Standby for Earlier AA Flight at LAX?

[wafliron]

Thanks for the advice everyone - I'll be careful not to overdo it in the lounge

I actually have one other question I'm hoping someone can help me with (OT for this thread but I don't want to start another whole thread for it): Once I arrive in LAX I'm transferring to an AA flight to LAS, booked on a different PNR. I had to choose between an AA flight with a very tight connection and one with a very long connection, and chose the long connection due to it not being on the same PNR as the inbound flight. That being said, assuming I arrive early enough I want to ask AA to move me to the earlier flight. Where is the best place to do this? Somewhere in TBIT - before or after customs? AA checkin desks at T4? How do I handle my luggage (ensuring it gets put on the earlier flight if I can get moved up), given I'll be collecting and dropping it off again at the "transfer drop" (or whatever it's called) in TBIT?

Here is a picture from a week or so ago (I think). Get to First lounge early.

Looks yum, can't wait. And yep, definitely getting to the lounge early - I deliberately routed myself MEL-xSYD-LAX for maximum lounge time, arriving into SYD at ~8.30am. It's my first visit to an F Lounge too

The weight of huge expectations is always the constant elephant in the room!!

Ahh, #firstworldproblems

 

[wafliron]

Re: When is the tasting menu served on QF11?

Thanks for the advice everyone - I'll be careful not to overdo it in the lounge

I actually have one other question I'm hoping someone can help me with (OT for this thread but I don't want to start another whole thread for it): Once I arrive in LAX I'm transferring to an AA flight to LAS, booked on a different PNR. I had to choose between an AA flight with a very tight connection and one with a very long connection, and chose the long connection due to it not being on the same PNR as the inbound flight. That being said, assuming I arrive early enough I want to ask AA to move me to the earlier flight. Where is the best place to do this? Somewhere in TBIT - before or after customs? AA checkin desks at T4? How do I handle my luggage (ensuring it gets put on the earlier flight if I can get moved up), given I'll be collecting and dropping it off again at the "transfer drop" (or whatever it's called) in TBIT?

Here is a picture from a week or so ago (I think). Get to First lounge early.

Looks yum, can't wait. And yep, definitely getting to the lounge early - I deliberately routed myself MEL-xSYD-LAX for maximum lounge time, arriving into SYD at ~8.30am. It's my first visit to an F Lounge too

The weight of huge expectations is always the constant elephant in the room!!

Ahh, #firstworldproblems

 

[zachary.august]

Re: When is the tasting menu served on QF11?

I can PM you the LAX First Host email address email them and get them to meet you and run you over to AA T4.

 

[serfty]

Re: When is the tasting menu served on QF11?

As a QF WP, ask at the T4 FL service desk when you redeposit your "Ving [key] card" after entering the Flounge.

Some years ago I did this for SFO and was looking at a four hour wait; there was an earlier flight in about an hour (everything for me at LAX was was unusually early or fast that morning).

"I wonder if there is any chance of waitlisting for an earlier flight to SFO?" with a friendly empowering smile.

"Certainly - I'll keep your BP and check"

10 Minutes later I was called and handed a BP for 4F. Expressing surprise at the upgrade she said they like to look after their emeralds when they can.

FWIW, it was the first time (and still one of the few) that First class did not have every seat occupied on an AA flight I flew.

Don't expect the upgrade, but they will try to accommodate you.

 

[v8Statesman]

Re: When is the tasting menu served on QF11?

FWIW, it was the first time (and still one of the few) that First class did not have every seat occupied on an AA flight I flew.

Don't expect the upgrade, but they will try to accommodate you.

I think with the T-100 hr complementary upgrades for EXP, this is not hugely unlikely to be repeated.

 

[wafliron]

Re: When is the tasting menu served on QF11?

Zachary, thanks for the suggestion. PM received and replied to.

Sertfy, thanks for the extra info, very helpful. What is a "Ving card"? Google suggests some sort of access card - is that right? Also, if I'm only asking to be moved forward to the earlier flight at the T4 FL, will that present a potential problem with my bags getting onto the correct flight, given I'll have long since "re-dropped" them? Or can I trust AA to sort this out for me? I will also cross my fingers re Y->F, but just getting on the earlier flight will be a big bonus.

Thanks also Maca for the additional recommendation re pacing myself

 

[dfcatch]

Zachary, thanks for the suggestion. PM received and replied to.

