Trip planning DONE4

[simongr]

Ahh - not a bad plan. I really want to stay awake on the LAX-JFK flight so I am exhausted when I get into JFK and crash out, sleep the night and spend Sunday shopping and sight seeing (not too much of the latter though )

 

[simongr]

Well this was the email I sent this morning:

Sharon

Can you clarify a quick question for me? Will this be an e-ticket or a paper ticket? If it paper I will need it sent out ASAP as I fly to Thailand on Friday evening of this week and will not be in my office from this Thursday evening until after I get back from the US. As such I will need the paper ticket couriered to me.

Just in relation to the issues we had regarding the Domestic trips. Having done more research I am confident that there is no restriction regarding domestic flights being added in Australia (subject to the maximum of 2 stopovers rule). This used to be a rule but I think was changed in 2004. There is nothing in the Oneworld explorer rules that prohibits this - I have attached a copy of the rules that I have obtained that were I think current in July of this year. As you will see there are no restrictions there for the sorts of trips that I was suggesting.

There is a restriction in xxGLOBEx (Global Explorer) fares as below:

D TRAVEL MAY NOT BE VIA THE ORIGINAL POINT OF ORIGIN EXCEPT FOR ORIGIN AUSTRALIA IN CONJUNCTION WITH TRAVEL TO PAPUA NEW GUINEA WHEN ONE IS A TRANSFER WITHOUT STOPOVER.

However - there is no such rule in the xONEx fares.

The tickets are now booked which is great - thanks for that. I am likely to have maybe five of these fares next year so will plan to add the domestic sectors - hopefully we can resolve that for the future fares.

Regards
Simon

I shall see the response later today. If they are adamant then for next trips I will either book myself or book through our US corporate TA.

 

[simongr]

Hmm - they have had to issue a paper ticket for some reason and the tickets need to be couriered to me... So lets hope I actually get home on saturday morning to collect them :evil:

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Hmm - they have had to issue a paper ticket for some reason and the tickets need to be couriered to me... So lets hope I actually get home on saturday morning to collect them :evil:

Wouldn't it be safer to courier to the airport office of the airline you are checking in on the first flight?

 

[simongr]

Just an update. I called the house sitter last friday to make sure the tix were at home - and they werent. Then called TA and they called courier who still had tix and was waiting for someone to call to arrange a new delivery destination/time. TA told courier to take tix to Airport and I was to collect on arrival - got to Airport at 7AM from BKK - no tix at the QF desk....

Back and forth between TA and me for the next hour whilst they arranged for QF to issue the tix. Got to Airport at 9:30AM, staright to QF desk and they only just were able to print the tix (not an e-ticket for some reason) and the TA had agreed that there would be no reissue fee. Got tix and then went to check in - only to find that they still couldnt find my ticket number at check in - but eventually it was all sorted and I made my way to the gate (now to update the trip report )

Just checked and there is 1 A class seat available now on AA 100 - so I will be caling AA to upgrade to First this morning. Just wondering if that will give me access to the F lounge or will I just get access to Admirals lounge at JFK (assuming there is an AA lounge at JFK anjd my oneworld sapphire level/QF SG will give me access)

S

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Are you flying AA or BA from JFK?

If AA then there is no flagship lounge, only an admirals club. So no difference if you are flying in F or J.

If BA there is a first lounge, but you need to be flying F from JFK (not to JFK) or have OW Emerald status to access.

 

[Dave Noble]

Just checked and there is 1 A class seat available now on AA 100 - so I will be caling AA to upgrade to First this morning. Just wondering if that will give me access to the F lounge or will I just get access to Admirals lounge at JFK (assuming there is an AA lounge at JFK anjd my oneworld sapphire level/QF SG will give me access)

S

1st class across the atlantic will be pleasant; shame you couldnt get the upgrade sorted out in time for your flight LAX-JFK too. Do allow time for AA to sort out the ticket since they will need to reissue it at JFK for your upgrade.

Dave

 

[NM]

Are you flying AA or BA from JFK?

If AA then there is no flagship lounge, only an admirals club. So no difference if you are flying in F or J.

If BA there is a first lounge, but you need to be flying F from JFK (not to JFK) or have OW Emerald status to access.

He is using AA trans-Atlantic so access to the Admirals Club with free drinks. Its a shame they have closed most of the Flagship lounges.

