Where are my frequent fliers?

[y4m]

If you have to choose between a direct flight on your non-preferred airline (~3 hours in my case) or a connection on your preferred airline (~5 hours), which do you choose?

Is it completely ridiculous that I'm considering the connection?  

[wanderlustfoodie]

I avoid connections wherever possible.

[Deleted]

Why is one preferred? Does the connection give you sufficient time at your destination? Is the layover at an airport with good bars? The latter of these three is clearly the most important.

[rikki]

I'd connect, but I need every point I can get to maintain status now that I no longer travel for work.

[emilyinchile]

Depends where I'm going from/to, where the connection is, how long I'm going to be at my destination and what my status situation is.

If I don't expect weather delays at any of the three airports involved, will be at my destination for a while, and the extra miles could make a difference to qualifying for next tier status, I will take the connection. If I could get stuck somewhere and eff up the rest of the itinerary, am only making a quick trip where the extra 2 hours each way counts or don't get any status benefit, I'll fly direct.

[Norticprincess]

Preferred if I'm traveling with DH his status makes it easier. (Once I go back to work I should get my own ff status back, it will depend on conference schedules and what I actually go back to doing.) Unless there is a major price difference. We have a JetBlue flight vs. united flight to Florida in Feb for DH's birthday cruise. It was $200 per person cheaper. We don't normally book that far out, but it is president's day weekend and we have some time restrictions on that trip.

If I'm by myself whichever one has better legroom and price if I need to pay to upgrade to Econ plus. Is it a long enough trip or a trip that I need something that would need to be checked. - So do i have to deal with bag fees?

Eta time of year traveling and where the connection is, what time of day the flight is scheduled. Early flights with early connections I'm usually okay with, delays build during the day.

[raangoli]

Aug 28, 2013 12:05:15 GMT -5 kooshball said:

I'd do the preferred airline if I had time. If I was short on time, I would do the nonstop.

This along with where I am with respect to earning status.

[bettyfinn]

I always fly my preferred airline, no matter what sort of inconvenience I have to endure. I buy 4 transatlantic plane tickets each year with miles, so any miles I can earn I take.

[y4m]

I just want to maintain my gold status. I'm at 32K now, need 50K by the end of the year... so I should make it either way? But then this is a trip that is definitely happening versus other trips later in the year that may or may not happen.

[y4m]

Aug 28, 2013 12:18:22 GMT -5 ribollita said:

What is your preferred airline? Do you get to use expedited security or have a good chance at an upgrade?

I'm Star Alliance.  TSA Precheck though, security should be ok either way.  But the other flight is American--they always put me like in zone 5 and it's a PITA to get my bag on.  More of a PITA than a connection in Philly though?  That's unclear.

[Deleted]

Aug 28, 2013 12:21:23 GMT -5 y4m said:

Aug 28, 2013 12:18:22 GMT -5 ribollita said:

What is your preferred airline? Do you get to use expedited security or have a good chance at an upgrade?

I'm Star Alliance.  TSA Precheck though, security should be ok either way.  But the other flight is American--they always put me like in zone 5 and it's a PITA to get my bag on.  More of a PITA than a connection in Philly though?  That's unclear.

Philly is a pretty good airport for a connection.  Lots of shops to browse in.  And sufficient drinking options.

Unless you have to go out of Terminal F.  Then, well...good luck.

[Deleted]

Preferred airline if I have the time. I get way too many perks to fly my preferred airline and want to make sure I keep my status every year.

[y4m]

Aug 28, 2013 12:41:01 GMT -5 @angryharpy said:

Unless you have to go out of Terminal F.  Then, well...good luck.

Yeah. This is why I hate Philly connections. Would definitely be F.

[sent]

I would connect on the preferred airline if it wasn't costing me too much more time and money. I know their system pretty well to get myself ahead of the pack if there are flight meltdowns. And I would probably be counting on the extra miles from the connection to help make status.

I usually don't fly non-preferred airlines unless the connection on the preferred one is really nuts or the price difference is huge. Like when I was trying to get myself back from Indianapolis to NYC. I couldn't do it on my preferred airline for less than $500 with a connection with really bad times, whereas a direct flight on another airline with perfect timing was $200.  

[Deleted]

Aug 28, 2013 12:46:57 GMT -5 y4m said:

Aug 28, 2013 12:41:01 GMT -5 @angryharpy said:

Unless you have to go out of Terminal F.  Then, well...good luck.

Yeah. This is why I hate Philly connections. Would definitely be F.

BOOO.

Do you still have to go back through security to get into Terminal F?

I still have PTSD from a 2004 episode involving Terminal F, a bag search, and me crying in the middle of the airport.

[SJ]

Hard telling. I collect miles on all 3 of the major alliances, and have status on 2 of the 3, so it really depends on the details.

I agree with everyone else that there are lots of factors. Given your stats, I think vote towards going for the miles, but I am not very familiar with the Philly airport.

Not at all a ridiculous question.

[boiler717]

I would pick the preferred airline. I don't even consider non-preferred airlines.

[Deleted]

Direct flight for sure.

[y4m]

Ooh plan C. Preferred airline has an option through Charlotte. I love me some Charlotte!

[mokes]

I just had to make a similar decision! (Direct one way, connection way back, but shorter overall and getting me back earlier in the evening.)

I made the wrong choice though -- first flight was delayed, causing me to miss my connection, which was that airline's last flight back for the night. So, I think I'd go direct... Unless there are other options if you miss the first leg?

[M]

I'd probably go preferred so I can keep racking up though miles. It's a chance to get out and stretch your legs too.

[Deleted]

I go with my airline nearly all the time (or alliance partners) because I'm a total whore for frequent flier miles and flying outside of network hurts my soul.

I would go outside my network if the layover / connection was ridiculous (3+ hours) or if it put me home at a MUCH more inconvenient time (5pm direct flight vs 2am connection, for example.)

I have only taken 1 flight in 2 years on an out of alliance partner, and that makes my frequent flyer status smile.

[regina22]

Direct flight. My DH would probably say preferred, it he lives for the united club lounge, and I don't get the hype. Preferential treatment, for me, is getting there faster. So cares if I get expedited check-in, if I just have to wait around for three hours in a terminal? I'd rather wait in the plebe's line at boarding for an extra ten minutes on the front end and be done with it. Not a big fan of the hurry up and wait.

[CloudBee]

Direct. My time has value..

[heliocentric]

What Star Alliance airline would have a connection through terminal F at Philly? Is it a US Airways Express flight?

I'd probably go for preferred if the price & time weren't so different since I like to have as much status as possible. 2 hours is reasonable, IMO.