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NOTE: LAX-JFK NO LONGER VALID FOR LOWEST FARES (effective OCT 2016)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NOTE: LAX-JFK NO LONGER VALID FOR LOWEST FARES (effective OCT 2016)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
Jun 27, 2016, 12:30 pm
#1231
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA EVP, United 1K and 2MM, Starwood Lifetime Platinum, Delta
Posts: 219
Agree something must be off in the online calculations; I did 2 RT on this routing in June (LAX-JFK-MIA-PTY-MIA-JFK-LAX) and both credited 18864 EQM - not 23K.
Jun 27, 2016, 9:55 pm
#1233
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 17
Curious what you deem dicey MR's...
Jun 27, 2016, 10:01 pm
#1234
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: LAX, LGB, SNA
Programs: AA EXP OWE, DL DM ST+, AS MVPG, UA, BA, WN CP, Hyatt E, Ritz Plat, HH GM
Posts: 3,185
Jun 28, 2016, 2:24 am
#1236
Moderator: Hyatt Gold Passport & Star Alliance
Join Date: May 1998
Location: London, UK
Programs: UA-1K 3MM/HY- LT Globalist/BA-GGL/GfL
Posts: 12,095
I am currently at the Crowne Plaza at PTY, just up before my 8am back to DFW.
The airport is safe, people are genuinely helpful - no bands of roving taxi drivers, but there are companies that pre-sell you fare to get you somewhere in the country and there reps ask if they can help if you look lost - and are helpful even if you don't want their services.
Immigration is a long way from AA's gate - think Heathrow Terminal 3 - 10 to 15 mins at normal speed.
Queue long - I would estimate 40 minutes wait at its longest. They take photo and full fingerprints now.
Customs requires all bags through an x-ray machine for all passengers - no green lane.
The airport is safe, people are genuinely helpful - no bands of roving taxi drivers, but there are companies that pre-sell you fare to get you somewhere in the country and there reps ask if they can help if you look lost - and are helpful even if you don't want their services.
Immigration is a long way from AA's gate - think Heathrow Terminal 3 - 10 to 15 mins at normal speed.
Queue long - I would estimate 40 minutes wait at its longest. They take photo and full fingerprints now.
Customs requires all bags through an x-ray machine for all passengers - no green lane.
Jun 28, 2016, 4:45 am
#1237
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: Alaska MVP
Posts: 48
Now that Alaska has announced the changes to their American earning rates, I'm curious how many people might still do this run and credit it to AS. All business class fares now earn 150% base miles on AS, which means this would still end up netting you in the ballpark of 17k miles, give or take, depending on the routing. If you've got status, you could be looking significantly more.
Jun 28, 2016, 10:11 am
#1238
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,475
Immigration is a long way from AA's gate - think Heathrow Terminal 3 - 10 to 15 mins at normal speed.
Queue long - I would estimate 40 minutes wait at its longest. They take photo and full fingerprints now.
Customs requires all bags through an x-ray machine for all passengers - no green lane.
Queue long - I would estimate 40 minutes wait at its longest. They take photo and full fingerprints now.
Customs requires all bags through an x-ray machine for all passengers - no green lane.
Jun 28, 2016, 10:15 am
#1239
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: PDX
Programs: AA Plat, Nexus
Posts: 358
As with travel anywhere, be cognizant of your surroundings and don't look lost.
Jun 28, 2016, 11:03 am
#1240
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: LAX, LGB, SNA
Programs: AA EXP OWE, DL DM ST+, AS MVPG, UA, BA, WN CP, Hyatt E, Ritz Plat, HH GM
Posts: 3,185
Now that Alaska has announced the changes to their American earning rates, I'm curious how many people might still do this run and credit it to AS. All business class fares now earn 150% base miles on AS, which means this would still end up netting you in the ballpark of 17k miles, give or take, depending on the routing. If you've got status, you could be looking significantly more.
