As noted in previous threads, UA is dropping the 730 pm JFK-LAX. (What's odd is that they will be offering BOTH 545pm and 610pm departures. Go figure.

So here's my sutuation.

I am arriving from LHR on the Concorde at 525pm. (The Concorde flight was originally arriving at 1030am, but they changed their schedule). Anyway, it would be pushing it for me to make the 6:10 departure. All UA can do is confirm me for the next morning.

I asked if they could book me for both flights (evening and morning), but the answer was "no." But UA did document my record, allowing me to have full flexability with this ticket, including taking the 610 flight if I can make it, changing the flight, etc.

I really am not wanting to spend the night at a hotel airport so I can take a 7am departure the next day. DL and AA still offer late evening departures. Do you think UA would endorse my ticket?

Of course, April is a long way off and things might change.

Any advice?

Please also see

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum15/HTML/002697.html


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The other answers not good enough for ya

Or did you forget you already posted it?

Have a great day all!

My, oh, my! We all are gatekeepers here. As I check the BA board about once every six weeks, I thought that perhaps, just perhaps, others on the UA board might do the same.

My question here is not about how much time to allow between flights. It's about how I can best work with UA to get to where I need to go.


[This message has been edited by zrs70 (edited 11-10-2002).]

zrs70, I was just messing with you! No offense was meant to you or doc... I hope you get the response you're looking for .

I've never had the opportunity to take the Concorde, but I do have a couple of functional observations. Since flying supersonic over land is a no-no, why are you taking Concorde?

Here are some statistics (note that I don't take into account head/tail wind, takeoff/landing velocities, other items--this is not scientific at all):

1. The average cruising speed of Concorde is 1350 mph.
2. The average cruising speed of a B767 is 530 mph.
3. The average cruising speed of a B747 is 570 mph.
4. The average cruising speed of a B777 is 555 mph.

So, the following journey times would be observed:

1. LHR/JFK (BA/Concorde) 2.5 hours.
2. JFK/LAX (UA/B767) 4.6 hours.
3. LHR/LAX (UA/B777) 9.8 hours.
4. LHR/LAX (BA/B747) 9.5 hours.

If you had zero ground time in JFK, this would be a journey time of 7.1 hours. This is a couple hours shorter than either the BA or UA option non-stop. However, we have the following problems:

1. There is ground time at JFK (including clearing customs and immigration).
2. We add 45 minutes _if_ you happen to make the last connection at JFK.
3. We add nearly 2 hours if UA kept the 7:30 flight.
4. We add 13 hours if you miss the last connection at JFK.
5. Single ticket LHR/JFK/LAX with BA/UA would not be a legal connection with a mere 45 minute gap. You could risk it if the tickets were split into two.

You're lucky that BA and UA share the same terminal. If you didn't I'd say you'd have no chance of making any connection in that amount of time (unless Concorde was really early).

Of course, I'd love to fly Concorde at least once in my lifetime. But, I figure I'd fly when it actually saved me a lot of time rather than just as part of a longer itinerary to the West coast. I loved BA's adverts about arriving before you left.

IMHO UA is doing more than they are obligated and I'd be happy with this option.
I doubt it as the problem is with the BA flight.

Yes

Take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy NYC. Get a good night's sleep.

zrs70:

Have you considered this connection:

From: New York (Kennedy), NY
To: Los Angeles, CA
VIA: Washington (Dulles), DC

United 7815
From:JFK To:IAD
6:56 PM 8:31 PM
Trm:7 J41

United 925
From:IAD To:LAX
9:15 PM 11:35PM
Trm:7 320

This is from the UA electronic timetable so I'm not sure if it's accurate. A redeye A320 isn't as nice as a dinner 767 but it would get you there the same night.

[This message has been edited by Kurt (edited 11-11-2002).]

My advice? Wait until the April schedule is finalized in February or so, because you don't want to have called-in favors be worthless on yet another schedule change. If you wait until Feb, then you only have to deal with the rebooking hassle once.

I highly doubt that UA is going to endorse your ticket unless you bought the entire package as a single ticket, in which case the issuing party has the responsibility to transport you to your final destination. Split the ticket and you're toast (price you pay for cheap tickets).

Also, skip the JFK-IAD leg on the J41. Don't even consider it.