Apr 30, 2016, 12:36 pm
Last edit by: Server
OCTOBER 2016 UPDATE
LAX-JFK TRANSCONTINENTAL FLIGHTS:
1. Same day turns possible on the E-jets and morning 738s.
2. Bonuses now based on fare paid.
3. As of OCTOBER 2016, best fares are now around $1000. Fare tends to rise a few hundred for 2 pax. Fares can also occasionally rise for no discernible reason, but the price spikes have thus far proven to be temporary. Fares have the trend to drop during the year. Keep checking for fares in the $700-$800 ranges for best possible pricing.
4. Airport hotels with shuttles - Crowne Plaza Panama Airport & Riande Aeropuerto. The CP is slightly closer; the Riande is slightly nicer. The CP shuttle leaves the hotel every :00 and :30 and runs 24 hours but they seem to leave a few minutes early as it had left when I went down at 4:00AM on the dot. Also, note UberX charges a US$14 surcharge on top of the ~US$2 fare. CP has poor sound isolation, I could hear my neighbors on both sides including talking, crying baby etc. Had to wear earplugs to sleep.
5. Lounges:
Please refer to this thread for more detailed and accurate information on lounge access in general: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-airlines-aadvantage/1656378-help-desk-will-i-have-lounge-access-access-rules-2016-a.html
6. PTY Customs:
NOTE: LAX-JFK NO LONGER VALID FOR LOWEST FARES (effective OCT 2016)
If you want the transcon bonus, enter the search with a connection in JFK. (e.g. LAX-JFK,JFK-MIA,MIA-PTY,PTY-JFK,JFK-SFO.) You can play around from there to get the best deal. Some of the better deals do not start and end in the same city (e.g. start in LAX, end in SFO may be cheaper than start/end in LAX).
Also, it's possible on the outbound portion to time it so you have no more than a 60-minute layover at JFK or MIA (though note that some of these flights aren't available on weekends). While yes, JFK is notorious for delays, this rarely applies for inbound red-eye flights. Also, note that AA 28 below is sometimes "hidden" if you're looking on Google Flights inside a much more expensive trip; that does not necessarily mean, however, that you can't get it for one of the trips under $1,000 (in other words, try it out to see).
NOTE: LAX-JFK NO LONGER VALID FOR LOWEST FARES (effective OCT 2016)
Below is the shortest-possible outbound itinerary that has the LAX-JFK transcon on AA's A321T with flat-bed seats:
LAX-JFK on AA 28
10:45pm - 7:22am
JFK-MIA on AA 200
8:15am - 11:24am
(Note: AA has now switched all of the metal it used on this leg - on all JFK-MIA nonstops - to 757s instead of the 767s with international-style F & J seating.)***767 and 772 are back. Flight 200 is a 772**
MIA-PTY on AA 4434
12:33pm - 2:48pm
(Note: Even more distressingly, AA switched from using a 737 on this leg to an RJ, presumably because summer is off-peak season in Central America. The 6:05pm flight still uses a 737 if a full-size aircraft is a must.)
LAX-JFK TRANSCONTINENTAL FLIGHTS:
Recent fare rule inclusions, effective October 2016, now prevent any routing via JFK on the non-stop transcontinental A321T aircraft. Any future booking will demand a significantly higher fare to route on the non-stops via JFK. Unless the fare rules are modified and these clauses are removed (highly doubtful), the ability to fly on the transcons via JFK is a thing of the past.
IF THE FARE COMPONENT INCLUDES TRAVEL BETWEEN LAX AND NYC
THEN THAT TRAVEL MUST BE ON
ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
ANY AA FLIGHT OPERATED BY AA
BUT NOT ON AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A321 (SHARKLETS) AIRCRAFT.
AND
IF THE FARE COMPONENT INCLUDES TRAVEL BETWEEN SFO AND NYC
THEN THAT TRAVEL MUST BE ON
ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
ANY AA FLIGHT OPERATED BY AA
BUT NOT ON AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A321 (SHARKLETS) AIRCRAFT.
