Last edit by: Nephoi
DO STATUS: DO #1 SEATTLE/EVERETT & DO #2 LOS ANGELES BOOKABLE
Please add your usernames below if you are planning or considering to join the DO.
If you want to remain anonymous, please send me ( ISTFlyer ) a PM and I would add you in the list. Unless, you specifically request me to add you in to the list with your username, I would only mention you as Anonymous member.
Organizing Committee:
ISTFlyer
Nephoi
Members Planning to Join:
PGberkshire
Vintagepilot
flyingroundtheworld
midvid
wilsnunn
Efincomputer
Tocsin
Lenis
AlphaXray
Cymro
Reetmafreen
Simon Schus
camdentown
HPN-HRL
shl +1
nh1980
Total Number of People Planning to Join: something around 25
Please add your usernames below if you are planning or considering to join the DO.
If you want to remain anonymous, please send me ( ISTFlyer ) a PM and I would add you in the list. Unless, you specifically request me to add you in to the list with your username, I would only mention you as Anonymous member.
Organizing Committee:
ISTFlyer
Nephoi
Members Planning to Join:
PGberkshire
Vintagepilot
flyingroundtheworld
midvid
wilsnunn
Efincomputer
Tocsin
Lenis
AlphaXray
Cymro
Reetmafreen
Simon Schus
camdentown
HPN-HRL
shl +1
nh1980
Total Number of People Planning to Join: something around 25
DO: SOF-USA West Coast TP Run July-August 2022
#166
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Unio Europaea
Programs: BA GGL, AS, Hertz Cirque Présidentielle
Posts: 1,445
That decision essentially comes down to comfort and what's doable on an eastbound return to Europe. A departure from LAX/SFO/SEA with one 40 TP leg (if assuming that TPs are to be maximised) and a same day overnight TATL crossing essentially means leaving 5-7 AM in the morning from the West Coast. An overnight stay of course makes it possible to depart later, enjoy any lounge(s) or just otherwise select any flights more broadly. I suspect you'd get most appreciation from the majority of participants by doing SEA-SFO/LAX-JFK-LHR on the return, if it's from SEA. For a Bay Area DO, the tactic would probably be SFO-LAX-JFK-LHR. That would then include AA Flagship Business and JFK T7 CCR.
However I still underscore my original comment regarding I(ndia) class availability on those AA Flagship Business services with convenient schedules and how that will be an inventory availability issue for a large group. Especially now since we seem to be over 50 and just spilitting that theoretically 50/50 makes the groups large. That means in reality only a handful will make it onto the same flight, which in any case will cause scattering. Based on that, my personal suggestion is prioritising the westbound travel for both DOs.
Why? There's more capacity on the TATL widebody flights and they're frequent, especially on LHR-JFK. And there's also a multitude to BOS and MIA, from where AA Flagship Business can be done. Thus even with 2-3 flights, participants would be able to arrive at a layover gathering/event in a quite timely manner. The DO destination would then probably be reached in multiple clusters and within a slightly larger timeframe, but on the same day. Of course skipping any "intraline event" gives more flexibility, but I had the impression a layover event of some sorts was wanted.
The I(ndia) class availability for a tight eastbound timing is much more tricky with such large groups, if there would be e.g. a TWA Hotel meet-up on the inbound. But of course it could be an extra event for those wanting to do the TWA Hotel. Either way, what I wanted to convey with my aforementioned commentary was that I'd give priority for the outbound journey, in case a midway get-together is underscored in the plan.
I personally have been pondering finally in 2022 trying out the daytime eastbound TATL by BA from BOS or by AA from ORD, since I've already done the one from JFK. So I personally might route and time my own return onto a daytime return. And like I've previously said, I'm open to having others join me on any likely alternative routing, since there's going to be capacity constraints in both directions. Unless we book D(elta) class tickets like the Big Boys do.
Last edited by Flying Yazata; Aug 1, 2021 at 8:36 am Reason: Of course east, not west.
#167
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BER
Programs: BAEC GGL/GfL, Lufthansa SEN, Hilton Diamond, misc other stuff
Posts: 1,374
I absolutely agree with what Flying Yazata wrote. West Coast to Europe I prefer to leave early, even if that means a 6-7AM hop to LAX/SFO to get onto the transcon flight. Esp with the larger group there would be multiple West Coast to JFK party flights due to inventory restrictions. The JFK CCR or T7 F lounge could be a nice place to regroup and have dinner before the short hop across the Atlantic.