 

[simongr]

I tried to upgrade yesterday by phone and afetr having phoned the general AA customer service I then got redirected to an indian call centre (or a non-english speaking american) and as they went through the process I sadly just hung up as my conference was just kicking off and it was taking forever to process and they said they had to reissue the ticket - which I thought meant an extra $125 fee on top of the $100 short notice fee - so it looks like J rather than F for the flight.

I shall have to survive in J I think... Pretty tired anway so I should sleep I hope!

Thanks for info re lounge - Admirals club it is then

 

[Dave Noble]

I tried to upgrade yesterday by phone and afetr having phoned the general AA customer service I then got redirected to an indian call centre (or a non-english speaking american) and as they went through the process I sadly just hung up as my conference was just kicking off and it was taking forever to process and they said they had to reissue the ticket - which I thought meant an extra $125 fee on top of the $100 short notice fee - so it looks like J rather than F for the flight.

Try the platinum line 1-817-799-2500 rather than the general number. I *think* that in this case they will not charge the $125 ticket reissue fee, only the $100 expedite fee ( once you reach EXP you can stop worrying about expedite fees btw since EXPs are exempt )

Dave

 

[JohnK]

.... - so it looks like J rather than F for the flight.

I shall have to survive in J I think... Pretty tired anway so I should sleep I hope!

Survive in J?

 

[simongr]

Survive in J?

All checked in - am in lounge now. Very peaceful here Looks like we are leaving on time so I wont stress too much about my connection.

Weird that the lounge is before security - just wondering how long I need to leave it to go to the gate :/

It looks like it is all going to plan.

S

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I think all the JFK lounges are before security?

 

[simongr]

Maybe for AC - the BA lounge was after I thought - but I was very tired last time I wass here rather than exhausted like I am this time Awake at 4AM this morning for no reason - that J seat had better be comfortable

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I have visited AA, LH, VS, LX lounges at JFK. Trying to remember if I also visited UA - can't be sure. Anyway these were all landside (plus all the other T4 lounges).

JFK isn't unique though. At EWR some lounges landside and some airside, same applies at SFO.

QF lounge at AKL domestic used to be landside, but now airside.

 

[NM]

Maybe for AC - the BA lounge was after I thought

Yes, the JFK BA lounges are air-side.

 

[serfty]

All checked in - am in lounge now. Very peaceful here Looks like we are leaving on time so I wont stress too much about my connection.

Weird that the lounge is before security - just wondering how long I need to leave it to go to the gate :/

It looks like it is all going to plan.

S

BA is after security in terminal 7. AA has one before security and one after in terminals 8/9 (the terminals are connected). The T9 airside one is newer and IMO the better AC option, other than that I would use BA if I was departing from T7. (I used all three this year.)

 

[simongr]

Currently in the BA lounge at LHR, showered and on schedule for the surprise visit to Cyprus. The AA flight was very good actuallu. Seat was not the best but the pitch seemed enormous!!! I couldnt put my feet on the seat in front. The food was good but I was tired and I think I pretty much slept for at least 4 of the 7 hours of the flight. Service was very good. Just wish I hadnt left my amenity kit on the plane

I have to say that the 1 bag rule at LHR when transiting is very annoying - and the fact I wasnt told at JFK when I was checked through to LCA was disapppointing - I would have changed a lot of my packing if I had realised (yes I know I should have been au fait with it given my flying but I sadly assumed that the tanks were most paranoid and not the brits).

Also a bit annoying that I couldnt buy duty free (champagne) in JFK to take through to LCA

 

[Reggie]

I have to say that the 1 bag rule at LHR when transiting is very annoying - and the fact I wasnt told at JFK when I was checked through to LCA was disapppointing - I would have changed a lot of my packing if I had realised (yes I know I should have been au fait with it given my flying but I sadly assumed that the tanks were most paranoid and not the brits).

Also a bit annoying that I couldnt buy duty free (champagne) in JFK to take through to LCA

Simon, What happened with your extra bag, did they make you go and check it in land side, or did they take it from you airside? how strict are they being on the bag sizing, ie looking at it by eye or putting all bags through a sizer?

 

[garyjohn951]

You can buy duty free going thru london as long as you have the receipt. I arrived LON with bottle of aussie wine, bought in Mel and had receipt and went thru no problems.