THEN THAT TRAVEL MUST BE ON
ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
ANY AA FLIGHT OPERATED BY AA
BUT NOT ON AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A321 (SHARKLETS) AIRCRAFT.
AND
IF THE FARE COMPONENT INCLUDES TRAVEL BETWEEN SFO AND NYC
THEN THAT TRAVEL MUST BE ON
ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
ANY AA FLIGHT OPERATED BY AA
BUT NOT ON AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A321 (SHARKLETS) AIRCRAFT.
1. Same day turns possible on the E-jets and morning 738s.
2. Bonuses now based on fare paid.
3. As of OCTOBER 2016, best fares are now around $1000. Fare tends to rise a few hundred for 2 pax. Fares can also occasionally rise for no discernible reason, but the price spikes have thus far proven to be temporary. Fares have the trend to drop during the year. Keep checking for fares in the $700-$800 ranges for best possible pricing.
4. Airport hotels with shuttles - Crowne Plaza Panama Airport & Riande Aeropuerto. The CP is slightly closer; the Riande is slightly nicer. The CP shuttle leaves the hotel every :00 and :30 and runs 24 hours but they seem to leave a few minutes early as it had left when I went down at 4:00AM on the dot. Also, note UberX charges a US$14 surcharge on top of the ~US$2 fare. CP has poor sound isolation, I could hear my neighbors on both sides including talking, crying baby etc. Had to wear earplugs to sleep.
5. Lounges:
Please refer to this thread for more detailed and accurate information on lounge access in general: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-airlines-aadvantage/1656378-help-desk-will-i-have-lounge-access-access-rules-2016-a.html
LAX AIRPORT
= When trying to gain oneworld J / QF F access based on status, it is simply departing/connecting/arriving at any point on same ticket to and from an eligible international destination. PTY is eligible and not excluded regardless of length.
= When trying to gain oneworld J / QF F access based on class of service disregarding status, it is the international long haul clause that applies. Therefore, no "oneworld/QF lounge" access for non-elites for trips to and from PTY unless booking transcons since PTY is under 5 hours. BUT AA doesn't enforce this in their own lounges so Admirals Club access is expected.
AA GOLDs(RUBYs)/NON-ELITES
Admirals Club access is granted regardless of routing as AA does not enforce international long haul rule. However, the oneworld J lounge does for Golds(rubys)/non-elites as they are aware the PTY flights are under 5 hours. Booking transcon flights in J/F gains access to the OWJ/QFF lounges.
<Transcon 3-class (JFK/MIA) in F = Admirals + Flagship + LAX oneworld J lounge + QF F Lounge LAX>
<Transcon 3-class (JFK/MIA) in J = Admirals + LAX oneworld J lounge>
<Non-Transcon F (2-class) + PTY = Technically NONE (PTY under 5 hours therefore class of service rule applies) BUT AA still opens Admirals Club doors to all customers because they dont enforce the long-haul rule>
AA PLATINUMs
Platinums gain access to all AC/Business lounges regardless of routing due to flying to and from PTY. They gain access to First/Flagship lounges when traveling in F 3-class transcon
<Transcon 3-class (JFK/MIA) in F = Admirals + Flagship + LAX oneworld J lounge + QF F Lounge LAX>
<Transcon 3-class (JFK/MIA) in J = Admirals + LAX oneworld J lounge>
<Non-Transcon F (2-class) + PTY = Admirals + LAX oneworld J>
AA EXPs
EXPs have access to all lounges at all airports regardless of routing so long as they are traveling to and from PTY on the same itinerary (an international destination neither excluded from AA's list of ineligible regions nor limited by the flight length rule)
<EXPs Transcon F (2-class) + PTY = Admirals + Flagship + LAX oneworld J + QF F lounge LAX>
<EXPs Non-Transcon F (2-class) + PTY = Admirals + Flagship + LAX oneworld J + QF F lounge LAX>
<EXPs on Transcon 3-class (JFK/MIA + PTY) in Y = Admirals + Flagship + LAX oneworld J + QF F lounge LAX>
<EXPs on Transcon 3-class (JFK/MIA + PTY) in J = Admirals + Flagship + LAX oneworld J + QF F lounge LAX>
<EXPs on Transcon 3-class (JFK/MIA + PTY) in F = Admirals + Flagship + LAX oneworld J + QF F lounge LAX>
NON-AA ONEWORLD ELITES
All sapphires and emeralds have some form of lounge access on any flight systemwide
<non-AA sapphires on ALL AA FLIGHTS = Admirals Club + oneworld J lounge LAX>
<non-AA emeralds on ALL AA FLIGHTS = Admirals Club + oneworld J lounge LAX + Flagship Lounge + QF F lounge LAX>
OTHER AIRPORTS
SFO - Admiral's Club (Centurion Lounge for a fee)
JFK - Admirals Club & Flagship Lounge for EXP/First 3-class/Emerald
MIA - Admiral's Club (Centurion Lounge for a fee), Oneworld Premium Lounge for EXP/First 3-Class/Emerald
PTY - No lounge access (Copa with PP, or for a fee, for 7am or later flights)
YVR - No lounge access (PP for a fee)
DFW - Admiral's Club (with F/C Dining for EXP/Emerald) (Centurion Lounge for a fee)
= When trying to gain oneworld J / QF F access based on status, it is simply departing/connecting/arriving at any point on same ticket to and from an eligible international destination. PTY is eligible and not excluded regardless of length.
= When trying to gain oneworld J / QF F access based on class of service disregarding status, it is the international long haul clause that applies. Therefore, no "oneworld/QF lounge" access for non-elites for trips to and from PTY unless booking transcons since PTY is under 5 hours. BUT AA doesn't enforce this in their own lounges so Admirals Club access is expected.
AA GOLDs(RUBYs)/NON-ELITES
Admirals Club access is granted regardless of routing as AA does not enforce international long haul rule. However, the oneworld J lounge does for Golds(rubys)/non-elites as they are aware the PTY flights are under 5 hours. Booking transcon flights in J/F gains access to the OWJ/QFF lounges.
<Transcon 3-class (JFK/MIA) in F = Admirals + Flagship + LAX oneworld J lounge + QF F Lounge LAX>
<Transcon 3-class (JFK/MIA) in J = Admirals + LAX oneworld J lounge>
<Non-Transcon F (2-class) + PTY = Technically NONE (PTY under 5 hours therefore class of service rule applies) BUT AA still opens Admirals Club doors to all customers because they dont enforce the long-haul rule>
AA PLATINUMs
Platinums gain access to all AC/Business lounges regardless of routing due to flying to and from PTY. They gain access to First/Flagship lounges when traveling in F 3-class transcon
<Transcon 3-class (JFK/MIA) in F = Admirals + Flagship + LAX oneworld J lounge + QF F Lounge LAX>
<Transcon 3-class (JFK/MIA) in J = Admirals + LAX oneworld J lounge>
<Non-Transcon F (2-class) + PTY = Admirals + LAX oneworld J>
AA EXPs
EXPs have access to all lounges at all airports regardless of routing so long as they are traveling to and from PTY on the same itinerary (an international destination neither excluded from AA's list of ineligible regions nor limited by the flight length rule)
<EXPs Transcon F (2-class) + PTY = Admirals + Flagship + LAX oneworld J + QF F lounge LAX>
<EXPs Non-Transcon F (2-class) + PTY = Admirals + Flagship + LAX oneworld J + QF F lounge LAX>
