This guide is under development. It will appear in the <em>
Organised Crime</em> category when it is ready to use.
<br>
<br>
If you have any additional advice, please reply and I will
merge the changes into this post.
<br>
<br>
<div style="font-size: 120%; font-weight: bold;">Flights:
LON -&gt; SAN rtn, Fri 24-Oct -&gt; Fri 31-Oct</div>
<table style="font-size: inherit;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 15em; text-align: right; font-weight: bold;">Best
direct price
</td>
<td>&pound;479.97 on <a
href="http://www.flyzoom.com">Zoom
Airlines</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 15em; text-align: right; font-weight: bold;">Best
one-stop price
</td>
<td>&pound;363 on US Airways
via&nbsp;<a href="http://expedia.co.uk">expedia.co.uk</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br>
<div style="font-size: 120%; font-weight: bold;">Flights:
LON -&gt; LAX rtn, Fri 24-Oct -&gt; Fri 31-Oct</div>
<table style="font-size: inherit;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 15em; text-align: right; font-weight: bold;">Best
direct price
</td>
<td>&pound;390 on Air France via&nbsp;<a
href="http://expedia.co.uk">expedia.co.uk</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 15em; text-align: right; font-weight: bold;">Best
one-stop price
</td>
<td>&pound;353 on Air France/NWA
via&nbsp;<a href="http://expedia.co.uk">expedia.co.uk</a>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br>
<div style="font-size: 120%; font-weight: bold;">Flights:
LON -&gt; SAN rtn, Sat 25-Oct -&gt; Fri 31-Oct</div>
<table style="font-size: inherit;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 15em; text-align: right; font-weight: bold;">Best
direct price
</td>
<td>N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 15em; text-align: right; font-weight: bold;">Best
one-stop price
</td>
<td>&pound;371 on US Airways
via&nbsp;<a href="http://expedia.co.uk">expedia.co.uk</a>
(use multiple destination option)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br>
<div style="font-size: 120%; font-weight: bold;">Flights:
LON -&gt; SAN, LAS -&gt; LON, Fri 24-Oct -&gt; Fri 31-Oct</div>
<table style="font-size: inherit;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 15em; text-align: right; font-weight: bold;">Best
direct price
</td>
<td>N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 15em; text-align: right; font-weight: bold;">Best
one-stop price
</td>
<td>&pound;377 on US Airways
via&nbsp;<a href="http://expedia.co.uk">expedia.co.uk</a>
(use multiple destination option)
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br>
<div style="font-size: 120%; font-weight: bold;">Flights:
LON -&gt; SAN, LAS -&gt; LON, Sat 25-Oct -&gt; Fri 31-Oct</div>
<table style="font-size: inherit;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 15em; text-align: right; font-weight: bold;">Best
direct price
</td>
<td>N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 15em; text-align: right; font-weight: bold;">Best
one-stop price
</td>
<td>&pound;385 on US Airways
via&nbsp;<a href="http://expedia.co.uk">expedia.co.uk</a>&nbsp;
(use multiple destination option)
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br>
<div style="font-size: 120%; font-weight: bold;">Resources</div>
<div style="font-size: 110%; font-weight: bold;">Hotel</div>
<br>
<iframe marginheight="0" marginwidth="0"
src="http://maps.google.com/maps/sv?cbp=1,666.8046834826416,,0,-0.23413851056199547&amp;cbll=32.738259,-117.15942&amp;v=1&amp;panoid=bq3sYFp7AcHJ1u6YjaZ8yw&amp;gl=&amp;hl=en"
frameborder="0" height="394" scrolling="no"
width="700"></iframe><small><a
id="cbembedlink"
href="http://maps.google.com/maps?cbp=1,666.8046834826416,,0,-0.23413851056199547&amp;cbll=32.738259,-117.15942&amp;ll=32.738259,-117.15942&amp;layer=c"
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-align: left;"><br>
View Larger
Map</a></small>
<a
href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;q=park+manor&amp;sll=32.738416,-117.15838&amp;sspn=0.004124,0.006738&amp;layer=c&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;ll=32.737788,-117.155639&amp;spn=0.008248,0.013475&amp;t=h&amp;z=17&amp;iwloc=A&amp;cbll=32.73877,-117.16036&amp;panoid=GsA_vaPF337K1SxuaBOCAQ&amp;mid=1210529183%5Dhttp://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&amp;hl=en&amp;geoc...&amp;mid=1210529183"><br>
Map of the area<br>
</a>
<br>
<br>
<div style="font-size: 110%; font-weight: bold;">Weather
averages for late October</div>
<br>
San Diego: High: 24&deg;C Low: 13&deg;C<br>
Grand Canyon:&nbsp; High: 15&deg;C Low: -2&deg;C<br>
London: High: 14&deg;C Low: 9&deg;C<br>
<br>
<br>
<div style="font-size: 110%; font-weight: bold;">Images</div>
<br>
<img style="width: 700px; height: 467px;" alt=""
src="http://grapheneindustries.dreamhosters.com/grand%20canyon.jpg">

