Is it best to book a non stop international flight

Is it best to book a non stop international flight?

I don't travel much, but I am going to Sydney in August and While trying to book my flight I have to options : Book a flight from Sacramento , CA to Sydney (and pay a few hundred more and endure a 5 hour layover in San Francisco) or- Take Aamtrak to San Francisco stay at a cheap hotel and leave on a non stop flight to Sydney. My only reservation is - Aamtrak is not known for being on time or reliable. What do you seasoned travelers think?

Air Travel - 6 Answers

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1 :

if Amtrak is not reliable, I would go w/the first option.

2 :

well....do you think Amtrak will at least get you there on same day? (really, that much more to fly from SMF? I am surprised they don't "eat" the connecting flight)....you could fly Southwest SMF-LAX and fly out of there to SYD what about Greyhound? Or rent a car & drive? If it would really cost you "a few hundred" for SMF-SFO, jeez, even with the drop charge (and you might be able to find a one-way, e.g. Hertz Local) you would come out ahead.

3 :

It does appear that flying from SMF to SYD costs about $140 more than from SFO or LAX. You won't save any money taking the train or bus to SFO and getting a hotel. Remember you have to add in restaurant meals & taxis. Traveling to SFO on the day of your flight risks having a problem, and one the airline isn't responsible for fixing. Do you have to fly via SFO? United flies to SYD from SMF via LAX with a layover of 2 hours 40 minutes (same price as via SFO). If it were me, I would fly SMF-LAX-SYD on the itinerary with a 2 hour 40 minute layover at LAX. Sleep as late as you can on the day of your flight - it's a loooong trip, and the flight to Sydney departs at 10:35pm.

4 :

I think you should just book the Sacramento to Sydney flight and skip all that hassle of boarding the bus (greyhound) or train (Amtrak) and facing the possibility that either one might encounter some kind of delay on the road (which might cause you to miss your flight) I'm looking at August prices for SMF to Sydney and there really isnt a price difference. You would still have to pay money to get to SFO (and back) anyways and if you factor that in, going to SFO or flying to LAX is about the same (total) as booking from Sacramento. Also, it can take more time because you would need to find another way to go to the airport from the Greyhound or Amtrak Station (that cost money too) Dont worry about the layover. There are things you can do (eat, shop etc..) and you still need some time to go through security. You can also look for a flight with shorter layover (like an hour or 2) And, there is no best or worst, right or wrong when it comes to booking flights. People have their own preferences and its impossible to agree on a set standard for this. edit: i just wanted to add that you can go through LAX for about the same price (from Sacramento) but it would be better if you had a longer layover because it can get really crazy there and you will need time to switch terminals in addition to going through security (and possibly checking in again) The terminals arent connected, so you have to exit the building and go to the international terminal. You may have to go in a circle, depending on which airline you use. At SFO, you dont need to exit the building...you just need to go exit security and go to the international boarding area.

5 :

Your flinght leaves 11 pm, you wont need to get a hotel,, leave Sac on a train about 3 and get into the city at 6. That will give you plenty of time to get to the airport. If you are running late grab a cab, if not take BART to the airport

6 :

Although it's true that Aamtrak is not known for being on time, if you would otherwise stay at a cheap hotel for the night, then it shouldn't matter of they are late. In my opinion, for your own comfort and sanity, you should take the flight and endure the layover. International airports generally have things to do, eat, and buy. As well as nice places to nap or read.