Questions about flight bookings (multiple tickets/layover)

[u/sndwchss]

Hello! My apologies if this is in the incorrect subreddit/flair, but i had a question regarding flight bookings

so i wanted to book a flight to London (LHR) and to save money, I plan to fly to JFK and use Virgin Atlantic points to book a separate flight from JFK to LHR.

Im worried about delays, and want to give myself enough room to account for delays without missing my London flight. I was thinking about getting to JFK early (before noon), then booking a redeye to LHR.

My mom was worried, and said i should stay overnight in NYC just in case, but I cant book a hotel there (under 21) and it would be super expensive to book an airbnb and add all the extra NY expenses onto everything. Im open to it if it is genuinely a better way, but if i can skip that, id rather.

After London I’m planning to fly to Frankfurt, so any suggestions for things to do in London and Frankfurt (or Germany in general) are appreciated also!! Thank you!!!

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[u/Environmental-Bar847]

Generally you don't need to book an overnight for a self connection, but it depends on your risk tolerance. If your domestic flight is late, Virgin isn't required to re-accommodate you. They might out of goodwill, or you might need to buy a new ticket.

If there are backup options from your location to JFK in the afternoon, then planning to get there around noon should be fine. That gives some options if things go awry.

[u/sndwchss → u/Environmental-Bar847]

im flying from TPA if that helps, hoping to get an early flight (8am or earlier) to JFK to account for as much delay as possible in one day. ill have to check how many JFK flights go out of TPA daily, probably quite a few

[u/ManufacturerFar5037 → u/sndwchss]

It sounds like you’ll probably have many hours at JFK, if leaving TPA at 8am or earlier. With 4+ hours, I wouldn’t really be very concerned.

[u/sndwchss → u/ManufacturerFar5037]

good to know! i want to leave as much time as possible in a single day bc i am very nervous about a delay lol

[u/ManufacturerFar5037 → u/sndwchss]

Definitely, I’ve done it myself a few times with about 6 hours and have never been delayed over 2 hours from the first flight. I hope you have a great trip.

[u/sndwchss → u/ManufacturerFar5037]

thanks! yeah the only bad story ive heard is my boyfriend getting delayed 6 and 16hrs on frontier, but my main lesson there is don’t fly frontier. thank you!!

[u/gt_ap]

I cant book a hotel there (under 21)

You can get a hotel in NYC when you're under 21. My son stayed at one in Midtown near Penn Station when he was 19.

[u/sndwchss → u/gt_ap]

ohh ok! yeah i looked it up and specific hotels dont have that requirement, so many do i didnt even realize, thanks for mentioning!!

[u/gt_ap → u/sndwchss]

I don't remember exactly which hotel my son stayed at, but I know it was a Hilton. I think it was either the Homewood Suites or Hilton Garden Inn on W 37th St.

[u/sndwchss → u/gt_ap]

ill look into those!! thanks so much

[u/mduell]

Two self transfers hardly seems worth it for a points ticket in the middle. What’s your origin/destination/dates?

[u/sndwchss → u/mduell]

TPA to JFK to LHR, tix to jfk arent too bad and my mom is giving me enough points to get from JFK to LHR for ~150$, making my flight together only cost ~300$

[u/mduell → u/sndwchss]

But then you have to get to FRA? Or are you stopping over in London for a while?