SYD-ATH on a QF Oneworld Award

[JohnK]

There is never a final itinerary. Because I have hesitated in booking the Oneworld award some flights are no longer available so I have now had to revise the routing again. The new routing is SYD-(SFO)-DFW-(YYZ)-ORD-CID-STL-IAD-LHR-(ATH)-LHR-(HKG)-(PER)-SYD but I think I need to act quickly before the seats disappear. The good thing though is that the taxes and surcharges have reduced down to $1543 for 2 people.

I would appreciate any advice on some questions I have concerning connections and number of flights. I have included HKG and PER as stopovers even though they are morning arrivals and afternoon or night departures.

Are connections of 45 minutes in ORD and 1 hour in CID realistic on the routing YYZ-ORD-CID-STL or is this asking for trouble in luggage getting lost. They do not appear to be busy routes and I could not imagine ERJ45's having that many passengers on these routes.

Is a connecton of 1:40 hours feasible for LHR terminal 5 to terminal 5 transit and I have assumed bags will be checked through?

Is a connecton of 2:10 hours feasible for LHR terminal 5 to terminal 4 transfer BA to QF?

Is it too much flying in the one day to do YYZ-ORD-CID-STL-IAD-LHR-ATH? I have left adequate time for relaxing in the lounges in STL and IAD but my father may not be able to handle that routing. It was a compromise on him not wanting to spend an extra night in the USA and I wanted some extra flights even though I said I wasn't going to do any unnecesary flights.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Pray for a more direct routing.

ORD-CID-STL-IAD is going the long way, yes probably because the flights you don't exist.

1hr 40 at LHR is enough; but not enough to really enjoy the T5 lounge.
I think I had about 2 hours; from AMS-LHR-DFW through T5, also they don't call any flights so you have to watch the monitors.

2hr 10 on LHR T5 to T4 is probably ok; but never done that before.

 

[JohnK]

Pray for a more direct routing.

There are no flights in WHY YYZ-LHR-ATH on the day I want to travel but there is availability from IAD. Originally I was going to spend a night in Washington DC but my father is not the tourist and would prefer to get to the destination a day earlier.

ORD-CID-STL-IAD is going the long way, yes probably because the flights you don't exist.

That routing was my creation. For some reason I feel I need to visit CID. I can easily remove it and do not need to be in STL either. I just wanted some extra flights on my itinerary.

1hr 40 at LHR is enough; but not enough to really enjoy the T5 lounge.
I think I had about 2 hours; from AMS-LHR-DFW through T5, also they don't call any flights so you have to watch the monitors.

I can do YYZ-ORD-DCA/IAD-LHR-ATH which will give me a 4 hours at LHR as I will be able to get the 19:00 flight from IAD instead of the 22:30 flight.

2hr 10 on LHR T5 to T4 is probably ok; but never done that before.

That is what is recommended by the QF award booking engine and it is $270 cheaper than the BA flights that arrive in HKG late in the afternoon. I think the chances are very high BA/QF will put us on one of the later BA flights if we miss the connection to QF30.

 

[serfty]

Boarding in ORD will begin ~35 minutes before departure bringing that time down to 10 minutes.

I'd try to allow at least an additional Hours there (always the F/L to wait in)

 

[Bundy Bear]

There are no flights in WHY YYZ-LHR-ATH on the day I want to travel but there is availability from IAD. Originally I was going to spend a night in Washington DC but my father is not the tourist and would prefer to get to the destination a day earlier.


That routing was my creation. For some reason I feel I need to visit CID. I can easily remove it and do not need to be in STL either. I just wanted some extra flights on my itinerary.


I can do YYZ-ORD-DCA/IAD-LHR-ATH which will give me a 4 hours at LHR as I will be able to get the 19:00 flight from IAD instead of the 22:30 flight.

That is what is recommended by the QF award booking engine and it is $270 cheaper than the BA flights that arrive in HKG late in the afternoon. I think the chances are very high BA/QF will put us on one of the later BA flights if we miss the connection to QF30.

You are traveling with your father; do not add extra segments. ORD-STL-IAD is fine but definitely don't go through CID.

Transferring between DCA and IAD is not too bad, DCA is closer to the city but they are about 20 miles apart,

The BA flight LHR-HKG departs from T5 I am not sure its worth $270 but it would be easier for connection purposes.

I guess with a Qantas flight you can get an exit row seating.

 

[JohnK]

OK, I have a new routing that should possibly avoid any hassles for me or my father.

SYD-SFO,
SFO-DFW-STL-ORD-YYZ,
YYZ-ORD-DCA/IAD-LHR-ATH,
ATH-LHR-HKG,
HKG-PER-SYD

* Segment 2 should be OK as the SFO-DFW-STL is a through flight early in the morning then ~2:30 hours in STL and ~2:00 hours in ORD getting into YYZ late but should be able to have dinner in ORD F Lounge saving some money
* Segment 3 leaves YYZ early in the morning and has 1:15 hours in ORD so should be OK for connection and if a hassle there is another flight ORD-DCA an hour or 2 later but the award booking engine is not letting me swap and change the combination of flights. I have ~6:00 hours to get from DCA to IAD and have ~5:00 hours in LHR the next morning

The BA flight LHR-HKG departs from T5 I am not sure its worth $270 but it would be easier for connection purposes.