<EXPs on Transcon 3-class (JFK/MIA + PTY) in Y = Admirals + Flagship + LAX oneworld J + QF F lounge LAX>
<EXPs on Transcon 3-class (JFK/MIA + PTY) in J = Admirals + Flagship + LAX oneworld J + QF F lounge LAX>
<EXPs on Transcon 3-class (JFK/MIA + PTY) in F = Admirals + Flagship + LAX oneworld J + QF F lounge LAX>
NON-AA ONEWORLD ELITES
All sapphires and emeralds have some form of lounge access on any flight systemwide
<non-AA sapphires on ALL AA FLIGHTS = Admirals Club + oneworld J lounge LAX>
<non-AA emeralds on ALL AA FLIGHTS = Admirals Club + oneworld J lounge LAX + Flagship Lounge + QF F lounge LAX>
OTHER AIRPORTS
SFO - Admiral's Club (Centurion Lounge for a fee)
JFK - Admirals Club & Flagship Lounge for EXP/First 3-class/Emerald
MIA - Admiral's Club (Centurion Lounge for a fee), Oneworld Premium Lounge for EXP/First 3-Class/Emerald
PTY - No lounge access (Copa with PP, or for a fee, for 7am or later flights)
YVR - No lounge access (PP for a fee)
DFW - Admiral's Club (with F/C Dining for EXP/Emerald) (Centurion Lounge for a fee)
6. PTY Customs:
Inbound to PTY -
Outbound to MIA -
7. Finding flights: - 12 noon - no lines reported
- 8PM Fri (5/27/16) - ~10 min line
Outbound to MIA -
- 4:40am - no lines reported
NOTE: LAX-JFK NO LONGER VALID FOR LOWEST FARES (effective OCT 2016)
If you want the transcon bonus, enter the search with a connection in JFK. (e.g. LAX-JFK,JFK-MIA,MIA-PTY,PTY-JFK,JFK-SFO.) You can play around from there to get the best deal. Some of the better deals do not start and end in the same city (e.g. start in LAX, end in SFO may be cheaper than start/end in LAX).
Also, it's possible on the outbound portion to time it so you have no more than a 60-minute layover at JFK or MIA (though note that some of these flights aren't available on weekends). While yes, JFK is notorious for delays, this rarely applies for inbound red-eye flights. Also, note that AA 28 below is sometimes "hidden" if you're looking on Google Flights inside a much more expensive trip; that does not necessarily mean, however, that you can't get it for one of the trips under $1,000 (in other words, try it out to see).
NOTE: LAX-JFK NO LONGER VALID FOR LOWEST FARES (effective OCT 2016)
Below is the shortest-possible outbound itinerary that has the LAX-JFK transcon on AA's A321T with flat-bed seats:
LAX-JFK on AA 28
10:45pm - 7:22am
JFK-MIA on AA 200
8:15am - 11:24am
(Note: AA has now switched all of the metal it used on this leg - on all JFK-MIA nonstops - to 757s instead of the 767s with international-style F & J seating.)***767 and 772 are back. Flight 200 is a 772**
MIA-PTY on AA 4434
12:33pm - 2:48pm
(Note: Even more distressingly, AA switched from using a 737 on this leg to an RJ, presumably because summer is off-peak season in Central America. The 6:05pm flight still uses a 737 if a full-size aircraft is a must.)
AA: LAX-JFK-MIA-PTY RT $702 in A/J 18.9K EQMs
Sep 14, 2016, 6:55 pm
#1756
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Posts: 51
Smiley90 had usable ports - and I hope I have the same luck as well
Sep 14, 2016, 7:17 pm
#1757
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,405
Sep 14, 2016, 7:21 pm
#1758
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Posts: 51
On my flight next week I land in PTY and hop right back on the same plan and leave in less than an hour so I will either get double lucky or double unlucky it seems.
I can't recall every having power in a regional jet (one of the reasons as to why I avoid them at all costs) so this would be a first for me.
