Status run - is it worth the trouble?

[mainly tailfirst]

Certainly only one-class is available on AA metal betwixt LAX and SJC; AA do have codeshares in F on AS but these are not valid for xONEx's.

DONEx's book into Y on American Eagle flights (not L).

LAX-SJC flights on AE are on an E-135 and are all Y. Except for briefcases and small backpacks, normal 'carry-on' luggage gets stowed.

SC points aside, can I ask Homer why he wants to fly LAX to SJC at the tail end of a trans pac flight? Depending on where he is staying in the Valley, the drive from SFO can be as little as 20-30mins and he gets to avoid the worst airport in the US*. Immigration through SFO is pretty efficient and the car rental setup is close to the exit onto 101-S.

Note also that the AE terminal is a bus ride from terminal 4, so you get to have the Syd experience at LAX as well.

mt

* Perhaps a tad unfair. I've heard MIA referred to "Missing in Action", but I've never been through it, so LAX is still #1 on my hate list.

 

[NM]

I second MT's comments. I have done both arrivals into SJC and SFO when aiming for the valley (San Jose and Santa Clara) and given a choice I would take SFO any time. Its an easy drive south from SFO.

 

[Homer]

SC points aside, can I ask Homer why he wants to fly LAX to SJC at the tail end of a trans pac flight?

Ummm...that's because I wasn't thinking.

I'll take the good advice and head for SFO. Hopefully my TA would have put me right on that one...but you never know...

 

[mainly tailfirst]

Ummm...that's because I wasn't thinking.

I'll take the good advice and head for SFO. Hopefully my TA would have put me right on that one...but you never know...

Don't sweat it. When I flew to the US for work, I was never offered a routing via SFO, so I never assumed that I could get to AUS any other way than via LAX. Since work enforced "thou shalt use our global booking web site", which was basically cough, I never got to ask a friendly TA what options were available.
Aah, to have wisdom back then. I'd be a WP rather than hoping QF comp my SG for another year

mt

 

[Homer]

I don't know if anyone can help with this, but my itinerary is mostly sorted, viz: SYD-LAX-SFO-LAX-JFK-LHR-HKG-SYD-CNS-BNE-SYD. (I realise I could have gone SYD-SFO but it turned out that I was able to organise a meeting in LA).

I am on QF from SYD-SFO and from HKG-SYD and CX from LHR-HKG. That's all good. My issue is that I am on the dreaded AA from JFK-LHR (well, I dread it anyway...) because my TA can't find a D class seat on BA182 from JFK-LHR on 31 October at 23:30. Her system is showing 9 J seats (which is the maximum it will show) but no D class. Does anyone know what chance I might have of a D class seat becoming available, if at all?

 

[NM]

I am on QF from SYD-SFO and from HKG-SYD and CX from LHR-HKG. That's all good. My issue is that I am on the dreaded AA from JFK-LHR (well, I dread it anyway...) because my TA can't find a D class seat on BA182 from JFK-LHR on 31 October at 23:30. Her system is showing 9 J seats (which is the maximum it will show) but no D class. Does anyone know what chance I might have of a D class seat becoming available, if at all?

This is common for BA. They often use POS (the place you are purchasing from, Australian in your case) to restrict the sale of D seats.

One suggestion is to try to get the TA to waitlist you on the flight you want (although there are some reports that BA will not allow waitlist on D fares) and then call QF in the UK to have them check for availability and hopefully clear the waitlist.

If on-line tools like Seatcounter or ExpertFlyer can see D available, then try to have your TA contact QF in the UK or USA to make the reservation for you.

AA have started rolling out the 777s with their new flat beds in business class. I think they are starting these on the JFK-LHR route to you may have a good chance to get one of those which will make the overnight flight more bearable.

 

[Homer]

AA have started rolling out the 777s with their new flat beds in business class. I think they are starting these on the JFK-LHR route to you may have a good chance to get one of those which will make the overnight flight more bearable.

Thanks NM. I'll talk to the TA again. So are you saying that maybe AA won't be so bad JFK-LHR?

 

[NM]

Thanks NM. I'll talk to the TA again. So are you saying that maybe AA won't be so bad JFK-LHR?

