(I looked for an existing thread, but couldn’t find one.)

Recently had my first ever misconnect on AS. Arrived too late from Mexico at LAX to make my connecting domestic flight. Chat agent rebooked us while still in MX, and gate agents there told us that AS in LAX would issue us hotel and meal vouchers. Not sure what the actual cause for the delay misconnect was - our plane arrived late in MX after returning back to the gate at LAX for a passenger issue (according to Expertflyer)

We arrived at T6 (nice) only to be told that everyone would be bussed to TBIT for immigration processing (ugh). I wasn’t sure if there were any AS agents (other than bag counter in customs) in TBIT, so we hoofed it back to T6 after passing through customs/immigrations. Fortunately we only had carry-ons.

At T6 we went to the ticket counter and the agent issued us a hotel voucher and four $12 meal vouchers (Mastercard codes). We were given a choice of the Sonesta or the Four Points by Sheraton. Not knowing either property, I chose the 4P since I was hoping to perhaps get some Bonvoy points out of it. (also, I seemed to recall that Sonesta really became a thing as a collection of misfit (?) HIX and Courtyard properties that left IHG and Marriott during the pandemic). Turns out the 4P wasn’t a great choice, but not sure if Sonesta would have been better. I did end up getting stay credit and points. And even breakfast vouchers as a Bonvoy Platinum for their extremely crappy breakfast buffet. Turns out the AS vouchers wouldn’t have paid more than 2/3 of the breakfast cost, and certainly nothing for dinner. I ended up adding them to my Starbucks account instead.

So now my question: would AS have reimbursed me for hotel and meal expenses if we had skipped going to the counter for vouchers? The distressed traveler rate AS paid for the 4P ($125) wasn’t significantly less than a room at the Hilton or Sheraton would have cost that night. Or, could I have pushed back when offered a choice of Sonesta/4P and asked for a voucher for a different place?