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« Last edited by LoLo on June 20, 2018, 01:08:36 PM »

Author Topic: What's the best way to book?  (Read 583543 times)

Online Something Fishy

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #3000 on: May 01, 2017, 12:50:03 AM »


Goal: End up in UII Monday morning, to meet a boat to a different island.

Yellow: Option 1
Red: Option 2
Pink: Shared

Option 1, Yellow:
Sun.: LGA-ATL, DL904  6:30a - 8:45a
--- 0:51 connection ---
Sun.: ATL-SAP, DL575 9:45a - 11:06a
--- 3:54 connection ---
Sun.: SAP-LCE, NSO65 3:00p - 3:30p
--- 0:30 connection ---
Sun.: LCE-UII Private Charter 4:00p - 4:20p

Thu,: LCE-UII NSO41 6:00a - 6:20a
--- 1:10 connection ---
Thu,: LCE-TGU NSO72 7:30a - 8:10a
--- 4:34 connection ---
Thu,: TGU-ATL DL552 12:46p - 6:24p
--- 2:06 connection ---
Thu,: ATL-LGA DL8:30 - 10:53

Option 2, Red:
Sun.: JFK-SAL, AV671  4:40a - 7:40a
--- 0:45 connection ---
Sun.: SAL-RTB, AV482 8:25a - 9:55a
--- Flexible connection ---
Sun. or Mon: RTB-UII Private Charter, Whenever

Thu,: LCE-UII NSO41 6:00a - 6:20a
--- 1:10 connection ---
Thu,: LCE-TGU NSO72 7:30a - 8:10a
--- 10:20 connection ---
Thu,: TGU-SAP AV723 6:30p - 7:18p
--- 2:27 connection ---
Thu,: SAL-JFK AV574 9:45p - 3:55a +1

Option 1 Pros: As a DL Diamond, I'd get free E+ and most likely upgraded to J (based on typical loads). Leave NY later and arrive earlier, without much of a penalty on vacation time.
Option 1 Cons: Comes out around $300 more in total. 4pm arrival in UII means I can't do anything that day. Supermarket (mandatory stop for us) in UII is small and has a weak selection. Go through customs in SAP, which is supposedly more strict and will likely confiscate our meat. 4:30 layovers in LCE and TGU with nothing to do.
Option 1 "Meh"s: J is basic recliners, so nothing very special. Relatively boring from a travel collector's perspective: Only one new airline and one new country.

Option 2 Pros: $300 cheaper. Arrive RTB before noon, and can take the charter to UII whenever; this means I could choose to spend the night on either island and do an activity or two on either island. RTB has a proper supermarket. Customs happens in RTB, which is rumored to be more laid back; better chance of keeping my food. No boring layover in LCE.
Option 2 Cons: Coach flying all the way, not even an exit row or E+ - and on longer legs (5h). Leaves NY crazy early in the morning, and arrives back crazy late, pretty much killing two nights. Seriously brutal 10 hour layover in TGU; leaving the airport is not an option.
Option 2 "Meh"s: TGU layover could be cut to 0:30 or 3:00 for an extra $100-200, but that negates a big chunk of this option's financial edge (this would also get me back to NY around the same time as Option 1). I could try to match to my DL status, but AV's J upgrades are notoriously stingy, so I need to assume Y throughout. "Cooler" route, having one additional new airline, new aircraft, new country, and new airport over Option 1.

In summary: More comfortable flights (timing and classes), at the expense of more cash, possible big food problems (customs and available shopping), and half a day's vacation? Or more tiring and less comfortable flights with a nasty connection, but a better food situation and another day of vacationing?

HEEEELP! WWYD?
« Last Edit: May 01, 2017, 01:02:21 AM by Something Fishy »
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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #3001 on: May 01, 2017, 07:46:40 AM »
Cool trip, I would go with option 2.

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #3002 on: May 01, 2017, 08:09:37 AM »
Cool trip, I would go with option 2.

Thanks.

What part made you choose 2?
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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #3003 on: May 01, 2017, 08:16:29 AM »
Cheaper, more exotic trip with new airline/airport and gets you more vacation time. Not like the other option is a premium J, plus TGU is cool airport, why wouldn't you leave on layover and explore the city?

Offline sky121

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #3004 on: May 03, 2017, 01:51:15 PM »
Is 3hr 34 min enough time to get from LGA to JFK with my bags to check in for TLV flight?

Also if I book an ELAL flight but the first leg is booked with AA will they help me if I am delayed?  It's all booked together.
« Last Edit: May 03, 2017, 02:01:35 PM by sky121 »
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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #3005 on: May 03, 2017, 02:35:32 PM »
Is 3hr 34 min enough time to get from LGA to JFK with my bags to check in for TLV flight?

Also if I book an ELAL flight but the first leg is booked with AA will they help me if I am delayed?  It's all booked together.
I cant see it taking more than an hour between LGA and JFK even with the Van Wyck at a standstill. You should be fine. Youre also asking if ElAl will accommodate you...thats self-evident...No..even if they are required to do so they wont.
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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #3006 on: May 05, 2017, 04:51:23 PM »
I cant see it taking more than an hour between LGA and JFK even with the Van Wyck at a standstill. You should be fine. Youre also asking if ElAl will accommodate you...thats self-evident...No..even if they are required to do so they wont.