AA is quite reasonable for international services. The thing that let them down was the old non-flat seat, though it was very comfortable for sitting during a daytime flight, it did not go flat. The new seats do go flat. But they are not horizontal as with BA.

AA's IFE is similar to BA's old loop system, but BA now has AVOD on most of their JFK flghts (as with their New CW seats).

One benefit with flying BA is the chance for a reasonable meal in the pre-flight dining lounge, and then sleep once on board. I don't think AA has that option. But AA has just opened their new FlagShip Lounge in JFK, so you might get some food there if you are OneWorld Emerald.

But its a 6 hour overnight flight, so I expect you are planning to sleep as much as possible, so I would not be overly concerned.

 

[Homer]

Thanks again NM.

I will be coming in from LAX-JFK with a 3 hour wait before the flight to LHR so the BA pre-flight supper would be excellent. Seatguru is showing availability in D on that flight so I have spoken to my TA and she is going to waitlist me in D and then call QF in the UK to see if they can clear it.

If that works then I certainly owe you one!

 

[NM]

I will be coming in from LAX-JFK with a 3 hour wait before the flight to LHR so the BA pre-flight supper would be excellent. Seatguru is showing availability in D on that flight so I have spoken to my TA and she is going to waitlist me in D and then call QF in the UK to see if they can clear it.

Let us know how you get on. But I do have to ask why you are not taking a non-stop LAX-LHR which will give plenty of time for on-board dining as well as sleeping.

Note that I have taken that same route as you and took QF107 for the LAX-JFK and used FF points to upgrade to F for that leg, then connected to BA. So if doing that, there is the advantage of arriving and departing from the same terminal at JFK. But to book the QF107 you must have arrived into the USA on QF (rather that over the North Pacific on AA, CX or JL).

 

[Shano]

I assume that it is the NGBC seat that AA are rolling out in their 777's.

I had this same seat in F on a 763 between LAX-DFW and ORD-LAX.

It is a very comfortable seat. While I didn't try and recline to it's full flat position, I am sure you could find a comfortable sleeping position. The doona is also nice compared to a blanket.

 

[Homer]

But I do have to ask why you are not taking a non-stop LAX-LHR which will give plenty of time for on-board dining as well as sleeping.

It must be because I am tired . Either that or my TA has no imagination. I am flying into LAX from SYD on QF so by your comments I am eligible to pickup QF107 a few days later and keep going...

My TA just booked AA from LAX-JFK automatically and I accepted it. I've done the transcontinental on AA before and found it OK but not as good as QF on the same sector. In short...I am not thinking straight. I'll call her in the morning and try to get it changed. It won't be a non-stop from LAX-LHR though will it? It wil lbe QF107 LAX-JFK and then hopefully BA from JFK-LHR.

 

[NM]

It must be because I am tired . Either that or my TA has no imagination. I am flying into LAX from SYD on QF so by your comments I am eligible to pickup QF107 a few days later and keep going...

Indeed you can. And its the best way in business class to get to JFK. And very good value for an F upgrade.

My TA just booked AA from LAX-JFK automatically and I accepted it. I've done the transcontinental on AA before and found it OK but not as good as QF on the same sector. In short...I am not thinking straight. I'll call her in the morning and try to get it changed. It won't be a non-stop from LAX-LHR though will it? It wil lbe QF107 LAX-JFK and then hopefully BA from JFK-LHR.

So long as QF107 is on-time, its a great way to go. But if on AA, then there are more options for last minute changes. Though even on a DONE4 ticket, you can make date/time/carrier changes without penalty so long as the routing stays the same. You can get a good idea if QF107 LAX departure will be on time based on the departure time from SYD and its ETA into LAX that morning.

Certainly being in the one terminal at JFK is better than having to change terminals.

Note that QF at LAX will issue your BA boarding pass on QF paper. So when you try to go into the pre-flight dining lounge at JFK, the agent will see the QF paper and tell you that QF passengers don't get pre-flight dining. You will need to show them the BA flight number and business class cabin and even then may need to argue the point a little. I was once told they would make a one-time exception for me!! You can avoid this scrutiny by having the BA agent at the front desk of the lounge re-issue your boarding pass onto BA paper.

