Best First Connection options for ATL-SFO?
#16
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: YYJ
Posts: 4,136
Thanks everyone for the advice!
Although I'd be happy to change several times if necessary to get a good experience and miles outcome, I'm travelling with my other half who's not so keen on that kind of thing! I would like to try the JFK-SFO premium product though, so I'll try to sell her on an early ATL-x-JFK flight, and then a few hours in Manhattan before a later JFK-SFO.
Although I'd be happy to change several times if necessary to get a good experience and miles outcome, I'm travelling with my other half who's not so keen on that kind of thing! I would like to try the JFK-SFO premium product though, so I'll try to sell her on an early ATL-x-JFK flight, and then a few hours in Manhattan before a later JFK-SFO.
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Australia
Programs: Qantas PlatinumOne (OneWorld Emerald)
Posts: 88
Thanks everyone - we've booked for ATL-LGA and JFK-SFO, with the 3-class First product on the trans-continental leg.
Incidentally, it'll be my first ever experience of LGA; I think I've probably heard more consistently BAD reviews of it than of any other airport in the world (and I've travelled through FIH!), so I'm actually quite curious to see for myself why people hate it so much...!
Incidentally, it'll be my first ever experience of LGA; I think I've probably heard more consistently BAD reviews of it than of any other airport in the world (and I've travelled through FIH!), so I'm actually quite curious to see for myself why people hate it so much...!
#19
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA LT Gold
Posts: 3,644
Thanks everyone - we've booked for ATL-LGA and JFK-SFO, with the 3-class First product on the trans-continental leg.
Incidentally, it'll be my first ever experience of LGA; I think I've probably heard more consistently BAD reviews of it than of any other airport in the world (and I've travelled through FIH!), so I'm actually quite curious to see for myself why people hate it so much...!
Incidentally, it'll be my first ever experience of LGA; I think I've probably heard more consistently BAD reviews of it than of any other airport in the world (and I've travelled through FIH!), so I'm actually quite curious to see for myself why people hate it so much...!
I am surprised nobody on this thread has brought up that September is peak Atlantic hurricane season.
We've been having those every year lately.
The most affected AA airports are usually MIA. Then possibly CLT or JFK.
A hurricane can disrupt the whole AA network, true.
BUT, IME, of all routes, the least disrupted one for the OP's scenario would be ATL-LAX.
For that reason, I'd go atl-lax-sfo,
I know OP has bought ticket, but if hurricane irrops are a concern, its still within 24 hours of booking and ticket can be changed for no charge.
#20
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 551
I am surprised nobody on this thread has brought up that September is peak Atlantic hurricane season.
We've been having those every year lately.
The most affected AA airports are usually MIA. Then possibly CLT or JFK.
A hurricane can disrupt the whole AA network, true.
BUT, IME, of all routes, the least disrupted one for the OP's scenario would be ATL-LAX.
For that reason, I'd go atl-lax-sfo,
I know OP has bought ticket, but if hurricane irrops are a concern, its still within 24 hours of booking and ticket can be changed for no charge.
We've been having those every year lately.
The most affected AA airports are usually MIA. Then possibly CLT or JFK.
A hurricane can disrupt the whole AA network, true.
BUT, IME, of all routes, the least disrupted one for the OP's scenario would be ATL-LAX.
For that reason, I'd go atl-lax-sfo,
I know OP has bought ticket, but if hurricane irrops are a concern, its still within 24 hours of booking and ticket can be changed for no charge.
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Australia
Programs: Qantas PlatinumOne (OneWorld Emerald)
Posts: 88
Current plan is to use a service called Free Your Arms - that would meet us at LGA to take our bag, and then drop it back to us at JFK later in the day. I've seen generally good reviews of it so far.
It's $35 per bag (USD) for that same-day service, but I think we'll only have one big bag so it's not too much to spend.
It's $35 per bag (USD) for that same-day service, but I think we'll only have one big bag so it's not too much to spend.
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,437
I am surprised nobody on this thread has brought up that September is peak Atlantic hurricane season.
We've been having those every year lately.
The most affected AA airports are usually MIA. Then possibly CLT or JFK.
A hurricane can disrupt the whole AA network, true.
BUT, IME, of all routes, the least disrupted one for the OP's scenario would be ATL-LAX.
For that reason, I'd go atl-lax-sfo,
I know OP has bought ticket, but if hurricane irrops are a concern, its still within 24 hours of booking and ticket can be changed for no charge.
We've been having those every year lately.
The most affected AA airports are usually MIA. Then possibly CLT or JFK.
A hurricane can disrupt the whole AA network, true.
BUT, IME, of all routes, the least disrupted one for the OP's scenario would be ATL-LAX.
For that reason, I'd go atl-lax-sfo,
I know OP has bought ticket, but if hurricane irrops are a concern, its still within 24 hours of booking and ticket can be changed for no charge.
#24
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA LT Gold
Posts: 3,644
But it seems to me that during system collapses the short hops on smaller planes operations get most affected.
Storms do happen every year around that time.
