Transferring QF Int to AA Dom Different PNR - A Few Questions

[QF029]

I'm travelling with 2 others QF93 on 2 different PNRs (MEL-LAX). Originally we were going to drive LAX-SFO but have decided to fly. Are there any specific things to look out for when booking a 'connecting' flight through AA.com? Such as:

- All 3 US tickets will be booked in one additional PNR (OWE).
- I'm going to allow 4-5 hours for transit. In the unlikely event there is a major QF delay and we miss the AA flight would QF or AA help because of the One World alliance or only if on a single PNR?
- Are there any baggage limit/weight issues or because it's tagged through from Melbourne it should be fine (even though we have to escort the baggage at LAX)? I read on the AA site a rule about within 24 hours of an INT leg but I wasn't sure if that only referred to AA or a single PNR.
- Anything else I've missed or useful tips?

Thanks in advance.

 

[JetLagged]

qf029 - did exactly this in November - took the A380 from Melbourne, landed at LAX at 6ish, was then on the 9am flight to SFO. Had NO problems at all - even with transferring terminals (next door to each other). Was worried about the small time between - and the fact that we were travelling on Thanksgiving and the usual reports of extreme slowness with Immigration/Homeland Security- but we made it easily, even with time available in the AA lounge. So your 4 hrs will give you a lot of time in the lounge if you have access.

I was on an paid RTW ticket - no problems. Partner was on a points RTW save for the USA legs - so had own PRN for continental USA legs. There was no problems with this at all.

Regarding baggage, yes you do have to escort the bagge in LAX round to the transfer desk - suggest that as, I have been now told, each AA LAX-SFO flight is codeshare (though doesn't always show as such), it would have been a lot quicker when we flew if we'd had a QF flight number in terms of how many people were at the QF interline line as opposed to the AA one.

Do any of you have status with the OneWorld alliance, and what class r u flying LAX-SFO? I simply had the two bags (i.e. one each) under my name - given Platinum status and that my J ticket upgraded to AA First, no issue.

 

[QF029]

Do any of you have status with the OneWorld alliance, and what class r u flying LAX-SFO? I simply had the two bags (i.e. one each) under my name - given Platinum status and that my J ticket upgraded to AA First, no issue.

I'm QF Plat and we'll be travelling in J to LAX and then Y to SFO. As it's the start of the trip the bag numbers should be OK (only 1 each) but they may be more than 23kg which could be an issue for AA Dom?

In terms of layover time we'll have the choice between 3 or 5 hours. It's only if we're severely delayed out of Melbourne I'll be concerned and I'm unsure if we missed AA flight whether I would have to buy new tickets.

 

[dfcatch]

I'm travelling with 2 others QF93 on 2 different PNRs (MEL-LAX). Originally we were going to drive LAX-SFO but have decided to fly. Are there any specific things to look out for when booking a 'connecting' flight through AA.com? Such as:

- All 3 US tickets will be booked in one additional PNR (OWE).
- I'm going to allow 4-5 hours for transit. In the unlikely event there is a major QF delay and we miss the AA flight would QF or AA help because of the One World alliance or only if on a single PNR?
- Are there any baggage limit/weight issues or because it's tagged through from Melbourne it should be fine (even though we have to escort the baggage at LAX)? I read on the AA site a rule about within 24 hours of an INT leg but I wasn't sure if that only referred to AA or a single PNR.
- Anything else I've missed or useful tips?

Thanks in advance.

IME.....

1/ When you check in at MEL present both tickets and request bags to be tagged all the way to SFO.

2/ In LAX you escort your bags to the transfer desk, and if they're already tagged you simply hand them to the attendants at the conveyor belt - no counter interaction required. Then proceed outside, turn right and go through security at T4.

3/ In the event of missing your connection - AA are pretty good at just putting you on the next flight to SFO.

4/ Despite point 3 - officially - as I understand it - you are NOT protected as you are on separate PNRs, however I have never had a problem with this.

5/ Call QF and ask them to place the AA segment as an "Information Segment" in your booking.

6/ Call AA and advise them that you are connecting inbound on QF93 and give them the booking reference to note in your booking.

7/ Enjoy your trip.

 

[QF029]

Thanks dfcatch for the advice.

 

[straitman]

IME.....

1/ When you check in at MEL present both tickets and request bags to be tagged all the way to SFO.

2/ In LAX you escort your bags to the transfer desk, and if they're already tagged you simply hand them to the attendants at the conveyor belt - no counter interaction required. Then proceed outside, turn right and go through security at T4.

3/ In the event of missing your connection - AA are pretty good at just putting you on the next flight to SFO.

4/ Despite point 3 - officially - as I understand it - you are NOT protected as you are on separate PNRs, however I have never had a problem with this.

5/ Call QF and ask them to place the AA segment as an "Information Segment" in your booking.

6/ Call AA and advise them that you are connecting inbound on QF93 and give them the booking reference to note in your booking.

7/ Enjoy your trip.

I have used exactly this procedure.

We got to LAX late, they had a priority bag drop which we used. When I got to T4 we went into the AA/QF lounge and found we were actually on our original flight and they had placed us on the following flight also. We grabbed a water and then boarded our original AA flight. It all worked perfectly though I admit we were a little concerned.

 

[QF029]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. So the million dollar question is if scheduled to arrive into LAX in J at 7:00, would board members go for the 9:30 or 12:10 service to SFO?

Also, does anyone know the AA or QF fare bucket to keep an eye out for that allows me to add this leg to my existing PNR via QF with just the points change fee?

