Craving a proper fish and chips meal, or a glass of Rioja from the actual Rioja region of Spain? It's about to be easier than you think to make either of these possibilities a reality. Up until now, airlines have been relegated to their own country's tarmac, making it impossible for travelers in some US cities to find a direct flight across the pond. For example, US-bound British Airways flights were only permitted to originate in Britain. And only two US carriers were permitted to land at London Heathrow—everyone’s favorite cocktail-charging airlines: American and United.
That’s all about to change thanks to the "open skies agreement" that takes effect on March 30, 2008. I should clarify: the flight patterns are about to change, not American and United’s alcohol policy.
Why London though, says the foodie who can’t stand the fish, the chips, or the mushy peas?
Well, for hungry travelers, it means that a trip to Valencia, Spain for paella and a glass of Rioja will no longer require a domestic and international flight connection if you live in Seattle. Now, Seattle travelers will be able to fly Northwest Airlines (http://www.blogger.com/www.nwa.com) to London Heathrow, an international (airline) port-o-call and a hub to a variety of low-cost airlines, hop a flight to Valencia aboard Spanish airline Clickair (http://www.clickair.com/), and be eating their paella sans a stop in Detroit or Minneapolis.
And it might mean that fares become a bit more competitive. Though with oil prices constantly on the rise, and the price of fuel sending surcharges soaring, I wouldn’t hold out hopes for an airfare war just yet. You might find a nice introductory deal on a new route that originates from your home airport though, so keep your eyes peeled!
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