Originally Posted by
ryan182
I would go the LHR-LAS-SEA route as that maximizes the time in the superior product, AS F is fine for 1-2 hours but I find their F seats not great for longer flights and obviously the catering options in BA F will be much better than AS. 3.5 hours at LAS isn't terrible if you don't have lounge access, obviously its better with but I'm just saying LAS is a decent airport and its not like your spending 3 hours at LGA for example. Also there are no PP lounges in the AS terminal (the SEA flight will leave gate E15) but they are reachable by train and after deplaning, going through customs/immigration and re-clearing security you're probably down to 2:45-3 hours (with GE+TSAPre) so you have just over 2 hours to kill before boarding. If you end up having PP access then there's certainly time to head over to D gates and The Club [MENTION=92891]LAS[/MENTION] but if trying to minimize costs that's not a terribly long period to spend in the terminal. Getting home late-ish also helps for readjustment for timezones on LHR-West Coast flights IME. You do miss out on First Wing and CCR but the CX F lounge is nice.
I am a frequent flier on AS so I know the F product intimately (BA F is obviously superior but AS F is fine; also AS F is not a 100% lock, I would have to be upgraded on a coach award for that segment). By the time hours 15-20 roll around on an itinerary, and it’s bordering on 1 am body clock time, I typically can’t care less about catering, especially if I was fed well on the previous flight; I want a bed.
(To be honest that is a point in favor of an overnight stop in ORD or LAS.)
Originally Posted by
corporate-wage-slave
I wouldn't go to any effort to get into The Club as LAS, it's not much more than a broom cupboard, with a refreshment service to match the locale. I guess YVR wasn't showing anything? I certainly see the upside to doing the trip in one day, and yes CBP at LAS is good - there again ORD is a lot better than it used to be. I'd just be looking for a better routing than this. JFK?
Most of the West Coast cities are tough gets in summer from LHR. The timings on AS YVR-SEA flights are tricky for. BA connections too (read: another forced overnight likely).
LHR-JFK-SEA is not really a better routing IMO because you break the routing almost in half to fly a USA carrier in domestic F instead of a longer flight in BA F, and AS timings on JFK-SEA don’t work well with BA connections (read: almost certainly an overnight stopover: the one evening flight AS flies has almost zero award space ever).
Originally Posted by
LCY8737
If stopping at ORD/LAS was something you'd be keen on it itself, I would go for it. If not, I'd take the most direct/fast routing home. F on the 380 may be nicer than on the 747, but the 747 - especially if you can get row 2, is more than adequate in my book.
I do lots of LAS travel; it’s why I can find a nice enough hotel suite with jacuzzi/shower and cozy enough bed for $120ish all in for an overnight if I take Option 2a (MGM Signature). Not home but nicer than a lounge bathtub/nap room if you ask me.