How to get to | USA

This is part of a series of blog entries on how to get to countries and places. Here is a link to the index. I plan to eventually cover every country and some other places. If you have a request for a particular country or place please use the contact me link at top right, or leave a comment.

USA

Source: Doug Dolde

Okay, probably no one needs help on how to get to United States of America, but since I'm covering every country I include it for completeness. There may be some information of use to somebody here. I'll also post about some places within USA later.

Land crossings are simple from Canada or Mexico (apart from the queues), and it is also easy to arrive by cruise ship. The airlines that fly to USA include (all from home country only except as specified):

• Star Alliance - Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand (from NZ, London and some Pacific islands), ANA, Asiana, Austrian, bmi, Continental, EgyptAir, LOT, Lufthansa, SAS, Shanghai (not yet commenced), Singapore (from Singapore, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea), South African (from South Africa and Senegal), Swiss, TAP, Thai, Turkish, United, US Airways
• Oneworld - American, British Airways, Cathay Pacific (from Hong Kong and Canada), Finnair, Iberia, Japan, LAN (from Chile, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela and Canada), Mexicana, Qantas, Royal Jordanian
• Sky Team - Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Air France (from France and Tahiti), Alitalia, China Southern, Czech, Delta, KLM, Korean
• Other - too numerous to mention

TIP Trans-Atlantic fares are usually cheaper than Trans-Pacific fares.

TIP Longhaul premium awards (in first or business class) are difficult to obtain on routes to/from Australia/NZ, Tahiti and Africa (directly as opposed to via Europe).

UPDATED November 2009 - Mexicana joins Oneworld and Continental switch from Sky Team to Star Alliance. No change to advice.