Anyone flown transcontiental USA in premium economy/lieflat business?

[drcam]

Heading to the USA in early October from Japan - landing at LAX at about lunchtime and hoping to get on a flight to the East Coast that night.

Has anyone done the redeye across the States in either United's Premium Plus (premium economy) (~$600) or in lieflat bed ($1200)? I will have to pay for a paid fare as there are no good redemptions. Any recommendations? I likely have 8-10 hours of layover in LAX, should I go to Manhattan Beach or stay at the airport? Should I purchase a day pass at a hotel? I basically want the least amount of pain possible.

Any recommendations?

 

[Quickstatus]

A day pass is only from 8am till 5pm.

 

[Quickstatus]

A day pass is only from 8am till 5pm. Though if they have a pool you could checkout at 5pm at lounge in the pool.

I would book a normal one night

I would head to Santa Monica beach. But please note to leave plenty of time for the traffic.

Is there time for an earlier flight if there is one that arrives before midnight?

 

[justinbrett]

I couldn't think of anything worse personally than doing a double red-eye, even in J.

If I couldn't get a same day connecting flight I'd fly to a central hub like ORD/IAH etc, spend the night, and get a morning flight the rest of the way.

 

[drcam]

I've never done a double red-eye up to this point - although my NRT-LAX sector is in J. Maybe I should indeed fly to ORD, arriving close to midnight and spend the next 3 days in Chicago as I have some flexibility in my trip. Not ideal but perhaps necessary.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hilton LAX has day use rooms. Select the same date for check in and check out on their website. They usually have pretty good availability, but some high demand dates are sold out… even in October. I think it’s about USD110 plus tax. They have an airport shuttle.

I was also going to suggest Jetblue’s ‘mint’ class, but looking at october their lead-in price is $1200… a far cry from the promo fares when they first started of $599! Looks like the transcon market is prett tight in business. Maybe use miles?

 

[drcam]

No way one can use miles - no availability except in Y. I feel too stingy to even pay for a day use room at those rates. Value is so bad in the USA

 

[justinbrett]

I've never done a double red-eye up to this point - although my NRT-LAX sector is in J. Maybe I should indeed fly to ORD, arriving close to midnight and spend the next 3 days in Chicago as I have some flexibility in my trip. Not ideal but perhaps necessary.

I would go with that option if I were you, the savings should more than cover the hotel for the first night. Even Y might be tolerable for the shorter flight.

Also if you limit the stop to one night and have less than 24 hours, it will ticket as one leg which may or may not be cheaper - so have a look at that also.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

No way one can use miles - no availability except in Y. I feel too stingy to even pay for a day use room at those rates. Value is so bad in the USA

Jetblue’s economy fares were $223 including bags compared to $1200 for flat bed. Pretty significant difference in prices!

 

[drcam]

I flew in JetBlue Mint Private Suites (during the day) from SFO-JFK for less than $600 AUD back in 2015......

 

[BrockF]

Flew United Premium Plus in April LAX - EWR. Comfy seat, good service, group 1 boarding, no issues. Better than domestic business in Australia.

 

[drcam]

Flew United Premium Plus in April LAX - EWR. Comfy seat, good service, group 1 boarding, no issues. Better than domestic business in Australia.

Was this a redeye or a daytime flight? Was catering okay?

 

[luxury-lizard]

@drcam since you arrive at midday - by the time you clear immigration and customs it will be past normal hotel check-in time - why not just stay overnight at LAX (or nearby) and take a day flight to the East Coast - arrive in the late afternoon.

 

[drcam]

I don't feel like wasting a day of my schedule. If I was retired I would stay a night in LA.

 

[BrockF]

Was this a redeye or a daytime flight? Was catering okay?

Was a daytime flight, food was quite OK. Nothing special, nothing wrong.

 

[drcam]

The more I think about this, the more I'm thinking about just booking a daytime one-way business class flight from LAX to ORD. (Or even Y, status means I won't have to pay for bags.)

The thought of back-to-back redeyes in my crusty middle age is slowly doing me in.