 

[serfty]

Ok, so it's an award booking.

Z for first and T for economy.

I wouldn't bother really - just book a cheapy economoy fare on the 12:10pm option; take it easy; have a post flight shower in the T4 F/L.

If you are through immigration/customs/TBIT-T4 with enough time (say 8:30), at the T4 F/L you may be able to request to standby for the 9:30.

 

[NM]

Ok, so it's an award booking.

Z for first and T for economy.

I wouldn't bother really - just book a cheapy econ fare on the 12:10pm option; take it easy; have a post flight shower in the T4 F/L.

If you are through with enough time (say 8:15), at the T4 F/L you may be able to request to standby for the 9:30.

I agree. Unless there is a need to be at the destination earlier, book the later flight and reduce the stress.

 

[dfcatch]

Ditto what Serfty and NM said - without hesitation.

 

[yo yo ma]

+1 for the 12:10 flight... it is not worth the stress of trying to make the 09:30 connection.

 

[Blackadder]

Unless you definitely have to be on the earlier flight, I would go for the later flight and just relax in the T4 Flagship Lounge.

 

[QF029]

Thanks to everyone for their feedback. I'll book the 12:10 flight and follow dfcatch's advice regarding the information segment etc. I'm travelling with 2 non-WP's so it remains to be seen whether I leave them for a while and check out the FL lounge in T4.

 

[grussellt]

Thanks to everyone for their feedback. I'll book the 12:10 flight and follow dfcatch's advice regarding the information segment etc. I'm travelling with 2 non-WP's so it remains to be seen whether I leave them for a while and check out the FL lounge in T4.

Remember that for $US50 (or $US100 for a month) your colleagues could spend their time in the Admirals Club They can enjoy a drink and a shower and it's a somewhat better environment than T4.

 

[QF029]

Remember that for $US50 (or $US100 for a month) your colleagues could spend their time in the Admirals Club They can enjoy a drink and a shower and it's a somewhat better environment than T4.

Thanks for the suggestion but they have access to the T4 Admirals Club via AMEX Plat Charge Card and OW Sapphire. It's just with the Flagship lounge I can only take one guest.

 

[dfcatch]

Thanks for the suggestion but they have access to the T4 Admirals Club via AMEX Plat Charge Card and OW Sapphire. It's just with the Flagship lounge I can only take one guest.

If one of them is the boss - then there's your answer

 

[QF029]

IME.....

1/ When you check in at MEL present both tickets and request bags to be tagged all the way to SFO.

2/ In LAX you escort your bags to the transfer desk, and if they're already tagged you simply hand them to the attendants at the conveyor belt - no counter interaction required. Then proceed outside, turn right and go through security at T4.

3/ In the event of missing your connection - AA are pretty good at just putting you on the next flight to SFO.

4/ Despite point 3 - officially - as I understand it - you are NOT protected as you are on separate PNRs, however I have never had a problem with this.

5/ Call QF and ask them to place the AA segment as an "Information Segment" in your booking.

6/ Call AA and advise them that you are connecting inbound on QF93 and give them the booking reference to note in your booking.

7/ Enjoy your trip.

Thanks dfcatch, I have booked on AA1936 and had an information segment added to the QF flights. I also called AA and they noted my arrival time and airline in the booking but didn't want / need my PNR or flight number. Does this sound right?

Interestingly AA2407 has been pushed back to 10:15 and AA1936 12:30 (arriving on QF93 at 06:35) so there was an increased window to make the earlier flight. I guess I can always ask politely to move to the earlier flight if everything goes smoothly.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Thanks dfcatch, I have booked on AA1936 and had an information segment added to the QF flights. I also called AA and they noted my arrival time and airline in the booking but didn't want / need my PNR or flight number. Does this sound right?

Interestingly AA2407 has been pushed back to 10:15 and AA1936 12:30 (arriving on QF93 at 06:35) so there was an increased window to make the earlier flight. I guess I can always ask politely to move to the earlier flight if everything goes smoothly.

In most cases information segments & ghost segments don't generate across to checkin so you will still need to give the AA flights numbers, booking class etc to the checkin person & tell them you would like your bags checked through to SFO.

They will then add the details into Altea first so the bags can be tagged through to SFO & so you can hopefully get your AA boarding pass also.

As AA is a OneWorld member so there is no issue with the QF & AA flights being in separate pnrs.

 

[dfcatch]

Thanks dfcatch, I have booked on AA1936 and had an information segment added to the QF flights. I also called AA and they noted my arrival time and airline in the booking but didn't want / need my PNR or flight number. Does this sound right?

Interestingly AA2407 has been pushed back to 10:15 and AA1936 12:30 (arriving on QF93 at 06:35) so there was an increased window to make the earlier flight. I guess I can always ask politely to move to the earlier flight if everything goes smoothly.

Yes that sounds right to me.

Ozbeachbabe has the excellent detail above re: checking in at MEL.

Upon arrival at LAX, after dropping your luggage off and going to T4, I would quickly go via the AA Checkin desk and grab an AA boarding pass (even if you got one in MEL), as the AA BP will have Priority AAccess printed on it which enables you to use priority security and boarding.

I'll be connecting to AA1936 myself next week.

 

[serfty]

After all that and if you have time, I would go to the FL at T4 with all the BP's and request standby - they can enter it.

Personally I'd simply relax as I posted above.

FWIW, I'm not a standby fan, but the only time I have done so was for a Q class fare LAX-SFO in the F/L.

About 40 minutes before the flight I was trying to standby for, I was PA'd and at the desk was given a First Class BP. :shock: