Use Avios on the new AA Birmingham and Edinburgh to New York routes

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• JD says:

  13 Nov13 November 11:18

  I used to fly the GLA to Newark route on the old Continental route. While the 757’s are not the nicest plane to fly in the convenience factor of flying from a local airport cannot be beat. Plus the option of connecting to other cities once you arrive (I used to fly to Austin).

  Another thing to point out is the route is around an hour shorter than flying from London. Especially the return leg as you hit the jet stream.

• Lady London says:

  13 Nov13 November 12:54

  Trains from London Euston to Birmingham Airport scheduled journey is 1 hour 18mins. That’s less time than it takes me to get to Stansted or City. I live close-ish to Heathrow and even I’m tempted by these flights.

  For me these timings are particularly appealing as they will give me a decent choice of US domestic connections. Arriving at 6pm or so or later, on a lot of routes out of New York there’s maybe 0 or 1 flight only left in the day connecting onwards. This will make many routes feasible for me.

• JDuncan says:

  13 Nov13 November 13:03

  Living 15 miles from BHX, and having just flown back from MIA on a 14 year old 777-223, i think i would have a hard time selling this flight to the rest of the family in terms of ease of travel toofrom the airport.

  We travel frequently to the US (always in economy) and the level of service and IFE on American were years (probably about 14) behind what is offered on BA out of LHR. If it comes to choice out of BHX the United offering into Newark has great IFE, and on new planes – this would be my choice.

  SF

• James67 says:

  13 Nov13 November 13:14

  AA supposedly going to change longhaul 757s with a321s but that will not be anytime soon. Would be better if they and United picked up a330neo instead. Never like flying anymore than 4 hours in narrowbody.

  IIRC United also introduced EDI to ORD this summer

• Kai says:

  13 Nov13 November 14:38

  Raffles, did you receive East Coast’s email about their point devaluation? It’s not massive but still I will redeem my points for 4 x first class tickets before it happens in January!

  • Rob says:

    13 Nov13 November 18:51

    Yes, see tomorrow

• Alan says:

  13 Nov13 November 17:49

  Just to highlight that the United option from EDI has fully flat BusinessFirst beds – redemption availability is hard to find though in my experience (plus I hate having to pay APD and tend to be more tempted by an ex-EU outbound :D)

  • James67 says:

    14 Nov14 November 03:18

    Smith review on transfer of taxation to Scotland is being lobbied to include APD with a view to abolishing it alltogether. Apparently it raises only £200M in Scotland, about 1/15 of UK total so hopefully it will come to pass. Hopefully too it would have positive effect in getting this adsurd tax abolished or at least reduced UK-wide. In worst case scenario it would offer more iptions for positioning flights and would benefit those in northen England who could get to GLA and EDI as easily as LHR. Would hurt Newcastle and Manchester though so that is where pressure would come from for reform in England too. LHR focussed travel and expansion has been a thorn for many years. I don’t understand why governments have never used APD as a tool to develop regional airports at expense of London.

    • Alan says:

      14 Nov14 November 04:41

      Interesting – would definitely be nice to see this 😀 Impressed with all the expansion going on at EDI.

      • James67 says:

        14 Nov14 November 05:48

        Was never keen on the presecurity areas at EDI. Reminded me of old LHR T2, low ceilings, dark and dismal. Personally I would have preferred to see a new Scotland airport someplacd near Falkirk with high speed rail connections from Edinburgh and Glasgow.

        • Alan says:

          14 Nov14 November 05:53

          The new area is pretty open and bright – they’re testing it on and off at times just now.

          Agree a centrally placed one with excellent transport links would have had the biggest draw for carriers too, unfortunately seems unlikely now. I always wish they’d add a train stop for trains from the North/East of Scotland at the end of the runway – would have been much cheaper than the tram 😉

        • James67 says:

          14 Nov14 November 06:07

          Yes, the transport is a pain. After i move from west to Edinburgh they finally introduce bus from Glasgow to Edinburgh airport. Trams seem totally pointless to me, they take longer than bus.

• Amelia says:

  14 Nov14 November 08:54

  Great news, live in Birmingham but always favour LHR as we prefer to land in JFK over EWR due to staying in Brooklyn. This gives us more options, not fussed about the 757 for an East Coast hop either.

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