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.
A lot is going to depend on what time of day the flight arrives and how long it takes to get out of security. If its 2:00 pm on a Tuesday, The Dulles Access Road to DCA will take you 40 to 45 minutes. If its 5:30 on a Friday, the Dulles Access Road to DCA will take you 1:05.
If this was a 3:30 connection time, I'd be more comfortable.
OTOH, its not like DCA-MCO is a 2x weekly route. There are daily flights and lots of connections.
Finally, is the connection time really 3:00 or 2:45 or 2:50 and they are rounding? I see BA 217 gets into IAD at 2:55 and then AA 1649 leaves DCA at 5:45. That's 2:50 which IMHO violates SCT standards.