Originally Posted by
HIDDY
Unfortunate but I guess that's why BA charge more miles for a redemption using two partners.....you chose not to do that which would have given you the insurance you now sadly need.
Actually the redemption of 2 partners seems to be a different type of award - it is a OneWorld type of award that is based on distance traveled. For that, AA's OneWorld award cost far less miles than the BA version.
OP could easily avoid this peril by traveling to JFK the night before, or on a Red Eye to get there this morning. He could even take a train the night before if Amtrak runs the train between DCA and NYC!
It was a poor planning or a "roll-the-dice" type of approach that costs him dearly.