Pete - difference in duration between direct and one-stop? Where is the stop?

What dates are you using in the search?

I'm happy to take a stop and see some random american airport if it doesn't add on 12 hours to the trip.

It can add anywhere between two (not *quite* enough time to feel totally like you'll make your next flight) and nine hours--it all depends on the airline.

You, of course, would have your choice of cities--with the most popular being Chicago, Newark, and Houston probably.

Also, feel free to look up LAX (Los Angeles International) as a possible place to land. It's not really that long a drive from San Diego if you fly in on a weekend (weekday traffic could make it trickier, but not impossible). I could drive up and get you, and it may be cheaper.

what days are we looking at?

i've just checked flights at zoom, from friday 24th to monday the 27th
£388 direct

how long are people planning on staying over there? i think a long weekend would be good. but then we have to stay somewhere too

Tizzy and I are staying for a week - we didn't fancy flying back the day after the wedding and Zoom only fly to and from SD on Mondays and Fridays.

It would be good if we could all take a holiday while we are out there. San Diego is a city on the cutting edge and worth spending a few days in. The Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree national park and Las Vegas are all close enough.

As many of you know, I like to keep planning to a minimum. However, in this particular case I would be prepared to shift some Halo playing resources towards holiday logistics.

As far as I'm concerned give us flight dates/times and a website to buy from and I'm a happy chappie. I just want to have as much entertaining company on this round the world flight as possible so the more the merrier.

I shall be there, my only slight problem is that I'm going to Oz in December so am not massively flush now. Still, who needs savings

A week sounds good to me; I'll fly with you Dan.

Thanks Mikey - but what's the wriggly face for? I don't get air-sick or anything =p

I'm well up for this. Are we booking flights yet?

The flight on Zoom Airlines has not changed in price (£398) for the last few weeks, so now would be a good time to book tickets.

It maybe possible to get a cheaper one-stop flight, but the difference in price (<£20-£50) is probably not worth the extra time and hassle involved.

lets book.
final decision on dates?

I'd be up for a longer trip - eg a Friday or Saturday to the following Sunday.

Say 25th to 2nd?

Zoom only fly to San Diego on Fridays and Mondays I believe.

We have booked 24th to 31st (Friday to Friday)

Hello Dan

We are presently deliberating over whether to blow the budget and stay all week or go back early, however this is such an opportunity it would seem a shame to miss out on all the sites of the West Cost (or some at least). Still though, Im restricted by school times and cant be certain i would be allowed a day's unpaid leave to catch the zoom flight on the friday. So, If you find anything suitable from say late friday night on the 24th to the following friday 31st then let us know! I looked up Zoom, their costs have risen to £440.00 each which is still reasonable but that would mean me having to keep my trap shut for 6 months about going to California and pull a suspicious sicky on the last friday before half term. Not sure I can manage that!

Anyway, let us know if you find any alternatives.

Rosie

I have updated the flight information section, including the option of flying back from Las Vegas.

lastminute.com is offering some good deals that kayak.co.uk does not pick up.

Rosie and myself have book our flights.

We are flying Saturday to Thursday from Heathrow to LAX, then driving up.

Out BA0269 arrives LAX 19:00 on Sat.
In BA0268 leaves LAX about 21:30 on Thursday.

Plus we've hired a car for the whole time, so plan to drive to San Diego then on the potential roadtrip people have been talking about.

