HIGH SCHOOL | ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL

Group Flight Information

Looking to fly to London with other participants? Read on for more information about our optional Group Flight Package for Finalists and Full Access Family Package participants.

Optional London Group Flight Package

We know that, for some, flying alone internationally can seem daunting. We have additionally received requests about opportunities for participants to be able to fly together from the US to London (and back). While we cannot arrange escorted flights from individual airports throughout the country, we’re pleased to have made arrangements for a limited block of seats on direct flights between New York (John F. Kennedy International Airport) to/from London to escort participants on the international leg of their journey. Participants may therefore choose to meet Series staff in (and then say goodbye from) JFK instead of traveling the entire journey on their own. These arrangements are optional and the cost is therefore not included in the program cost. Reservations for the limited seats that we have on this chaperoned flight will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

For 2024 the group flight is no longer accepting additional bookings.

Travel Logistics

The Group Air flight will depart from and arrive at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Participants must arrange their non-program flights to arrive into or depart from JFK with plenty of time to allow for immigration, baggage claim, check-in, and security processes, as well as unexpected delays or cancellations, even if this means a long layover.

Depending upon your hometown, this may mean taking the day’s first available flight to JFK (at the start of the program) and the last available flight from JFK (on the return), or even considering staying overnight at JFK. The Series recommends allowing for a minimum 7-10 hour layover between your self-arranged hometown flight and the program flight in each direction.

Please Note: Should any flight delay or cancellation from your home city interfere with your ability to connect to the outbound program flight, you may lose your ticket and be required to purchase another flight at your own expense. The Series is not responsible for any delay or cancellation of the return program flight that causes a missed connection with a non-program return flight to your home city.

Program Flight Times:

July 24, 2024 Departure Time from JFK to LHR:
Approximately 07:00 PM (Eastern Time)
[Arrange your flight to arrive well before 07:00 PM]

July 29, 2024 Arrival Time to JFK from LHR:
Approximately 01:00 PM (Eastern Time)
[Arrange your flight to depart well after 01:00 PM]

Should you choose to join us on the program flights, please do not purchase your Hometown-to-JFK and JFK-to-Hometown flights until you have received confirmation from the Series that your flight registration has been accepted and we have a space reserved for you. You will receive an email within 3-5 business days after submitting your Group Flight Reservation confirming that we have a space for you on the Program Flight.

Group Flight Inclusions

Round-trip airfare from JFK (John F. Kennedy International Airport) to LHR (Heathrow Airport)
Staff on-site at JFK to assist with arrivals from home-city airports and departures to home-city airports
Series staff on the flight to provide a safe, worry-free experience on the international journey
Assistance with the international entry at Customs and Immigration