NYC-LAX Help Needed...Please
 

ok I'm very new to UA but thought booking my O/W from NYC to LAX on Sat Jan 5 2008 (in time to catch my 9:02 PM SYD-AKL) would be pretty simple but now i could use some advice

fyi:

• my plan was to fly biz (most likely by using CC-gifted upgrade (CR1 ?)
• lately the cheapest upgradeable economy flights are @$170 ex LGA
• lately the cheapest upgradeable economy flights ex-JFK are @$420 :(
• by 1/5 I anticipate being a 2P (via gift nomination)

1. a look at seatcounter.com has me worrying ...it looks like several econ classes ex-LGA are selling out, are those 0s REALLY sold out or is it typical to hold back econ seats back this far out from departure date?

2. upgrades to biz - should i be looking at I (NC) or X (NF)?

My goal was to get the upgrade confirmed at booking. there are several types of equp flying LGA-LAX. Even looking at seatguru some planes have same # but 1 version is 2 class and the other 3. Can anyone clue me in how to tell which is which?

3. if y'all suggest i book now and not count on upgrade clearing and settle for E+, is there a preference for a specific equipment?

4. finally, all things being equal in Jan, am i better off connecting in ORD or DEN?

5. Alternatively should i be looking NYC-SFO and just take a hop to LAX?

Finally, while i want my EQMs, if all else fails, i've got a free ticket on B6, though they don't fly into LAX

TIA

I wouldn't play chicken with Inventory/Revenue Management especially if you are buying this ticket to connect to another flight on another ticket, especially to somewhere like Australia/New Zealand!

The answer depends on whether the aircraft you are looking at has 2 cabins or 3 cabins. If you are flying from LGA (which I'm assuming you are since JFK is much more expensive), you would probably be flying LGA-IAD-LAX, LGA-ORD-LAX or LGA-DEN-LAX.

Unfortunately, this doesn't make it any easier to decipher because while LGA-DEN/IAD/ORD are all 1 or 2-cabin aircraft, DEN/ORD/IAD-LAX can be 3-cabin aircraft as well, and are either 763s or 777s usually.

If you are looking for upgrades on a 2-cabin aircraft, look for X (NF). If you are looking for upgrades on a 3-cabin aircraft, look for I (NC). However, on your date, it seems like most if not all options are 2-cabin only.

The good news is that upgrades appear to be ample on January 5, 2008.

Of all your options, I would suggest the following, in order to allow for enough time to connect to your separate flight at LAX. There are also ample upgrades on this itinerary:

UA 745 LGA-DEN 1:50pm/4:10pm (A320)
UA 1223 DEN-LAX 5:20pm/6:40pm (B752)

I would not suggest waiting to book. $170 one way LGA-LAX is a decent fare, IMHO.

I would say DEN... see the above recommendation.

I don't see a benefit to this, unless the fare is much cheaper.

Well, since you want to upgrade... B6 is kind of a non-starter, especially since it's a pain to get from LGB to LAX.

That's wrapping up the Xmas/New Year holiday...it's probably sold out.

NC

There are no non-stop flights LGA-LAX, only "direct" flights -- which are flights that use one number LGA-LAX, but have a stop somewhere, usually ORD or DEN. The only non-stops from NYC to LAX leave from JFK or EWR.

Can't really comment since I don't fly Y unless it's an emergency.

They both can get snow. ORD has 2x the traffic that DEN has, so it takes a while to recover from a storm.

Only if there is confirmable upgrade space on NYC-SFO.

I'm :confused:

In January I would shoot for a direct flight if you could get one (even if you have to toss the second half of a RT ticket (it's $320 or so RT). Yes, it's $100 less to go and come back then just to go nonstop for some reason. :rolleyes:

You can't fly direct LGA to LA, it's too far except for some flights on Saturday mornings or something silly but don't think anybody really does that, so I would go for EWR or JFK.

Delays are insane lately, one snowflake anywhere in the country or whatever and everything is messed up, because you have to go on somewhere else, I woudln't risk a stop.

