[Turbanator]

Middle eastern carriers with domestic transit through BOS

Nothing beats clearing Border control at the Middle East. When you land at US, depending on airport and time of arrival queues can be long. Also, at Heathrow you have to go through passport control ( Even for Transit though no visa is required) where again depending on the time of arrival it can take considerable time.

[Akshay1234]

Originally Posted by ramprakashr

Hi,

Travelling to the US on a B1/B2 Visa, in September. This being the first time, can someone please help me with the right route to take?

1) MAA-BOM-AMS-ATL on Jet Airways
2) MAA-LHR-ATL on British Airways
3) MAA-FRA-ATL on Lufthansa
4) Middle eastern carriers with domestic transit through BOS


Bias towards Jet since I am on the silver tier and can afford a J class upgrade through miles. Any other thoughts/experiences? Thank you!

The last sentence would settle it for me. Nothing like flying business, period. The extra comfort you will have is completely worth it, even with the extra flight you have to take to BOM.

If I were you I would take the Jet option.

EDIT - Do also remember, Jet offers a J class upgrade with miles only on certain fare types of economy.

Otherwise do also look at Qatar, they fly direct to ATL. And the service and hard product on middle eastern airlines is excellent.

[Gokrish]

Originally Posted by ramprakashr

Hi,

Travelling to the US on a B1/B2 Visa, in September. This being the first time, can someone please help me with the right route to take?

1) MAA-BOM-AMS-ATL on Jet Airways
2) MAA-LHR-ATL on British Airways
3) MAA-FRA-ATL on Lufthansa
4) Middle eastern carriers with domestic transit through BOS


Bias towards Jet since I am on the silver tier and can afford a J class upgrade through miles. Any other thoughts/experiences? Thank you!

Middle Eastern carriers are better with regard to ease of check-ins at respective countries. However, travel time from Gulf to US will be long from 12 to 18 depending on the destination. And that is where Europe stop over will be helpful. There are Visa stamping kiosks for B1/B2 type visas at certain airports in US to ease the pain of immigration! Book your return tickets too as Qatar and Emirates generally insist on showing your return tickets.

[Jeroen]

Whenever I used to travel to the USA from india I always took Lufthansa via Frankfurt. Travel time might be a bit longer but having a stopover at Franfurt cuts the travel time almost in two equal parts. I just dont care for those 12-15 hour long hauls.

Jeroen

[silversteed]

Originally Posted by ramprakashr

1) MAA-BOM-AMS-ATL on Jet Airways
2) MAA-LHR-ATL on British Airways
3) MAA-FRA-ATL on Lufthansa
4) Middle eastern carriers with domestic transit through BOS

This is something that goes in favour of 2 & 3:

Originally Posted by Jeroen

Travel time might be a bit longer but having a stopover at Franfurt cuts the travel time almost in two equal parts.

Another reason I can think of is that the airports in the middle east are huge: it's not always a pleasant experience when you have just a couple of hours between the flights and you have to reach a different terminal. Sometimes, though rarely but it does happen sometimes, when the flight from India to the middle east ends up delayed because the aircraft is put in a holding pattern for a while, it can result in missing the connection.

Mind you, Lufthansa and BA don't have that wow factor that the middle-eastern carriers provide you.

I remember flying LHR-ORD in a code-shared United Airlines aircraft, a rather old one (forgot which aircraft it was) with the smallest In-Flight Entertainment screens I had ever seen on a trans-Atlantic flight. But it was a pleasant flight because the load was so less that I had one full row of seats for myself to stretch and a jovial cabin crew.

The middle-eastern carriers usually go out of their way in making your trip comfortable, especially those travelling as a family and with kids.

Originally Posted by ramprakashr

Bias towards Jet since I am on the silver tier and can afford a J class upgrade through miles.

Please confirm that the upgrade is available end to end, before picking it up. After a disappointing domestic flight and reports of incidents as well as lacklustre reviews, I personally avoid Jet Airways but YMMV.

[libranof1987]

Originally Posted by ramprakashr

Hi,

Travelling to the US on a B1/B2 Visa, in September. This being the first time, can someone please help me with the right route to take?

1) MAA-BOM-AMS-ATL on Jet Airways
2) MAA-LHR-ATL on British Airways
3) MAA-FRA-ATL on Lufthansa
4) Middle eastern carriers with domestic transit through BOS


Bias towards Jet since I am on the silver tier and can afford a J class upgrade through miles. Any other thoughts/experiences? Thank you!

