Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Arriving JFK on UA and departing on CX in Terminal 7

Didn't know if anyone has done this, but I am looking at arriving JFK on UA from IAD then flying CX (in J) to HKG about 3 hours later. I will be on separate itineraries with no checked bags.

Is there a way to get checked in for my CX flight (in the lounge) without leaving the secured area only to go back through it after hitting up the CX check-in counter?

I've read a TR a couple of months back and the OP arrived from SFO on UA, went straight to the lounge and got their BP's there. Hope that helps. Cheers

I have done this on AA/CX. In JFK, CX use the BA lounge. You can call the lounge and find out.

The CX liason tends to arrive at the BA lounge closer to flight departure time and you may have to wait for them in order to check-in.

Since you're on separate itineraries, why not do online check-in for the CX flight in advance?

That way you can walk directly from the UA gate to the CX gate or BA lounge at JFK T7 without worrying about checking in as you already have a boarding pass.

Why not ask UA to interline and check you through?

Why not ask UA to interline and check you through?

Interlining would help if I did have bags to check, but since I don't, they will just tell me I have to check-in with CX to get my BP. They have said this to me before when connecting to SYD on QF.

The CX liason tends to arrive at the BA lounge closer to flight departure time and you may have to wait for them in order to check-in.

Since you're on separate itineraries, why not do online check-in for the CX flight in advance?

That way you can walk directly from the UA gate to the CX gate or BA lounge at JFK T7 without worrying about checking in as you already have a boarding pass.

I will try this one before leaving the hotel in the am out of IAD and just the BP in the BA lounge when I get there. Thanks....

I will try this one before leaving the hotel in the am out of IAD and just the BP in the BA lounge when I get there. Thanks....

While admittedly a drag if you end up being forced to go landside, security queues at this terminal are rarely formidable. This is a sleepy terminal at the times CX flights depart.

While admittedly a drag if you end up being forced to go landside, security queues at this terminal are rarely formidable. This is a sleepy terminal at the times CX flights depart.

Especially in J/F check-in and dedicated security checkpoint. It's usually dead to quite dead.

While admittedly a drag if you end up being forced to go landside, security queues at this terminal are rarely formidable. This is a sleepy terminal at the times CX flights depart.

True...I just hate dealing with the Barney Fifes running around :D For some reason JFK is either a hassle free experience or its like dealing with the Gestapo. :eek:

Plus, I am lazy when it comes to doing this "stuff." :D

I will report back here how it all plays out.

Especially in J/F check-in and dedicated security checkpoint. It's usually dead to quite dead.

The dedicated checkpoint is only open when there are departing BA flights around the same time. For the mid-afternoon flight (CX 831) the dedicated checkpoint is closed, and the security line was painfully slow the one time I took that flight. The Barney Fife was insisting that each passenger (most were non-English speaking) recite their names and birthdates etc.. I hope that you are able to OLCI, because that doofus might still be working there.....

[I agree that the dedicated J/F security line, when open, is quick and painless.]

Since you're on separate itineraries, why not do online check-in for the CX flight in advance?

That way you can walk directly from the UA gate to the CX gate or BA lounge at JFK T7 without worrying about checking in as you already have a boarding pass.

As you don't have checked bags the online check-in should work. If you're worried, print out your BP at the hotel. This way you don't need to visit BA lounge for BP (in case delay, etc).

I haven't done this at JFK but did it several times with GA/CX and MH/CX at KUL.

True...I just hate dealing with the Barney Fifes running around :D For some reason JFK is either a hassle free experience or its like dealing with the Gestapo. :eek:

Plus, I am lazy when it comes to doing this "stuff." :D

I will report back here how it all plays out.

Completely agree. Though with that much time, and considering BA lounge nothing special with no views, I'd take the Airtran over to T4 where restaurants and marginally better. Considering you'll be sitting for 15 hrs in J, it might prove pleasant to move around a bit. I'm guessing you are on the 1400-ish departure, T7 absolutely dead at that hour.

The dedicated checkpoint is only open when there are departing BA flights around the same time. For the mid-afternoon flight (CX 831) the dedicated checkpoint is closed, and the security line was painfully slow the one time I took that flight. The Barney Fife was insisting that each passenger (most were non-English speaking) recite their names and birthdates etc.. I hope that you are able to OLCI, because that doofus might still be working there.....

[I agree that the dedicated J/F security line, when open, is quick and painless.]

Did not know that as I've only taken the late night departures. That is unfortunate and thanks for the info. ^

Completely agree. Though with that much time, and considering BA lounge nothing special with no views, I'd take the Airtran over to T4 where restaurants and marginally better. Considering you'll be sitting for 15 hrs in J, it might prove pleasant to move around a bit. I'm guessing you are on the 1400-ish departure, T7 absolutely dead at that hour.

I am on the mid afternoon departure with a few hours to spare. Yeah the lounge isn't great, but I can get some work done over a few beverages before heading out...

As jbalmuth mentioned, the line is long for that departure (as it was for me a month or so ago doing this flight), and the "Barney's" are in full swing with the Kabuki theather... Being an ex-UA flyer I had several experiences in the land of JFK lovely TSA......:(

On a side note, I used to do meetings at the ORD Hilton sports bar when I had 3-4 hours to kill. Sometimes they had afternoon baseball on and it was a relaxing setting (several TV's going) and have a few drinks and food with others....but now, the last few years of the security "stuff" I just rather hit a lounge, get some work done......YMMV.....

Did not know that as I've only taken the late night departures. That is unfortunate and thanks for the info. ^

It's like a lot of things in NYC --- you can locate the very best and the worst, often right next to one another.

I've often cited the JFK T7 J & F check-in and security lines as being among the best in class, whereas when the dedicated J & F secucrity line is closed, I rate the T7 security as among the worst I've experienced as a J or F passenger in the past several years. It's especially painful given that the TSA does know how to process low-risk passengers quickly (witness the new TSA Pre✓™ program), but is apparently happy to build on its miserable reputation, at least when there are no BA flights departing. :td: