Help deciding on flights (DFW-MAD J Mar 2019)
Jul 19, 2018, 8:32 am
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 47
This is good food for thought. It's J all the way for me now. A few years ago BA bumped me up from PE I've never gone back. That's how they get you..
Jul 19, 2018, 9:51 am
#17
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,811
The only thing I dont like about MIA-MAD is the super early arrival into MAD - 5:30 am.
If the Flagship Lounge at PHL will be done by end of year, PHL-MAD might be an alternative.
The other option to be examine is if flying IB out of JFK is sensible. You would get access to the Flagship lounge at JFK. I have no opinion of the IB A340 J class product although I'm one who would do it just to check the A340 off my "I've flown on it" list.
If the Flagship Lounge at PHL will be done by end of year, PHL-MAD might be an alternative.
The other option to be examine is if flying IB out of JFK is sensible. You would get access to the Flagship lounge at JFK. I have no opinion of the IB A340 J class product although I'm one who would do it just to check the A340 off my "I've flown on it" list.
Jul 19, 2018, 10:10 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,438
Gross, yea you're right, looks like the MIA-MAD schedule shifts earlier to a ~4pm departure and 5:30am arrival sometime between now and March (currently a 7pm dep 9:30a arrival). I take back what I said above, I would avoid the MIA-MAD option if sleeping is of any concern. The early 4-5pm Europe departures from the east coast are impossible to get any sleep on.
Jul 19, 2018, 10:35 am
#20
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: CoUniHound 1K 1MM, AA EXP 2MM, DL Plat, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,625
Jul 20, 2018, 12:32 pm
#22
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: MIA, VIE and DPS
Programs: DL Plat 1MM, AA EXP 3MM, SQ Krisflyer Gold, UA Silver, Marriott LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 1,131
Jul 20, 2018, 5:13 pm
#23
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: AA Plat, Marriott Plat
Posts: 736
Pardon the ignorance but as I’m lurking here a question popped into my head. I can buy a ticket on any other OneWorld airline and still get AA miles on them? Or do they need to be codeshares with AA flights?
Jul 20, 2018, 5:24 pm
#24
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,267
Food: On par with AA, which isn't saying much.
Wine/Booze: Superior to AA, which isn't saying much.
Seat: On par with AA. Both are reasonable J products.
Amenities kit: Superior to AA (I liked the shoehorn!)
FAs: Superior to AA, which isn't saying much.
TATL award availability: Superior to AA, but pretty much every airline in the civilized world is vastly superior to AA in this regard.
I booked my summer 2019 trip on IB. It helped that I had 60k in BA Avios, and I could transfer them to an existing IB account, and IB's award calendar opens up at almost T-360.
Jul 20, 2018, 5:26 pm
#25
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,267
Gross, yea you're right, looks like the MIA-MAD schedule shifts earlier to a ~4pm departure and 5:30am arrival sometime between now and March (currently a 7pm dep 9:30a arrival). I take back what I said above, I would avoid the MIA-MAD option if sleeping is of any concern. The early 4-5pm Europe departures from the east coast are impossible to get any sleep on.
Jul 20, 2018, 8:38 pm
#26
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Jul 21, 2018, 3:31 pm
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 47
Jul 21, 2018, 5:21 pm
#29
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 64
Not trying to hijack the thread but Iam headed to BCN and was going to fly JFK to BCN but it's clear now that MIA to BCN is the better choice. Flying in October so have to book the tickets, one issue is that $6,500 for business or $8,500 for first class. It's for a pair of tickets, is first class worth $2k more than business? I flew JFK to BCN in business last year.
Jul 22, 2018, 7:19 am
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,438
DFW-MIA-MXP or DFW-PHL-FCO is available for only slightly more than DFW-MIA-MAD (and less than the DFW-FRA nonstop). If you're going to Italy then I would by all means fly straight there if possible, way easier than booking a separate ticket from FRA or MAD or taking the train, etc.