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I’ve been scratching my head all weekend. I’ve nearly got enough Avios for my family to do a round trip to Orlando (240k avios). We’re 40k short. So I though I’d be clever and use up my Virgin points and book one way with Virgin. But of course they fly from Heathrow to Orlando, and BA fly from Gatwick. Logistically this is a pain coming from the west – I’d want to avoid Gatwick if possible.
Can anyone advise a better solution? We’re looking to use points that have accumulated over the past 5 years for this holiday but as we only just thought of it, have long since stopped using our BA Amex etc so no 2-4-1 vouchers on hand.
Connect in the US – Philadelphia or Charlotte are good options for this. Or fly BA to or from Miami.
But arguably just ubering from a LHR car park to or from Gatwick is preferable to either of these options. I’d probably fly out of Gatwick and back to Heathrow so I could head straight home when I landed.
If you’re planning to hire a car anyway, fly into MIA and out of MCO, or vice versa, as @SamG suggests. We spent last Xmas and NY in south Florida, then decided to fly home direct to MAN from MCO on Virgin rather than MIA-LHR-MAN on BA (flexibility of points!). It was a hassle-free 3-hour drive from our hotel in Fort Lauderdale to MCO, so it wouldn’t be much further from MIA. Avis changed our drop-off point from MIA to MCO with no quibble and at no extra charge.
Or if you want a 2 centre and dont want to drive the new Brightline rail service from MCO to Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami starts in Sept.
Thanks for the suggestions all.
Good idea on out from Gatwick. I could get an Open Return to Heathrow, change at Paddington, single from Paddington to Gatwick on outbound only.
Depending on where you’re coming from there is a train Reading – Gatwick as well
@davefl – is there any such service between MCO and TPA? I looked to see it if was feasible on public transport but Google maps told me it would take over 5 hours and involve 3 or 4 busses and trains!
Virgin fly direct to Orlando from Manchester. Aer Lingus also fly direct to Orlando from Manchester. This would allow you to use both your avios and virgin points
I don’t think OP wants to fly from MAN!
@davefl – is there any such service between MCO and TPA? I looked to see it if was feasible on public transport but Google maps told me it would take over 5 hours and involve 3 or 4 busses and trains!
The Orlando extension is about 2 years late and is scheduled for Sept, Tampa… eventually maybe.
Heading to Tampa
After high speed rail line Brightline connects South Florida to Orlando International Airport, they’re looking to head west, which has been called the Sunshine Corridor. The plan would include tracks for both Brightline and SunRail to use to connect Orlando International Airport to the Orange County Convention Center and then down I-4 toward Disney Springs, with Brightline then expanding west with a station in Tampa.Thanks, I will keep an eye on this. I’m sure TPA used to have a direct flight back in the day, along with all the other places you used to be able to go to from MAN!
@davefl – is there any such service between MCO and TPA? I looked to see it if was feasible on public transport but Google maps told me it would take over 5 hours and involve 3 or 4 busses and trains!
I looked on trainline and could not see it – I was sure there was one too.
@Northernlass I wouldn’t hold your breath. The need well over $1Bn in funding that they haven’t got and initial discussions with the authorities only started in the spring. Come back in 5 years or so 🙂
And yes, pretty sure Thomas Cook or one of the package holiday airlines used to fly to Tampa but the internet seems to have erased it.
Don’t BA have one flight a day from Heathrow to MCO? They certainly did this time last year as we took it!
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