Trip planning DONE4

[Dave Noble]

Are you sure the prospect of the JW Blue in the T1 FLounge is not aving some influence on that choice?

Well, the JW Blue might do well at influencing me and when in F, the pre-flight dining whilst flounging is most pleasant but in this case the T1-T1 connection would sell me on it

Dave

 

[simongr]

No access to Flounge at the moment...

 

[Dave Noble]

No access to Flounge at the moment...

Ah well, you'll have to make do with the BA T1 Terrorists lounge and settle for business class pre-flight dining whilst you wait

Dave

 

[simongr]

Just a quick one - do I accrue the same qpoints and miles ifI fly JFK-LHR on BA as I would on AA?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

No! AAdvantage earns nothing for BA flights trans-atlantic (or rather from US since I understand that BAs Canada, Mexico and South America flights are mileage earning on AAdvantage). This is due to some antitrust decision.

 

[simongr]

Well we have an itinerary of sorts .....

I get back to SYD from holday in BKK early on the morning of 4 Nov (7AM) so am planning to fly out that afternoon to get to NY on the saturday evening so that I have a full day of rest in NY on the Sunday (maybe some shoppping and a trip to Jerry Seinfeld's diner...). Given the saturday afternoon flight I cant go all the way to JFK on QF - with a reasonable stop over in LAX. I would appreciate any thoughts on the itinerary below - i.e. "risks" in terms of cough terminals lounge acces etc. One stumbling bloak at the moment is the flight home from LHR. I was thinking CX as people had said it was a good product and good connections but the connections dont seem to work for me. The itinerary is date-origin-dest-depart-flight num-arrive-cuttent j avail

4/11 syd-lax 15:20 QF0011 09:45 J9
4/11 lax-jfk 12:00 AA0004 20:10 J7

8 or 9/11 jfk-lhr tbc - not sure if I will aim to make flight to LHR in time for a same day departure to lca - pros and concs of that flight times are tricky. I migth aim for an AA flight to charge points to AAdvantage and I wasnt that impressed with BA J class so if AA isnt great then it wont matter so much.

9 or 10/11 lhr-lca 08:30 BA0662 15:00 J9 and J9 for both dates

11 or 12/11 lca-lhr 16:20 BA0663 19:20 J9 (11/11) and J3 (12/11) - which means 12/11 neeeds to be booked ASAP I guess

12/11 lhr-hkg 21:50 CX0254 18:05 +1 J9
13/11 hkg-syd 19:05 CX0111 07:15 +1 J9

I am assuming that because expertflyer uses 10 digit availability codes that J9 means a mimimum of 9 available seats?

The JFK-LHR flights are variable as my meeting innew york might finish at 4Pm ormight finish at 6PM - if a 6PM finish then I wont make a 7PM flight and wont getto LHR in time to get to LCA the same day. I am kind of happy to spend the day in London (need to work out to stow my bags for the day) as I wouldnt mind breaking my record for the minimum time from LHR to first purchase in selfridges (currently 5 hours) - but it means an early start for whoever I stay with (or a personal hotel bill).

Its certainly the most complex trip I have been on - and about 28K miles flown plus I will add a few open sectors at the end.

For anyone who isnt conversant with my status - currently QF SG hitting AA Plat in Thailand so no F access and I dont think I will be able to hit the wing in HKG during transit due to lack of time

 

[Dave Noble]

8 or 9/11 jfk-lhr tbc - not sure if I will aim to make flight to LHR in time for a same day departure to lca - pros and concs of that flight times are tricky. I migth aim for an AA flight to charge points to AAdvantage and I wasnt that impressed with BA J class so if AA isnt great then it wont matter so much.

I would consider taking the LGW-PFO flight since it has a departure of 14:55 (arr 21:25 ). Even the latest flight ex JFK at 23:45 will arrive into LHR at 11:40 giving you a legal connection out of Gatwick to Paphos
Dave

 

[simongr]

Well good news overnight - my boss indicated that the conference should finish at lunchtime on Wednesday - which means I can book as early a flight out as possible on the Wednesday - being the 6:15PM out of JFK getting into LHR at 06:25 - which should be comfortable to get on the LCA flight. I guess I should maybe advise the TA that I am going straight through to LCA and as such can my bags be checked through?

Not sure how long I need to get between T3 or T4 and T1?