The flights cost £947.40 for the two of us direct from BA despite their website claiming they would cost £1070.

<p>Edit: Pete, I just notice the &pound; sign thing... it's really stupid...</p>

Tart - that gives an arrival time back in the UK of about 3pm on Friday does it not? I thought Rosie had to be at work friday morning?

I've been invited to a high level educational/commercial forum of CEO/MDs etc in London 9:30 Friday morning so was looking at coming back on Thursday with you guys but I don't think I would make it with your flight....?

@Dan: Rosie's half-term is the whole week, it's the friday before (the 24th) that she can't guarantee to have off.
There is an earlier flight on the thursday. but I don't know how much use that is to you - the 3pm Friday arrival time is what we've gone for.

Guys - I'm well down for this option:

Flights: LON -> SAN, LAS -> LON, Fri 24-Oct -> Fri 31-OctBest direct price N/A
Best one-stop price £412.30 on KLM Royal Dutch via Last Minute (use multicity option)

Would be ideal for itinery such as:
Weekend + Monday in SF
Tues/Wed in Grand Canyon
Thurs/Friday in Vegas

Who's up for booking this flight now? Lets bite ze bullet before prices go up again!

I'd be up for that if it fits with the general itinerary Dan.

yeh sounds good...
em and i could be up for that idea

Pete - if the above sounds realistic let us know and I think we should try to book tomorow (Wednesday).

Thanks for the email Danny, the fri to fri, in to san diego, out of vegas plan looks good. Count me in.

That KLM return from Las Vegas (LAS) option for £412 is the best deal I could find. It's a good price and will avoid the 4-5 hour drive back to San Diego.

The itinerary looks and sounds realistic. I will add some detail later this week, including some suggestions for Chris & Rosie and Jonnyboy & Tizzy to get them back to their departure airports in time.

Wednesday would be a good day to book. Use this link to go directly to the multicity page at lastminute.com

Use seatguru.com to help select the best seats on each leg of the journey.

Jonnyboy,

Is there a fee to change your hotel booking in San Diego?

Is everyone planning on going from Gatwick? Heathrow is much easier for me, but if eveyone is going from Gatwick, I'll try to come up with a cunning plan.

Is the wedding on the sunday? I'm running low on holiday, so might arrive on the saturday and do sat to fri if it is.

Yes, the wedding is on Sunday the 26th at 3pm.

That cheap KLM flight is not available, but there is a similar flight on US Airways that can be booked through expedia.co.uk for £415.30:

£415.30 - Expedia Special Fare

12:30 Depart London (LGW) Fri 24-Oct
Arrive San Diego (SAN) 20:39
Duration: 16hr 9min
US Airways US Airways 731 / 1147
Connect in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Intl.)

14:31 Depart Las Vegas (LAS) Fri 31-Oct
Arrive London (LHR) 11:00 +1 day
Duration: 13hr 29min
US Airways US Airways 1750 / 728
Connect in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Intl.)

Dan is considering buying tickets for Mike and himself this evening. Let him know if you are interested in taking the same flights.

Traveller name: John Clifton
London (LGW) to Philadelphia (PHL) 24/10/08 12:30 - 16:00 US Airways
Philadelphia (PHL) to San Diego (SAN) 24/10/08 17:55 - 20:39 US Airways
Las Vegas (LAS) to Philadelphia (PHL) 31/10/08 14:31 - 22:19 US Airways
Philadelphia (PHL) to London (LHR) 31/10/08 23:45 - 11:00



I'm booked.

Ween just pointed out that that takes us to Heathrow on the way back....this is not optimal.

Awesome....that'll teach me to not read things carefully.

Not a problem if you are training, but not very useful if you are driving.

Oh well.

My only delay on this now is that I have a possible work trip out there (Palo Alto) at end Oct, beginning Nov. So I am now just waiting on the date for that. How awesome would it be if work paid for my flights?! Fecjing awseome!

for fucks sake - card failed to buy tickets again.
need to call up my bank tomorrow and find out why.

Will book tomorrow morning. King - if you get to a computer might as well book your ticket direct.

