH that I would keep stalking the site to find another seat and to mention that if it was PE/EC, that he'd be having that one

Just checked at lunchtime today and there was another G! Snapped up pronto and ahhhhh we can relax now, we will get to Miami a few days before meeting my parents to start the cruise.

Just need to figure out how we get back post cruise now....

Result! As V-Flyers prove time and again, patience and persistence usually pays off.

When I came off a cruise in Miami last December I got an early afternoon JetBlue flight from FLL to JFK then the last VS flight of the day back to LHR, all worked fine.

Result! As V-Flyers prove time and again, patience and persistence usually pays off.

When I came off a cruise in Miami last December I got an early afternoon JetBlue flight from FLL to JFK then the last VS flight of the day back to LHR, all worked fine.

it was a brilliant result, G's as well! Still pinching myself haha.

Just out of interest can you remember how much you paid for your jet blue flight to jfk? New York has much better availability for rewards so I'm considering going indirect on the way back.

Sorry for the delay, had to dig out my old card statements ...

I paid £221 but that was for a return. I love JetBlue - great legroom and free, fast wifi.

And approx 6 weeks after booking our seats out to MIA, one G MIA>LHR appeared and has been booked up. I'm letting the other half take this one and considering staying on in Miami and having my hen party there. Yippee!