Originally Posted by hoopics

Over on the D.C. trip advisor forum, a couple of flyers have popped up who purchased tickets on AA flying from LHR-MCO via IAD **and** DCA. The single ticket routing provides three hours for these travelers to arrive at IAD, collect luggage (as they won't check it all the way through to MCO), clear customs and immigration (often 90 minutes for non-US flyers), make their own way to DCA (often an hour in traffic), re-check their bags, re-clear security, and board their next flight. They're understandably freaked out about it, and AA was utterly unsympathetic about making any changes to the reservation -- the routing is "legal."

Putting aside the inexperienced travelers' decision to purchase the ticket in the first instance, who determines what a "legal" connection time is between legs of a flight, and how do they do that math when airport changes are involved? These poor folks are certain to mis-connect on the weekend before Christmas, and are unlikely to get rebooked for a day or two.