At this stage I am definitely not paying $270 to get on this flight even though it connects much better in HKG.

I guess with a Qantas flight you can get an exit row seating.

I am hoping this will be the case but no guarantee.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

* Segment 2 should be OK as the SFO-DFW-STL is a through flight early in the morning then ~2:30 hours in STL and ~2:00 hours in ORD getting into YYZ late but should be able to have dinner in ORD F Lounge saving some money

There is food in the AA ORD F/lounge?

Unless it's a different F lounge to the one I've been in (only been in ORD for domestic AA flights), there are some snacks (like bagels etc), but nothing substantive to eat.

 

[JohnK]

There is food in the AA ORD F/lounge?

Unless it's a different F lounge to the one I've been in (only been in ORD for domestic AA flights), there are some snacks (like bagels etc), but nothing substantive to eat.

Yes there is food in AA ORD F lounge. Various sandwiches, soups and other things. Forget which terminal but it was domestic routing in 2007. Hope things have not changed....

 

[serfty]

Pier K for ORD

Yes there is food - and it is generally substantial.

In the afternoons I have seen Dim Sum, smoked Salmon, Shrimps on skewers, Sliced Turkey, various salads etc.

 

[JohnK]

My procrastination has cost me dearly again although my father is going to be happier. Almost all flight options out of USA on a Thursday night have disappeared and hardly any flights left on a Friday LHR-ATH. So it looks I will have to leave 1 day earlier and skip San Francisco altogether which is very disappointing.

The new draft routing is amost complete and I will need to book tonight so I don't risk losing these flights as well.

SYD-LAX-DFW-YYZ;
YYZ-ORD-STL-IAD-LHR-ATH;
ATH-LHR-HKG;
HKG-PER;
PER-SYD

Segment 1 * QF11 or QF107? One allows a ~2 hour connection in LAX while the other allows a ~5 hour connection in LAX
Segment 2 * A choice of 55 minutes in ORD and ~2 hours in STL or ~2 hours in ORD and ~1 hour in STL? Whch would be the safest connection? I have gone off the DCA/IAD connection as this is not going to be easy with luggage

Any ideas?

 

[AnonymousCoward]

SYD-LAX-DFW-YYZ;
YYZ-ORD-STL-IAD-LHR-ATH;
ATH-LHR-HKG;
HKG-PER;
PER-SYD

Segment 1 * QF11 or QF107? One allows a ~2 hour connection in LAX while the other allows a ~5 hour connection in LAX

2 hours in LAX should be fine. Why would you want to spend 5 hours in an airport?

For segment 2, is there no option YYZ->IAD or YYZ-ORD-IAD?

 

[JohnK]

If there are any delays then 2 hours in LAX may not be enough and we do have some more travelling to get to YYZ that night.

The final routing as mentioned above is SYD-LAX-DFW-(YYZ)-ORD-STL-IAD-LHR-(ATH)-LHR-(HKG)-PER-SYD. It was able to book it all online and cost 280,000 QFF points and $1,543 in taxes and surcharges for 2 people. Within a few minutes I had the seats allocated on QF international sectors and I have since gone into AA and BA websites and allocated the remaining seats. Surprising with AA and BA flights, except for BA IAD-LHR, the front of the WHY cabins appear to be blocked off for a Oneworld Emerald. Anyway only short flights so no big deal.

We have been the following seat allocations and I will need to do some research unless people have suggestions

• 52BC on QF107 (4 class 747) and I assume this is bulkhead so I will leave this alone
• 40BC on QF30 (4 class 747) and I assume this is bulkhead so I will leave this alone
• 24JK on QF68 (2 class 330) so I have requested exit row as 23JK is blocked but not allocated
• 33HJ on BA216 (747) and this is first row of WHY with bassinet in 33K but I am thinking to swap to 33GH so we are sitting across from each other in aisle seats rather than middle seat
• 15JK and 16JK on the BA 767s
• On AA aircraft with 2-3 configuration I have allocated on the side with the 2 seats, on AA aircraft with 1-2 configuration I have allocated on the side with the 2 seats again and on AA aircraft with 3-3 configuration I have allocated aisle seats side by side

Looks like Niagara Falls is the only tour I will be able to do in Canada and we do not have time for anything else. We will be able to spend some time in lounges to have a rest, have something to eat and drink and possibly have a shower if time permits. May struggle with a 2 hour T5->T4 connection in LHR on the way home but will deal with it when the time comes.

I hope I do not get in trouble with US immigration as we are just using the USA as a transit point before and after Canada. I would have liked a couple of more days in the USA but my father prefers to spend the time in Greece so I gave in to his wishes.