Dan

Expedia was failing my purchases for about fifteen minutes too, complaining about not being able to book the first flight. Eventually it just went through.

are we all going from gatwick, then back to heathrow?
i dont really care, but it'd be nice to go on the same plane

I'm going out of gatwick and back to heathrow.

Since the flight back is early afternoon on friday, can I suggest a slightly changed itinerary? (Same flights)

Friday 24th - San Diego
Sat - SD
Sun - SD
Mon - Drive to Grand Canyon, leaving after breakfast ( 8 hours, take it slow and stop off in entertaining places)
Tues - Stay at Grand Canyon
Wed - Drive to Vegas after lunch ( 4.5 hours )
Thurs - Vegas
Fri - fly home

This gives us a day and half in the grand canyon and a day and a half in las vegas, which I think is about right.

goddamnit! they put the price up since last night!!

Traveller name: Daniel Watts
London (LGW) to Philadelphia (PHL) 24/10/08 12:30 - 16:00 US Airways
Philadelphia (PHL) to San Diego (SAN) 24/10/08 17:55 - 20:39 US Airways

Las Vegas (LAS) to Philadelphia (PHL) 31/10/08 14:31 - 22:19 US Airways
Philadelphia (PHL) to London (LHR)


Booked for the exhorbitant sum of £462.68.

"£%£$*"£!

Noj - sounds good to me.
Mikey is booking now.
Dan

Also, for car hire it looks like hertz will cost in the region of 90 quid for a Ford Focus and I can get at least one 15% discount because of big blue.

Does anyone else get car hire discounts?

I'm trying to book those flights but can't at the mo.

Edit:

OK

Traveller name: Michael Simonds

London (LGW) to Philadelphia (PHL) 24/10/08 12:30 - 16:00 US Airways 731
Philadelphia (PHL) to San Diego (SAN) 24/10/08 17:55 - 20:39 US Airways 1147

Las Vegas (LAS) to Philadelphia (PHL) 31/10/08 14:31 - 22:19 US Airways 1750
Philadelphia (PHL) to London (LHR) 31/10/08 23:45 - 11:00 US Airways 728

I spent an extra £47 on you guys so you'd better be good company.

this is getting annoying now...

flyzoom have a promo code, so i've found one with a discount

so gatwick to san diego is £472 direct....
bunch of homos

Woz - so are you booking on our flight or going direct?

haha, you guys are gonna hate this...

those exact flights are now back down to £415.30
i'm not sure what to do at the moment... we're trying to move house, and we're a bit skint...

yesterday when it was £462 i was looking at my overdraft balance on one screen, and a £925 flights bill on the other screen, and it just wouldnt fit

now its 415 each it might be worth doing

Goddammit!! I can't believe that. I hate US Airways already. I'm going to tear off the plane's wings...

Right, who's booked, who's about to book and which options are people taking for flights?

I'll update this post when people say what they are doing:

lgw - lhr (klm 1 stop)

John
Dan
King


lgw - lgw (zoom 0 stops)

Jon and Tizzy (not sure if its lgw to lgw)


lhr - lhr (BA sat - thurs via lax)

Chris and Rosie

Woz and Ems to decide next. Though if he waits till NEXT week he'll probably get it for £2...

bitter.


=)

Info from my parents who went to GC and LV recently; I haven't had time to look yet. Check it.

Update to Noj's post on current bookings:

Noj
King
Dan
Matt & Michelle
London (LGW) to Philadelphia (PHL) Fri-24th 12:30 - 16:00 US Airways
Philadelphia (PHL) to San Diego (SAN) Fri-24th 17:55 - 20:39 US Airways
Las Vegas (LAS) to Philadelphia (PHL) Fri-31st 14:31 - 22:19 US Airways
Philadelphia (PHL) to London (LHR) 31/10/08 23:45 - 11:00 US Airways

Jon & Tizzy
London (LGW) to San Diego (SAN) Fri-24th 14:30 - 10:55 Zoom Air
San Diego (SAN) to London (LGW) Fri-31st 17:25 Zoom Air

Chris & Rosie
London (LHR) to Los Angeles (LAX) Sat-25th 19:00 - 21:30 British Airways
Los Angeles (LAX) to London (LHR) Thur-30th 21:30 British Airways

The North Rim closes on the 15th of October. However, there are plenty of lodges on the South Rim.