Impossible connection time: will AC deny borading?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,465
Impossible connection time: will AC deny borading?
Here's the situation. I booked the famous SAW lifemiles redemption several months ago, in business class, with the following upcoming itinerary:
Canada - LHR AC
LHR-FRA LH
FRA-SAW TK
All connections were fine at the time of booking. Now, because of schedule change, the connection time in FRA is 0:00 - arriving and departing at the same time.
Big question: will AC let me fly to LHR with this ticket as is? I have no checked luggage. I don't want to call TA at all due to obvious reasons. And I am OK if I miss the flights after LHR.
Or, will AC deny boarding?
Canada - LHR AC
LHR-FRA LH
FRA-SAW TK
All connections were fine at the time of booking. Now, because of schedule change, the connection time in FRA is 0:00 - arriving and departing at the same time.
Big question: will AC let me fly to LHR with this ticket as is? I have no checked luggage. I don't want to call TA at all due to obvious reasons. And I am OK if I miss the flights after LHR.
Or, will AC deny boarding?
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC*SE 2MM
Posts: 16,706
Sometime between now and your flight date you will almost certainly get notification of a scheduling change for your connection or the original flight. At that point you can probably speak with AC and get whatever flights best suit your schedule.
If your hope was to bail on the two connecting flights, stay in LHR then grab your return from LHR; don't do it - you will almost certainly have the remainder of your ticket cancelled.
If your hope was to bail on the two connecting flights, stay in LHR then grab your return from LHR; don't do it - you will almost certainly have the remainder of your ticket cancelled.
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,465
To clarify:
It is one way ticket.
Ticket issued by TA, not AC.
Ticket issued to SAW because of TA award pricing error, which is now fixed.
I need to go to LHR.
Impossible connection is LH-TK in FRA.
I don't want to call TA because they may cancel the ticket, or reprice it to correct mileage, or reroute me away from LHR.
My worry is that AC will deny me boarding in Canada.
What will likely happen at AC check in? Will AC transport me to LHR on this ticket as is?
It is one way ticket.
Ticket issued by TA, not AC.
Ticket issued to SAW because of TA award pricing error, which is now fixed.
I need to go to LHR.
Impossible connection is LH-TK in FRA.
I don't want to call TA because they may cancel the ticket, or reprice it to correct mileage, or reroute me away from LHR.
My worry is that AC will deny me boarding in Canada.
What will likely happen at AC check in? Will AC transport me to LHR on this ticket as is?
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE*2MM. SPG Plat life
Posts: 4,644
To clarify:
It is one way ticket.
Ticket issued by TA, not AC.
Ticket issued to SAW because of TA award pricing error, which is now fixed.
I need to go to LHR.
Impossible connection is LH-TK in FRA.
I don't want to call TA because they may cancel the ticket, or reprice it to correct mileage, or reroute me away from LHR.
My worry is that AC will deny me boarding in Canada.
What will likely happen at AC check in? Will AC transport me to LHR on this ticket as is?
It is one way ticket.
Ticket issued by TA, not AC.
Ticket issued to SAW because of TA award pricing error, which is now fixed.
I need to go to LHR.
Impossible connection is LH-TK in FRA.
I don't want to call TA because they may cancel the ticket, or reprice it to correct mileage, or reroute me away from LHR.
My worry is that AC will deny me boarding in Canada.
What will likely happen at AC check in? Will AC transport me to LHR on this ticket as is?
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC*SE 2MM
Posts: 16,706
If you don't get notification of a schedule change, I'd suggest doing OLCI at ~T-24 hours. As long as you get a boarding pass, you should be fine.
If and only if for any reason you can't get your boarding pass, call AC.
If and only if for any reason you can't get your boarding pass, call AC.
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Montreal
Posts: 260
Strange question...
