JFK (NYCA) <--> SFO monthly - what Airline/Alliance if starting from scratch
#31
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OP has specifically mentioned "Good Lounge" without mentioning seat comfort. Even all the U.S. airline lounges suck, I would interpret that OP would prefer lounge access over comfort.
#32
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There's a mix of discussion on J and Y, although I'm not really sure it makes a huge difference in my view. But assuming OPM (and hopefully J), to me this seems like an obvious *A play since they are the only ones with nonstops on all of the routes you frequent. Thus sticking to *A will mean maximum FF accruals while always having the convenience of nonstop (and frankly I think UA to SFO, AC to YVR, and NZ to AKL will also be by and large the most comfortable options). Unless you have some issue with EWR (which you shouldn't in the general case, but obviously if you're starting from Jamaica or similar it might be a different story), I really don't see how one could argue for any other move.
#33
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OP said upthread it's a mix of OPM and own money, and mostly Y with some PE. Also, he's going to/from Brooklyn so EWR is less than ideal.
But I agree if traveling somewhere more convenient to EWR and in J on OPM, UA/* is probably the best option.
But I agree if traveling somewhere more convenient to EWR and in J on OPM, UA/* is probably the best option.
#34
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Tom911 presents it well.
As someone who travels SFO/NYC from time to time, I can tell you which airlines have the best rides, but that's all about "up front" and that doesn't apply to you, unless you have a reasonable chance of sitting there. And the only one where you will with mid-tier status is AS. Once MVPG, you'll also receive some upgrade products that you can use on lower (but not the lowest) fares at time of booking - this is in addition to the regular complimentary upgrade scheme. For the time being, and hopefully for quite some time to come, AS gives you full earning on all fares, has a pleasant (although not great in the F&B department) JFK lounge, uses a pleasant SFO terminal (probably one of the nicest in the USA) and should have a lounge open late this year, and generally has pleasant crews.
As someone who travels SFO/NYC from time to time, I can tell you which airlines have the best rides, but that's all about "up front" and that doesn't apply to you, unless you have a reasonable chance of sitting there. And the only one where you will with mid-tier status is AS. Once MVPG, you'll also receive some upgrade products that you can use on lower (but not the lowest) fares at time of booking - this is in addition to the regular complimentary upgrade scheme. For the time being, and hopefully for quite some time to come, AS gives you full earning on all fares, has a pleasant (although not great in the F&B department) JFK lounge, uses a pleasant SFO terminal (probably one of the nicest in the USA) and should have a lounge open late this year, and generally has pleasant crews.
#36
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If you want lounge access, and won't have the necessary elite status to get it, consider getting a credit card that offers Priority Pass lounge access. The AS lounge in JFK T-7 is a Priority Pass lounge; Bobby Van's Steakhouse in AA's T-8 at JFK is a participating Priority Pass restaurant ($28 credit per visit). Note that the Amex Platinum card no longer provides access to PP restaurants, only PP lounges. But the Chase Sapphire Reserve card still provides access to both, as does the U.S.Bank Altitude Reserve card; the latter, however, limits you to four PP visits per year.
#37
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You're one of thousands of reasons why UA closing JFK was stupid. If Alaska knows how to fly one flight per day to a station, then UA should learn how to do it. UA should have kept JFK open even if only for a few LAX and SFO flights. The next step at growth might have been a IAH or DEN flight. ORD is tough because one flight is not enough unless they want only Midwest-ORD-JFK am flights and JFK-ORD-Midwest late afternoon flights.
#38
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You're one of thousands of reasons why UA closing JFK was stupid. If Alaska knows how to fly one flight per day to a station, then UA should learn how to do it. UA should have kept JFK open even if only for a few LAX and SFO flights. The next step at growth might have been a IAH or DEN flight. ORD is tough because one flight is not enough unless they want only Midwest-ORD-JFK am flights and JFK-ORD-Midwest late afternoon flights.
Dumb question: I assume LGA runway too short for these planes? Seems like the farthest distance for LGA flights is ~ Miami.
