I have had a mixed success with agents helping me out of messes that were completely of my design. In most cases, it is highly contingent on the loads and your attitude.

I have lots of honey to catch them flies....so I'm good for the latter, hopefully.

Loads could definitely be a problem.

What do you think of this revised itin?
Jan 30
LGA-TPA-LGA (arrive 2:50)
JFK-SNA-JFK (departing 5:20)

Hmmmm... that's an improvement, but the LGA-JFK transfer still puts you in danger of missing the SNA flight. You're proposing cutting across Queens at the onset of rush hour. Not an easy task if there are traffic problems (and there are always traffic problems on the Van Wyck).

Not to mention it sounds like you are on a budget, and the cheapest feasible way to do the transfer is by "Express" bus (note the quotation marks, they denote sarcasm) which is $11 USD each way. A cab will cost at least twice that.

Oh, and unless you need to be in Orange County, JFK-LGB or JFK-SJC is usually cheaper than JFK-SNA.

[This message has been edited by YYZC2 (edited Jan 17, 2004).]

Yes, definite budget. But I am likely going with a friend, so a cab would be split in half.

The LGB connection is even tighter, leaving JFK at 4:50 as opposed to 5:20, and the SJC flight is not cheap at the desired times.

I think I'm going to be seeing the AA reservations page in my sleep for weeks, I've checked 100s of possibilities.

So which is riskier do you think YYZC2, a 2.5 hr connection to JFK or a 33 min connection at LGA?

I wouldn't do either. If you really want to economize, buth in terms of time and money, you'll put JFK right out of your head and concentrate on LGA-Florida only. Sure, you get more miles per dollar on the California runs, but the transfers are a hassle and they take a long time.

Here's the thing: You can't avoid an overnight... somewhere between leaving YYZ and returning, you will be spending the night somewhere, either NYC or FLA. FLA is way cheaper.

Your options are:

YYZ-LGA-FLA-LGA-FLA (overnight) LGA-YYZ

or:

YYZ-LGA-FLA-LGA-FLA-LGA (overnight) YYZ

You can't avoid it. Even if you fly out of YYZ the night before you start your runs your second roundtrip back into NYC will land long after the last YYZ-bound AC flight has left.

The only way you avoid an overnight is by doing back to back red-eye runs to California (brutal) which are only possible out of JFK ($$).

Your best case scenario is option A with a cheap Priceline hotel stay in Florida. NYC hotels are very expensive.

Thanks YYZC2. I think I'm going to give up for now, my eyes are turning square. You've been a huge help.

Oh great, just when I'm getting interested. Now I have to go back to my real work.

A question for when you wake up tomorrow: how are you financing your YYZ-LGA-YYZ ticket? If you're paying cash, you may want to look into buying a YYZ-FLA ticket via LGA for less than it would cost to buy the itins seperately. AA has confirmed that the NYC-FLA promo-qualifying flights can be part of a larger itinerary. Simply add a FLA-NYC-FLA trip within it, and Bob's your uncle.

Of course, if you're planning on using a reward ticket or some other form of transport, the point is moot, but I thought I'd ask.

Thanks again for your help YYZC2, I have not been looking at the forum the past few days.

I think I have found a safe itin though.

Feb 6 (8:30-11:24 am)LGA-TPA-LGA(12:16-2:49pm)
Feb 7 (7:05-10:04 am)LGA-PBI-LGA (10:49-1:30 pm)
Feb 7 (4:50-7:58 pm)JFK-LGB-JFK (9:10-5:08 am)
Feb 8 (8:30-11:24 am)LGA-TPA-LGA (12:16-2:49pm)

Haven't booked yet, still thinking about whether or not the people calling me crazy are right or not....

With respect from getting to NYC, I am likely driving from Detroit if I can convince a buddy to come with me (probably rent to save my own mileage). I had found flights from DTW to TPA for cheap via LGA, but they disappeared before I worked up the courage to pull the trigger.

Looks ambitious! The only possible snag is the LGA-JFK transfer, but it's not out of the question. I would plan on cabbing it.

Good luck!

