Trying to figure out how much of a hassle this will be. I'm booked SEZ-AUH on Air Seychelles in Y on a paid ticket, and then AUH-JFK in F on an AAward. There's about a six-hour layover; I am booked to arrive at 7:40 PM and then leave on the ~3 AM flight to JFK.

So, just wondering: will there be issues with the visa process? I assume I can get a visa on demand as a US resident, but do I need to get a visa to claim my checked bag or can I strictly transit? How is that impacted by the pre-clearance facility? I won't need a transfer since SEZ-AUH flies into T3, but will I be able to check my bags through on separate PNRs given that the two airlines are partners?