Perhaps we should start a D*con 2011 flights thread once we start getting firm quotes?
Would be nice if we could all get on the same flight?

Cheapest I've found so far using incorrect dates (as September 2011 is not bookable yet until the airlines publish their schedules in October) was rather indirect. Edinburgh - Amsterdam - Michigan - Atlanta.
Now, for a Jet-A enthusiast like me, that's perfect, more take offs for my buck
But I'm guessing most will want a direct London area to Atlanta flight.

There is also a direct Edinburgh and Glasgow flight. Will need to check this out.

_________________
Sgt A. Richardson CMD A04/TQ1.0.02151E1

Manchester Airport have flights direct to Atlanta.

Going off this years prices, and presuming they don't change (long shot) we'll be looking at circa 400 quid return from Manchester.

_________________

I'll edit, hack up and sort out this thread with the plan when I've recovered from D*C 2010

Cheers, G&A - posted from ATL airport, Concorse E!

Whatever's the best balance between expense and hassle, is fine by me!
I don't mind a transfer flight if there's gonna be a few of us together.

_________________
MSgt, UKCM 42nd Reg., 1st Batt. : Hadrian's Wall. UKCM

Wasteland Workshop
Props, cosplay pieces, upcycled ornamentation, and miscellanea;
For the discerning survivor of the apocalypse.
Steve Fletcher : Maker, Scavenger, and Junksmith.
linktr.ee/wastelandworkshop

I will only do a direct flight and I think most of the D*Con regulars from the UK would agree. If you want to increase your chances of losing yer luggage for the sake of £20 then so be it, but I won't be joining you.

Personally, I don't want half the UKCM stuck in Michigan when they should be in the bar or the parade!

I said I don't mind it.

If it comes to a vote.. Mine's for direct!
But if we have to transfer, I'd rather it be within the UK.

_________________
MSgt, UKCM 42nd Reg., 1st Batt. : Hadrian's Wall. UKCM

Wasteland Workshop
Props, cosplay pieces, upcycled ornamentation, and miscellanea;
For the discerning survivor of the apocalypse.
Steve Fletcher : Maker, Scavenger, and Junksmith.
linktr.ee/wastelandworkshop

I hate to be the fly in the ointment here but the Worlds Favourite Airline lost my luggage 3 times on trips to and from the US and EVERY time it was between Manchester and London Heathrow!

So domestic transfers won't necessarily save you!

_________________
Cheers

Winch

"Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow I shall fear no evil for thou art with me. And together we'll kick ANY bugs ASS!"
You know who you are!

Can't wait to see you all here! (but, visiting Denny's?? Sorry, but that ain't going to happen! ) I don't think they have Denny's in the South- however, they do Have a Waffle House on every corner!

_________________


USCM- The Colonial Marines- A Brotherhood of Bad Asses!

In that case, flying from a smaller airport with less complex luggage systems makes more sense.
The more London airports are involved, the more likely it is your luggage will not join you on your flight across the pond.
I'll be looking into a Glasgow or Edinburgh flight to Atlanta. I only need to book one way any how.

_________________
Sgt A. Richardson CMD A04/TQ1.0.02151E1

One way? What, you plan on stayin'?

_________________
Pvt J. DeGraff, C.M.D.
A14/TQ3.0.65090E2

In ref to http://forum.alienslegacy.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=8747&p=128998#p128998

It seems the Hilton is the hotel of choice.
Get booking folks, before the greedy mongrels over there book it out!
I have to wait until pay day. Which is in 7 days, thankfully.

Using DCN as the convention code, I have the following quote

Check-in: Thu 01 Sep 2011
Check-out: Tue 06 Sep 2011
Rooms: 1 Room
Guests per Room: 1 Adult
£701

This is the same if you book a room with one doube bed or two.
If I book that, I'll be looking for 1 or 2 people to share.

_________________
Sgt A. Richardson CMD A04/TQ1.0.02151E1

I drove coast to coast back in '03 and LOVED Dennys! We don't really have anything like that here in the UK.

_________________

E for 'Eggs' DELICIOUS EGGS!!

SAS

_________________
Alan T. Alien
1st Lt Smith, SA "Sidewinder"
A13/TQ1.4.19720EX CMA
Founder of UKCM 13th Regt. 1st Batt. Freebooters
Founder of Special Armaments Section (Heavy Weapons)
"People don't understand. people like me"

For reference Peeps, some quotes only as of 08/09/10

Check-in: Thu 01 Sep 2011
Check-out: Tue 06 Sep 2011
Rooms: 1 Room
Guests per Room: 1 Adult
= £701

---------------

Check-in: Thu 01 Sep 2011
Check-out: Tue 06 Sep 2011
Rooms: 1 Room
Guests per Room: 2 Adults
= £700

----------------

Check-in: Thu 01 Sep 2011
Check-out: Tue 06 Sep 2011
Rooms: 1 Room
Guests per Room: 3 Adults
= £774

----------------

Room selected for all three quotes: 2X Double bed

So basically, book a room and have 2 or 3 folks in with you and spread the cost.
I'm up for booking and taking on lodgers. I'm also open to lodging with someone.

