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Two of us are doing a golf trip across the US in October and will need some domestic flights, likely LGA – CLT, CLT – ATL, ATL – IAH and DFW – ATL with golf clubs.
I have BA Gold and SAS Elite Plus so am planning to use American and Delta respectively with reward flights.
I am guessing status will get the golf clubs on for free, but anyone any experience of which airline is best and likely to give least grief over luggage, lounge access etc? Obv ATL is a hub for Delta.
Thanks
Delta is your obvious and best choice of the 3 majors. Their app is second to United’s but still very good.
Delta lounges are rammed as are all the others (because so many have lounge access with credit cards). Military get in free and at ATL the various skyclubs can get overloaded but there are many at ATL and wandering between terminals is easy, so if one is busy try another. There are reviews on the web of individual ATL DL lounges if you search.
DL have a 20 min on time bag guarantee which AA don’t. IN my experience it’s pretty good and they do pay out the skymiles (which probably wont interest you)
I haven’t used DL for a long time, but AA are very obliging – if you are BA gold/OWE you can have 3 checked bags’ worth of luggage for you and everyone else on your booking. CLT is one of their hubs. They are notorious for changing times of flights, however, so I would recommend building in wriggle room for any connections.
You’ll also get lounge access for you and your companion with no quibbles, which AA elites don’t get on US domestic flights.
You’ll also get lounge access for you and your companion with no quibbles, which AA elites don’t get on US domestic flights.
You’d get the same with SAS status on DL and have far more chance of getting to your destination on time and with less hassle than with AA
For our trip to the US end of the month, we have both Delta and AA internal flights booked. We decided to book First – got BA booked First so thought may as well do it all in First – which gave us the front row (perfect for the 4 of us) which are better seats than BA Club Europe as they are a proper 2-2 seat configuration, rather than 3-3 with the middle seat blocked. Good for a couple of hours for an internal flight, which you are allowed one carry-on bag, one personal item on and two 32kg cases each. Think that’s enough for anybody 🙂
NorthernLass is correct though – we booked it back in November and have the flight times change several times, but doesn’t bother us with our plans.
They are notorious for changing times of flights, however, so I would recommend building in wriggle room for any connections.
About every couple of months so far for my selection of flights booked for this Autumn, and a good hour on one of them. I’m not looking forward to the 5am DCA-MIA flight.
We did DCA-Key West a couple of years ago. What a bizarre flight that was. We were on American Eagle and the plane looked like it was going to fall apart imminently, even in First where we got upgraded to at the last minute. There was one family wearing pyjamas (in December!) and a lady with a cat strapped to her chest in a pet carrier.
The DCA lounge was quite pleasant, though, and I was allowed 2 guests as BA Silver because it was really quiet.
Excellent advice guys 🙂
I presume for Delta flights, it’s best to transfer AMex points directly to Delta rather than try and book using Virgin miles? More selection and better price??
You’ll need to compare both ways because it’s different for each flight. It’s even possible to book via VS and then upgrade with DL Skymiles.
You’ll need to compare both ways because it’s different for each flight. It’s even possible to book via VS and then upgrade with DL Skymiles.
Thanks, interesting – what’s the ballpark DL miles cost to upgrade to First?
I am guessing not possible to book DL via SAS website, I had a quick look but none available.
Thanks, interesting – what’s the ballpark DL miles cost to upgrade to First?
Varies by time/route/availability. There’s no definitive answer.
I got a cash upgrade for $50 to 1st on a US flight last month, the bag charge would have been $35 as economy, so $15 for group 1, 2 bags, single up front seat (1+2 config in 1st) and booze. No brainer really. Sometimes points aren’t the answer.
To build on NL’s point re OWE getting 3 free bags on AA, this includes when booking an AA basic economy fare.
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