Flying Yazata

Indeed, it's not an issue with a single ticket, but I just don't grasp why some book itineraries that lack refinement or at least giving the itinerary a second thought. In this case: the tight JFK layover and transit could've been avoided by booking e.g. AA2652 as BA4672. Also: nine hours at HEL is absolutely excessive, unless one leaves the airport for a 2-3 hr walk in Helsinki. AY1335 as BA6079 would've done the trick for a comfortable airport layover, if not planning to leave the airport.

But it's not my trips, so each to their own. It's just something that keeps me puzzled, as I see various itineraries people book.

xenole

I've had runs where I just can't get the better timed flights to work.
I'd rather not fly into JFK at 10pm and have to be back at the airport 6hrs later (less shuttle, immigration delays etc.) but sometimes you can't get booked onto specific flights. AA themselves changed one of my flights last month from a relaxing 11am or so one to 7am and I couldn't change it back.

I don't mind a decent layover sometimes. Last time I was in PHX, I took the light rail downtown to have a look around for 3-4hrs. Never been into the city, and probably won't again after that as not an exciting place
Helsinki is very easy to walk around for 2-3hrs. Good airport to be stuck at with lounge access

I'm sure at times I've booked the first thing that came up as I got a bit excited by 1000TP for £xxx, or just wanted to grab something before I class availability on the transcon went. With AA, if you time it right, you know fine they'll change something and you can tweak it potentially to your advantage anyway.
I'm sure some people aren't fully clued up on how to tweak routings and don't come here for advice.

vintagepilot

That particular example was based on the possibility that the question asker lived there - as at the top of the post

"Either overnight at AMS, or if you are London-based, arrange to go home mid-trip."

Lefly

This. Personally I also want to avoid any short overnight, but sometimes there seems to be no alternative working out. Of course, booking well in advance, one can always count on AA schedule changes

RB211

Edit: You are correct - misread the original question post. Apologies!

rb211.

tenn_ace

I’ll take a long sauna + shower after a transcon and a TATL 😉 (if the Platinum lounge is opened by that time). PS. Would have been more fun though if they still had a sauna complex like before the refurbishment. Missed it on my prepandemic trips via HEL

ISTFlyer

I would agree with this as the mileage maximization of the SOF-West Coast and the AGP-West Coast fare were probably written more than 50 times in this thread and/or the 2020 thread and people still come with shorter options with fewer layovers resulting in fewer TP's which looks that the shorter itinerary could satisfy the needs of those people.

LancashireFlyer

I did T7 to T8 on the 20th at JFK with HBO.

Luckily I wasn't on a tight connection, because although there was no queues from getting off the plane to passport control, there was a problem scanning my passport. They couldn't match my biometrics on the camera to the passport scan! Despite me previously being in the US in 2019 and 2020 respectively. Got taken into a side room, questioned on my travel plans, I then got taken to a different passport scanning machine and the camera suddenly worked! That cost me about 15 mins. The transfer to T8 was quick enough, but when I got to T8, after my boarding pass was scanned the queue for the TSA bag scan took about 30 mins as they only had one scanner open, and after 15 mins of waiting then they decided to open a second one up, which only benefitted those who had joined the queue further back. From the timestamps on messages to my wife, it took me 55 mins from walking off the plane to getting into T8

PxC

Someone always manages to suggest me in a better direction on here so any input much appreciated!
I need to be in Vegas in June. I'm a little tempted to book this, but some quick deal usually pops up free of 90/180 day booking restrictions at some point. Having to book separate travel to LAS from LAX is far from ideal, but there's a decent price difference.


I would edit the last leg so it goes from Gatwick so I could skip it.
A couple of questions if anyone would be so kind...
1. Are all the NYC-LAX sharklets flat beds?
2. Is 2:30 on the way out and 2hrs coming back ok for the connect in NYC? I'm aware it's not a usual transit.
3. Is MAD possible as a B2B?
4. On the Matrix is there any benefit to paying the little bit extra and clicking the 'BA' price to get BA codes etc?
5. I have actually found a £1.5k fare for MAD-LHR-NYC-LAS, but when I try to add LAX before Vegas then Matrix comes back with no results. Any idea why? Even LHR-NYC-LAX-LAS comes back with no results.
Thanks

FlightDetective

1. Yes, Sharklets denotes the three class Airbus A321T at American Airlines. I also believe all flights JFK-LAX on AA use that aircraft pretty much exclusively, so you're good to go there.

2. Yes, should be plenty of time to connect.

I'll leave the remaining answers to others, but the B2B thread will have the info on your MAD B2B question

efincomputer

Outbound you've got bags of time with 2:30 - you'll be arriving in to the same terminal, so plenty of time to go and enjoy the flagship lounge.

On the way back, you'll be connecting domestically, so it should be simpler, but you'll need to transfer from T8 to T7 and clear security, so you should have plenty of time, but I wouldn't hang around.

Deckter

4. One benefit of having all flights with BA numbers is that you‘ll be able to book it on the BA website via Powertools. And if i‘m not mistaken, more avios.

Komodromou

Can anyone help me find a run EX NY to ORD please? Best I can come up with in feb is EWR-CLT-ORD RT. £325 I'm sure I can add in another leg giving me that golden 240 tier points any help that would be great

Nephoi

any specific dates?

Komodromou

Ideally, the end of February but can be any time in the month honesty Thanks