New York Airports at Christmas

[onlycopunk]

Anyone have first hand experience?

I'm looking to leave from a New York airport on either Christmas Eve or Christmas. I know that all airports are normally swamped, but just wondering if it was worth the extra dough for a business class seat in order to get priority during this time. Or just winging it with the rest of the plebs. Delta has some very good deals on lay flat bed equipped flights at this time.

 

[RooFlyer]

What sort of priority are you after? Security; check-in; service on the plane?

The worst hassle and time consumed would be security check and J won't get you that. Don't know about Delta, but many US airlines don't give you lounge access with a J boarding pass either.

Christmas in NE USA subject to horrible weather delays. If that's when you're going to go, have a back-plan.

Sorry to be so negative; but that's the way it is.

 

[nonpop]

Delta has some very good deals on lay flat bed equipped flights at this time.

On the topic of J vs Y:

Tick ... move along.
J is always better than Y ... so if the price is right, then take flight

 

[onlycopunk]

Balls, it's what I feared.

I just wasn't sure if Business Elite passengers were privy to expedited security clearing, but if not then it's not worth the price to me.

 

[RooFlyer]

Security in USA run by the TSA. You can get expedited security via the Global Entry program if you are a USA citizen (I think that's the hurdle) and you qualify. Australian have to make do with hoping for TA Pre-Check printed on their BPs, and then you walk through the lane where you leave shoes on, laptops in bag etc. But getting pre Check is never guaranteed; it appears the longer your flying history into the USA and maybe also your FF status (implying much the same) increases your chances, but it still a lottery.

Sometimes I think flying J might get you a 'priority' lane - and I've never flown J with DL, so can't say what they may get, but the 'priority' lane is still a full security regime. The queue MAY be shorter, but its rarely hassle free.

But as nonpop says, flying J is better, so don't discount it just because of security. But do check lounge access.

 

[onlycopunk]

The TSA Pre check is offered to US Citizens who are members of a participating airlines FF. I looked into it. My mother, who flies a handful of times a year, always gets it and leaves in the dust when I'm visiting.

 

[AIRwin]

My friend flew on Christmas Day from JFK and had this to say:

"In terms of advice, we went out of JFK on Christmas day (and ignoring the fact that there were mechanical problems so my flight was cancelled) the actual flight and airport were totally fine! We didn't have long lines and it was all pretty simple. The only thing to watch if you go low cost is boarding groups... make sure you check-in exactly 24hours before so you get in the first boarding group!"