oxtailsoup

Frogdoctor

madfish

TravellerFrequently

Is it possible just to check in and just print my OTP-LHR boarding pass and then collect the remaining boarding passes at LHR for the US flights the following morning?

Thanks.

bisonrav

oxtailsoup

madfish

kirkwoodj

Well it looks like I'm out, but I think my excuse is valid--brewery opening event. ^

mikeyfly

Loosely connected to this thread…. I have an ex OTP booked on AA.com (001...)

My LHR-LAS is not showing on MMB or checkmytrip – it was! Couple of weeks ago I could access and choose seats etc (64K naturally..) I can see it on AA but not BA. I called BA and they could not see it at all – which is concerning as I am flying on their aircraft! How long should I leave this before I start to worry ?!

teledude

Ask AA for the Amadeus PNR

taylorj6

Guys, just a couple of notes from my OTP-PHX run, as I sit in the MasterCard Lounge at OTP ....

1. as suggested by @TravellerFrequently there are definitely (at least) two Passport Controls at OTP. Last night (on BA884 LHR-OTP) we arrived at the truly remote stand and were bussed into the Passport Control which has two escalators (staircases) to ascend (at right angles) until you reach the Booths. This is a completely different one than I was bussed to on 5-Jul and is definitely the one which @madfish refers to in this excellent B2B guide. I used the Diplomatic Booth, no one seemed to care, passengers and Border Police alike.

2. I stayed at the new Hilton Garden Inn on the 5-Jul and the RIN Airport Hotel on 10-Jul. Both new to me. I had previously always stayed at the DoubleTree Unrinii. I really like the HGI as it's brand new, has good AC, a pretty decent shower and is a similar price to the DoubleTree (EUR70). The RIN Airport was cheaper (EUR50), but a little tired and didn't have great AC. It's much closer to the airport of course, but you run into problems with the Complimentary Airport Shuttle if you arrive after 00:30 as it starts to only run once an hour. My LHR-OTP flight was late (it's always been late when I've taken it !) and arrived at 01:15 ... despite calling, they wouldn't hold or send the bus back. Instead I got an Uber and doubled the EUR3 fare with a tip to compensate the driver for such a short journey. The return 07:00 Shuttle was fine for the 08:30 departure of BA885, although there were only 8 seats on it (with 2 of these upfront next to the driver) ... one guy got left behind as there was no room.

3. having flown AA's A321 JFK-LAX-JFK one way in Business and one way in First, in terms of pure comfort for sleeping, a Business Class Window Seat is superior IMO. The Transcon First seat is adapted version of AA's 777-300ER Business seat - normally a great seat. However, in order to make it fit into the space, everything is tighter ... most annoyingly the place under the screen where your feet go. I like to sleep on my side, which is horrible in this seat. I know it's all about the TPs, but if you get a chance for an A Class bump, I'd suggest taking it on the non-overnight leg.

4. I really like the AA Flagship Lounge at LAX. Of course everyone raves about the Qantas First Lounge - and it is a fantastic lounge - but it doesn't have such good shower availability, doesn't have a buffet (if you need to eat in a hurry) and (most importantly for me) doesn't have the sleeper chairs that the AA Flagship has. I slept in them for 3 hours before my 22:30 LAX-JFK leg. For those that don't know, they are to be found immediately to the right of the Flagship First Dining Room (past the toilets and showers).

5. ... and lastly, damn Phoenix is hot. So hot that I wanted to run back into the nearest AC'd building after a minute outside. Mankini's may be necessary at the pool party !

Safe travels to the next up on the OTP-PHX Run, and the Do is getting closer now.

TravellerFrequently

Agreed.

Thanks for confirming my thoughts that I mentioned above.

Back to OTP shortly before heading to PHX, so will see where I end up.

madfish

PaulN

Hi all,

Back from my OTP-PHX in First. I haven't got enough pics for a full trip report so just a few thoughts that may be helpful to all those that will follow this route over the coming weeks.

Booked as LHR-OTP (Thu), OTP-LHR-JFK-LAX (Fri), LAX-PHX-LAX-JFK (Sat/Sun), JFK-LHR(Sun) and LHR-OTP-LHR (Mon/Tue).

On checking a couple of days I saw upgrade for my positioning LHR-OTP for £129. Terrible value for money especially given I had an exit row but gave me enough TPs to get to 1500 on return to LHR from JFK just in case I had to work on Monday. Question for debate: is £129 worth it for the option of avoiding the final 6 hours in the air and another return trip from Heathrow to home. I think so.

So on Thursday night arrived via HEX to LHR. Went to Galleries north as an easy option. Flight was showing a 20 min delay from earlier in the day. Although boarded and ready to go about 30 mins late we’d missed slot and eventually left about 45 mins late arriving into OTP about 40 mins late so even less sleep than expected. I'd accidentally booked a day room at the Vienna Easy House (I thought it was good value) but luckily they only charged me the difference to an overnight. I walked to the hotel but i wouldn't recommend it if alone as there's a very dark section.

In the morning I left the hotel at 0700 for an 0830 flight. It was 11 mins to walk to airport and another 3 or 4 to the departures building - departures is the left hand of the two buildings as you approach. The courtesy service is a fairly small car with about 6 seats so at busy times you may not get in.

Uneventful flight to Heathrow. I'd scheduled 3 hours in the CCR including my first ever spa treatment but then boarded the BA 177 at 1310. Super crew on board. Polite, approachable, relaxed and super attentive. I don't if this is true of all 747s but the IFE looks really dated. Only about 50 “new releases” then only about 10 other films. Especially when you board a new AA A321 straight after with huge screen and hundreds of film choices. Flagship lounge access in JFK. Was offered Flagship Dining but it looked a bit too rich for me ..... the downside of lots of flights is eating and drinking far too much. The AA transcon in First is very comfortable. Flat bed with feet into a cubbyhole. Trying to keep on UK time I slept most of the way. At LAX I headed off to the Sheraton Four Points for a real flat bed for a few hours. Managed to watch the England-Sweden game on Fox then back off to the airport.

At LAX I was on the 1245 to PHX and back then continuing to JFK. I was given access to the Flagship lounge on showing the BP for the later First flight back to JFK. I got back in again later with the same BP (I don't think I'd have got 2 shots at Flagship dining though). The LAX Flagship lounge is a cut above most AA lounges. Great food and drink choice right through the day (I can recommend the breakfast and the lunch choice). PHX lounge near the gates to/from LAX by contrast is tiny. Not worth spending much time in.

Back onto the Transcon from LAX to JFK again I slept most of the way although it was extremely bumpy for at least an hour ... desperate for the loo by the time the seatbelt sign came off. Had time at JFK to go to the BA CCR (not in the same place as the normal lounge in case you are not familiar with the airport). Lovely breakfast - I think that was 5 in 3 days - and a rest with the papers. Another 747 back to Heathrow with another great crew. The plan was to go home Sunday night then to work on Monday and off to OTP for a quick overnight. Luckily I had the extra TPs in hand from the outbound upgrade as I had to work late and couldn't get to LHR in time.

Despite the poor IFE on the LHR to JFK I managed to tick off quite a few films that I hadn't seen before.

Final tip - make sure you leave space in your hand luggage for pyjamas (x2) and amenity kits (x4) + a present for your long suffering partner who said you could go on your mad trip.

TPs showed the next day (BA) and 2 days later (AA) so I now have Gold.

Happy to answer any questions.

Vasco Pridat

darn.. i didnt even think if doing it in F.. how much was it?