 

[NM]

I assume that it is the NGBC seat that AA are rolling out in their 777's.

Yes, they have started the 777 fit-out now that most of the 763s are complete. The 777 is 2x3x2 config whole the 763 is 2x2x2.

 

[Homer]

Another small issue. I am on QF175 from SYD-LAX via BNE because there is no availability in D on either QF11 or QF107. I've checked SeatCounter and it is showing 0 in D on both flights.

My questions are: Is this likely to change? and Does it really matter or is QF175 essentially the same as QF11 (which I've flown before) other than the BNE stopover?

 

[littl_flier]

My questions are: Is this likely to change? and Does it really matter or is QF175 essentially the same as QF11 (which I've flown before) other than the BNE stopover?

Essentially, the service will be the same in D on both aircraft. QF175 is operated by a 2 class 747 however so if QF were to substitute an aircraft, you may have a chance at a 3 class. If you are happy to sit on the lower deck, try and pre-allocate rows 1 to 4. On the 3 class (if the sub occurs), you will receive J service but an F seat.

You could try waitlisting for a D seat but I would just stick to QF175 if I were you and there is no great rush.

 

[Homer]

Sorry for all the questions but as this is my first DONE4 I want to get it right.

I just called the QF call centre to get them to add up the SCs for my itinerary to make sure I was earning the right amount. The operator had two concerns with the itinerary:

1. I am flying SYD-LAX on QF and then LAX-SFO-LAX on AA before joining QF107 to fly LAX-JFK. The QF operator said that once I commence a flight on AA in North America, I cannot get back on a QF flight. She said this was "to protect their revenue". Is that the case?

2. After returning to SYD I have a couple of domestic sectors. I was originally doing the popular SYD-PER-ADL-SYD but instead decided to visit my family in Cairns so I changed it to SYD-CNS-SYD. The QF operator says that this isn't valid because I am stopping over in SYD (the domestic sectors are about two weeks after my arrival back into SYD). Is she right about that?

Thanks again for everyone's help.

 

[Keith009]

2. After returning to SYD I have a couple of domestic sectors. I was originally doing the popular SYD-PER-ADL-SYD but instead decided to visit my family in Cairns so I changed it to SYD-CNS-SYD. The QF operator says that this isn't valid because I am stopping over in SYD (the domestic sectors are about two weeks after my arrival back into SYD). Is she right about that?

So long as you've only got 2 stopovers in the SWP you're fine.
This sounds like the not entirely uncommon problem lots of QF operators have with xONExs - they seem to think that SWP sectors exist solely to facilitate connections to/from intercontinental flights, even though the rule prohibiting stops at point of origin has been abolished since 2004.

 

[NM]

1. I am flying SYD-LAX on QF and then LAX-SFO-LAX on AA before joining QF107 to fly LAX-JFK. The QF operator said that once I commence a flight on AA in North America, I cannot get back on a QF flight. She said this was "to protect their revenue". Is that the case?

That is wrong information. You can take QF107 LAX-JFK so long as you arrive into or depart from the USA on a QF flight on the same itinerary. There is no restriction in the fare rules, nor the FAA's restrictions imposed on QF for carriage of passengers between LAX and JFK.

2. After returning to SYD I have a couple of domestic sectors. I was originally doing the popular SYD-PER-ADL-SYD but instead decided to visit my family in Cairns so I changed it to SYD-CNS-SYD. The QF operator says that this isn't valid because I am stopping over in SYD (the domestic sectors are about two weeks after my arrival back into SYD). Is she right about that?

Again the QF person is wrong. On a OneWorld Explorer fare you can continue past you point of origin so long as you only have a maximum of two stopovers on the continent of origin and keep within the trans-continental restrictions. I have done this many times. Ask them to show you the fare rules that do not permit what you have requested. They will be unable to quote you the rule because no such restriction exists.

 

[simongr]

The easy solution to the problem of the TA not understanding the DONE4 rules is to book the ticket through AA. I have had no troubles with them at all in my booking. As an example I have syd-rtw-syd-bne-drw-syd in the next couple of weeks.