UK-US airfare question

We are moving to london in late August (see welcome wagon!). 

A couple of questions for the veterans:

--How do you purchase a roundtrip ticket when you don't know when you will be returning to the states? Orbitz and other sites only let you schedule your return ticket for nine months from today. We plan to be in UK for at least a year, and have no plans to return to US during that time. I cant find a way to purchase an open-ended ticket on any of these websites. Are open-ended tickets more expensive than firm return dates?  Or should I just pick a random date, and bite the bullet on changing the return date later?

--How much weight does BA and others allow one person to carry on board? Is it by weight or by number of pieces of luggage? What's the penalty for going over? Is there a maximum? I read on another website that its cheaper to just eat the penalty fee and bring as much stuff as you can on your initial flight over, instead of expensive mailing options via US Postal Service, etc.

--Finally, anyone have any idea how to get cheap airfare in august? Every place I've seen is over $1,000 RT! 

Thanks!

 

Can't help you too much...but you are right about the fares - they are crazy...you might actually want to wait a bit - I got my late July flight for about $800 in early April...

I sent all of my 10 boxes to London for about $60 per piece as I didn't need the stuff to be there right away.  I think it's about $100 per piece to have extra on the plane (but it may depend on who you fly with).  The best thing to do is check with various websites - I know Virgin lets you know all sorts of info about amounts you can take and how much extra it would cost.

For one-way to the UK - check out www.skyauction.com.  Trust me! 

I got my ticket for last August in June on expedia.com.  I bought a one way ticket for $420 on Virgin.  Most airlines allow you 2 suitcases at 70lbs a piece.  Extra bags will run you $120-$140 a piece.  Shipping boxes via USPS is cheaper than paying $140 for an extra bag.  My most expensive box was $65 I think.  The post office really isn't that bad for shipping, especially if you send it via surface and not air mail.

When I moved to the UK, it was cheaper to get a round-trip ticket than a one-way ticket -- even though I'm here for good and only really needed a one-way. But I made up a date for the round-trip and ended up saving money.

Regarding your search for cheap tickets in August, let me know what you find out! I'm looking for one for September -- although since that's after school starts up again, I might be in a better position.

I traveled here through work and was able to get a roundtrip ticket that didn't have change fees associated with it, so I just put an estimated return date and will change it when I actually have a return date set up.  As for bringing stuff over, I just moved here in January and the research I did showed that most airlines were only charging about $60 per extra bag, which was a lot cheaper than shipping a box of a comparable size.  You can find out extra bag prices on the carrier's website.  The downside is trying to lug around all the bags when you arrive, but the great thing about Heathrow is they have the luggage carriers lying around the airport and they are free to use.  Good Luck.

--Finally, anyone have any idea how to get cheap airfare in august? Every place I've seen is over $1,000 RT! 


Try cheaptickets.com.  I don't know about August, but the last time I checked, a one-way ticket cost about $240.  Every single other site I've come across doesn't even come CLOSE to matching that price.  Good luck!

Alright, I just went to go look, and I found a one-way ticket to Heathrow in August for around $400 at priceline.  Take a look, hopefully you'll find an even better price!  I'm starting to love that site.....

Alright, I just went to go look, and I found a one-way ticket to Heathrow in August for around $400 at priceline.  Take a look, hopefully you'll find an even better price!  I'm starting to love that site.....

I used this last year in June for about the same price!  It was great!!!!!  The cheapest I could find on-line.

Yeah - I'm curious why they're astronomically cheaper than anyone else.  Not that I'm looking a gifthorse in the mouth or anything, but seriously.... I'm planning on traveling late March, and I was able to find a $240 one way tickets when everybody else was either $480 or close to $1000.   And if there's any paperwork mentioning anything about my soul, I'm not signing.

part of it is you can't earn miles for the flight. Most airlines (inc. star alliance) won't let you use a ticket purchased from hotwire or priceline towards your miles. You get a "class" fare on your ticket (not just economy or business) that will let you know if you earn miles. I checked it out and one of my tickets may not count! I am so mad. I was working hard towards a free flight for next year. Something to consider, but if it's a significant savings in money - it's well worthwhile. I'll be moving also in August, so this thread was quite helpful

Virgin lets you get miles for one-way tickets bought off Sky Auction...

my august one way with virgin was about 180.00!  it was sick, i was so happy it was so cheap!

my august one way with virgin was about 180.00!  it was sick, i was so happy it was so cheap!

Holy cow!  What site did you buy it from?  That's insane!!  Much better than the $100 each way deal (but you had to buy round trip) last January!  *muttering*....$180 in august......

oh, i got it on cheaptickets.com

it was a total fluke.....i was so happy!!!!!