Transatlantic Y - AA or BA

[Shano]

Glad it worked out. Was there a reason why you wanted to pay the extra few hundred $$$ that it can cost to have it issued via QF rather than AA?

Dave

Just looking at the fare quote again, the total taxes are A$542 on a base fare of A$3,295. The first fare quote had taxes of ~$950, so perhaps it is being issued through AA after all. Does that sound right?

It is being ticketed today so will confirm who the plating carrier is.

For me it was just easier tell the TA to deal with the airlines and invoice us once ticketed... not that it that difficult to pay AA via CC.

Now, just need to work out which lounge/s to visit in NRT during my 6 hour transit on Monday.

 

[simongr]

Massage and shower in the JL F lounge

 

[Shano]

Massage and shower in the JL F lounge

Will have to check out the JL F lounge then

 

[simongr]

There are a number of threads about the NRT lounges here and their relative merits and I personally still can not decide which one to go to. My summary:

Admirals Club - Great showers, light and airy, not much of a wine selection, automated beer pouring machine (Asahi)
Cathay Pacific - Multiple varieties of beer pouring machines (Asahi + 2 others)
QF - simple snakcs, automated beer pouring machine (Asahi only), Sake in fridge, Rosemount Wine (a minor step up from the AC)
JL F - Great showers and free massage, whole lounge seems to be anti-mobile, nice wines, Asahi beer pouring machine (again) but no other beer options I could find, teh do have Pocari Sweat available in cans (not sure if that is a +/-), wide selection of food but no obvious sushi I could recognise

I will be in the JL F lounge on Saturday for a few hours

 

[Shano]

There are a number of threads about the NRT lounges here and their relative merits and I personally still can not decide which one to go to. My summary:

Admirals Club - Great showers, light and airy, not much of a wine selection, automated beer pouring machine (Asahi)
Cathay Pacific - Multiple varieties of beer pouring machines (Asahi + 2 others)
QF - simple snakcs, automated beer pouring machine (Asahi only), Sake in fridge, Rosemount Wine (a minor step up from the AC)
JL F - Great showers and free massage, whole lounge seems to be anti-mobile, nice wines, Asahi beer pouring machine (again) but no other beer options I could find, teh do have Pocari Sweat available in cans (not sure if that is a +/-), wide selection of food but no obvious sushi I could recognise

I will be in the JL F lounge on Saturday for a few hours

Cheers. With 6 hours to kill I should get to more than one.

Flying overnight SYD-NRT in Y then a shower will certainly be welcome.

Considering I will still be facing NRT-ORD-DFW-LIT in Y, then a massage would be a bit of a treat as well.

So first stop sounds like the JL F lounge.

 

[Shano]

NRT-ORD is the AA codeshare on JL metal.

Do JL offer preferred seating for OW status passengers? I do not have a seat pre-allocation for any flights except QF. Was going to call CX to get a seat allocation FRA-HKG but was not sure if JL also offer this?

Oh, many of you may have alreasy guessed from the taxes, but QF issued the fare.

 

[NM]

Just looking at the fare quote again, the total taxes are A$542 on a base fare of A$3,295. The first fare quote had taxes of ~$950, so perhaps it is being issued through AA after all. Does that sound right?

When you have the e-ticket receipt, look at the ticket number. If it starts with 001 than its issued by AA. If it starts with 081 then its issued by QF.

 

[Shano]

Well the trip will get off to a reasonable start as I have scored a points UG to J on the SYD-NRT (QF21) flight. Should manage a bit more shut-eye now, which will be good as this is being followed by NRT-ORD in Y.

Availability last night was showig J6 C0 D0 I0 and this morning is down to J3. So the upgrade was processed sometime between 10:30 last night and 8:00 this morning. There is only 1 unallocated seat in the J cabin.

My original booking class has gone from L1 to L4.

Looking at the seat map, both 23J (my previous allocation) and 23K are now both free, so 23K must also now be sitting in the J cabin.

 

[Evan]

23K is one of the best whY seats on the A330 i think.

Congrats on the upgrade, good route to get an upgrade for sure, a long 10hr or so flight to well worth it for the sleep and comfort.

E

 

[Shano]

23K is one of the best whY seats on the A330 i think.

Congrats on the upgrade, good route to get an upgrade for sure, a long 10hr or so flight to well worth it for the sleep and comfort.

E

I have sat in 23J before on the 333 and found it a little cramped due to the bulkhead (I'm 6'3"). Fortunately I could extend my legs through the curtain into the galley, although they did get bumped a few times as the crew were re-arranging carts.

 

[Evan]

I have sat in 23J before on the 333 and found it a little cramped due to the bulkhead (I'm 6'3"). Fortunately I could extend my legs through the curtain into the galley, although they did get bumped a few times as the crew were re-arranging carts.

I am 6'1" and i would not choose J either, the reason i like 23A/K is that the side arm rest comes up and since its against the windows i just find it a bit more room to spread out.

Some people seem to be able to spreadout more from a row further back, legs under seat but this doesn't work well for me so i like the front row of the A333's. On other A/C i choose 2 or 3 rows back, never the one right behind as sometimes the entertainment box are in a bad location mounted under the front row due to the fixed arm rests they have.

As you can see i do too much travel in Y ! i can even sleep on most flights.

E

 

[NM]

I sat in 45B on an A333 this week and can assure there are no leg-room issues with that seat.

 

[simongr]

Yes but did you get your food on Wednesday after flying on Tuesday?

 

[Shano]

Well.... in the end I had to settle for 1B

Currently sitting in the JL Flounge. More crowded than the MEL QP at peak time. time to wander around some of the other lounges.

Got caught out this morning with NO lounge access. Flight arrived at 6:30am but the earliest lounge opening is 7:30am. Couldn't even get a cup of coffee anywhere as nothing was open.

 

[simongr]

I have done that too Shano - odd to be wandering around a totally empty airport

What do you think of the automated beer pouring machines?

My transit through NRT was spent mostly asleep on Saturday - didnt help me then sleep NRT-SYD

 

[Shano]

Beer pouring machine is pretty neat. Surprising how much of a work out it was getting at 8am this morning.

Currently slumming it in the J lounge as the F lounge is too crowded and couldn't get near a power outlet to recharge the laptop. Tried browsing on my new HTC Touch Dual, but screen is just a bit too small.

Getting near beer o'clock so will sample the ABPM and then wander doen to the Admiral's Club.

 

[docjames]

Bit late getting through the pages and pages of this thread, but why would you do all the work getting itineries together and then use the TA - why not just book it direct with AA yourself?? You've done all the work, then paid the travel agent for the work you've done???

 

[Shano]

Bit late getting through the pages and pages of this thread, but why would you do all the work getting itineries together and then use the TA - why not just book it direct with AA yourself?? You've done all the work, then paid the travel agent for the work you've done???

Dave Noble raised this same point earlier in this thread.

In hindsight I should have just requested AA take over the ticketing of the itinerary. The saving would have been been a few hundred $'s.

There are a couple of flights that were booked separately to the LONE4, so the only advantage of having the TA ticket are linking of all flights on the one itinerary (although I guess AA could have done this for me anyway) plus easier form of payment.

I guess I can just put it down to (in)experience.

 

[docjames]

Aha. I understand. It's also reassuring to have someone to fall back on to check it all will work.

Cheers

Enjoy the trip!