Running through the pros and cons of each.


Single PNR - Booked through AA award agent via the phone.
AS (refundable purchase) -> AA (award travel)

I think one advantage is that AS will be able to print boarding passes for AA flight when checking in at AS ticket counter.

A possible disadvantage to the single PNR is that online check-in (which I think has to be done at the AS website since they are the first leg) may not print usuable boarding passes for both AS and AA (which would be inconvenient but not a big problem if all boarding passes can be printed at AS checkin).

vs

Dual PNR

PNR1 - AS (refundable purchase booked on AS website)

PNR2 - AA (award travel booked on AA website)

One advantage is that it is easier for me to book since its all web based. Another advantage is that online check-in for both should work fine so in theory I'd already have boarding passes when I left for the airport.

I think there are two disadvantages with the Dual PNR option. Because its not a single itinerary I may have to incur fees with AA if anything goes wrong with the AS flight that causes me to miss the AA flight. And AS probably won't be able to print boarding passes for the AA travel. The advantage is that online check-in for both should work fine so in theory I'd already have boarding passes when I left for the airport.

Which brings up someting else I've wondered about. In the event that you are not able to get boarding passes printed for the connecting flights prior to arriving at the connecting airport what do you do to get boarding passes once you land at the connecting airport? Do you exit the airside secure area and go to the airline check-in counter or can a gate agent print boarding passes?