They sold you a ticket so they can't just say sorry you're boned. Either they let you on board with this ticket or else they will adjust the ticket to fix the connection. If you want to just say in LHR anyway and you have no luggage you can agree to anything they propose for the adjustment of the connecting flights.
So you're in the lucky position of having no problem.
They sold you a ticket so they can't just say sorry you're boned. Either they let you on board with this ticket or else they will adjust the ticket to fix the connection. If you want to just say in LHR anyway and you have no luggage you can agree to anything they propose for the adjustment of the connecting flights.
So you're in the lucky position of having no problem.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC*SE 2MM
Posts: 16,706
His only risk is if the "fix" bypasses London and has him fly directly Canada to FRA or say IST.
His ticket is to get him from his place of departure (YVR) to Istanbul - the carrier is under no obligation to fly him via LHR or any other particular waypoint where it just so happens he'd like to deplane.
His ticket is to get him from his place of departure (YVR) to Istanbul - the carrier is under no obligation to fly him via LHR or any other particular waypoint where it just so happens he'd like to deplane.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,850
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,465
I definitely do not want to deal with lifemiles about this ticket. My questions is what will AC do when I show up at the airport check in. AC part of the ticket is fine. The problem connection has nothing to do with AC. Is there a chance that AC will tell me my ticket is bad and deny me boarding?
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,850
I definitely do not want to deal with lifemiles about this ticket. My questions is what will AC do when I show up at the airport check in. AC part of the ticket is fine. The problem connection has nothing to do with AC. Is there a chance that AC will tell me my ticket is bad and deny me boarding?
However if this is a return ticket and you skip the legs in the middle (rather than having them reschedule you on a later flight upon arrival at FRA) they'll cancel your return.
#12
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: YYC
Programs: BA bronze, Aeroplan peon
Posts: 4,753
My gut feel is you'll be ok, but I have nothing to base that on. From AC's perspective you're fine, it's LH that will have to rebook you on the next available flight from a ticketing perspective.
I have had a flight where I had another flight on a seperate ticket followign the first flight. My first flight was delayed and the also changed the second ticket for me. This was on BA, but LH should do that same.
I assume this is all under one ticket number, not two? If so, then it will be taken care of because you didn't make any changes, it was an airline schedule change.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,850
My gut feel is you'll be ok, but I have nothing to base that on. From AC's perspective you're fine, it's LH that will have to rebook you on the next available flight from a ticketing perspective.
I have had a flight where I had another flight on a seperate ticket followign the first flight. My first flight was delayed and the also changed the second ticket for me. This was on BA, but LH should do that same.
I assume this is all under one ticket number, not two? If so, then it will be taken care of because you didn't make any changes, it was an airline schedule change.
I had no problem flying the first leg. Actually no one at YYZ could help rebooking the second leg. Which ended up dealt with at FRA.
That a connection no longer works is not a reason for cancelling anything. Why should it be? They might not even notice. A case for rebooking at FRA, yes. If anything, it is the airlines' fault. If doing their job right, they should rebook ahead of time actually.
however dealing with Aeroplan is going from bad to worse. More layoffs won't make them any better.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,544
Lucky you! Never got a chance to use that SAW deal even though I did GUM a couple of times.
My concern would be that you might not be able to do OLCI for your first segment if your ticket is in limbo due to invalid connections. I have nothing to base this on, but just pointing out a possible problem.
My concern would be that you might not be able to do OLCI for your first segment if your ticket is in limbo due to invalid connections. I have nothing to base this on, but just pointing out a possible problem.
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,850
Lucky you! Never got a chance to use that SAW deal even though I did GUM a couple of times.
My concern would be that you might not be able to do OLCI for your first segment if your ticket is in limbo due to invalid connections. I have nothing to base this on, but just pointing out a possible problem.
My concern would be that you might not be able to do OLCI for your first segment if your ticket is in limbo due to invalid connections. I have nothing to base this on, but just pointing out a possible problem.
No such a figure as "a ticket being in limbo."