For the westbound there will hopefully be a large bank of ex-LHR flights that would connect to for instance LAX and SFO. I don't mind flying via JFK, BOS, MIA or even PHL (if there's longhaul equipment).
Realistically there will be some missed connections when tagging on a LAX-SJC/PHX/LAS/SEA segment at the end of a long day. Personally I prefer to overnight in LAX, sleep in and take the last flight the next morning/noon. Event-wise the first group event would have to take this into account.
For the westbound there will hopefully be a large bank of ex-LHR flights that would connect to for instance LAX and SFO. I don't mind flying via JFK, BOS, MIA or even PHL (if there's longhaul equipment).
Realistically there will be some missed connections when tagging on a LAX-SJC/PHX/LAS/SEA segment at the end of a long day. Personally I prefer to overnight in LAX, sleep in and take the last flight the next morning/noon. Event-wise the first group event would have to take this into account.
#168
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,186
Thank you both for your suggestions.
I'll take a deeper look in the upcoming hours and respond back.
I'll take a deeper look in the upcoming hours and respond back.
#169
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Unio Europaea
Programs: BA GGL, AS, Hertz Cirque Présidentielle
Posts: 1,445
The likelihood of the booking process to result in a working itinerary for as many as possible to attend any program in e.g. NYC or MIA, is greater from Europe to the US, since there's more business class seats, ample OW flights (not just from LHR) and critical I(ndia) class availability. Let's say somebody can't book within 24-48 hrs of T-330 opening up. For a person like that, there's at least an adequate chance of making it to NYC/MIA/BOS by e.g. AA from CDG or IB from MAD, despite not being booked as per the main itinerary.
Onwards from the East Coast to the West Coast there's probably a bigger timeframe for when one may arrive and yet still be on time for the DO event program, so I(ndia) class availability won't be a huge issue and one can also use other routes to make it there from any halfway event on the East Coast. I assume at least that any Seattle, WA or Bay Area program has at least 4-6 hrs spare time, before any roll call? Otherwise there will be issues reaching there JIT en masse.
There simply isn't enough AA Flagship Business services SFO/LAX-JFK with I(ndia) class discounted C seats, since these prime routes attract *cough* actual, properly paying passengers. Inventory on the flights is often 1-3 seats and on prime days/departures a round zero. I'm just being a realist here, since I understand why people like lie-flat, but revenue management kicks in here. So thus I suggested that it's best to have any midway rendezvous on the westbound journey to America, since then a larger portion of us may actually arrive there on time, within a 2-6 hr timeframe.
Speaking of an overnight hop to LON: if G-EUNA would still be in existance (RIP 2020), BA2 would probably be filled with FT'ers that night.
For the record: AA Flagship Business (these are 3-class A321 and 777-300ER services) and Business (these are 777-200ER services, currently none are scheduled as 787-8/9) cabins are operated on the following crosscontinental 140 TP routes in 2022 as so far published in the GDS:
JFK-LAX/SFO/SNA (I always keep forgetting the once daily John Wayne Airport... I mean Santa Ana... Erm, Orange County or whatever is now the name.)
MIA-LAX
None are scheduled to/from PHL currently.
Last edited by Flying Yazata; Aug 1, 2021 at 9:48 am
#170
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 907
We are considering all options, it would take time until we come on a conclusion.
There isn't any lounge in PAE but that wouldn't be an issue when arriving at PAE. ( BAEC elites don't have arrival lounge access when flying a US domestic flight )
When departing PAE, yes, there is no lounge but the advantages of a small airport is that you could arrive later so you could maximize your time outside or maximize your sleep ( if it's a morning flight ).
Every small detail is taken into consideration and we are still working on the schedules.
There isn't any lounge in PAE but that wouldn't be an issue when arriving at PAE. ( BAEC elites don't have arrival lounge access when flying a US domestic flight )
When departing PAE, yes, there is no lounge but the advantages of a small airport is that you could arrive later so you could maximize your time outside or maximize your sleep ( if it's a morning flight ).
Every small detail is taken into consideration and we are still working on the schedules.