You can fly a direct flight from LGA to LA; you cannot fly a non-stop flight. ;)

(Not try to be a "plick" (Lethal Weapon 3 reference), just pointing out the proper word usage by UA. :))

To add to the comments above, I would suggest checking out JFK-LAX flights - it's ps service so likely a bit more money but those are 3-class non stops. Buy earlier and get yourself on the waitlist (if you can't clear immediately) asap, as those are definitely competitive for upgrades.

If the price difference is significant, I'd pick DEN or IAD as the connection point from LGA - more likely DEN as IAD would require an express flight depending on when you leave and that would not be a good thing to have to rely on when you need to get to your destination.

G'Luck

If you can confirm an upgrade at booking for a non-stop, JFK-LAX flight, I would do so, even if it's more expensive. Not only do the p.s. flights in business class blow any two-cabin first class flights out of the water, but you also don't have to mess around with a connection.

Seriously. Even if it's $420 vs. $170, book the p.s. flight and make up some of the difference by getting plowed on the sparkling wine. They'll also serve you real food, instead of the usual salads and open-faced sandwiches.

You'll thank me as you pass over ORD and DEN en route to LAX, resting comfortably in your seat with the footrest extended as you pity the poor souls who are stuck having to connect in said airports.

Hilarious. :D

JFK-LAX may be $420 but JFK-LAX-ONT is $230.

Routing Details
Search: Departing NYC on 01/05/08 for ONT
Fare basis code TA7UN
Flying UA

TA7UN 179.00 358.00 UA ROUTE:0035
VALID SINGLE CONNECT CITIES FROM: NYC TO ONT
ABE ALB ATL AUS BDL BIL BOI BOS BUF BUR CAK CHI
CID CLE CLT CMH COS CRW DAY DEN DFW DSM DTT EWR
FAT GEG GSO HAR HFD HOU ICT IND LAS LAX LNK MIA
MKC MKE MLI MSN MSP MSY OAK OKC OMA ORF ORL PHF
PHL PHX PIT RDU RIC RNO ROA ROC SAN SAT SBA SFO
SJC SLC SMF SNA STL SYR TPA TUL TUS WAS

ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON ROUTING:
NONE

Colin strikes again ^

I see T2 on the 891/5460 combo (not that you'd board 5460 ;) ) and you'd have a whole day to kill in LA. Cool...

Edited to add another option might be CLD (UA891/5744)...

Routing Details
Search: Departing NYC on 01/05/08 for CLD
Fare basis code SA14UN
Flying UA

SA14UN 159.00 318.00 UA ROUTE:0035
VALID SINGLE CONNECT CITIES FROM: NYC TO CLD
ABE ALB ATL AUS BDL BIL BOI BOS BUF BUR CAK CHI
CID CLE CLT CMH COS CRW DAY DEN DFW DSM DTT EWR
FAT GEG GSO HAR HFD HOU ICT IND LAS LAX LNK MIA
MKC MKE MLI MSN MSP MSY OAK OKC OMA ONT ORF ORL
PHF PHL PHX PIT RDU RIC RNO ROA ROC SAN SAT SBA
SFO SJC SLC SMF SNA STL SYR TPA TUL TUS WAS

ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON ROUTING:
NONE

Currently seeing S9 on those flights...



Pat

Big word of caution - this will NOT work at all if you have luggage to check, because it will be sent to your final destination (ONT or CLD as it may be - not that I'm condoning throwaway tickets officially, for the record!). :D

Many Thanks
 

to Colin and everyone else!!!! ^^^

I booked a O/W ps JFK-LAX-PHX for $149.80 AI exJFK 8:40 AM :D

Gotta love FT not only for the $$$ saved and community spirit but also what an education!

I'm amazed at how often reading the various threads I find my mind and world expanded with new possibilities

now I'm off to find me CR1 ;)

THANKS AGAIN

What about your checked baggage? You wouldn't be able to claim it at LAX I don't think.

This is not a valid concern. Schedule a 4-hour layover in LAX. Tell the JFK agent you need to check the bag only to LAX because you are going to drop it off at your home in Marina del Rey during the layover. There is no system rule that prevents an agent from checking a bag to a connection point.

Geebus... you guys are creative... :eek: