United always sends out e-mail to MileagePlus-ers to announce award sales, but it can't hurt to set an alarm. Thanks, I wasn't aware of those sites.You can use Skyscanner, Expert Flyer, Award Hacketr, etc to set an alarm for your route, aiomr, dates, etc. Use either free trial or one month subscription. Easier than monitoring award sales.
I've always wanted to fly into Lyon and check out the city. It's more or less the same drive time to many French resorts as Geneva. Unfortunately, the only nonstop to/from North America is via Montreal.into Lyon
I've always wanted to fly into Lyon and check out the city. It's more or less the same drive time to many French resorts as Geneva.
ChrisC just gave me the heads-up that Delta Air France/KLM cut prices today. So we booked Jan. 17 - Feb. 4 for $738pp, a very good price. Mileage awards were not cut, so it would be ridiculous to pay 82K + $94 for those same seats. I did not find anything on Delta's website saying that flyers with status would not be subject to the no miles credit/no seat assignment provisions of the cut rate $588 Economy Light fare. My status did get us an automatic Economy Comfort upgrade on the return Delta flight from CDG-LAX.
I agree with all of the ratings and comments. Malpensa is a wee bit better than Geneva but not by much.Geneva is a bit ghetto and an embarrassment to Switzerland. It's unappealing architecturally, older, inefficiently laid out, has horrible baggage claim, and has difficult transportation/car rentals due to straddling 2 countries. Zurich and Munich airports are amazing, and Milan Malpensa is OK. I would NEVER use Geneva airport except for its location in Europe's ski country.
That's my opinion also. I sleep some on planes, but usually it's fitful and shallow. I know from friends that in later retirement years I may need to pay up for more comfortable seats, but I'd like to put that off as long as possible.Personally, I look at a Premium Economy as a week of skiing in the Alps. And a business class seat is a week of heli-skiing in BC or Alaska. Cannot justify it -
The airfare pearl-clutching is getting silly. It's only the third week of October. I'll continue to stand by for the forthcoming winter award sale but am prepared for the deals to be not quite as notable as in previous years.A cursory Kayak search shows EWR-GVA airfares today being as or more expensive than what Chris and I paid yesterday from SFO and LAX unless you want to take a 13 hour scenic route though Portugal.
The fares ChrisC and I got are not far off bargain rates in prior seasons, and it is well known that fuel costs are not low right now. I was commenting that it seems strange that the West Coast fares went on sale this weekend while the East Coast fares did not. If I were on the East Coast, I'd be holding out for a better deal too.The airfare pearl-clutching is getting silly.
To be honest, I've not been bitten by the trip-planning bug yet other than a likely season opener at Solitude in mid-December like last season. After booking my Euro flights, I'll start considering options.James, where are you going to ski?
Can't remember if I've mentioned before -- the Snowheads forum is very active and informative for Euro visits; I used to participate on it from time to time before finding Alpinforum. That said; they're using an interface that dates back to, I swear, the turn of the century. I have no idea how they keep it going without a monster crash.I’m going to attend the Snowheads (British forum) End of Season Bash in Val Thorens
Can't remember if I've mentioned before -- the Snowheads forum is very active and informative for Euro visits; I used to participate on it from time to time before finding Alpinforum. That said; they're using an interface that dates back to, I swear, the turn of the century. I have no idea how they keep it going without a monster crash.
I concur on both points. It’s a helpful forum and their software is ancient. I met a couple of members while we skied at Les Arcs and Tignes in the salmon coloured snow of March 2022. Lovely people.Can't remember if I've mentioned before -- the Snowheads forum is very active and informative for Euro visits; I used to participate on it from time to time before finding Alpinforum. That said; they're using an interface that dates back to, I swear, the turn of the century. I have no idea how they keep it going without a monster crash.
We had so much trouble with FTO's previous package (phpBB); however, that software was cutting-edge compared to Snowheads, which may be so archaic that it's indestructible?
Yes, every forum has its + and - and that's why we stick with FTO, although, as Ian Hogg in Spinal Tap said, "our appeal has become more selective."
- The Germans document EVERYTHING about their trip on Alpinforum.
- Snowheads - typical questions repeated 100s of times:
United is $605 from Newark but I'm waiting for a better price or award level.United has Geneva on sale on sale in most East Coast cities.