Hi,

I guess it's better to post it here than in AA because I need to know a little more about the UA side. So I am planning to take the LAX-JFK-IST, and I can be chosen with either UA/CO, AA, and DL. I am not quite sure about the PS flights as I have never tried one, but if the prices stay the same, what would you choose between AA and UA, considering you are EXP and 1K at the same time? My considerations are as follows:

1. Upgrades, AA doesn't require any certs, you get to J right away if there's any seat availability. In UA, you need CR1.(What really other flights are more valuable to use CR1 than the PS ones? I took the SFO-HNL and HNL-DEN before, and they are pretty easy upgrades because it's all in 777 domestic F which provides quite a lot of seats.

2. Lounges. First time ever. Can you get to LAX RCC/PC or Admirals club if your second leg to IST is via TK? My understanding is it should be no problem for RCC/PC as it's all in *A, but can we get to Admirals club if our international leg is TK? My wild guess is no. I would also try to leave at least two hours of stayover in JFK to hop in some of the *G lounges. What lounges would be worth a try in Terminal 1? Have never been in Terminal 1 before.

3. Transit in JFK. Basically it's Terminal 7/8 vs 1. Does anybody find any tough transit experience in JFK for TK?

4. Checking bags. Again, I guess in *A we should be no problem to check the bag all the way to IST. However, how about AA-TK to IST? Would AA do it all the way to IST?

I don't know the fare buckets for each airline in the JFK-LAX leg, but I presume it wouldn't be full fare Y...Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

1. AA does not require any cert so you are to J right away is better...

2. Even if you fly AA/TK, I think you can still go to RCC in LAX and LH Lounge in JFK T1 but I think you can't use Admiral Club in LAX.

3. Transit in JFK is super easy using free inter-terminal air train that runs clockwise (instead of counter-clockwise)

4. AA can check you all the way to IST.

5. Fare Bucket: I bought 2 of this ticket one UA/TK and one UA/TK/AA for $545 each when it was available earlier this month, fell so bad that now it is even cheaper to $512. It is S on UA, G on TK, and N on AA. I saw my booking reference in all 3 airlines websites.

 

The security screening setup at the terminal TK uses is awful. As an F passenger I stood in line for 30 minutes. whY was only slightly slower (45 min?).

 

Noticed this too on my last LH flight there - there should be two F lines in the middle. The right one was a lot faster as it was a dedicated TSA ID checker, whereas the one on the left was splitting TSA with a Y line.

 

After you book the ticket, do you have to manually separate the AA flights to your EXP account and TK flights to your 1P account?

 

I would note that this (LAX-JFK and v.v.) is one of the hardest upgrades to score using electronic stickers/ 500-milers on AA, even as EXP. Less than 50% in my experience. You may want to use mileage to upgrade this flight, which lets you jump the queue.

 

They were using the center line for crew, who shared an ID checker with F. Crew took priority and there was a steady stream of them.