Help Please - for a potential D*C newbie from the UK

[KC.]

Hi folks, looking for some help and advice.

As a single, over 21 year old ;) female, used to travelling alone some years ago and getting back into practice, I would like to pick the brains of any D*Con regular willing to help.

Thing is, as a Family Historian, I would also like to visit Salt Lake City for a few days and I have already decided that World Con 2006 (aka LA Con IV) is also an option.

I've already spoken to my colleagues at work so the 3 weeks are pencilled into the diary and I've been told to "just get it booked" :eek: but I don't know how much flights/hotels are going to cost and if there are some cheaper options I can take.

I've already got quotes for multi-flights on Delta travelling from Manchester to Salt Lake City via New York, then to LA, then to Atlanta and back to Manchester. But it does seem a lot of dosh (not that I can't afford it - but I'm a Yorkshire woman ;)). Could anyone tell me if there's a low cost airline in the US which might do budget fares for Atlanta/SLC/LA/Atlanta that I can buy when I've landed so that I could get quotes for Manchester to Atlanta - also average prices for MAN to ATL would be good to know, anyone booked that yet?

I'm happy to book single rooms in the hotels as I like my space but would be willing to share to cut down on costs at the Cons.

Also very important question - what timescales should I be looking at, and do you think I've missed out on special deals.

Any help very gratefully received..... please :D


Kath

[Kat]

oooooo :bouncy: I might get to see you again?!!

Anyhoo.. Delta is one of the higher priced carriers. Of course they go everywhere.

There's three low fare carriers that I could think of off the top of my head;
But none of the three fly to all three cities;
It has a lot to do with where their hubs are.

Southwest;

http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/routemap_dyn.html

Does LAX and Salt Lake.

AirTran;
http://www.airtran.com/route-map/city_information.aspx

LAX and Atlanta (which is Airtrans Hub)

And Jetblue;

http://www.jetblue.com/travelinfo/routemap.asp

which is the least convinent

I noticed both Southwest and Airtran fly into/out of Reagan in Washington D.C.

You could check Southwest's prices and what a puddle jumper from Airttran from Washington D.C. to Atlanta would run.

As for Manchester /Atlanta ask your fellow Yorkists. ;)

Hotel rooms.. well I'm not sure about any deals. last year I think there was a flight/ hotel deal. But I can't remember the airline.
The dragon con website might have info. or peruse last years threads here. ;)

Hope that helps!!

[Ian]

Delta is the official D*C airline, & as far as I know offer discounted fares for internal flights if you're going to D*C (check the D*C site for more info). We fly Continental, but they don't fly direct to Atlanta since their hub is Newark, NJ, so we have to change there. Currently Continental is charging £367 + taxes, so we're hanging back & hoping the exchange rate improves (we got them for under £250 including taxes last year!). Delta is £20-30 more, but is a direct flight.

[KC.]

Thanks Ian and Kat (yes it looks like we'll be seeing each other again :D )

Ian - do you have a website for those airfare quotes? And do you do passport control/customs in Newark?

I may "pump" you for info at the mini-gather :D

Starting to get into the mood now - last time I did this sort of thing was in 1990/91 :eek:

Should I be booking accommodation and Con memberships now or later?

[-H-]

Thanks Ian and Kat (yes it looks like we'll be seeing each other again :D )

Ian - do you have a website for those airfare quotes? And do you do passport control/customs in Newark?

I may "pump" you for info at the mini-gather :D

Starting to get into the mood now - last time I did this sort of thing was in 1990/91 :eek:

Should I be booking accommodation and Con memberships now or later?

passport/customs/immigration takes place at the point of entry, so if we fly via newark again then it would take place at newark.

Although i myself am trying to find cheap flights myself ... (i'm not fussy on which airport i fly from)

[Ian]

Continental (http://www.continental.com) site
Delta (http://www.delta.com) site

:)

[Kat]

The earlier the cheaper for the membership to the Con.

I don't think the price varies on hotel rates .
I've always stayed with a group so I can't be sure.

There's a thread Kool started discussing the hotels;
a couple threads down ;)

[KC.]

Continental (http://www.continental.com) site
Delta (http://www.delta.com) site

:)

I've looked and looked for alternative routes but I think I may have to go with the Delta all the way one. I may end up going via Atlanta to Salt Lake City but as the fares and travelling could be easier by doing that I may just bite the bullet and pay the full whack

[Auburn]

If you wouldn't mind a short drive, I'd suggest booking the Salt Lake City flight out of the Birmingham International Airport in Alabama about a 2-3 hour drive from Atlanta. The Southwest flights are a good bit cheaper out of Birmingham than Atlanta most of the time. You could rent a car or see if of us is headed that way and wouldn't mind giving you a lift. The scenery between Atlanta and Birmingham is pretty nice (once you get away from Atlanta anyway).

