I was really providing a data point and TBH in this case NEITHER would have been useful in terms of getting through to a phone agent because I was hoping to get through and be rerouted before getting off the plane since I had checked bags. I was hoping I could get through and get rerouted to another city since the flight to my destination was canx’ed and there were no more options that night. In this case, the AA App would not let me select or view options to alternate cities (the DL App does/will in IROPS and when this happens the bags are supposed to catch up automatically too) which is why I was trying to get through to an agent with AA. Since I was unable to get through to an Agent to reroute before my bags came off, I really had no choice but to overnight at LGA since even if I got rebooked to another city that night it’s less likely my bags would have caught up. After getting off the plane I confirmed with an AA agent at the Admirals Club my bags were going to bag claim for what was now an overnight layover.

Some of us like/prefer long layovers. I’ve purposely booked 4 hour layovers in DTW because it allows us enough time to leave security and meet up with my wife’s side of the family for a meal near the airport. But even when not doing that I still prefer a longer layover 2-3 hours) in many cases at ATL/MSP/JFK to go relax in a SkyClub or AmEx Lounge and get some snacks or a meal and plane watch.

A longer layover also provides more cushion in IROPS/delays. And it’s not just about making my flight as even if there are alternate options it’s about seat-selection preservation since I don’t want to be rebooked into a seat I don’t fit in.

Of course a 2 hour layover at LGA wasn’t enough in the case of the story in the first part of this post since my connection was canceled but 2 hours is still usually my preferred layover time.