Originally Posted by frb98mf

DEFINITELY NOT DOABLE!

Writing this from MAD T4S lounge. Had to book separate JFK-MAD, MAD-TLV tickets with Avios due to IB being unable to change my existing ORD-MAD-TLV to that routing, and forcing me to cancel and start again. As they said it would take several weeks (!) to recredit the miles, and not having quite enough to buy a new ticket without these, I ended up grabbing the last seat on MAD-TLV separately to the wide-open JFK-MAD which I bought later.

They wouldn't let me combine the tickets, and then refused to through-check my bags last night at JFK. No interest in my status or class of travel - point-blank refusal to even try. Wasted a solid hour clearing passports, taking the train, collecting and re-checking, security and getting back on the train. I was one of the first off the plane, caught a train right away, had the first suitcase off the belt, no queues to check it in, no queues for security fast track. Still an hour from plane door to lounge door vs maybe 15 mins in transit.

Luckily I had a 4 hour layover to ensure I was cushioned against this and a late arrival.