Sep 18, 2016, 3:28 am
#1759
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
For anyone that has booked a LAX-PTY 16-sector mega run for 2017 (for the people crediting to BAEC), please check your bookings as I have had just spotted quite significant schedule change particularly around CLT-RDU-DCA-PHL sections - the RDU-DCA and DCA-PHL flight times have changed quite a bit, and the AA auto-rebooking tool has selected via PIT instead of DCA, but RDU-PIT is economy only. I called up AA and a VERY helpful agent helped me rebook to a much better (and quicker!) 16 sector itinerary that was hundreds of dollars more expensive when I booked originally. Happy with the outcome but you will need a bit of work to re-route and propose your new itinerary to AA ^
Looking forward to the next schedule change
Looking forward to the next schedule change
Sep 18, 2016, 4:50 am
#1760
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: RSW
Programs: QF WP LTG
Posts: 252
For anyone that has booked a LAX-PTY 16-sector mega run for 2017 (for the people crediting to BAEC), please check your bookings as I have had just spotted quite significant schedule change particularly around CLT-RDU-DCA-PHL sections - the RDU-DCA and DCA-PHL flight times have changed quite a bit, and the AA auto-rebooking tool has selected via PIT instead of DCA, but RDU-PIT is economy only. I called up AA and a VERY helpful agent helped me rebook to a much better (and quicker!) 16 sector itinerary that was hundreds of dollars more expensive when I booked originally. Happy with the outcome but you will need a bit of work to re-route and propose your new itinerary to AA ^
Looking forward to the next schedule change
Looking forward to the next schedule change
Sep 18, 2016, 5:12 am
#1761
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
Sep 18, 2016, 12:40 pm
#1762
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10
same day turn - bad idea?
I have the following itinerary on a 24-hour hold.
AA 1116 LAX 09:20 pm 10/15 – ATL 04:45 am 10/16 … will book in A (First) – redeye flight
AA 958 ATL 07:00 am 10/16 – MIA 08:53 am 10/16 … will book in A (First)
AA 1021 MIA 09:48 am 10/16 – PTY 11:56 am 10/16 … will book in I (Business)
AA 4434 PTY 03:40 pm 10/16 – MIA 07:45 pm 10/16 … will book in I (Business)
AA 1828 MIA 09:29 pm 10/16 – CLT 11:38 pm 10/16 … will book in A (First) – hotel at Charlotte airport
AA 1993 CLT 07:49 am 10/17 – LAX 10:09 am 10/17 … will book in A (First)
Total cost: $532 + taxes $132.26 = $664.26 (total)
I’ve never done a quick turn like this before. Are there risks at PTY with less than 4 hours? Any tips? Bad idea?
Also, I am not exactly sure of how many EQMs I will earn with this (I am AA Platinum).
Thanks.
AA 1116 LAX 09:20 pm 10/15 – ATL 04:45 am 10/16 … will book in A (First) – redeye flight
AA 958 ATL 07:00 am 10/16 – MIA 08:53 am 10/16 … will book in A (First)
AA 1021 MIA 09:48 am 10/16 – PTY 11:56 am 10/16 … will book in I (Business)
AA 4434 PTY 03:40 pm 10/16 – MIA 07:45 pm 10/16 … will book in I (Business)
AA 1828 MIA 09:29 pm 10/16 – CLT 11:38 pm 10/16 … will book in A (First) – hotel at Charlotte airport
AA 1993 CLT 07:49 am 10/17 – LAX 10:09 am 10/17 … will book in A (First)
Total cost: $532 + taxes $132.26 = $664.26 (total)
I’ve never done a quick turn like this before. Are there risks at PTY with less than 4 hours? Any tips? Bad idea?
Also, I am not exactly sure of how many EQMs I will earn with this (I am AA Platinum).
Thanks.
Sep 18, 2016, 1:09 pm
#1763
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10
I have the following itinerary on a 24-hour hold.