 

[Dave Noble]

Well good news overnight - my boss indicated that the conference should finish at lunchtime on Wednesday - which means I can book as early a flight out as possible on the Wednesday - being the 6:15PM out of JFK getting into LHR at 06:25 - which should be comfortable to get on the LCA flight. I guess I should maybe advise the TA that I am going straight through to LCA and as such can my bags be checked through?

Not sure how long I need to get between T3 or T4 and T1?

With a 2.5 hour connection in LHR, there is plenty of time to get from T3-T1. The minimum connection time is about 1.25 hours iirc.

There is no problem with having the bags checked through to LCA, just make sure that they do it at JFK

Dave

 

[simongr]

OK - so this is the final itinerary (at the moment) that I will send to the TA. Interesting that I am actually flying AA metal a couple of times - in fact I will actually achieve their 4 flights on AA metal requirement (that I know isnt a real requirement) this year

4/11 syd-lax 15:20 QF0011 09:45
4/11 lax-jfk 12:00 AA0004 20:10

8/11 jfk-lhr 18:15 AA0100 06:25

9/11 lhr-lca 08:30 BA0662 15:00

12/11 lca-lhr 16:20 BA0663 19:20

12/11 lhr-hkg 21:50 CX0254 18:05 +1
13/11 hkg-syd 19:05 CX0111 07:15 +1

Just going to send this off shortly to the TA. Need to push them along a bit so its all sorted given the 12/11 lca-lhr flight is showing only J3.

Just thinking about the availability - I should only be checking the J availability for business class shouldnt I?

 

[Dave Noble]

12/11 lhr-hkg 21:50 CX0254 18:05 +1
13/11 hkg-syd 19:05 CX0111 07:15 +1

Just going to send this off shortly to the TA. Need to push them along a bit so its all sorted given the 12/11 lca-lhr flight is showing only J3.

Just thinking about the availability - I should only be checking the J availability for business class shouldnt I?

J is not the availability you need to be searching for; for a DONE4, the availability is D class

I do see a problem in that there seems to be zero D available on QF11 on the 4th November ( in fact all the SYD-LAX flights seem to show D0 ). The only one that day seems to be AA7377 to AKL to connect to AA7315 ( or QF43/QF25 if you want the QF flight numbers ) . If you want to save money on fuel fines, then booking on the AA flight number will probably help since the agent should use AA for ticketing since they have the 1st international sector

This would mean that you would have to pick a later flight to JFK since LAX has a 2 hour MCT, so the AA32 at 13:15 would probably be a reasonable connection

Dave

 

[simongr]

Thanks - thought it might be - there is only D1 one the LCA-LHR flight - so I might have to come back a day early.

Edit

Damn - just checked my first flight and its J9 D0 - not a great start. May need to rethink

Edit 2

A lot of rework required due to lack of D availability at this short notice to the US - just trying to rework that flight now - but its not looking good :'(

 

[simongr]

J is not the availability you need to be searching for; for a DONE4, the availability is D class

I do see a problem in that there seems to be zero D available on QF11 on the 4th November ( in fact all the SYD-LAX flights seem to show D0 ). The only one that day seems to be AA7377 to AKL to connect to AA7315 ( or QF43/QF25 if you want the QF flight numbers ) . If you want to save money on fuel fines, then booking on the AA flight number will probably help since the agent should use AA for ticketing since they have the 1st international sector

This would mean that you would have to pick a later flight to JFK since LAX has a 2 hour MCT, so the AA32 at 13:15 would probably be a reasonable connection

Dave

Thanks for that. The only problem with that is that I get in from Thailand at 6:10AM so I expect to get home at about 07:30AM and would have to leave again at 9AM. Which is doable at a push.

I was thinking to see if there was any other route - such as via NRT. I am first going to check the other D class availability before I do any more bookings as if the rest of the flights are out t might get way to hard to do

 

[Dave Noble]

Thanks for that. The only problem with that is that I get in from Thailand at 6:10AM so I expect to get home at about 07:30AM and would have to leave again at 9AM. Which is doable at a push.

