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Would you rather? UA vs US and redeye flights
I need an advise from FT folks. Have two options to travel from PVR to NYC with my elderly parents.
Currently booked on US PVR-PHX and PHX-JFK with over 3 hours connection on PHX, PHX-JFK flight being a redeye (with all US related fun that comes with it, including no meals, plistic cups and subpar domestic FC seats for a 5 hours flight). Also, spending over 3 hours at PHX late at night before hopping on the flight does not sound particularly great. Also, no lounge access (US doesnt recognize PVR as international destination).
Just found an option to depart on the same US flight as we are currently booked in PVR-PHX, the connect to a quick PHX-LAX on US, and then transfer to UA p.s. flight in Business to JFK. That will have better seats (recliners my parents could actually sleep in more comfortably), some kind of snack and real glasswear (not that its that important on a redeye but little details matter). Also, lounge access in LAX, however terminal transfer from T1 to T7 which is not fun and another security screening.
Arrival to JFK would be around the same time on either flight, so its basically a trade between an extra short flight (PHX-LAX) with an extra security screening at LAX and a more comfortable overnight flight experience for a redeye flight.
Both options are mileage redemption tickets so no significant cost differential one way or the other
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aacharya
The 2nd option, clearly. I like a longer flight on red-eyes.
Get Row 9, and you'll be ecstatic.
But why not book what you have, and then wait-list for PVR-SFO-JFK, or even PVR-SFO-LAX-JFK? No rescreening needed then.
UA leaves PVR at the same time as the PVR-PHX flight.
The first option is already booked. Didnt's know I can waitlist PVR-SFO-JFK. My reservation is straight forward one-way for just myself, but my parents is a part of a complicated international itinerary, can I still waitlist both and keep what both reservations already have? Another issue is because we have two separate reservations, one seat can clear the waitlist, but the other two won't, or the other way around, and I cant be separated from my parents (they dont speak English or Spanish and I need to be on the same flights with them in the same cabin of service). So waitlisting is a real risk.
Row 9 is already taken on that flight, but even other Business seats would be better than US First seat.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by asnovici
The first option is already booked. Didnt's know I can waitlist PVR-SFO-JFK. My reservation is straight forward one-way for just myself, but my parents is a part of a complicated international itinerary, can I still waitlist both and keep what both reservations already have? Another issue is because we have two separate reservations, one seat can clear the waitlist, but the other two won't, or the other way around, and I cant be separated from my parents (they dont speak English or Spanish and I need to be on the same flights with them in the same cabin of service). So waitlisting is a real risk.
Row 9 is already taken on that flight, but even other Business seats would be better than US First seat.
Waitlist them all anyway. As you have to call in when the waitlist clears, you can choose to call in only if they all clear, or just then call in to not change the reservation.
And yes, with reward tickets, you can always waitlist for UA metal.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bevoinva
You seem to be quite concerned about the glassware so thought I would let you know that US does in fact use actual glassware now.
.
Not on the redeys they dont. Plastic all around with snack basket passed around
Quote:
Originally Posted by aacharya
Waitlist them all anyway. As you have to call in when the waitlist clears, you can choose to call in only if they all clear, or just then call in to not change the reservation.
And yes, with reward tickets, you can always waitlist for UA metal.
Another problem with PVR-SFO-JFK is a 5 hours layover in SFO (however, that can be eaten up by Immigration and we would have lounge access).
Last edited by iluv2fly; Nov 16, 12 at 6:08 pm..
Reason: merge
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Assuming you can't get a two-flight/p.s. all-UA itinerary via the waitlist, I'd stick with your first plan. Why add all that extra flying and increased risk of problems? Is sitting in a slightly better p.s. seat worth sitting in planes for an extra 2 hours total and having to transfer from T1 to T7 at LAX?
Plus, the US terminal in PHX now has much better food/drink options. Three hours there isn't all that bad.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DesertRat
Assuming you can't get a two-flight/p.s. all-UA itinerary via the waitlist, I'd stick with your first plan. Why add all that extra flying and increased risk of problems? Is sitting in a slightly better p.s. seat worth sitting in planes for an extra 2 hours total and having to transfer from T1 to T7 at LAX?
Plus, the US terminal in PHX now has much better food/drink options. Three hours there isn't all that bad.
Thats exactly what my SO said verbatum
Of course being a FTer convoluted routings don't bother me, but I have to be mindful of traveling with parents and their comfort.
UA Option all the way, was on a Charlotte to LAX Late Night Flight last month in F and wow!
It should be called US Scareways , no head rest , F seats were stuck together and falling apart , No IFE other than wifi which was slow. Meal was descent but the Purser sat in the galley for 3 and a half hours. Never once offered water, looked back into economy and f/a's were doing multiple water runs, I would have gone UA but I could only get Y+ through IAD so why not get F on US.
Always Go UA if your booking F or C ,
UA Option all the way, was on a Charlotte to LAX Late Night Flight last month in F and wow!
It should be called US Scareways , no head rest , F seats were stuck together and falling apart , No IFE other than wifi which was slow. Meal was descent but the Purser sat in the galley for 3 and a half hours. Never once offered water, looked back into economy and f/a's were doing multiple water runs, I would have gone UA but I could only get Y+ through IAD so why not get F on US.
Always Go UA if your booking F or C ,
I will mostly agree with that, but it depends on what aircraft. Some of the older US are totally crap.
