Would you do this flight to save £1200???

[knakered]

we are planning to go to Tampa in Dec - we can go BA direct (9hrs out 8hrs back) for £2700 (2adults3children1baby)...or via Detroit 3hr stop over on the way out - think we could cope as we could stretch our legs after long trip - but on return we have a 5hr stop in Detroit before a long trip back. Total time would be 15/16hrs each way vs 9/8 direct...would we go mad with the stop over?..we have 4 children (9,7,6,1)have never done long haul before - and am worried about delays with bad weather in Dec/Jan in detroit -- would we regret doing it?..would save us £1200

If you look on it as 2 sgort flights each way, rather than 1 one long flight, it might sound better. OTOH Detroit in December is not a place for gadding.

What time of day are the stopovers?

short, not sgort

on the way out stop over 3-6pm US time which would be OK - could have a meal or something--on the way back its 4pm to 9pm US time so could then look at the last bit as a night flight...not sure what we could do for 5hrs at the airport esp Detroit?..more worried about getting snow bound?

How much do you need the 1200 quid?

Snow could be a problem in December. I would always pay more to fly direct, especially with kids. You need Ivor - she'll know more about Detroit airport. I don't imagine it's a big one, but I might be wrong. I suppose it depends if you can afford the extra to go direct.

Does the changeover time include all that shuffling about between landing and immigration (immigration will take ages inward) and then checkin etc for onward flight? If so it will be a lot less than it looks.

Weather could be bad in Dec/Jan, but blizzards etc tend to hit harder later in the winter.

I wonder if the airport has eg a cinema, or any other entertainment?

For saving £1200 I think it's worth it

Have a look at the snowfall chart here - the purple spikes are record levels, the almost invisible dark blue lines at the bottom are averages

I dont know about immigration/baggage etc ...never done this before...but if I had to do that...think that would wind me up more than anything ..thought of standing in Qs with my 4 kids dragging luggage around ..I had assumed it would all be "in-transit" and the luggage would all go thru automatically...how would I find out ??..its all the same airline...£1200 would pay pur accomodation out there for 3 weeks ...but just checked again on web ..differential is now £800 and time so late arrive in Tampa at midnight with 1 1/2hr transfer - pick up hire car etc that we would probably stay in an airport hotel on arrival rather than arriving at villa at 4am (probably couldnt get in)...so minus another £100 ...leaves differntail down to £700...which works out at about £60/hr (13 extra hours travel)...might work afew extra days at work...would prefer to sit at my desk rather than 13 EXTRA hrs with x4..thanks for your help think I have answered it now

Yes working on your own in nice office always preferable to US airports with 4 children. One US airport is bad enough, let alone doing 2!

Never ever do a stopover with kids. I"ve done Denver to Heathrow with 2 ds's on my own - that's 91/2 hours. You'll be far better off. And Detroit in Dec - freezing.

See I've never ever done a 9-hour flight, with or without kids, and I get bored rigid even on short flights, so would welcome the shuffling in between

Your luggage should transfer without you - but when we once flew NY-SF, no transfers, our luggage made a side trip to Honolulu - make sure you have minimal essentials in your hand luggage.

Sounds as if you have made up your mind anyway, knakered - hope you all have a fab holiday

Glad you think you have decided now...

FWIW, you have to claim your baggage as soon as you land in the US, so you'd have to collect it and re-check it for the next flight. It's part of the new security. Big PITA.

Oh really, mamamama? I didn't know that, obv - what a PITA

It may be cheaper yes but I would not do this routing even if the flights were free!!. Detroit could get snow bound. I would urge you to fly direct to Tampa instead.

Same day internal transfers in US airports are grim for want of a better term (and I've done quite a number now over the years). You need bags of time to accomplish such a thing and you would also find that the domestic flight would depart from a different terminal to the one you arrived into.

US airports are not at all like UK airports either in terms of facilites. Some of these airports are more akin to bus stations.

Have NEVER ever seen a cinema or come to think of it any form of entertainment for children (like a play area) in any US airport I've been in due to the fear of litigation no doubt.