Originally Posted by
csycsycsy
To OP,
1) Did MAD-DFW-SAN before, IB ticket, AA metal, non flex ticket. It was 2022 and immigration chaos was everywhere, I asked to be moved to the later DFW-SAN flight and IB obliged without re-repricing. I think the earlier LupineChemist recommendation of saying "you move slow" is good. IB+ elite team works by the book but they do have discretionary powers.
2) Any reason why you didn't want the return TATL leg to be on IB metal for EU261 protection?
3) the Amex insurance, is that the vanilla Plat one? Or you got exta. The Plat's insurance is not very good and might not even apply in your situation.
To others:
In the reverse scenario, so AA ticket IB metal, with an IB schedule change making the connection at MAD a tight (but within MCT), would AA change the ticket for free?
1) Yep gotcha, it's on my list to try that route.
2) Using this route, the Whole trip was 470€ cheaper. I paid 1600€ for LCG>MAD>LHR>PDX & SAN>CLT>MAD>LCG all in first/business.
3) It's a Centurion one; missing a connection and not having an alternative within 4 hours gets you 250€ to use, so while not really fixing anything, it doesn't really hurt to get something back. I have used this benefit quite some times, last time this January when Finnair made me lose a connection and spent a night in Madrid.
As a side note, I don't really mind getting home later. I have a good position at my job, and I can work from anywhere with a laptop. The only thing I don't want to deal with is stress and running to get on a flight. One of the reasons I only fly First/Business is that I just need it easy outside of my job. Just wanted to understand how likely I was to deal with problems. Seems like a good 50/50.