Any others want to weigh in here? Is it silly to book a flight like this?

Also, AA can't check me in for ELAL flight, can they?
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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #3007 on: May 06, 2017, 11:43:29 PM »
Any others want to weigh in here? Is it silly to book a flight like this?

Also, AA can't check me in for ELAL flight, can they?
No they cannot if its not on one PNR.


Where is your AA flight coming from?

Which LY flight are you connecting to?

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #3008 on: May 07, 2017, 03:14:45 PM »
Does MH charge YQ on EK awards?

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #3009 on: May 07, 2017, 03:16:35 PM »
Does MH charge YQ on EK awards?

Yes.

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #3010 on: May 09, 2017, 11:25:30 AM »
This is probably not the appropriate thread. if there is a better one, please point me there.

I need some advice.
I have 1 F and 1 J on CX to HKG next month. Booked it 8 months ago.
 I was hoping for another F to open....dont want to fly J.

Of the 6 seats in F, i have 1 and its been showing as F5 always until today. Now its showing F2 which means someone booked 3 of them.

Should i continue holding out with the hope that another F will open closer in? Or is this a dead end once its showing F2 and i should scrap it and look for an alternate?

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #3011 on: May 10, 2017, 06:50:10 PM »
What's the best way to book NYC - LHR round trip ?

Offline elya

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #3012 on: May 10, 2017, 07:19:50 PM »
What's the best way to book NYC - LHR round trip ?
With the current MR-VS promo, that is probably your best bet at 90k RT in J.

Offline efflpetzel

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #3013 on: May 11, 2017, 01:44:31 AM »
With the current MR-VS promo, that is probably your best bet at 90k RT in J.
+ crazy yq

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #3014 on: May 12, 2017, 09:44:42 AM »
With the current MR-VS promo, that is probably your best bet at 90k RT in J.
20k-35k RT in Y, +$388 YQ/Tax.

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #3015 on: May 15, 2017, 12:33:00 PM »
need some creative solutions in booking this trip.

NYC - Tiblisi (TBS) stopover. TBS - TLV
TK has the best availability & timing


TLV - Morocco (CMN/RAK)
(again TK is best)


GIB or (AGP/XRY) - NYC
thinking IB avios

so which program(s) will give me the best bang for the buck
or is there any RTW awards I can take advantage of
« Last Edit: May 15, 2017, 01:52:25 PM by efflpetzel »

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #3016 on: May 15, 2017, 01:53:09 PM »
need some creative solutions in booking this trip.

NYC - Tiblisi (TBL) stopover. TBL - TLV
TK has the best availability & timing


TLV - Morocco (CMN/RAK)
(again TK is best)


GIB or (AGP/XRY) - NYC
thinking IB avios

so which program(s) will give me the best bang for the buck
or is there any RTW awards I can take advantage of
I'm thinking A3 for the first 2 segments. 30k in Y, 45k in J with 1 stopover allowed <24h
NYC-TBS-TLV should all price out as one award if you stay in TBS < 24h.

12.5k Y or 21k J TLV-CMN

Thats 37.5k SPG in Y or 56k SPG in J.
« Last Edit: May 15, 2017, 02:51:19 PM by hvaces42 »
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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #3017 on: May 15, 2017, 05:09:41 PM »
I'm thinking A3 for the first 2 segments. 30k in Y, 45k in J with 1 stopover allowed <24h
Quote
isnt A3 25k in Y (usa-eu)

NYC-TBS-TLV should all price out as one award if you stay in TBS < 24h.

12.5k Y or 21k J TLV-CMN
Quote
with A3?

Thats 37.5k SPG in Y or 56k SPG in J.
the stop in TBS is over 24h & as i'd be connecting both times in IST i'd have backtracking issues


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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #3018 on: May 15, 2017, 05:19:52 PM »
NYC-TBS-TLV should all price out as one award if you stay in TBS < 24h.

12.5k Y or 21k J TLV-CMN
Thats 37.5k SPG in Y or 56k SPG in J.
the stop in TBS is over 24h & as i'd be connecting both times in IST i'd have backtracking issues
30 Y, 45 J, 60 F
Europe/North Africa are one zone. TLV and CMN are in that zone. 42k rt so 21k OW.

I dont know if you will have backtracking issues in the same zone but you need to call to book anyway so why not call and find out if its a valid routing. Their policies are murky at best regarding  Open jaw. Worst case BTS-TLV is $150-$180

https://en.aegeanair.com/milesandbonus/how-to-spend/all-airlines/#star-alliance
« Last Edit: May 15, 2017, 05:27:43 PM by hvaces42 »
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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #3019 on: May 15, 2017, 08:01:13 PM »
consider IB or AF for TLV-CMN.

Maybe a cash fare via CAI (air Sinai would be cool)