Recently we flew return from LHR to ORD which we booked directly with American Airlines. I was in the position that I needed a few more status credits to attain the next QFF level, so I chose a direct outbound flight but a return via Dublin. The outbound was with AA but the return, was a codeshare with Aer Lingus.
In order to get to ORD we first had to take a small commuter flight with a different airline. This meant collecting our baggage in ORD and checking in again for the onward flight from ORD to LHR (via DUB). To do this we had to exit the secure area to get to the check in counters.
When making the booking I didn't consider this. The first flight arrived in ORD at 0740so we were at the check in counter by 8am. AA has many flights a day from ORD so their check in is open all day. Aer Lingus only has the one flight so they only open their check in 3 hours before departure. Therefore, instead of being able to spend the morning in the AA lounge, we spent it sitting in one of the few seats in front of the check in counter. Had my wife not been getting a hip replacement at the end of the week, we would have been more comfortable sitting in the lounge over the road at the Hilton.
The lesson learned - consider the opening hours of the check in counters before turning up at the airport. ORD doesn't supply nearly enough seating in the departures hall.
In order to get to ORD we first had to take a small commuter flight with a different airline. This meant collecting our baggage in ORD and checking in again for the onward flight from ORD to LHR (via DUB). To do this we had to exit the secure area to get to the check in counters.
When making the booking I didn't consider this. The first flight arrived in ORD at 0740so we were at the check in counter by 8am. AA has many flights a day from ORD so their check in is open all day. Aer Lingus only has the one flight so they only open their check in 3 hours before departure. Therefore, instead of being able to spend the morning in the AA lounge, we spent it sitting in one of the few seats in front of the check in counter. Had my wife not been getting a hip replacement at the end of the week, we would have been more comfortable sitting in the lounge over the road at the Hilton.
The lesson learned - consider the opening hours of the check in counters before turning up at the airport. ORD doesn't supply nearly enough seating in the departures hall.