Last edited by willstew; Feb 27, 2020 at 12:16 pm
#39
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Totally, if UA was out of JFK I wouldn't have even made this post! EWR is great if you're in Manhattan already / doing reg. business travel, but JFK more easily services so many more people in BK/Queens via MTA & ride-share, etc.
Dumb question: I assume LGA runway too short for these planes? Seems like the farthest distance for LGA flights is ~ Miami.
Dumb question: I assume LGA runway too short for these planes? Seems like the farthest distance for LGA flights is ~ Miami.
LGA had a lot of DC-10 service back in the day, and DL has operated 767s in and out of LGA.
#40
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I'm sure airlines have thought about LGA-LAX on Saturdays but decided against it.
There's LGA-IAH, which is one of the farthest. DEN is an exception to the regulations and is permitted because of grandfathering.
I have been on a Delta Lockheed L1011 and an American Airlines DC-10 at LGA. They stopped using those big planes years ago.
There's LGA-IAH, which is one of the farthest. DEN is an exception to the regulations and is permitted because of grandfathering.
I have been on a Delta Lockheed L1011 and an American Airlines DC-10 at LGA. They stopped using those big planes years ago.
#41
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I'm sure airlines have thought about LGA-LAX on Saturdays but decided against it.
There's LGA-IAH, which is one of the farthest. DEN is an exception to the regulations and is permitted because of grandfathering.
I have been on a Delta Lockheed L1011 and an American Airlines DC-10 at LGA. They stopped using those big planes years ago.
There's LGA-IAH, which is one of the farthest. DEN is an exception to the regulations and is permitted because of grandfathering.
I have been on a Delta Lockheed L1011 and an American Airlines DC-10 at LGA. They stopped using those big planes years ago.
AA used to do seasonal LGA-EGE (Vail, CO) on Saturdays to supplement their daily EWR-EGE, which was subsequently moved to JFK. Obviously EGE is not a business-dependent route (and probably yields high anyway), and back in the day most lodging was Saturday-to-Saturday so it worked well.
But anyway, here's the acceptable radius. I think IAH is actually the farthest (marginally farther than DFW), other than DEN of course; there aren't really even any cities in eastern Kansas, Nebraska, or N/S Dakota which are closer to the perimeter. Looks like parts of the Dom. Repub. are close to the perimeter, but (1) I'm not sure if any key cities are within it, and (2) they'd need a US CBP preclearance facility anyway.
#42
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Various airlines have dabbled in longer Saturday routes, I think maybe when WN entered they were doing LGA-LAX? Someone was. But I guess the yields just aren't there on Saturdays.
AA used to do seasonal LGA-EGE (Vail, CO) on Saturdays to supplement their daily EWR-EGE, which was subsequently moved to JFK. Obviously EGE is not a business-dependent route (and probably yields high anyway), and back in the day most lodging was Saturday-to-Saturday so it worked well.
But anyway, here's the acceptable radius. I think IAH is actually the farthest (marginally farther than DFW), other than DEN of course; there aren't really even any cities in eastern Kansas, Nebraska, or N/S Dakota which are closer to the perimeter. Looks like parts of the Dom. Repub. are close to the perimeter, but (1) I'm not sure if any key cities are within it, and (2) they'd need a US CBP preclearance facility anyway.
AA used to do seasonal LGA-EGE (Vail, CO) on Saturdays to supplement their daily EWR-EGE, which was subsequently moved to JFK. Obviously EGE is not a business-dependent route (and probably yields high anyway), and back in the day most lodging was Saturday-to-Saturday so it worked well.
But anyway, here's the acceptable radius. I think IAH is actually the farthest (marginally farther than DFW), other than DEN of course; there aren't really even any cities in eastern Kansas, Nebraska, or N/S Dakota which are closer to the perimeter. Looks like parts of the Dom. Repub. are close to the perimeter, but (1) I'm not sure if any key cities are within it, and (2) they'd need a US CBP preclearance facility anyway.
David