I have never tried accessing a third party lounge in the USA on arrival.
#171
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,186
really re: no arrivals lounge access? I use Admirals Club lounges all the time as arrivals lounges whilst waiting for a pick up, to watch the a big sporting event (e.g., a game in the Euros, or last set in the tennis), or even waiting for bags in some cases (can track progress in the AA app, and in one case the Admirals Club just phoned down and asked for my bags to picked up and put aside whilst I watched something). The only time I had trouble was at the Flagship in LAX, but other than that I’ve had no trouble with Flagship or Admirals Clubs for arrivals.
I have never tried accessing a third party lounge in the USA on arrival.
I have never tried accessing a third party lounge in the USA on arrival.
For an American Airlines Admirals Club lounge member who pays for an annual membership or someone who purchases a day pass, there is Admirals Club access on arrival.
#172
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 907
for DCA, it is almost a weekly thing on arrival!
#173
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,186
So, Flying Yazata , as you mentioned, we are planning to put a mid-way meeting point in the westbound as there would be people from the US joining us for only the US parts. Once this city is set ( probably would be New York based on our statistics ) I am not planning to change it. I can’t say Philadelphia or Boston and then change it to New York or something similar at a later stage so it would be precise from the beginning. There would be others who would book other US domestic fares and award tickets just for the events and meet-ups rather than focusing on Tier Points.
By the way, there aren’t any wide-body flights from PHL and as the S22 schedule for US domestic is still a placeholder, we are not considering PHL to be in the main itinerary. There is no guarantee that there would be a PHL-LAX flight on a wide-body next summer.
El_Duderito , for the eastbound, you are of course welcome to leave on Monday night and stay that night at an airport hotel in LAX. We are still working on the schedule thus I can’t comment if there would be an event on Monday evening but we have others that do not like waking up early so you wouldn’t be alone in your journey.
For your last post, Flying Yazata , I’ll agree with your points; we would be creating a schedule that has alternatives as you mentioned thus we wouldn’t have problems on alternative itineraries. I have dedicated a lot of time do those fare and scheduling analysis’s so we are not likely to run out of alternative schedules. That’s why we’ll offer free-of-charge ITA Matrix help sessions so that people could create alternative itineraries.
By the way, there aren’t any wide-body flights from PHL and as the S22 schedule for US domestic is still a placeholder, we are not considering PHL to be in the main itinerary. There is no guarantee that there would be a PHL-LAX flight on a wide-body next summer.
El_Duderito , for the eastbound, you are of course welcome to leave on Monday night and stay that night at an airport hotel in LAX. We are still working on the schedule thus I can’t comment if there would be an event on Monday evening but we have others that do not like waking up early so you wouldn’t be alone in your journey.
For your last post, Flying Yazata , I’ll agree with your points; we would be creating a schedule that has alternatives as you mentioned thus we wouldn’t have problems on alternative itineraries. I have dedicated a lot of time do those fare and scheduling analysis’s so we are not likely to run out of alternative schedules. That’s why we’ll offer free-of-charge ITA Matrix help sessions so that people could create alternative itineraries.
