Sked Change...now JFK instead of ATL for TATL
Sep 23, 2009, 9:42 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: IND
Programs: UA Plat,DL PM,HH Diamond
Posts: 597
Sked Change...now JFK instead of ATL for TATL
Should I ask to be re-routed through ATL (even if it presents a 5:40 layover?) or stick with a SBN-DTW-JFK-MAD routing instead of SBN-ATL-MAD. (Our original connection was a 1-stop through ATL)
I'm not terribly opposed to a longer layover, we're SC members (with a 2 year old), and 5:40 is long enough to get him to nap somewhere at least.
I've never transited JFK for any reason. It's always been EWR in the CO days, or DTW for TATL, and I've not heard good things, let alone about a NW-DL xfer.
Thoughts?
I'm not terribly opposed to a longer layover, we're SC members (with a 2 year old), and 5:40 is long enough to get him to nap somewhere at least.
I've never transited JFK for any reason. It's always been EWR in the CO days, or DTW for TATL, and I've not heard good things, let alone about a NW-DL xfer.
Thoughts?
Sep 23, 2009, 10:11 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: SLC
Programs: DL DM, UA, IC Royal Amb, HH Diamond, SPG Plat, Avis First
Posts: 100
+1. Personally, I avoid JFK for TATL at all costs now, even if it means not being able to use PMUs. The most disheartening thing is leaving the gate and having the pilot come on the intercom saying, "Folks, we're number 238 for departure. We hope to be off the ground in about 3 hours. Please keep your seat belts fastened." Okay, I'm exaggerating, but not by much.
Sep 23, 2009, 10:12 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: ORF
Programs: DL FO; > 6'8" FF club
Posts: 96
Yeah ATL ftw..EWR on CO is much better than DL @ JFK.. I would try my hardest never to connect through JFK.. Although that is the one place Elite Bag tags have worked for me..And the Sky clubs...I would almost prefer being out with the masses- crowded, no food around dinner, and I had to wait in line to get half a drink..
Sep 23, 2009, 10:32 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: New York City
Programs: SkyMiles PM, Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum
Posts: 800
Definitely go through ATL
A long layover with the relative comfort of all the SkyClubs at ATL sounds a lot better than trekking through an extra airport, especially when that airport is JFK. Would it even save you much time to go through DTW and JFK?
Sep 24, 2009, 1:57 am
#8
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Louisville, KY, US
Programs: QF Plat - OW EMD | DL Gold / Starwood Gold
Posts: 6,106
Should I ask to be re-routed through ATL (even if it presents a 5:40 layover?) or stick with a SBN-DTW-JFK-MAD routing instead of SBN-ATL-MAD. (Our original connection was a 1-stop through ATL)
I'm not terribly opposed to a longer layover, we're SC members (with a 2 year old), and 5:40 is long enough to get him to nap somewhere at least.
I've never transited JFK for any reason. It's always been EWR in the CO days, or DTW for TATL, and I've not heard good things, let alone about a NW-DL xfer.
Thoughts?
I'm not terribly opposed to a longer layover, we're SC members (with a 2 year old), and 5:40 is long enough to get him to nap somewhere at least.
I've never transited JFK for any reason. It's always been EWR in the CO days, or DTW for TATL, and I've not heard good things, let alone about a NW-DL xfer.
Thoughts?
Also look at SBN-DTW-AMS-MAD -- while it is two connections, if you could find a schedule with reasonable connection times, I wouldn't rule it out vs almost 6 hours in ATL.
I don't know what the latest with CVG-AMS is, but if CVG-AMS is still running SBN-CVG-AMS-MAD could be another alternative. You can also replace CDG with AMS, but AMS transfers are so much easier than CDG.
Prior to the NW/DL tie-up, SDF-DTW-AMS-BCN was my typical routing for Barcelona.
If you want the one stop and don't mind the long connection, then ATL is your best bet.
Sep 24, 2009, 2:46 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 1,212
No brainer. ATL. Esp with the 2 year old. 5 hrs 40 isn't that bad, and certainly much better than running through JFK with a 2 year old trying to catch your flight to Spain because your inbound was late. You have the club membership. I'd rather be there for a few hours than have to worry about two connections and my luggage.
Sep 24, 2009, 7:23 am
#10
Moderator: GLBT Travelers & Hyatt Gold Passport
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: CVG
Posts: 15,300
I'd take ATL over JFK anyday even with a long layover - JFK is on my avoid if at all possible list.
Sep 24, 2009, 7:58 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,092
I can't imagine that the longer layover in ATL will be that much longer than the extra flight to get to JFK. Plus, since you are SC members, the E lounge (former BizElite) is quite nice and has pretty good food (as far as US lounges go). Plus, there's nothing worse than pulling back at JFK and having to wait 2 hours to take off (yes, it happened to me last time).
Sep 24, 2009, 8:27 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: IND
Programs: UA Plat,DL PM,HH Diamond
Posts: 597
SMS accommodated us without a problem. This has been an itinerary laden with schedule changes, but with 3 weeks to go, I'm glad to have something concrete.
I've been in the E-SC (Former Biz-E), and don't mind hanging out in the SC for an hour or 2, but I know that I've garnered looks with our younger son in clubs before, so I don't want to disrupt the sanctity.
Either way, we all enjoy airports, and are more than happy to fill the time, and not risk losing bags on the extra connection.
I've been in the E-SC (Former Biz-E), and don't mind hanging out in the SC for an hour or 2, but I know that I've garnered looks with our younger son in clubs before, so I don't want to disrupt the sanctity.
Either way, we all enjoy airports, and are more than happy to fill the time, and not risk losing bags on the extra connection.
Sep 24, 2009, 2:25 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Up in the Air
Programs: DL MM; UA MM/1K
Posts: 613
- Use your SC privilege wisely: Ignore the looks if your son is quite and respect others when he becomes restless.
- I recomend you wear her/him out at Atlanta, keep them busy playing games during the layover. You want them to take the nap on the airplane.
Happy Travels
DLP
Sep 24, 2009, 2:59 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: IND
Programs: UA Plat,DL PM,HH Diamond
Posts: 597
A couple of pointers from someone who had to fly with toddlers for quite a few years:
- Use your SC privilege wisely: Ignore the looks if your son is quite and respect others when he becomes restless.
- I recomend you wear her/him out at Atlanta, keep them busy playing games during the layover. You want them to take the nap on the airplane.
Happy Travels
DLP
- Use your SC privilege wisely: Ignore the looks if your son is quite and respect others when he becomes restless.
- I recomend you wear her/him out at Atlanta, keep them busy playing games during the layover. You want them to take the nap on the airplane.
Happy Travels
DLP
He's well-traveled, but a layover is a layover. PDX is so wonderful with their family area, as is SLC. I'll have to see if ATL has one.
Sep 25, 2009, 1:32 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 664
+1 for ATL.
Cleaner airport, better amenities and food courts, better SCs (particularly the SCs in the E concourse). The E SC can have some nice food offerings from time to tme. As for food courts, I prefer the food court in E to the other food courts at the other concourses, YMMV.
Riding the underground tram w/ a 2 yr old from T to E (T/A/B/C/D/E; the DL concourses) can kill some time.
Cleaner airport, better amenities and food courts, better SCs (particularly the SCs in the E concourse). The E SC can have some nice food offerings from time to tme. As for food courts, I prefer the food court in E to the other food courts at the other concourses, YMMV.
Riding the underground tram w/ a 2 yr old from T to E (T/A/B/C/D/E; the DL concourses) can kill some time.