Howdy all,

I'm a new OW flyer, having been a *G on *A for some time now. I'm just starting, and have signed up for an AA PLT challenge, which will be complete very soon.

Here are my questions. On my outbound flight (BOS-LHR-EBB), I have a 13 hour layover in LHR. Rather than get a day room, I'm planning to head into the city. My BOS-LHR flight is AA, and my LHR-EBB flight is BA.

1. Can I check into my BA flight at the airport 13 hours early? (i.e. 7 a.m. for an 8 p.m. departure) I'd want to leave my checked bags, obviously.

2. Would I have to go to terminal 4, where my BA flight leaves, or can I check in for my BA flight in terminal 3 where my AA flight arrives?

3. What's the best shower option for arriving (terminal 3)? I gather if I pay for a one-day Admiral's Club, I'd be out of luck, since that's for departing (implied AA) only?

4. What's the best shower options for departing (terminal 4)?

5. Finally, on my return flight (EBB-LHR-BOS), I have a 1:50 layover. Is that enough time to (a) claim bags and (b) get from terminal 4 to terminal 3 and (c) check in for next flight?

Thanks OW folks. I'm looking forward to leaving *A behind.

SG

Is there a reason why you are not checking backs through from BOS? I would do it that way, and in that case 13 hours is fine. On the return 1:50 is OK for through bag check, with a slim chance that they might not make it, but I guess you're going home, so no big deal. Again you should be able to get both boarding cards at your starting point.

When it comes to showers it depends very much what class you are travelling in...

Yes, my BOS-LHR-BOS and LHR-EBB-LHR are two totally separate itineraries. My assumption is that checking bags through was not possible in that scenario.

Oh, and I'm in economy. I'm willing to pay for showers (since *@#$% AA won't match my *G status for two weeks while I'm getting my 10K qpoints).

Thanks for your help.

Maybe you'll be able to check your bags through, maybe not. I suspect the latter. All terminal have left luggage, not all have (public) showers.

In terms of checking bags at LHR, if that's what you have to do - it will be at T4. I'd suggest clear immigration/customs and head straight over to T4. If you can check in do (though I think you'll be told you're too early), otherwise head to the ground floor where left luggage is, and right next to that are the public showers. Then you can do your thing and head back in time to check in.

I don't see why not - I have done that on a number of occasions. If you can show the reservation confirmation at checkin then it should be perfectly possible to tag your bags through to the destination, even if they can't issue the second boarding pass.

To thru-check luggage onto flights from separate itineraries, you might be asked as well to provide BOTH the ticket number & and printed itinerary confirmation, as AA can't see BA PNR's (the former uses Sabre, the latter Amadeus).

Also, with respect to your challenge, please note: not all BA economy flights earn full miles on AA. All but the most expensive classes only earn 25% of the miles. The same goes for points.

Checkerboard

Thanks. As it turns out, I'm in WT Plus, so I'll get 1.5 q-points per mile, as I understand.

When I get to EBB, I'll have something like 9,400 q-points. AA blew off my request to comp me (temporarily) to gold as a partial status match, while I earn the challenge. Any chance they'd do something once I'm 95% done?

The BA arrivals lounges do not sell passes to allow entry. To enter you have to meet the eligability criteria

I would be v suprised if AA gave out Platinum before completion of the challenge. If you are keen to get Platinum early, then find a nice cheap flight to earn you the 600 point before you go or reroute to something like BOS-JFK-LHR ; this would also mean that you would earn a 4029 bonus ( approx ) on the LHR-EBB flight and of course give you business class check in and lounge access for your trip back

Dave

No, but Gold really doesn't get you much besides preferential checkin, 25% bonus, and 500 milers. There is no lounge access. You need to wait until Platinum, and then I wouldn't count on BA recognizing it without your card or maybe a printout.

An AA status card is gold when trying to access BA lounges. One can almost always count on being denied access without a PLT/EXP card.

I can confirm this as I see it often. BA will not let you in without a card. It does not matter that something else may be printed on your BP.

That's nice to know. Thanks.

Alternatively there are private shower facilities available at:

http://www.heathrowairport.com/porta...EMeeting+Rooms

good info...thanks for sharing...had no idea...