AA 1116 LAX 09:20 pm 10/15 – ATL 04:45 am 10/16 … will book in A (First) – redeye flight
AA 958 ATL 07:00 am 10/16 – MIA 08:53 am 10/16 … will book in A (First)
AA 1021 MIA 09:48 am 10/16 – PTY 11:56 am 10/16 … will book in I (Business)
AA 4434 PTY 03:40 pm 10/16 – MIA 07:45 pm 10/16 … will book in I (Business)
AA 1828 MIA 09:29 pm 10/16 – CLT 11:38 pm 10/16 … will book in A (First) – hotel at Charlotte airport
AA 1993 CLT 07:49 am 10/17 – LAX 10:09 am 10/17 … will book in A (First)
Total cost: $532 + taxes $132.26 = $664.26 (total)
I’ve never done a quick turn like this before. Are there risks at PTY with less than 4 hours? Any tips? Bad idea?
Also, I am not exactly sure of how many EQMs I will earn with this (I am AA Platinum).
Thanks.
AA 1116 LAX 09:20 pm 10/15 – ATL 04:45 am 10/16 … will book in A (First) – redeye flight
AA 958 ATL 07:00 am 10/16 – MIA 08:53 am 10/16 … will book in A (First)
AA 1021 MIA 09:48 am 10/16 – PTY 11:56 am 10/16 … will book in I (Business)
AA 4434 PTY 03:40 pm 10/16 – MIA 07:45 pm 10/16 … will book in I (Business)
AA 1828 MIA 09:29 pm 10/16 – CLT 11:38 pm 10/16 … will book in A (First) – hotel at Charlotte airport
AA 1993 CLT 07:49 am 10/17 – LAX 10:09 am 10/17 … will book in A (First)
Total cost: $532 + taxes $132.26 = $664.26 (total)
I’ve never done a quick turn like this before. Are there risks at PTY with less than 4 hours? Any tips? Bad idea?
Also, I am not exactly sure of how many EQMs I will earn with this (I am AA Platinum).
Thanks.
I estimated 15236 EQM and 5312 RDM. Are these right?
Also, the carriers are: 737 (LAX-ATL), A319 (ATL-MIA), RJ-175 (MIA-PTY)
and RJ-175 (PTY-MIA), A319 (MIA-CLT), A321 (CLT-LAX)
My concerns again are (i) < 4 hrs in PTY; (ii) short outbound layover in MIA.
Sep 18, 2016, 1:37 pm
#1764
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: SEA, TPA
Programs: AA EXP, AS MVPG, FB Gold
Posts: 287
Your EQM estimate will be accurate, too, within a few miles+/-.
Sep 18, 2016, 4:44 pm
#1765
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Australia / USA
Programs: AS 100K, UA 1K, VA Platinum, HA Platinum, QF Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 414
total miles: 7618.
I estimated 15236 EQM and 5312 RDM. Are these right?
Also, the carriers are: 737 (LAX-ATL), A319 (ATL-MIA), RJ-175 (MIA-PTY)
and RJ-175 (PTY-MIA), A319 (MIA-CLT), A321 (CLT-LAX)
My concerns again are (i) < 4 hrs in PTY; (ii) short outbound layover in MIA.
I estimated 15236 EQM and 5312 RDM. Are these right?
Also, the carriers are: 737 (LAX-ATL), A319 (ATL-MIA), RJ-175 (MIA-PTY)
and RJ-175 (PTY-MIA), A319 (MIA-CLT), A321 (CLT-LAX)
My concerns again are (i) < 4 hrs in PTY; (ii) short outbound layover in MIA.
The only issue that you'd encounter is if your outbound flight to PTY is delayed etc. beyond the point of being able to return from PTY. At the same time, you could encounter IRROPS at any stage in your itinerary so be prepared for disrups but know that the airline will reroute and accommodate accordingly. You can always get original routing credit and even an unexpected change in itinerary will prove more beneficial in terms of extra EQMs
Sep 18, 2016, 5:11 pm
#1767
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: SEA, TPA
Programs: AA EXP, AS MVPG, FB Gold
Posts: 287
Should be no problem connecting to the PTY flight, and certainly represents no reason to be wary of booking the flights.