#175
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: BER
Programs: BA GGL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,843
- You booked from 3 March 2020 onwards for travel due to be completed by 31 August 2022"
that takes a lot of pressure of me
#176
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: London
Posts: 56
I expect to be in BG _around_ the time of the DO, so my plan would be :
* LHR-SOF at some point, join up for the do
* on the SOF-LHR leg hope it involves an overnight so I can drop luggage aka laundry-mountain in London and pickup clothes etc needed on the TP run
* partake of (some of) the flights to/in the US, possibly diverging for some F&F/work meetings (MIA would be dead handy for a mini tp run to HOU via CLT etc),
* attempt to join back up before the return
* land back at LHR and dash into/out of own to swap DO luggage for "need it in BG and will have 32KGx3 luggage allowance so may as well carry 100kg of stuff" to SOF
and then the following weekend head back to London to recover
Much as I like and use Wizz, they really only make sense for HBO trips - Luton is a costly time-consuming nightmare for me when I can just get a tube to Heathrow, add on a case and a carryon, and the sub £10 saving over a BA price is just not worth the hours/struggle each way to the airport plus the landing at 3am issue
Been happy to BA out, Wizz back a few times, although it was only a £53 price difference between the Wizz HBO and the BA Business - even without a lounge at SOF that was worth it for the extra 60TPs and the catering on the plane IMHO - just waiting on my Day2 PCR all clear now
* LHR-SOF at some point, join up for the do
* on the SOF-LHR leg hope it involves an overnight so I can drop luggage aka laundry-mountain in London and pickup clothes etc needed on the TP run
* partake of (some of) the flights to/in the US, possibly diverging for some F&F/work meetings (MIA would be dead handy for a mini tp run to HOU via CLT etc),
* attempt to join back up before the return
* land back at LHR and dash into/out of own to swap DO luggage for "need it in BG and will have 32KGx3 luggage allowance so may as well carry 100kg of stuff" to SOF
and then the following weekend head back to London to recover
Much as I like and use Wizz, they really only make sense for HBO trips - Luton is a costly time-consuming nightmare for me when I can just get a tube to Heathrow, add on a case and a carryon, and the sub £10 saving over a BA price is just not worth the hours/struggle each way to the airport plus the landing at 3am issue
Been happy to BA out, Wizz back a few times, although it was only a £53 price difference between the Wizz HBO and the BA Business - even without a lounge at SOF that was worth it for the extra 60TPs and the catering on the plane IMHO - just waiting on my Day2 PCR all clear now
#178
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC, Eurostar
Posts: 3,293
It's kind of the same thing except it's someplace other than London, we travel together in J or above, BA or other OW airlines bring the nibbles and bubbles, and we bring our status cards
#179
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Unio Europaea
Programs: BA GGL, AS, Hertz Cirque Présidentielle
Posts: 1,445
As I've previously pointed out, we're going to need to use a multitude of flights, so no need to worry about the timings of one specific TATL flight on the inbound/outbound for any pitstops in good ol' Londinium.
#180
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,186
I expect to be in BG _around_ the time of the DO, so my plan would be :
* LHR-SOF at some point, join up for the do
* on the SOF-LHR leg hope it involves an overnight so I can drop luggage aka laundry-mountain in London and pickup clothes etc needed on the TP run
* partake of (some of) the flights to/in the US, possibly diverging for some F&F/work meetings (MIA would be dead handy for a mini tp run to HOU via CLT etc),
* attempt to join back up before the return
* land back at LHR and dash into/out of own to swap DO luggage for "need it in BG and will have 32KGx3 luggage allowance so may as well carry 100kg of stuff" to SOF
and then the following weekend head back to London to recover
Much as I like and use Wizz, they really only make sense for HBO trips - Luton is a costly time-consuming nightmare for me when I can just get a tube to Heathrow, add on a case and a carryon, and the sub £10 saving over a BA price is just not worth the hours/struggle each way to the airport plus the landing at 3am issue
Been happy to BA out, Wizz back a few times, although it was only a £53 price difference between the Wizz HBO and the BA Business - even without a lounge at SOF that was worth it for the extra 60TPs and the catering on the plane IMHO - just waiting on my Day2 PCR all clear now
* LHR-SOF at some point, join up for the do
* on the SOF-LHR leg hope it involves an overnight so I can drop luggage aka laundry-mountain in London and pickup clothes etc needed on the TP run
* partake of (some of) the flights to/in the US, possibly diverging for some F&F/work meetings (MIA would be dead handy for a mini tp run to HOU via CLT etc),
* attempt to join back up before the return
* land back at LHR and dash into/out of own to swap DO luggage for "need it in BG and will have 32KGx3 luggage allowance so may as well carry 100kg of stuff" to SOF
and then the following weekend head back to London to recover
Much as I like and use Wizz, they really only make sense for HBO trips - Luton is a costly time-consuming nightmare for me when I can just get a tube to Heathrow, add on a case and a carryon, and the sub £10 saving over a BA price is just not worth the hours/struggle each way to the airport plus the landing at 3am issue
Been happy to BA out, Wizz back a few times, although it was only a £53 price difference between the Wizz HBO and the BA Business - even without a lounge at SOF that was worth it for the extra 60TPs and the catering on the plane IMHO - just waiting on my Day2 PCR all clear now
Also BA doesn't operate flights to SOF on Tuesday and Thursday during the S22 season as it looks.