Trip report- Starting in Europe – a travellers tales
Back to Forum- This topic has 36 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 23 Aug 2011
at 14:34 by MartynSinclair.
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MartynSinclairParticipantHi JordanD, many thanks for your concern. In hindsight, my sprit of adventure does sometimes need to be kept in check. I have been in the sun for far too long on this current trip.
Life is very good (and I would like it to stay that way)!
22 Aug 2011
at 16:43
azidaneParticipantI have not done the quick turn around as I spent about a week in Egypt prior to flying out to Seattle and then back to Egypt but security wise in my opinion would not be a problem if you are a “white EU passport holder” I am half Egyptian and probably fly to Cairo approx 8-10 times a year so am a regular visitor and sometimes only for a couple of days.
Martyn, Egypt is very much a meat eating country and when I have previously raised this subject with Egyptian friends and relatives they grimace as if to say they could not possibly understand how someone could a vegetarian and to be honest, there are no specific vegetarian restaurants that I know of, but I will ask around for you
22 Aug 2011
at 18:35
VintageKrugParticipantI wouldn’t say you’d have much trouble in Cairo.
Tel Aviv is another matter. Out and backs exTLV are viewed with considerable suspicion, and while entirely possible you should be certain to arrive in good time for your return flight to allow for any extended questioning. And by that I mean VERY good time e.g. 4-6 hours prior to travel.
Out and back the same day would be “courageous”.
Certainly only recommended if flying alone or with tolerant partner; a family with children would be too stressful.
As ever, when arriving in TLV the http://www.laufer.co.il/LauferB.aspx?Cat=6 Arrivals Service is invaluable, though I demurred on their offer of a bullet proof car last time. If I can survive the BT Forum, I can survive anything 😉
22 Aug 2011
at 20:08
Binman62ParticipantBA discounts only apply when travelling solely on BA metal. The biggest savings ex the eu to Asia are when BA codes shares on CX ex HKG. As a result CGK MNL SEL TPE and others ( many ex BA stations) have the very best deals with savings that could never be described as marginal. They are often many thousands of pounds cheaper and in this instance a family of 4 saved £14k over then ex LHR price for which there was no discount available.
22 Aug 2011
at 23:14
LuganoPirateParticipantI use Milan frequently, not just because it’s cheaper, but its my nearest international airport. Lugano can be unreliable at times and if flying ex London then it’s also more convenient.
Here are a few warnings though.
I just bought a ticket MXP ZRH JNB ZRH MXP and was warned by the ticketing agent at Swiss that if the final leg is not used, the fare will be recalculated and I’ll have to pay the difference.A friend travelled with Easyjet LGW MXP (He lives close to LGW so convenient for him) in order to fly MXP LHR SYD with his wufe and 2 kids, at a greatly reduced price in business. He allowed plenty of time but Easyjet was late taking off, delayed in landing. Immigration took 30 minutes and they had to wait (unusually) another 30 mins for their bags. Result was they checked in too late, and as it was a reduced fare business class ticket, not changeable etc. they faced losing the whole deal.
To their credit, BA rebooked them for the following day but they had to pay the fare difference. Better than losing the whole lot though. In addition they had to pay overnights at Milan.
From speaking to friends who do this, they all say it’s best to travel with hand baggage only and allow plenty of time for delays etc. This would hold good whether flying ex MIL, AMS or anywhere else.
23 Aug 2011
at 07:35
MartynSinclairParticipantHence the stratergy I use which is to fly out to Milan and straight back. If the outbound BA is late, the likelihood is that the inbound will also be late, unless of course BA diverts an empty aircraft within the locality for the return.
In the one occasion that the outbound was cancelled, which resulted in the inbound also being cancelled, last Xmas snow, BA allowed me to use the ticket out of sequence.
I always use all 4 sectors.
23 Aug 2011
at 14:34 -
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