Sep 18, 2016, 6:24 pm
#1768
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Australia / USA
Programs: AS 100K, UA 1K, VA Platinum, HA Platinum, QF Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 414
Another option is to go on the E-Jet flight leaving around 1pm and keeping the PTY-MIA the same. That way you'd have time to shower etc in MIA after your red eye from LAX via ATL. Options... options.. options.
Sep 18, 2016, 8:17 pm
#1769
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10
Also just to let you know, your MIA-PTY flight is operated by a 737-800. The E-jet flight is the one leaving at 12:53pm and turns right around and heads back. You are flying on the E-jet back to MIA. If I were you, Id change to the 737 flight going back to MIA so that way you just get off that plane in PTY and get right back on the same plane. You'll go from deplaning to back in the boarding area. Otherwise, you'll be chilling in PTY airport for awhile when its MUCH nicer to be waiting in MIA where theres lounges and other things to keep occupied.
Another option is to go on the E-Jet flight leaving around 1pm and keeping the PTY-MIA the same. That way you'd have time to shower etc in MIA after your red eye from LAX via ATL. Options... options.. options.
Another option is to go on the E-Jet flight leaving around 1pm and keeping the PTY-MIA the same. That way you'd have time to shower etc in MIA after your red eye from LAX via ATL. Options... options.. options.
wanderlust4life, I didn't know one could hang around in the boarding area and simply hop back on the same plane without exiting through immigration and customs and then re-entering.
At any rate, I can't change to the 737 back to MIA. The fare is now almost $400 more. I'll just go with what I have.
So, now ... with a 4-hour stop at PTY, can I in fact simply hang around in the boarding area near the gate where might return flight will be and not bother to leave security (get out and back in)? For one thing, I'd need a boarding pass and some kind of DOCS OK stamp on it, wouldn't I? if this was discussed on this thread, I might have missed it. I'm certain I'm missing something here.
Sep 18, 2016, 9:11 pm
#1770
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Australia / USA
Programs: AS 100K, UA 1K, VA Platinum, HA Platinum, QF Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 414
Thanks for your responses, rdrnnr, snabbu, and wanderlust4life ... You guys have been really helpful! FT is incredible for all the info one can get from folks like you! Thanks!
wanderlust4life, I didn't know one could hang around in the boarding area and simply hop back on the same plane without exiting through immigration and customs and then re-entering.
At any rate, I can't change to the 737 back to MIA. The fare is now almost $400 more. I'll just go with what I have.
So, now ... with a 4-hour stop at PTY, can I in fact simply hang around in the boarding area near the gate where might return flight will be and not bother to leave security (get out and back in)? For one thing, I'd need a boarding pass and some kind of DOCS OK stamp on it, wouldn't I? if this was discussed on this thread, I might have missed it. I'm certain I'm missing something here.
wanderlust4life, I didn't know one could hang around in the boarding area and simply hop back on the same plane without exiting through immigration and customs and then re-entering.
At any rate, I can't change to the 737 back to MIA. The fare is now almost $400 more. I'll just go with what I have.
So, now ... with a 4-hour stop at PTY, can I in fact simply hang around in the boarding area near the gate where might return flight will be and not bother to leave security (get out and back in)? For one thing, I'd need a boarding pass and some kind of DOCS OK stamp on it, wouldn't I? if this was discussed on this thread, I might have missed it. I'm certain I'm missing something here.
It’s quite easy. Get off the jet bridge. Stop. Turn left. Walk 15 steps. You’re at your departure gate. No customs/no immigration.
It shouldn't be a problem at all to get that return boarding pass since its well within 24 hours and it will indeed show DOCS OK printed on it assuming your good to go on the outbound anyway.