I had my first terrible experience under this new system with exactly this trip today. Was CE avios booking LHR-MAD, connecting to a paid J MAD-MIA with AA. When checked in at First desk in LHR was firmly told they wouldn't route the bags through. Connection time was 3.05hrs (2.05hrs before Madrid checkin closed) which I thought wouldn't be too much of a problem.

However, we landed 45min late due to French ATC strikes, and I had naively thought Terminal 4S was a separate terminal rather than just an outstation of Terminal 4. To collect and recheck my bag I therefore had to run all the way through 4S, clear immigration, wait for the little train and then run to the baggage carousel in Terminal 4. I got there with 15min to go before check in closed (yes took a full hour from plane landing to do this!)

Unfortunately though, Madrid baggage handlers are even slower than I am, and the bag didn't appear until T-3mins! Que mad sprint up to departures and arrived at the desk at T+1min. 😫

AA agents initially refused to check in my bag, until I literally got down on my knees and begged. I think had it not been for flying J, as OW Emerald, and having clearly been running for far longer than my doctor would recommend, they wouldn't have let me on.

Obviously then I had to rush all the way back again to 4S and got on the flight with 10min to spare. However rather than departing relaxed, having spent the past hour in the lounge, I arrived hot, tired and stressed - having almost not made the flight at all. All because of this ridiculous new policy.

So what are the takeaways:

- If you are going to have to collect your bags and recheck in I highly recommend arriving into Terminal 4, it will save you a lot of time
- Never under-estimate the tardiness of Madrid's baggage handlers. I would leave at least 4hrs connection time (maybe less if arriving into Terminal 4)
- OW are total c***s for implementing this new policy. It doesn't achieve anything other than cause passengers massive inconvience. This experience is really the last straw for me, and I'll no longer look to favour OW for my long haul trips (where presumably they make their money) - there is just no benefit. Will simply use my Avios to get to wherever I can get the best price/service J fare.

I intend to complain, but don't expect anything more than a generic response.