Connection questions

[liamg]

Hi all,

I've got a question about connection times and whether I'll be able to make a flight. Also, if my baggage will be checked through.

I'm looking at flying LAX-JFK on QF107 which arrives 17:30. Then out of JFK-LHR leaving at 19:05 on a BA flight. Alternatively, I was looking at an AA flight that gets in at 17:00 and getting the same BA flight to London.

That leaves either a 1.5 or 2 hrs connection.

I was going to book online, because it looks quite cheap, but I realised that there may be problems with connection times and baggage.

Is it any better to go to an agent and get them to do it? If it shows up on one itinerary, will it make my life easier? (I assume it's going to be a bit more expensive, but if it means checked baggage right through then it's worth it.)

Also, as a Qantas Club member I assume I can go to QF/BA/AA owned lounges around the world if I'm on on of their flights? The Qantas website seems to say that, but its lingo is a little confusing. But I assume the lounge for BA people in TLV (but not owned by them) is out of bounds?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Liam.

 

[drron]

There really isnt much difference in your 2 alternatives.QF uses the same terminal as BA at JFK whereas AA has their own and you would change terminals,though AA is terminal 9 domestic and BA terminal 7.
From your post I presume you are starting the day in LAX so luggage can be booked through.Even if an International arrival that day in LAX you will have done your immigration and customs there anyway so nothing to hold you up.
So if QF107 is on time there would be no problems.
And yes as a QP you can use the BA lounge at JFK.On one occasion on a QFF award we had to travel Y on QF108 and I had no problems accessing the BA lounge with mrsdrron by flashing my QP card.
Plus a hearty welcome to AFF.

 

[liamg]

Thanks so much for your response.

What if QF107 is delayed, does Qantas have any liability? Or is the only thing I can do ring my travel insurance there, in which case they'll probably just get me on the next flight?

Thx.

L.

 

[notzac]

Thanks so much for your response.

What if QF107 is delayed, does Qantas have any liability?

This is where having things on one ticket really helps - if you miss a connecting flight through no fault of your own, you'll likely get put on to the next flight. If you have separate tickets, BA are under no obligation to accommodate you.

 

[Dave Noble]

If you are planning to make 2 bookings, then you need to make sure you leave plenty of time to connect; if you miss the ongoing flight you could find it an expensive situation. The airline is under no obligation to assist

There are later flights to London such as the 21:30 BA flight or 23:30 AA flight

If you are not flying in to USA on QF on the same itinerary, then you will not be able to book the QF107

If you are just booking a through ticket LAX-LHR, then all will be fine with the 2 hour connection and your bags will be checked through, but you cannot use the QF flight. Perhaps the non stop ex-LAX to LHR would be a good option and then avoid the risk of misconnecting entirely

Dave

 

[Ewing]

If you are planning to make 2 bookings, then you need to make sure you leave plenty of time to connect; if you miss the ongoing flight you could find it an expensive situation. The airline is under no obligation to assist

On that note, what if you know it's a valid connection?

I have a booking to fly SYD-LAX next month with a colleague on QF11, but after that booking was made we decided to bring another colleague and fly on to JFK instead of leaving at LAX.

The colleague is booked straight through (SYD-LAX on QF11, LAX-JFK on AA32/QF3103) whereas I have one booking for QF11 and another for AA32.

I assume if the connection is missed the colleague who has it on one ticket will be fine, but there's no guarantee for mine? Should I try to get the bookings linked, or would they usually be accommodating in such circumstances?

In any case, there's 3 1/2 hours between the flights so I'm not too worried about it.

 

[NM]

On that note, what if you know it's a valid connection?

Its only a "connection" if it is on the same ticket. if its two tickets, then its not a connection as far as the airlines are concerned.

I have a booking to fly SYD-LAX next month with a colleague on QF11, but after that booking was made we decided to bring another colleague and fly on to JFK instead of leaving at LAX.

The colleague is booked straight through (SYD-LAX on QF11, LAX-JFK on AA32/QF3103) whereas I have one booking for QF11 and another for AA32.

I assume if the connection is missed the colleague who has it on one ticket will be fine, but there's no guarantee for mine?

Correct. Protection only exists if booked as the one itinerary, which usually mean booked on the same ticket.

Should I try to get the bookings linked, or would they usually be accommodating in such circumstances?

Linking won't provide protection. However, in such circumstances Qantas and AA will generally try their best to sort you out. But no guarantees and if later flights are full or if they want to impose the fare rules, then you have to sort it out yourself.

In any case, there's 3 1/2 hours between the flights so I'm not too worried about it.

enerally that would be be enough. But it certainly can happen that a flight is more than 2 hours late arriving due to all sorts of reasons. If two separate itineraries then you accept the risk.

 

[liamg]

Okay, thanks everyone for the hints. I've gone away and costed the option of going straight from LAX. The problem I have is that after LHR I'm going straight to TLV, and there are only limited flights out.

Anyway, I think I've got it; it costs a bit more ($100) but it's worth the peace of mind I reckon.
* A Qantas ticket that goes MEL-LAX, then IAD-MEL
* BA that goes LAX-TLV (via LHR) and then TLV-JFK (also via LHR)

I'm staying a few days in LA after my QF flight arrives, so that will make that transition easier.

A question though -- if the BA flight out of LAX is delayed and I miss the LHR-TLV connection, what will they do? Just put me on standby, or will they get me any available seat (i.e. if the only seat is a Business one, they'll give me that)? Or is that hoping for a bit too much? hehe

L.

 

[Dave Noble]

A question though -- if the BA flight out of LAX is delayed and I miss the LHR-TLV connection, what will they do? Just put me on standby, or will they get me any available seat (i.e. if the only seat is a Business one, they'll give me that)? Or is that hoping for a bit too much? hehe

If you miss the connection , then they will be responsible to get you to TLV. It is not that likely that you will miss the connection and even then pretty unlikely that this would cause an oversell in economy; if they did have to upgrade someone in order to accommodate, they probably would, but doesn't mean that you would be the recipient of the upgrade

If there was a high value customer in economy, it would not be unlikely that they would upgrade that person and give you the freed up seat

Dave