Oneworld Transfer Support / Express Connection and associated benefits
Oct 21, 2010, 10:49 am
#1
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Oneworld Transfer Support / Express Connection and associated benefits
Yesterday I arrived in Chicago from Paris. We were delayed out of Paris so my connection was going to be a little tight. The agent opening the door made an announcement listing some connecting cities. She said if you are on one of these flights "see the agent at the end of the jetway". I thought my flight was canceled, which is normally the case for me when hearing this type of announcement.
I see the agent at the end of the jetway mention my connecting city and ask if it is canceled. She says no and happens me a bright orange ticket jacket that in bold letters states Express Connection on one side and Please keep visible at all times. I mention that I have Global Entry and no checked luggage so I should be fine. She said no you can use this at Terminal 3.
Get to Terminal 3 the person checking the elite line access has no clue. TSA was not going to let me cut the line etc.
Today flying out of ORD, I ask the ladies at the Flagship Lounge if they had ever seen one and if they knew what it entitled you to. They had never seen it nor did they know what it entitled you to. There guess was something to do with the merger. They even made a few calls to other colleagues/departments and no one had any info.
I will send a email off to AA and see what response I get. Anyone here have any information?
I see the agent at the end of the jetway mention my connecting city and ask if it is canceled. She says no and happens me a bright orange ticket jacket that in bold letters states Express Connection on one side and Please keep visible at all times. I mention that I have Global Entry and no checked luggage so I should be fine. She said no you can use this at Terminal 3.
Get to Terminal 3 the person checking the elite line access has no clue. TSA was not going to let me cut the line etc.
Today flying out of ORD, I ask the ladies at the Flagship Lounge if they had ever seen one and if they knew what it entitled you to. They had never seen it nor did they know what it entitled you to. There guess was something to do with the merger. They even made a few calls to other colleagues/departments and no one had any info.
I will send a email off to AA and see what response I get. Anyone here have any information?
Oct 21, 2010, 11:09 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NYC
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It is very curious... I'd like to hear what they say. I'm Global entry too and as nice as it is to get in the front of the line the first check point Immigration, I find there is no special line after you get your luggage at customs and if you do cut the line like I'm told you can you have to suffer the grilling and insults of the line. Not fair...
Oct 21, 2010, 11:19 am
#3
Join Date: May 2008
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This was mentioned in one of the ATI announcements earlier this month. AA/BA/IB intend to have a service at their major hubs to assist customers with more seemless connections.
You are the first person I have seen mention it here, and it's certainly new. Appears there are some wrinkles to iron out still.
Good in theory though, hope they can make it work in practice.
You are the first person I have seen mention it here, and it's certainly new. Appears there are some wrinkles to iron out still.
Good in theory though, hope they can make it work in practice.
Oct 21, 2010, 11:22 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2004
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More airports have GE lines for customs. For those that don't, I've been told by CBP to simply go to the head of the line and show your receipt and passport sticker.
I've received a few comments about cutting the line but on every occassion the CBP agent responded by recommending those in line apply for GE so they too can take advantage of going to the head of the line.
MIA even has a designated GE line at passport control (to the far left in the North Terminal).
I've received a few comments about cutting the line but on every occassion the CBP agent responded by recommending those in line apply for GE so they too can take advantage of going to the head of the line.
MIA even has a designated GE line at passport control (to the far left in the North Terminal).
Oct 21, 2010, 11:23 am
#5
Join Date: May 2008
Location: NYC
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Found a line item in the WSJ 10/6 article about the ATI announcements:
* Support teams for customers transferring at five of the airlines' hubs: New York JFK, London Heathrow, Madrid, Chicago and Miami.
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-...06-705745.html
* Support teams for customers transferring at five of the airlines' hubs: New York JFK, London Heathrow, Madrid, Chicago and Miami.
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-...06-705745.html
Oct 21, 2010, 11:39 am
#6
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Today flying out of ORD, I ask the ladies at the Flagship Lounge if they had ever seen one and if they knew what it entitled you to. They had never seen it nor did they know what it entitled you to. There guess was something to do with the merger. They even made a few calls to other colleagues/departments and no one had any info.
Today flying out of ORD, I ask the ladies at the Flagship Lounge if they had ever seen one and if they knew what it entitled you to. They had never seen it nor did they know what it entitled you to. There guess was something to do with the merger. They even made a few calls to other colleagues/departments and no one had any info.
Oct 21, 2010, 2:06 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2010
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There is a sign for Express Connection at ORD to the right of the general security line in Terminal 3. I imagine the program is intended to get non-elite passengers to the front of the general security line for their connecting domestic flights.
Oct 21, 2010, 2:10 pm
#8
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Interesting! Let us know what you find about this! 
Oct 21, 2010, 2:12 pm
#9
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Oct 21, 2010, 2:51 pm
#10
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I got the Express Connection service in LHR last week. My incoming flight from AMS was delayed and my connecting flight to JFK had less than one hour to departure. There was a person waiting for us at the end of the jetbridge with signs with our last names and our connecting flight number. There happened to be 4 of us on that flight connecting to the JFK flight. They had 1 agent for every 2 people (so 2 agents total).
The agents gave us the bright orange ticket holder and said keep it visible at all times. They escorted us from T5 to T3, then escorted us to the front of the T3 security line, then escorted us to the gate. They then escorted us to the front of the line at the gate too.
The service seemed decent, but the only real benefit to me was getting to cut the security line and being escorted with one of the Jonas Brothers who was also on the flight to JFK. Oh wait, the latter isn't a benefit since I'm not a teenage girl.