I generally fly Delta while doing India-USA; good service and connectivity since Atlanta is Delta's hub.

Delta and Jet have recently become codeshare partners so good chance that the second leg of the journey may be on Delta. You can explore using your tier to get an uprade.

* I assume this is a corporate booking. These are generally on the lowest booking class and often will not be eligible for upgrade through miles/discount.

Etihad also has good service; India - Abu Dhabi on Jet and next leg on Etihad.

Avoid American and United; terrible airlines.

Originally Posted by Akshay1234

Otherwise do also look at Qatar, they fly direct to ATL. And the service and hard product on middle eastern airlines is excellent.

Not a good idea now considering the diplomatic situation with Qatar.

[dass]

Originally Posted by libranof1987

Avoid American and United; terrible airlines.

Not a good idea now considering the diplomatic situation with Qatar.

I have traveled to US about 6 times in the last 3 years and have always been on AA from London. I find them to be much better than the BA flight I take from India. I agree on the United part, absolutely terrible.

Originally Posted by silversteed

YMMV.

Pardon my ignorance, what YMMV? Google explanation is interesting, so wondering if it's the same context.

[libranof1987]

Originally Posted by dass

I have traveled to US about 6 times in the last 3 years and have always been on AA from London. I find them to be much better than the BA flight I take from India. I agree on the United part, absolutely terrible.

But isn't BA one of the lousiest airlines; so I've heard.

Of the three American carriers, I only fly Delta. Even if it works a little extra (up to 10%).

I just don't like the AA experience; right from their customer support to the check-in/gate staff.

[venuvedam]

Originally Posted by Turbanator

Also, at Heathrow you have to go through passport control ( Even for Transit though no visa is required) where again depending on the time of arrival it can take considerable time.

That's not true. You don't have to enter passport control area if you are just transiting through LHR. You just need to clear security again and proceed to your gate. (I am assuming you are not going to change terminals and will be within the confines of Terminal 5 - A, B or C gates)

[Turbanator]

You just need to clear security again and proceed to your gate

Before Security there's definitely passport check, I have personally stood in a long queue when travelling from Delhi to Calgary around 2 Years back and only after this check did I went through security. But they do have a premium queue for Business class passengers which I used on return ( Upgraded from premium economy)

[selfdrive]

Originally Posted by libranof1987

Etihad also has good service; India - Abu Dhabi on Jet and next leg on Etihad.

The Jet airways connection to Abu Dhabi is terrible. I thought I would save the cab ride on the eway from Pune to Mumbai.
Pune - Abu Dhabi; the flight was like a state transport bus. with closed windows. May just be the most cramped seats I have travelled in.

Not sure how it is to/ from other cities in India

[silversteed]

Originally Posted by dass

I have traveled to US about 6 times in the last 3 years and have always been on AA from London. I find them to be much better than the BA flight I take from India. I agree on the United part, absolutely terrible.

I don't know if it's just me, I have found AA, United and Delta equally lousy in domestic flights within the US. Have had better experiences with JetBlue and minnows Cape Air.

Originally Posted by dass

Pardon my ignorance, what YMMV? Google explanation is interesting, so wondering if it's the same context.

I was lazy to type "but you could have a different opinion based on your experiences", so I wrote YMMV - Your Mileage May Vary. There. I paid the price for being lazy.

[dass]

BA is by far the worst when it comes to customer service. Their flight attendants are probably the most grumpy ones I have ever seen, especially the Indian flight attendants ones are more grumpy looking at the Indians on board, which I thought was weird.

[venuvedam]

Originally Posted by Turbanator

Before Security there's definitely passport check, I have personally stood in a long queue when travelling from Delhi to Calgary around 2 Years back and only after this check did I went through security. But they do have a premium queue for Business class passengers which I used on return ( Upgraded from premium economy)

That's surprising. I have gone via LHR from Hyderabad to the US six times in the last one year. (All Economy class) Never once have I had to go to passport control. Did you switch terminals or carriers? My experience is with British Airways throughout (And hence Terminal 5)

[Turbanator]

I have gone via LHR from Hyderabad to the US six times in the last one year. (All Economy class) Never once have I had to go to passport control

I don't think there was a change in the terminal, it's kind of passport check, not something where they actually stamp you but someone will see passport and visa and only then you go to security. I remember standing for like 45 minutes in the queue and thereafter never travelled via Heathrow.