_________________
Sgt A. Richardson CMD A04/TQ1.0.02151E1

I've done this three times. Several things posted above looks dodgey to me, but you're free to do as you please.

I will be group booking hotel and planning flights as before.

If you want to join my group, post on the other thread that I will start in the next week.

There's no need to be snotty about it mate.
I will, however, defer to your superior experience. I was only trying to help and posted information found via official websites and, in ref to air travel, my own (dare I say superior) knowledge of the airline industry.

_________________
Sgt A. Richardson CMD A04/TQ1.0.02151E1

Maybe I am being snotty. And maybe that is down to exhaustion. But you should understand why: From my point of view, you seem to be threatening the single thing that should make 2011 even better for me than 2010: Getting a larger coherent group of UKCM to Dragon*Con.

Firstly, by potentially fragmenting the group more than is necessary, but also by quoting whole-room prices. I made a decision from the beginning not to talk about total prices for rooms etc. I know people can divide, but throwing around £700+ numbers WILL make people less open-minded about going. You did the same when you quoted absurd prices for flights.

Dragon*Con isn't about the panels, it isn't about the hotels. It isn't about the costumes. It isn't even about the bars. It's about the people that you go with and the people that you meet. I want to make it as easy (and, as a secondary consideration, relatively cheap) for as many people to sign up to go as possible.

Allow me to lay out the UKCM D*Con 2011 playbook. If, for cost or practical reasons, you decide to deviate from it then that is absolutely fine. But do so only once you know what the score is for the majority - it will make everyone's D*Con experience better.

Nah, the plan is to head down to florida afterward for some sun sea and fun.

_________________
Sgt A. Richardson CMD A04/TQ1.0.02151E1

I have to agree that it would be a much better experience if as many of us as possible can travel together. It would make it so much quicker, easier and more enjoyable.

Logistics can be a nightmare if we're all fragmented.

Also, once we know how many people are going, split groups up and allocate rooms and cost per-person on a sharing basis.

So far we'd need 4 rooms based on 3 people sharing and that'd come to £258 each or a smidge over £51 per night. (based on Padsbratt's figure of £774)

Circa £400 for return flight
£258 for accomodation
And however much spending money you require.

My 2p's worth.

_________________

Like I said, I will defer to your superior experience.
My intent was not to fragment, but to inform and organise with the view to what you have in mind.

_________________
Sgt A. Richardson CMD A04/TQ1.0.02151E1

Hi All,

Just chucking my penny in and not taking any sides, but going purely on my two times experience of Dragoncon.

Gareth has looked after us perfectly, got the best group hotel bookings, best flights and kept the whole package simple and coherent for us all to understand.

He gave us a framework to allow some individual choice but kept the main group trip nice and simple.

Never did I feel like I was being dictated to, or had to do what he said, I was very happy to be guided in the right direction.

There are a lot of niggly things to consider and first time Dragoncon goers may not intially be aware of them.

Gareth kept them from developing into headaches for the rest of us, although I'm pretty sure they are a massive headache for him.

The workload behind the scenes must be quite considerable and I for one am eternally gratefull for his efforts.

THANK YOU GARETH.

I'm guessing the guys from the North have the added hassle of getting to Heathrow and need to decide whether to do so, or fly direct (or indirect) to Atlanta from a more local airport.

I reckon in the grand scheme of things it would be worth making the trip to Heathrow and joining Gareth & Abes Pleasure Plane to the States!

9 hours on a direct flight zaps your energy enough as it is, can't imagine what a longer, fragmented journey would do!

Anyway, I'm looking forward to Dragoncon 2011 already.

Sounds like most of the UKCM are going.

Woo Hoo!

Andy

_________________
A72/TQ6.6.95356E8





"I plan to live forever.........or die trying!"

What are the dates for D*Con 2011? I really want to go next year but Babs starts school and I'm not missing that for anything. I know you guys tend to stay a day or two longer than the con. I'm just trying to work out the logistics here - money I can worry about later.

_________________
"You know, you blow up one sun and suddenly everyone expects you to walk on water."

speaking of waffle house, if Ttaskmaster comes to D*C next year, i owe him biscuits and gravy. LOL


and i think i still owe Dom a beer for being 300

_________________
PFC Mike Rizzuto MVM
USS Blackhawk
3rd Batt 12th Regt

2nd-5th September.

_________________

Yeah, that's not going to happen.... FRAK IT! Oh well, you guys have a good time. I'm going to sulk in the corner.

_________________
"You know, you blow up one sun and suddenly everyone expects you to walk on water."