Originally Posted by
canadiancow
No, you're wrong.
A ticket can have multiple destinations.
Unless you're telling me MUC-ORD-YYZ-SFO is a valid routing where no "connection" is over 4 hours.
You're talking about two different things (three if you included ORD-YYZ-SFO on the same ticket since thats cabotage)
Without going too much OT I'll just say this:
If you are one NA ticket with connections (layovers) then the airline only has to get you to your ticketed destination. No protection for connecting cities deemed as layovers.
If you are on separate tickets (i.e. within NA) then the airline has a duty to get you to each ticketed destination, provided they actually confirmed/ticketed such request. Your previous scenarios you mentioned one ticket with connections.
If you are travelling Inter continentally the rules are different in terms of Stopover vs layover times (24+ vs under 24), but the same rules apply: that destination/stopovers are guaranteed everything else is not.
Stopovers have to be declared at time of booking/ticketing. Depending on the fare rules they may be free, a charge attached with additional taxes, a MPM penalty/bonus, or may not be allowed at all. People who want/need a guaranteed stop/connection along their way would exercise a stopover along with seeking a fare that allows it.
If AC has a choke point for an O/D ticket i.e. YWG-YYZ-BDA then one can safely rely on a YYZ layover as a defacto protected stop since there is no other way to transit BDA without going through YYZ on AC metal. But for obvious reasons is not applicable for everyone's situation.
You are free to think whatever you want but if you misconnect with multiple segments, the airline is within their rights to put you on a more direct routing without any legal recourse from you. Otherwise MRers and Hidden city ticketers would have a field day knowing that they are guaranteed their connections/layover cities on top of their destinations, thus expanding a loophole the airlines are trying to crack down on. And is the very reason why MR/Hidden City 101, you very well make sure you make your connecting flight as you cannot afford a misconnect and get a direct rebooking*.
Many people have come on the board seeking help for getting ORC/compensation for being put on more direct routings, and you can see how much leverage they were left with. And as others have replied, this is SOP *goodwill customer service notwithstanding.
Perhaps if you feel so strongly maybe you should try it sometime, take AC to court (and wear your superman shirt
) and let us know the outcome.
/OT