leachster

Yes, I had looked up (briefly) the T7 T8 connection and was previously looking forward to a leisurely amble and some serious vin rouge...I figured 2 hours would entail a little less ambling, a little more running and a lot less of the red stuff.

2 hours is going to be plenty (I think I needed someone to tell me to stop being daft)

thanks all...Alaska, here I come!

onobond

Yes, you'll be fine with 2h10m. Just be prepared for plan B in case your LHR-JFK flight has a late arrival - talk to the CSD as soon as you are aware of this. S/he will arrange a message from flight deck to have someone meeting you after disembarking, escorting you through the APC dragons, to get you to the front of the line. Then just the air train to T8. HBO recommended, and presuming you'll have TSA Pre √

You'll have enough time for some vin rouge in the FL as well.

MrPrice16

MarkedMan

You'd think by now they would start to get the hang of it

Thanks for the comments, many would agree. I enjoy BA F, but I do agree that AA have done good work on some internal products: JFK-LAX/SFO as well as other transcons are unique "internal" markets both due to flight length and profile of passengers. The US airline vs Euro premium model discussion has been hashed over many times, in the end there's no denying that the seat you get for a 1hr flight is great in the US, but it is a very different market. three hour flights in the US are the norm, in Europe very much the exception.

Glad you enjoyed the experience and welcome to Gold!

Lefly

I finished also my 2nd round of OTP-PHX, this time as a real TP run with no stops in the US.
Ticket (AA) was a bit messed up on the BA side but luckily there were no consequences. I got my first SSSS ever for the LHR-PHL, but was painless and quick (and also useless, but that's another story).

I tried for the first time the new service and bedding on BA (747 Hi - J). The quilt was way better than the old one, and the service was adequate. I was in a window seat on UD, The divider was not working well and for the majority of the time was down. While surely the window position has a lot of storage, I still don't like the seat and its concept.

About PHL arrival, I probably got my info wrong as I was expecting ESTA kiosk at and instead ended up in the usual boot queues, with an agent that never heard of mileage run concept. I guess he thought of me as somenone crazy but harmless and stamped my passport. The queue for transit security was huge and I made it just in time to my gate, where boarding was well underway.

AA flights were uneventful, PHX admiral club still basic, and was funny to fly BOS-JFK on the A321 transcon.
AA flagship at JFK is very comfortable, the showers very convenient and the food decent.

On the other side, AY JFK-HEL is not of my like and I don't think I'll book another AY flights not going into Asia. I like the seat concept on the A330, but it's really worn down, screen is too small, movies selection is limited and the food... meh! What they serve on the HEL-LHR is way, way better!

On LHR-OTP I had the thrill of the first ever pre-departure drink service on BA. That's because we were waiting at stand for 45 minutes... Anyway, also the service was good and food decent.
About OTP, in my opinion is not a dump, it seems a quiet & clean small airport with a lot of food outlets. Immigration seems always manned by a lot of agents, so even when there are a lot of passengers the waiting times are reasonable.

If the OTP-PHX fare resists, I have no problem to use it again next year

hammers2958

Having just completed my own OTP-PHX run, I echo almost all of MrPrice16's points. Just a couple of personal notes to add.

- Vienna House Hotel does send a shuttle to collect you if you want it. Perfectly, straightforward,call them and they come to the bus terminal past the arrivals car park. On the way back they drop you at departures.
- I actually found the American Transcon First bed very comfortable. I'm 6'1" and appreciated the fact that the bed is longer than BA CW. It may have been a result of the late hour, but I slept all the way from JFK to LAX!
- The American Flagship Dining is very good. My lunch last Sunday in the LAX lounge was the best meal of my trip.
- B2B at OTP on the way back was very simple. Having read varying reports in earlier posts, I had exactly the same experience as MrPrice16 and made it back round to the departure gate in 5 minutes.

The only other (rather obvious) point to make is that regardless of the time of year, everyone can expect flights to be late and connections to get tricky. Three of my ten flights were significantly late, albeit resulting in only one missed connection. It's sensible always to have a back up plan, especially if you're on a tight schedule, as I was.

TPRun

Quick reminder please:

NAME BADGES - last date to do so: FRIDAY 17 AUGUST
Please complete the following Google form: https://goo.gl/forms/qeEel0UJZvsPTx1J2 so that name badges for the Do can be generated.

WHATSAPP GROUP
There is an active WhatsApp group for OTP/PHX travellers. PM for more details.

PRE DEPARTURE DRINK
A bunch of us are meeting on Thursday 16 August at All Bar One (Cannon St. London) for a semi-impromptu drink: Get to meet some other Runners, share last minute tips, enjoy the sun etc. All welcome (PHX or not)

TedToToe

madfish

our_kid

Typical work action - looks like I am being sent East to help rescue a project so might not be able to make this

If I fly first couple of segments do you reckon AA will accommodate a change for me?

TedToToe

MarkedMan

What are you looking to do?

MarkedMan

Friday 17th or Saturday 18th

TPRun

ahem...apologies ^

our_kid