I wouldn't call it a minute chance. Remember Sandy? Harvey? Katrina?
#25
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DL: Silver; AA: EX PLAT; UA: Silver; HY: DIA; HH: DIA; MR: TIT
Posts: 1,708
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Australia
Programs: Qantas PlatinumOne (OneWorld Emerald)
Posts: 88
I did some googling after JDiver's post, and it seemed to me that it's just IRROPs.
Potentially the interline agreement does mean that you could check your bag through theoretically if you had a ticket that included DL ATL-JFK and AA JFK-SFO, but I couldn't find any way in practice that you could actually ever book a ticket that combined the two airlines for that route like that.
Potentially the interline agreement does mean that you could check your bag through theoretically if you had a ticket that included DL ATL-JFK and AA JFK-SFO, but I couldn't find any way in practice that you could actually ever book a ticket that combined the two airlines for that route like that.
#27
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,811
There are gobs of options on this. Are you looking simply to earn miles, enjoy the experience or get from A to B?
If you're worried about status, I'd find itineraries that maximize your earning which would eliminate DFW and ORD because neither get you any type of bonus for flights of under 500 miles being "rounded up". Nor does PHX which you didn't mention at all.
LAX is a good option as you'd get a pretty premium service since it is (AFAIK) treated as a transcon with better meal selections. On top of that, you get the 500 miles for the shortish hop from LAX to SFO.
CLT is a good option from the standpoint of getting the 500 additional EQMs and "backtracking" east to CT before flying west. Downside to CLT is you'll probably get an A320 or A321 and you will be power starved by hour 4.
Good option would be MIA which gives you the 500 miles to MIA and a nice 2580 miles to SFO. You'll get either a 737 or 32B which means power. Downside is flying through Miami in September.....the height of hurricane season.....
Flying through PHL gets you a lot of miles with an extended backtrack but you're going to be on a US A321 which means no power.
Flying through PHX probably means US equipment and a lack of power. Its also the second lowest mileage earning routes.
Finally, you could do JFK which allows you to fly the A321T which is a very nice ride. Only problem is that AA does not fly ATL-JFK nonstop which means either a double connect (ATL-CLT-JFK-SFO or ATL-DCA-JFK-SFO or ATL-PHL-JFK-SFO). Or you fly to LGA and do a manual ground connection. Not an easy feat.
I'm not sure if you could even price out ATL->SFO via New York. Might have to book separate tickets.
I'd vote for ATL-LAX-SFO and then ATL-MIA-SFO and then ATL-NYC-SFO
If you're worried about status, I'd find itineraries that maximize your earning which would eliminate DFW and ORD because neither get you any type of bonus for flights of under 500 miles being "rounded up". Nor does PHX which you didn't mention at all.
LAX is a good option as you'd get a pretty premium service since it is (AFAIK) treated as a transcon with better meal selections. On top of that, you get the 500 miles for the shortish hop from LAX to SFO.
CLT is a good option from the standpoint of getting the 500 additional EQMs and "backtracking" east to CT before flying west. Downside to CLT is you'll probably get an A320 or A321 and you will be power starved by hour 4.
Good option would be MIA which gives you the 500 miles to MIA and a nice 2580 miles to SFO. You'll get either a 737 or 32B which means power. Downside is flying through Miami in September.....the height of hurricane season.....
Flying through PHL gets you a lot of miles with an extended backtrack but you're going to be on a US A321 which means no power.
Flying through PHX probably means US equipment and a lack of power. Its also the second lowest mileage earning routes.
Finally, you could do JFK which allows you to fly the A321T which is a very nice ride. Only problem is that AA does not fly ATL-JFK nonstop which means either a double connect (ATL-CLT-JFK-SFO or ATL-DCA-JFK-SFO or ATL-PHL-JFK-SFO). Or you fly to LGA and do a manual ground connection. Not an easy feat.
I'm not sure if you could even price out ATL->SFO via New York. Might have to book separate tickets.
I'd vote for ATL-LAX-SFO and then ATL-MIA-SFO and then ATL-NYC-SFO
Last edited by IADCAflyer; Feb 7, 2018 at 10:16 pm
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,986
There are gobs of options on this. Are you looking simply to earn miles, enjoy the experience or get from A to B?
If you're worried about status, I'd find itineraries that maximize your earning which would eliminate DFW and ORD because neither get you any type of bonus for flights of under 500 miles being "rounded up". Nor does PHX which you didn't mention at all.
<snip>
CLT is a good option from the standpoint of getting the 500 additional EQMs and "backtracking" east to CT before flying west. Downside to CLT is you'll probably get an A320 or A321 and you will be power starved by hour 4
If you're worried about status, I'd find itineraries that maximize your earning which would eliminate DFW and ORD because neither get you any type of bonus for flights of under 500 miles being "rounded up". Nor does PHX which you didn't mention at all.
<snip>
CLT is a good option from the standpoint of getting the 500 additional EQMs and "backtracking" east to CT before flying west. Downside to CLT is you'll probably get an A320 or A321 and you will be power starved by hour 4
#29
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,136