 

[serfty]

I can think of many worse things than spending 5 hours in LAX T4 F/L. There's enough time for a shower, a snooze, a bit of a graze etc ...

Besides it would not be that long. These days boarding commences ~35-40 minutes before scheduled departure (being in Coach, you'd want to use your emerald status to board as soon as you can), there's the time to get through customs/immigration, walk through to T4 and up the escalator through security. The only issue is how late the arrival is at the other end.

If your father is exit row eligible; why not request exit seats on the Qantas 744's.

With the BA flights, you should be able to use your Amadeus reference on Ba.com to select exit row seating online.

I have never had trouble, even as a SG, preallocating row 23AB/JK seats on 333's. Note the bassinets are 23D/E/F/G.

 

[JohnK]

I can think of many worse things than spending 5 hours in LAX T4 F/L. There's enough time for a shower, a snooze, a bit of a graze etc ...

Spending 5 hours in the AA Flagship Lounge would be just what we need as we have LAX-DFW-YYZ flights to follow.

If your father is exit row eligible; why not request exit seats on the Qantas 744's.

There is no issue with my father being eligible to sit in an exit row. He is very strong and fit for a 71 year old.

I quite like the idea of the mini cabin and I will have a talk with my father if he does not mind being in a middle seat or would prefer to have aisle seats next to each other.

With the BA flights, you should be able to use your Amadeus reference on Ba.com to select exit row seating online.

I actually don't mind the first row of the WHY cabin on a BA 747s. I shall have a look at where exit rows are located for comparison.

I have never had trouble, even as a SG, preallocating row 23AB/JK seats on 333's. Note the bassinets are 23D/E/F/G.

I was told that 23AB/JK were not allocated but blocked. I put in a request for exit row last night and it is not showing up on Checkmytrip. This is the longest it has taken for exit row requests to be actioned for me and that is assuming it was entered correctly by the customer service agent. He did not appear to be very knowledgeable.

 

[serfty]

I would wait until this afternoon and call Qantas again (before 4pm) - hoping to be answered "Qantas premium".

The most experienced Agents do not generally answer 'phones in the middle of the night.

 

[JohnK]

Unbelievable! I called QF earlier and got premium customer care this time and apparently the request for exit row was not in the booking. :shock:

Anyway managed to get 23JK allocated for now and have put in a request for exit row....

 

[JohnK]

I called QF yesterday and requested exit row for the A330 flight.

I looked on Checkmytrip today and notice that we have been pre-allocated exit rows for all 3 QF flights. We are now pre-allocated seats 58HJ and 46HJ on the 747s and 45JK on the A330....

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Pier K for ORD

Yes there is food - and it is generally substantial.

In the afternoons I have seen Dim Sum, smoked Salmon, Shrimps on skewers, Sliced Turkey, various salads etc.

Hmm - rechecked what's available in the ORD AA F lounge (thought there might be more than one). Unless you call a bowl of soup and some various vegetables and fruit and sandwiches substantial, I wouldn't call it that. You can go outside, find a food outlet and pay US$5-10 and get something more "substantial" (e.g. an actual meal).

Personally I have no idea why someone would want to spend five hours in an airport lounge, but each to their own I suppose...

EDIT: Removed an out-of-line statement. Apologies to JohnK

 

[serfty]

Hmm - rechecked what's available in the ORD AA F lounge ...

Hmmm, what time of day were you there?

Look at this fresh thread from FT:

PHOTOS - AA ORD Flagship Lounge - FlyerTalk Forums

Or the direct link to the referenced hosting website with the photos:

http://nomoreiphone002.shutterfly.com/

 

[JohnK]

Personally I have no idea why someone would want to spend five hours in an airport lounge, but each to their own I suppose...

Is waiting for a connection a good answer?

We will be in LAX for 5 hours waiting for the LAX-DFW flight. Yes I could have gone on QF11 and risked a 2 hour connection in LAX but I thought that was a little risky so I decided to stick to QF107 with a 5 hour connection.

We will be in LHR for 4:50 hours waiting for the LHR-ATH flight. The only available option leaving the USA was the IAD-LHR flight that gets in at 7:00am. It is not advisable to make the 8:00am LHR-ATH flight so we will be on the next flight.

The only reason I am going to Toronto is to go on a 1 day tour of Niagara Falls. I could not really care about sightseeing half a morning before heading off to IAD so I will be going YYZ-ORD-STL-IAD at my leisure. I will also have a few spare hours in IAD but I could not be bothered going to all the hassle of going out into the city. Next time.

We will also have 16:30 hours connection in HKG and 8 hour connection in PER. Ahh the joys of trying to get awards seats on the exact dates required.

That seems, well, deranged... The world has so much more to offer/see than airports.

Deranged? Nice insult! If I had a choice between an 8 hour flight or two 4 hour flights with a 2 hour transit I would take the transit anytime. Like I am going to do anything constructive for 2 hours at the destination.