Sertfy, thanks for the extra info, very helpful. What is a "Ving card"? Google suggests some sort of access card - is that right? Also, if I'm only asking to be moved forward to the earlier flight at the T4 FL, will that present a potential problem with my bags getting onto the correct flight, given I'll have long since "re-dropped" them? Or can I trust AA to sort this out for me? I will also cross my fingers re Y->F, but just getting on the earlier flight will be a big bonus.

Thanks also Maca for the additional recommendation re pacing myself

With bags - when you recheck them at the "Connecting Flights" bag drop (after you exit Customs at TBIT) you can ask there.

I'm not sure how you would go at the T4 FL if you're bags had already been tagged for the later flight.

 

[moa999]

Re: When is the tasting menu served on QF11?

Ving card is the access card that you get at the T4 Admirals Club front counter for access to the FL (which is a club within a club effectively).

If you are travelling with checked luggage, shifting forwards is more difficult - rather than the above advice I would be asking at the bag drop point, and pointing out you are Emerald.

 

[serfty]

...
If you are travelling with checked luggage, shifting forwards is more difficult - rather than the above advice I would be asking at the bag drop point, and pointing out you are Emerald.

I almost never check luggage, so it is not an issue for me.

When checking in at Oz, show your LAS Ticket and your bags should be tagged through.

However, dfcatch's advice is good - ask at the bag drop at TBIT for the earlier flight - if they can't/won't do this then keep your bags and lug them over to the Premium check in area at the far end of T4 (up one level from TBIT arrivals).

From an FT thread (Standby Policy and Check Baggage - FlyerTalk Forums) it appears they will re-check your luggage onto the earlier flight whether you make it or not.

As a oneworld elite, they allow you to standby for free: American Airlines List Of Top Travelers Who May Standby At No Charge On AA.com

A "Ving" card is simply a key card. They give you white one at the lounge entry foyer at T4 concourse level when you check-in. This operates access to the FLounge's sliding glass door. Since you are oneworld emerald you are entitled to this. (Business Class/Sapphire/QP/AC members don't get these cards.) After being given the card you had upstairs and head to the right out of the upper lift lobby, down the end and then left where you will see the frosted glass doors of the F/L. Use this and proceed through - immediately to your right is the F/L service desk where you check-in again; surrendering the key card. Here you can ask for shower access etc. .

 

[wafliron]

Just to fill in some of the blanks now that I've returned from the states, for the benefit of anyone else reading this thread in the future:

Asking the LAX F host for help, whilst a good idea, was a complete fail. I e-mailed them 24 hours before the flight asking for assistance - if they could keep an eye on the flight and liaise with AA on my behalf to get me onto the earlier LAX-LAS flight if SYD-LAX was running on time, and/or meet-and-greet me to assist with expediting customs and baggage clearance and hence allow me to ask AA to bump me to the earlier flight as quickly as possible. Got off the plane in LAX - no response from the F Host and no one waiting to meet me. I did eventually hear from them - received a voicemail whilst in the air between LAX and LAS apologising for "not responding to my request sooner".

All worked out well in the end, however: the SYD-LAX flight landed roughly on time and customs clearance didn't take too long (about 30 minutes - unfortunately we landed just after a full flight from China). Bag drop lady just grunted at me and pointed at the exit door when I asked about moving to an earlier LAX-LAS flight, so I took my checked luggage over to T4 and asked at the AA checkin counter. The earlier LAX-LAS flight was fully-booked, but AA were happy to put me on the standby list and as it turned out a couple of pax did a no-show and I was able to catch the earlier flight. Even had enough time for a quick shower and drink in the T4 Flagship lounge (thanks for the info re the "Ving card" as well guys)

 

[drewbles]

Interesting. They let you wait list with luggage? Did that make it on the same flight or your original flight?

I've had great success with waitlisting on AA as an elite, but never with luggage (there have been exceptions where it was due to a/c going u/s and missing connections but not because 'i would like an earlier flight please').

 

[wafliron]

Interesting. They let you wait list with luggage? Did that make it on the same flight or your original flight?

Yep, no issue waitlisting with luggage, and it arrived on the same (earlier) flight. I asked the checkin agent about this and she said my luggage would have been put on the earlier flight anyway, even if my waitlist hadn't cleared (or if I hadn't requested to be be moved up to the earlier flight at all).