I got my Continental flight into EWR on Monday changed to give me a nice 6-hour buffer to get to LGA, so I am resting easier now.

Do you think there is significant risk with a 3 hr 20 min (naively assuming on time!) connection?

I am assuming it will obviously be the same plane back from PBI as down, and that if it's going to be delayed, at least due to weather, it will probably be at the LGA end - so I would at least have some idea of whether or not the LGB flight will be missed.

The other thing I was wondering, is it worth cancelling the reservation if it becomes clear I won't make it? Or does that make it more difficult for AA to accommodate me to alternate flights if they choose to help?

I did JFK-LGA yesterday at 4p.m. The shuttle runs every half hour. From terminal 7 it took less than 30 minutes including a stop at terminal 8 and about 10 minutes in slow moving traffic. I was pleasantly surprised.

Thanks Tracon, so if the flight is on time, I should have plenty of time.

A few more tips, Canadair (I apologize if I sound pedantic):

Don't forget that in the LGA->JFK direction your terminal is at the end of the airport loop which can tack on some signifigant time to your journey if there are a lot on drop-offs/pick-ups along the way.

If you don't already have status with AA, sign up for the Gold Challenge. You will acheive Gold level status easily with what you're planning. If you're planning on flying more miles on AA within 90 days of your runs, you may be able to swing the Platinum Challenge. Do a search on the AA board for info on these challenges. Ask here if you are confused.

You can also sign up for the FLY04 promo, which gives you 5,000 bonus miles for flying 10,000 miles before March 31.

With the 4 x 1000 AA.com booking bonus, your flight mileage and the FLY04 bonus, you stand to gross about 20,000 AA miles and will gain 4 electronic upgrades for future flights. You will also get ruby status in OneWorld (basically you get J class checkin on OW flights). 5,000 more miles and you have another free (North American) ticket.

You have done well, grasshopper.

YYZC2, mini trip-report. Was able to get the flights this past weekend - LGA-TPA-LGA on Jan 30, LGA-PBI-LGA morn of Jan 31 and JFK-LGB-JFK returning red-eye early AM Feb 1, LGA-TPA-LGA morning of Feb 1. Only a couple delays, going around turbulence on the way to LGB, and changing a tire enroute to TPA on Feb 1.

The first two sets of flight attendents did in fact recognize my buddy and I (we're 6'2 and 6'3, difficult to blend in) and were thoroughly interested in what we were doing. Neither even knew about the promo. Also, the check-in agent at TPA on Feb 1 asked us why we didn't have a boarding pass. When I said "connecting flight", she said, "there aren't any connecting flights really to LGA - you just came down on this didn't you?" Then she got excited, and just wanted to know what the award tickets were going to be used for.

Useful sidenotes - New Yorkers are crazy - I appreciate Toronto SO MUCH after this. What's the point in honking when you're not going to get anywhere (oh wait, many Torontonians have decided to take up this past time as well....)????

Secondly - when the hell did the Empire State building get so tall??

Also, we ended up driving to JFK, and back to La Guardia on the morning of Feb 1. We somehow avoided paying for parking at LGA by parking on the street, literally the closest spot to the airport. Was actually legal too. Corner of Ditmer and 94th I think.

Fourthly - Long Beach airport is ridiculous. It is like a mobile home.

Lastly - AA needs to lose the 'airline silver' livery - even if that is part of the fabric of their being, it's getting to look pretty ghetto.

So, in the end, my friend and myself each got a free award ticket for our selves, a free award ticket for 2 others, and 20,044 AA miles each (including 4 x 1000 online bonus, plus 5000 FLY04 bonus miles). What to do with them I do not know. YYZ-LHR on BA to increase the miles? Cornflakes run to Detroit???

Also, YYZC2, if you could further explain the aformentioned 'gold challenge', it would be appreciated. I searched the AA posts, could not really comprehend how it would apply to me since I was not targeted by the email.

Thanks, Canadair.

Canadair, information about the AA GLD / PLT challenge: http://members.shaw.ca/fewmiles/AA/r...allenge.html#1