Originally Posted by SK AAR

Hmm. The key question is here if you are looking at a single booking/ticket from SAP to ZRH - or if you already booked MIA-ZRH with Swiss and are now looking at SAP-MIA on a separate ticket?

If the former, there should be no issues if you misconnect at MIA due to incoming AA flight arriving late. AA will have to rebook you to ZRH (free of charge) so you go the AA counters in the event of misconnecting. However, if the incoming flight is on time (or only slightly delayed) AA may give a hard time rebooking you for free if you nevertheless miss the LX flight. AA will of course not rebook you for free if you misconnect due to other reasons than attributable to AA (e.g. excessive time used for shopping in the airport, if you get lost/cant find the gate etc).

If on separate tickets, you need to understand that the risk of missing the LX flight is entirely on you. When on separate tickets you will technically no-show for the LX flight and either your tickets are lost - or more likely - you need to pay to get rebooked for the following day(and this is very likely to be a substantial amount as you need to pay the change fee as stated in the LX fare rules and any up-fare if the original booking class is no longer available - most likely it will not be when on short notice like this). You may have travel insurance that would cover the expenses of getting rebooked if the incoming AA flight is late and you miss the LX flight. AA will not be able to help you in this situation - their obligation is to get you to MIA and nothing further when on separate tickets.

I expect that AA at SAP will be able to check your bags through to ZRH (regardless if on 1 or separate tickets; but the latter is more complicated and AA is not obliged to do so) which means that you will not have to collect them at MIA for re-check-in with LX. Anyway, with 2h40min there is a very good chance that you will make it in time to the LX flight. I wouldn't worry too much. Good luck!

P.S. This inquiry relates to AA and should be posted in the AA for better and more accurate replies. Moderator, please move to AA?