canon5dfan

I'm currently flying SJC-LAX on WN but am looking to switch to a carrier with better product and international award availability. I'll be flying this route every week until late 2015.

My only two options are Delta and AA and would like to get some input from my fellow FTers who fly AA before I make this jump. I know Delta has a great product and I'm sure I can get upgraded to First class once I complete the Platinum medallion challenge... but I've heard their award availability is crap.

Alaska Airlines is out for me so the only two options I have are AA and DL. I could fly out of SFO too but I'd like my sleep too much

Thanks for your help.

McFlyPHL

On an hour long flight, I doubt you'll see much difference in the product between the three. If I were in your shoes I'd do some dummy bookings of awards on international routes you're interested in and see how that shakes out. I don't think DL's partners charge a YQ like BA/IB do, so that will probably work in DL's favor.

I'm so glad we got AA's "premium" partner awards and their YQ.

canon5dfan

I'm still a AA newbie but what do you mean by premium partner awards and YO?

FWAAA

YQ, not YO. Award tickets from frequent flyer mile redemptions on BA metal (airplanes operated by BA) carry huge surcharges (formerly called "fuel surcharges").

On premium cabin flights, the surcharge on the "free" frequent flyer tickets can run about $1,000 round trip. And lately, most first and business class award tickets available with AAdvantage miles appear to be on BA metal and not AA metal. Thus, most premium cabin award tickets carry these huge surcharges.

Awards on AA metal don't currently feature any such huge fees, although US Airways charges everyone who redeems miles for an award a fee of something like $40 and most expect that fee to climb. "Free" frequent flyer miles tickets aren't free in any sense of the word.

AANYC1981

Isn't this route now flown by USX? If so, it'll be a CR9 with 9F and from what I have read they are the dumpier versions of this plane (not the newer ones US has been receiving).

UPGs for AA elites will only happen 24 hours prior to departure too.

canon5dfan

Oh that's an unexpected surprise, I've only redeemed international travel via United guy and they never really charged these huge surcharges for UA/partner flights.



Yes this route is now flown by USX. I think DL also uses the CR9s.

McFlyPHL

US waives those fees for the 50k tier and higher.

3Cforme

The DL schedule today shows CR7s and CR9s. These have F cabins, wifi, and an Economy Comfort section in coach. It's a short flight but it should be civilized.

Nobody knows what award availability is going to look like on DL's 5-price award calendar come 1/1/15.

malexander131

Haven't flown SJC-LAX, but if SFO is an option the DL product is probably the nicest on this route- nice snacks and the E175 is a decently spacious plane. Plus hourly service is hard to beat.

I currently fly AA on the route and your flight options are a bit more limited, although I notoriously leverage same day flight standby change option as AA Gold. Other than that, I find it too short of a flight to worry about other features.

canon5dfan

Thanks for all the feedback, I think i'll attempt the AA challenge in 2015 for Gold. How likely are you able to make your flight using the standby change option as AA gold?

bdemaria

SFO-LAX flights are prone to terrible delays b/c of the SFO weather, so given a choice, I'd fly out of SJC before SFO.

worldwidedreamer

For such a short flight, I'd look at both lounge options and airlines.

If you go with Delta and American Express Platinum, you can have a relatively easy upgrade, access to the DL SC or via Priority Pass the AS BR in LAX and the Club at SJC.

petewinca

One other factor might be the "Eagles Nest", All AA flights SJC -> LAX arrive at the AE remote terminal which then requires a bus ride to the main terminal. The Admirals Club in the remote terminal just opened which should be a big improvement when departing LAX on AE but the line for the bus can occasionally be a problem.

unavaca

If you're commuting on this route, Southwest's frequencies are unbeatable. When I was doing the SJC-BUR commute, missing a flight was never a big deal. Even if I couldn't get on one of the 7 or 8 daily BUR flights, there were 10+ daily non-stops into LAX that I could fallback on.

canon5dfan

AE remote terminal? What?

I did not know AA flights from SJC arrived at a remote terminal. How long are the bus rides from the main terminal to this one?

I agree that SW's frequencies are unbeatable but I do like the convenience of booking awards for international travel (outside of Mexico and Carribeans)