2 week trip to Israel in September (with checked suitcase). Booked nonstop (JFK-TLV) award flights on American 11 months ago for over 150,000 miles each way in biz. Also read on one of the blogs a few months ago about a Delta/Virgin award sale and booked JFK-LHR 11 hours-TLV and TLV-LHR 10 hours-JFK on Virgin for 70,000 Delta miles each way in biz. All can be cancelled with miles redeposited, taxes/fees refunded, and no fees or penalties.

I like London, thought those layovers would give me enough time to go into the city, walk around, have a meal and get back to the airport. Also liked using less than half the number of miles, the very rare great redemption value for Delta miles and was looking forward to my first Virgin biz flights.

Now, after reading about airline delays/cancellations, baggage problems and crowding in general in London, I’m thinking I’d be out of my mind to take the connecting flights (thus more than doubling the chances of a problem).

Wondering what others think. Should I take the connecting flights? Should I just accept having to “spend” an outrageous amount of miles and take the nonstops? Thank you.