I was thinking to see if there was any other route - such as via NRT. I am first going to check the other D class availability before I do any more bookings as if the rest of the flights are out t might get way to hard to do

The other flights all seemed to be ok; the only issue seems to be the SYD-LAX run. The evening SYD-NRT on the 4th November is showing D0

The LCA-LHR service seems to be showing D2 rather than D1

Dave

 

[simongr]

Thanks again - just need to wait for the questions from the TA

My main concern is that if my flight BKK-SYD is delayed on the Friday night/Saturday morning I dont know how that might impact on my flight to AKL. I assume that if my flight is delayed and I miss the SYD-AKL flight then the airlines might (???) help me out and chuck me on a free J class seat direct to LAX?

S

 

[Dave Noble]

Thanks again - just need to wait for the questions from the TA

My main concern is that if my flight BKK-SYD is delayed on the Friday night/Saturday morning I dont know how that might impact on my flight to AKL. I assume that if my flight is delayed and I miss the SYD-AKL flight then the airlines might (???) help me out and chuck me on a free J class seat direct to LAX?

S

Which airline are you flying BKK-SYD on? They should be able to issue you your boarding passes in BKK all the way to the USA. If the flight from BKK is delayed, the airline is not obligated to do anything for you; if you are coming in on QF and departing on QF , I would be v surprised if they did refuse to assist if the flight was delayed enough to miss the flight to AKL. With a 5 hour connection, I cannot see there being much of a likelihood of missing it, though you may not have time to go home 1st .

Dave

 

[simongr]

Flying BA BKK-SYD. Thinking about the connection/available time I am half tempted to give my suitcase for SYD-JFK-SYD to my driver and have him bring to the airport just in case. I guess there are no luggage lockers at SYD to leave it any more?

 

[Dave Noble]

Flying BA BKK-SYD. Thinking about the connection/available time I am half tempted to give my suitcase for SYD-JFK-SYD to my driver and have him bring to the airport just in case. I guess there are no luggage lockers at SYD to leave it any more?

There is a left luggage office in the international terminal on the arrivals level

Dave

 

[simongr]

Well I now have three options:

- Leave it at airport before I fly
- Leave it with driver
- Leave it with house sitter

I guess whichever way it works - I just need to be prepared Mind you it does look like I wont be getting my haircut on the saturday morning as planned - that might be cutting it a little too fine (if you will pardon the pun).

Just out of interest - what sort of product can I expect on the flights? I am guessing as follows:

SYD-AKL is the normal 763 dreamtime seats
AKL-LAX (744) will be skybeds (no expectation of AVOD)
LAX-JFK (762) on AA metal will this be the standard AA domestic "first" product? Or do they have transcontinental better business? I guess I will earn First class miles rather J as well?
JFK-LHR (777) - I Guess this the standard AA business class on this link which is better than the domestic first I flew in LAX-DFW
LHR-LCA-LHR (767) I assume this is the Club Europe Product
LHR-SYD (346/333) - Not sure what these CX flights will be like at all

Certainly going to be my most exciting and "glamorous" trip And I get a day in NY shopping and I get to see my Nephew for the firsttime

S

 

[NM]

Well I now have three options:

- Leave it at airport before I fly
- Leave it with driver
- Leave it with house sitter

Or just pack for both trips in the one bag and check it through from BKK to JFK

Just out of interest - what sort of product can I expect on the flights? I am guessing as follows:

SYD-AKL is the normal 763 dreamtime seats

Correct. but could be Millennium seats

AKL-LAX (744) will be skybeds (no expectation of AVOD)

Correct. Occasionally this is subbed with a 743, but those flights are normally planned well in advance and show on the schedule as such.

LAX-JFK (762) on AA metal will this be the standard AA domestic "first" product? Or do they have transcontinental better business? I guess I will earn First class miles rather J as well?

AA 762 is a 3-class config. DONE4 will have you flying in business class. Service and seat is similar to AA 763 domestic F on medium length flights.

JFK-LHR (777) - I Guess this the standard AA business class

Yes. Very large seat pitch for a non-flat seat. Meal service will be by FEBO for the first meal and in my experience if there is a second meal the service will be the reverse.

LHR-LCA-LHR (767) I assume this is the Club Europe Product

Yes, expect similar to QF domestic business class. Better than A320 to 737 CE product.

LHR-SYD (346/333) - Not sure what these CX flights will be like at all

CX business class seats are similar to QF Skybeds, just not quite some many storage hidy holes etc. AVOD is reliable and good. Service and meals will be very good.