[Auburn]

Whoops, must remember to read the whole thread before I post, lol. But instead of flying in to Atlanta, fly in to Birmingham instead, then to SLC/LA then back to either Birmingham or Atlanta for the flight home, or something like that.

[KC.]

Whoops, must remember to read the whole thread before I post, lol. But instead of flying in to Atlanta, fly in to Birmingham instead, then to SLC/LA then back to either Birmingham or Atlanta for the flight home, or something like that.

Thanks for the suggestions Auburn, its given me some more routes to look at but the main flights into and out of the US are appearing to be the most expensive part - obviously :roll: - and the others aren't making that much of a difference in the overall cost. Must start trying some discount transatlantic websites!

[KC.]

More help please.

Could someone (UK passport holder preferred) advise how long it might take to get through passport control in either Atlanta or New York (JFK). There's a few flight options I could take to get to Salt Lake City before midnight on 19th August but some of the transfer times are quite tight. I would prefer to have at least a couple of hours for all the admin stuff.

BTW - I think I've missed the best options for flight costs. A few weeks ago I think I found the flights at around £730 but now they're back up to £900+ . I'm beginning to think I dreamt it - actually what I mean is I'm hoping I dreamt it :roll:

[Ian]

Can't comment on Atlanta or JFK (we fly into Newark from here, & the flight to Atlanta is internal & doesn't need passport control), but the staff at Newark are efficient & while the queues look long, they go down quickly. I presume JFK would be the same, & Atlanta isn't likely to be anything like as busy as far as international flights go, most of the traffic there is internal.

[KC.]

I should have reserved the hotel back in Feb :( Marriott booked up now I've got my flights booked. Is there much difference between Hilton and Hyatt? Really would like to get something booked soon.

Itinerary as follows:

19th August Manchester to Atlanta to Salt Lake City > for Family History ;)
23rd August Salt Lake City to Los Angeles > for Worldcon (LA Con IV)
31st August Los Angeles to Atlanta > for Dragoncon :bouncy:
5th September Atlanta to Manchester > for home

Kath

[Ian]

The Marriott will tell you they're booked up if you don't mention you're going for D*C. I don't know about the others, we've always stayed at the Marriott, but the Hyatt tends to be noisy, & the wait for lifts is awful; the Hilton only joined D*C last year, so not sure at all what that's like.

[KC.]

Hotels are now all booked. I can now start the Tourist information bit :roll:

I'm staying at the Plaza in Salt Lake City - right next to the Family History Library and close to Temple Square (I might get to hear the choir if I don't have Jet Lag!)

Marriott in Anaheim for Worldcon.

Hilton in Atlanta - but thanks to jjmouse and Kat for the offer of space in their room.

[LADY MAELIN]

We are at the Hilton also, so I hope that perhaps we will get to meet. It's a first time at D.C. for me, so I will be learning it all as I go along, good luck with all your plans.

[KC.]

Looking forward to meeting up with you and yours and Priscilla and hers ;)

I'm new to Dragoncon but went to Worldcon last year in Glasgow and will be there in LA this year so I might not be as overwhelmed as I could be - then again meeting more people form the KT etc could just about send me round the twist :eek: (it doesn't take much ;) )

Just as well I've met some of the peeps before like Ian, LL, H and BM ;) not to mention Kat and Priscilla too :D

[KC.]

Ok its me again. :roll:

Got everything sorted now, I think, except that I haven't received any documentation re my Membership - which I paid for online.

How long does it usually take? I did order some keyrings at the same time which arrived within days but nothing re membership.

Thanks.

Kath

[Ian]

It can sometimes take 3 or 4 weeks to get your card, maybe longer now because I suspect more people will be registering than when we got ours.

[Auburn]

Ok its me again. :roll:

Got everything sorted now, I think, except that I haven't received any documentation re my Membership - which I paid for online.

How long does it usually take? I did order some keyrings at the same time which arrived within days but nothing re membership.

Thanks.

Kath

Did you keep your receipt and or confirmation email? If nothing comes by the time you leave, bring them along, usually you just need the confirmation info and your id. I'll give them a call tomorrow to make sure and post here again the new info.

BTW, Dragon Con does not have a toll free number, it only has the local area code numbers, so for most people this means a long distance phone call. But there is good news, I live in the same area code as D*C so calling them is free for me. So if anyone here needs to phone D*C let me do it, unless the call is regarding personal info and such. Let me know if I can do anything else to help.

[KC.]

Did you keep your receipt and or confirmation email? If nothing comes by the time you leave, bring them along, usually you just need the confirmation info and your id. I'll give them a call tomorrow to make sure and post here again the new info.

BTW, Dragon Con does not have a toll free number, it only has the local area code numbers, so for most people this means a long distance phone call. But there is good news, I live in the same area code as D*C so calling them is free for me. So if anyone here needs to phone D*C let me do it, unless the call is regarding personal info and such. Let me know if I can do anything else to help.


I keep everything ;) but the problem is over as my blue postcard arrived this morning -albeit with the address spelt wrongly :roll: