RIC to LAX, multiple questions
Jun 20, 2014 | 9:16 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 2
RIC to LAX, multiple questions
Hello all,
Mods - Feel free to move the thread if I'm in the wrong spot. I'm planning a July trip to California. I'd like to fly my son out for a long weekend in LA. My questions are as follows:
1. How can I book our return flights so we're on the same itinerary? He'll fly out alone, but I want to make sure we're linked for the return trip in case there are any issues. Should I work through an agent, can an airline link if purchased separately?
2. Any thoughts on a red-eye back? This would give us an extra day, but I'm not sure on the best way to recover and not be a slug for the following week.
Thanks all,
Todd
Mods - Feel free to move the thread if I'm in the wrong spot. I'm planning a July trip to California. I'd like to fly my son out for a long weekend in LA. My questions are as follows:
1. How can I book our return flights so we're on the same itinerary? He'll fly out alone, but I want to make sure we're linked for the return trip in case there are any issues. Should I work through an agent, can an airline link if purchased separately?
2. Any thoughts on a red-eye back? This would give us an extra day, but I'm not sure on the best way to recover and not be a slug for the following week.
Thanks all,
Todd
Jun 20, 2014 | 9:23 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: BA Gold, QF WP
Posts: 12,551
You can't link bookings other than having the agent put a note in, which won't really do much. As you'll be travelling together on the way back, if there are any issues you will be together so can sort it out.
Jun 20, 2014 | 10:02 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Santa Cruz, CA USA
Programs: AA, UA, WN, HH, Marriott
Posts: 7,293
I agree with nux that one cannot technically link two reservation records. Only an agent can put a note in both records that people are traveling together.
However, there is another option. You can each buy one-way tickets. You would buy separate one way tickets for the outbound and then book both of you in the same reservation for a 1-way ticket on the return. Often, the fare for 1-way tickets is not more expensive than a roundtrip. This is always true on Southwest Airlines and usually on any other airlines that compete with Southwest on a given route.
As far as a redeye, that is a matter of personal preference. I don't like them, as I don't sleep well on planes and am exhausted for two days after the flight, but others are fine with them. Southwest Airlines does not offer redeyes.
However, there is another option. You can each buy one-way tickets. You would buy separate one way tickets for the outbound and then book both of you in the same reservation for a 1-way ticket on the return. Often, the fare for 1-way tickets is not more expensive than a roundtrip. This is always true on Southwest Airlines and usually on any other airlines that compete with Southwest on a given route.
As far as a redeye, that is a matter of personal preference. I don't like them, as I don't sleep well on planes and am exhausted for two days after the flight, but others are fine with them. Southwest Airlines does not offer redeyes.
Jun 23, 2014 | 5:29 am
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 104
I'm also based in RIC. If there was a direct red-eye back here, I might consider it, but the connection makes it pretty rough. The eastbound red-eyes just don't allow for enough sleep time (or at least that was my experience SLC-ATL, with connection to RIC). I can't imagine the other options are longer by enough to get acceptable sleep, especially with kiddo.
Jun 23, 2014 | 7:14 am
#5
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,253
There is no value in having your son on the same PNR and a # of good reasons for not booking one-ways. The least of these is that if you have to cancel the trip for any reason, you will pay two fees to do that, rather than one. On the other hand, if you are physically flying together on one or two PNR's, it won't make a difference.