The agents gave us the bright orange ticket holder and said keep it visible at all times. They escorted us from T5 to T3, then escorted us to the front of the T3 security line, then escorted us to the gate. They then escorted us to the front of the line at the gate too.
The service seemed decent, but the only real benefit to me was getting to cut the security line and being escorted with one of the Jonas Brothers who was also on the flight to JFK. Oh wait, the latter isn't a benefit since I'm not a teenage girl.
Oct 22, 2010, 12:06 am
#11
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
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Transfer Support service at JFK, ORD and MIA hubs
Since the introduction of AA/BA/IB's Transfer Support service, has anyone here been a recipient of this service at AA's ORD, MIA and JFK hubs and if so, what are your experiences?
The transfer support teams are highly present at LHR - i've seen staff waiting at the gate as I've disembarked aircraft at T5 and T3 (and not limited to late arriving flights), ready to whisk passengers with short connections to the gate in time for their next flight.
http://www.oneworld.com/ow/news/details?objectID=23140
The transfer support teams are highly present at LHR - i've seen staff waiting at the gate as I've disembarked aircraft at T5 and T3 (and not limited to late arriving flights), ready to whisk passengers with short connections to the gate in time for their next flight.
Originally Posted by oneworld.com
Smoother connections
The first oneworld Transfer Support Centre opened in June at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, with the three airlines working together to enhance customer service for passengers connecting between any of the airlines' flights.
A team comprising representatives from all three airlines identifies flights with customers who have either already missed their onward journey or are due to arrive with less than the normal minimum connection time left before their onward flight departs. Those who have already missed their onward journey are met at the aircraft gate by staff who have already rebooked them on the next available flight and printed the new boarding passes. Those below the minimum connection time are met at the aircraft and fast-tracked through customs and immigration before being transferred to their operating carrier's terminal. They are again met and fast- tracked through security to connect with their aircraft in time. Similar procedures are in place for baggage.
Additional oneworld Transfer Support Centres are open or about to open at four other main hubs including London Heathrow, Miami and New York JFK, which all opened in September, and Madrid which will open on 18 October.
oneworld will expand this concept to all of its member airlines and to more key hubs in the future.
The first oneworld Transfer Support Centre opened in June at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, with the three airlines working together to enhance customer service for passengers connecting between any of the airlines' flights.
A team comprising representatives from all three airlines identifies flights with customers who have either already missed their onward journey or are due to arrive with less than the normal minimum connection time left before their onward flight departs. Those who have already missed their onward journey are met at the aircraft gate by staff who have already rebooked them on the next available flight and printed the new boarding passes. Those below the minimum connection time are met at the aircraft and fast-tracked through customs and immigration before being transferred to their operating carrier's terminal. They are again met and fast- tracked through security to connect with their aircraft in time. Similar procedures are in place for baggage.
Additional oneworld Transfer Support Centres are open or about to open at four other main hubs including London Heathrow, Miami and New York JFK, which all opened in September, and Madrid which will open on 18 October.
oneworld will expand this concept to all of its member airlines and to more key hubs in the future.
Oct 22, 2010, 12:26 am
#12
Join Date: May 2008
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A poster had a (not-great) experience with it at ORD this week in post #1:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-benefits.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-benefits.html
Last edited by JDiver; Oct 22, 2010 at 8:07 am Reason: add post number for merged thread
Oct 22, 2010, 12:29 am
#13
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A poster had a (not-great) experience with it at ORD this week in post #1:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-benefits.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-benefits.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/14988604-post10.html in post 10.
Last edited by JDiver; Oct 22, 2010 at 8:06 am Reason: add post numbers for merged thread
Oct 22, 2010, 6:16 am
#14
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what "other" benefit were you expecting?? date with Jonas brothers?..hehe..great to see the "advertised" service working for you though...still in infancy at ORD...T5 you get the "express" sticker but T3 people have no clue...
Oct 22, 2010, 6:33 am
#15
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I saw this in a thread earlier. From the OneWorld website:
Smoother connections
The first oneworld Transfer Support Centre opened in June at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, with the three airlines working together to enhance customer service for passengers connecting between any of the airlines' flights.
A team comprising representatives from all three airlines identifies flights with customers who have either already missed their onward journey or are due to arrive with less than the normal minimum connection time left before their onward flight departs. Those who have already missed their onward journey are met at the aircraft gate by staff who have already rebooked them on the next available flight and printed the new boarding passes. Those below the minimum connection time are met at the aircraft and fast-tracked through customs and immigration before being transferred to their operating carrier's terminal. They are again met and fast- tracked through security to connect with their aircraft in time. Similar procedures are in place for baggage.
Additional oneworld Transfer Support Centres are open or about to open at four other main hubs including London Heathrow, Miami and New York JFK, which all opened in September, and Madrid which will open on 18 October.
oneworld will expand this concept to all of its member airlines and to more key hubs in the future.
The first oneworld Transfer Support Centre opened in June at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, with the three airlines working together to enhance customer service for passengers connecting between any of the airlines' flights.
A team comprising representatives from all three airlines identifies flights with customers who have either already missed their onward journey or are due to arrive with less than the normal minimum connection time left before their onward flight departs. Those who have already missed their onward journey are met at the aircraft gate by staff who have already rebooked them on the next available flight and printed the new boarding passes. Those below the minimum connection time are met at the aircraft and fast-tracked through customs and immigration before being transferred to their operating carrier's terminal. They are again met and fast- tracked through security to connect with their aircraft in time. Similar procedures are in place for baggage.
Additional oneworld Transfer Support Centres are open or about to open at four other main hubs including London Heathrow, Miami and New York JFK, which all opened in September, and Madrid which will open on 18 October.
oneworld will expand this concept to all of its member airlines and to more key hubs in the future.