Jun 28, 2016, 3:51 pm
#1241
Join Date: May 2016
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 62
I am currently at the Crowne Plaza at PTY, just up before my 8am back to DFW.
The airport is safe, people are genuinely helpful - no bands of roving taxi drivers, but there are companies that pre-sell you fare to get you somewhere in the country and there reps ask if they can help if you look lost - and are helpful even if you don't want their services.
Immigration is a long way from AA's gate - think Heathrow Terminal 3 - 10 to 15 mins at normal speed.
Queue long - I would estimate 40 minutes wait at its longest. They take photo and full fingerprints now.
Customs requires all bags through an x-ray machine for all passengers - no green lane.
The airport is safe, people are genuinely helpful - no bands of roving taxi drivers, but there are companies that pre-sell you fare to get you somewhere in the country and there reps ask if they can help if you look lost - and are helpful even if you don't want their services.
Immigration is a long way from AA's gate - think Heathrow Terminal 3 - 10 to 15 mins at normal speed.
Queue long - I would estimate 40 minutes wait at its longest. They take photo and full fingerprints now.
Customs requires all bags through an x-ray machine for all passengers - no green lane.
I would recommend against the Riande Aeropuerto. Hotel safes didn't work, they do have a (small) casino if you want to go, and they have an outdoor bar which plays music late which wasn't conducive to sleep and waking up at 4am to get to the airport in time.
Also, use Uber instead of a cab. It was all of $2.50 to go from hotel to airport.
Lastly, it took well over an hour to get through both securities and onto the plane (I got there at 4:20ish and got through the secondary gate security just in time to board the 6:05a flight). Put any toothbrush or personal items in a plastic bag as they go through everything, I ended up with a rubber glove all over my toothbrush (which I promptly threw away).
Jun 28, 2016, 7:21 pm
#1242
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: some premium cabin...
Posts: 390
Need some help here. I priced an itinerary on google flights for YVR-JFK-MIA-PTY-MIA-LAX but it transferred me to the aa Canadian site to book. I can put the flights on hold but it won't let me pay for it. I did put in my Advantage number if that make any difference and I do live in the US. The price was much better than pricing it directly with aa.com. Anyone know how to circumvent this? Thanks in advance.
Jun 28, 2016, 7:36 pm
#1243
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 77
Has anyone done one of these back to back? I have one of these MR's scheduled for the weekend and just found another run that I could schedule right after I return to LAX and and still have me back in time to work upon my return to LAX.
For those that have re-entered the US through Miami, how bad were customs and TSA lines. The last time I transited through that airport, I had three hours to get to my next gate upon arrival and barely made my flight due to customs and TSA lines.
For those that have re-entered the US through Miami, how bad were customs and TSA lines. The last time I transited through that airport, I had three hours to get to my next gate upon arrival and barely made my flight due to customs and TSA lines.
Jun 28, 2016, 7:48 pm
#1244
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: The Frozen Tundra
Programs: Former AA EXP, DL PM, BAEC Bronze, SPG GOLD, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 159
Has anyone done one of these back to back? I have one of these MR's scheduled for the weekend and just found another run that I could schedule right after I return to LAX and and still have me back in time to work upon my return to LAX.
For those that have re-entered the US through Miami, how bad were customs and TSA lines. The last time I transited through that airport, I had three hours to get to my next gate upon arrival and barely made my flight due to customs and TSA lines.
For those that have re-entered the US through Miami, how bad were customs and TSA lines. The last time I transited through that airport, I had three hours to get to my next gate upon arrival and barely made my flight due to customs and TSA lines.
Jun 28, 2016, 8:43 pm
#1245
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 32
Need some help here. I priced an itinerary on google flights for YVR-JFK-MIA-PTY-MIA-LAX but it transferred me to the aa Canadian site to book. I can put the flights on hold but it won't let me pay for it. I did put in my Advantage number if that make any difference and I do live in the US. The price was much better than pricing it directly with aa.com. Anyone know how to circumvent this? Thanks in advance.