mary_228

Thre is a routing with TA flights on Air Berlin which will save a lot of money in taxes/fees as compared with flights on BA. Just wondering if award seats on Iberia have high fees similar to BA? I have placed a call to AA reservations but they have to call me back later.

JDiver

Iberia has significantly lower YQ fees than BA, but they to have them; airberlin do not.

mary_228

For anyone interested in the specifics, I got the call back from AA and the Iberia fee for the one way ticket is $106 (two segments), the BA fee is $294 (three segments) and AirBerlin is $30.

JDiver

Thanks for sharing. What was the routing?

mary_228

IB: ORD-MAD-SVQ ($104.80 + 40 res fee)
AB: ORD-TXL-PMI-SVQ ($30.50)
BA: ORD-LHR, LGW-SVQ ($294.50)

This is for my daughter's first solo trip abroad so in addition to trying to use miles, I'd like to make it as easy as possible for her.

JDiver

Thanks.

There is no booking fee for calling when a partner airline can't be booked online.

IMO IB might be easiest.

chunky649

I am trying to get my parents home from HKG-YYZ. currently, they have a 1 way award coach ticket HGK-YYZ dated Nov2015 (I had it changed so they can essentially standby).

My mom's back is not in good shape, so I need to put her in business class across the ocean.

I've been looking for availability on the HKG-YYZ direct (CX) flights for the last week or so, and I'm not getting anywhere. I'm seeing trickle of coach seats for next day departure, but no luck on business class seats.

I'm now considering flying her through JFK, which has lots of availability in business class in CX. however, this means they have to connect at JFK. According to google, the CX flight arrives in Terminal 7, and the AA flight departs in Termina 8. Questions:

1. Do they have to pick up and recheck luggage?
2. How difficult is it for non-English speaking (and somewhat old) people getting from the international arrival in Terminal 7 to departure (internationally to Toronto) in Terminal 8. Considering the scheduled landing is ~1pm and departure is ~3:30pm).

JDiver

If you provide them with information and map, it's not so difficult.

Nearly everyone arriving in the US must pass through immigration formalities, retrieve baggage, pass customs and can return their baggage at the counters just beyond customs.

They will be landside, have to take the train to T-8 (no cost), pass TSA security, etc. See: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/new-y...solidated.html

This way, they'll have Business. Waiting for Business award to become available to YYZ is a gamble.

chunky649

The last time I went through JFK, I had to go through a bunch of maze and stairs, ending up outside (literally). Then I walked to the next terminal, and basically check in my connecting flight as if I am on a new JFK-XYZ flight. I figured it out with the signage. but for my aged parents with luggage, bad eyes, no English skills, and back problem, I'm very worried... Still, I'll consider it. My dad is sick of the heat and high humidity of HKG, and wants to get back home to Toronto.
Thanks for the link.

anybody know if connecting JFK to another international destination (YYZ), do you have to pick up and recheck luggage?
When I was flying PEK-DFW, I overheard the agent next booth over tell another person that his luggage with be checked-through to his final destination, even though he was on the same flight. I can't confirm, as I only had carry-on.

mary_228

The agent told me there would be a $40 fee. It did seem to me in my past experience there was no fee as you described.

chunky649

I was also charged a telephone booking fee for international flights on CX for my parents (I forget the total fee). They charged me for each of my parent's tickets!

This was earlier this year (~January/March)

I currently have no status with AA.

JDiver

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...le-aa-com.html contains the answers (read the wiki). AA no longer charges for booking awards that can not be booked online.

wrp96

Yes you have to pick up luggage and recheck at JFK even when connecting international-international. That's the standard in the U.S.

DFW has the ITI program available, which, if the bags are properly tagged ITI at checkin, allows people to skip the luggage connection on international-international itineraries (you still have to go through immigration and back through security). It's only in affect at a few airports and not all airlines participate.

MADPhil

The bag will usually be checked through to the final destination when the carriers interline bags. However it will appear on a carousel at the first place in the US and you will have to collect it and take it through customs. You then hand it back to the airline without actually re-checking it.

TheSinister

Let's say I achieve EXP in August. Do I have to wait until January 1 to achieve eqm or can I get a head start early?