Lengthy domestic connections now permitted to/from more cities on AA award travel?
May 22, 2018, 3:22 pm
#1
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Lengthy domestic connections now permitted to/from more cities on AA award travel?
Searching for award travel on June 14 from several upstate NY cities (BUF, SYR, ITH) to MEM, aa.com is offering me some connections that exceed four hours.
I know that there was a list of some smaller AA stations to/from which 18-hour connections were permitted on domestic itineraries, but none of the above cities appeared on that list. Has the list of such cities been expanded, or is this a temporary aa.com glitch?
I know that there was a list of some smaller AA stations to/from which 18-hour connections were permitted on domestic itineraries, but none of the above cities appeared on that list. Has the list of such cities been expanded, or is this a temporary aa.com glitch?
May 22, 2018, 5:04 pm
#2
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Searching for award travel on June 14 from several upstate NY cities (BUF, SYR, ITH) to MEM, aa.com is offering me some connections that exceed four hours.
I know that there was a list of some smaller AA stations to/from which 18-hour connections were permitted on domestic itineraries, but none of the above cities appeared on that list. Has the list of such cities been expanded, or is this a temporary aa.com glitch?
I know that there was a list of some smaller AA stations to/from which 18-hour connections were permitted on domestic itineraries, but none of the above cities appeared on that list. Has the list of such cities been expanded, or is this a temporary aa.com glitch?
I've noticed exactly the same thing on a few recent award searches. Most recently today looking for a RDU-LAX award. I've also been given domestic itineraries with overnight connections that are far from being the last in first out options.
May 23, 2018, 6:38 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 805
This is pretty typical for award flights, they give you terrible connections that don't make logistical sense. The worst are the ones where you get in to one city at 8pm and then fly out at 6am, or a 5 hour layover where you you're just on the edge of having enough time to leave the airport but not wanting to chance it.
I did actually book one of these, fly into Miami in the afternoon, spend the evening downtown, and then fly out the next morning.
I did actually book one of these, fly into Miami in the afternoon, spend the evening downtown, and then fly out the next morning.
May 23, 2018, 7:34 am
#7
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When I've looked for international award flights over the last 3-4 summers, it's often been difficult to find anything that's not a ridiculously long layover. Last summer we flew LIM-MIA and watched 2-3 flights leave that could have had us home that evening before giving up and flying the next morning, as booked. IME, the 4 hour maximum rule has never applied - maybe because it's international.
May 23, 2018, 7:42 am
#8
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When I've looked for international award flights over the last 3-4 summers, it's often been difficult to find anything that's not a ridiculously long layover. Last summer we flew LIM-MIA and watched 2-3 flights leave that could have had us home that evening before giving up and flying the next morning, as booked. IME, the 4 hour maximum rule has never applied - maybe because it's international.
With a few exceptions, domestic awards have always required connections be 4 hrs or less. Up until now, it appears.
May 23, 2018, 12:55 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: CLE
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AAdvantage domestic award illegal connections
its a mess! Look closer. My domestic award searches are turning up with illegal connection times and pricing out at two award tickets. Double the cost 12,500+12,500 and $11.20 fees.
May 23, 2018, 3:00 pm
#11
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If you are using the multi-city search then aa.com automatically prices each segment separately even if it should be a single award. You have to put the flights on hold then call AA to have it priced correctly.
May 23, 2018, 3:18 pm
#12
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I'm glad to have the opportunity to book it and grab one of my 2 desired flights, then hope the other desired flight becomes available for MileSaver (no-fee change.) Also, from Victoria BC (YYJ) to SEA, the last (AS) flight of the day was at 3:xx PM, so the old system would not connect it to an ~11 PM red-eye to DFW or ORD or CLT. It forced an evening flight to LAS/ LAX/ PHX, THEN a red-eye onward! Yuk!
May 23, 2018, 4:57 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2010
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I have done this trip many many many times over the years and only this week has the search engine provided illegal connection times
10+ hour connection in PDX?
And this provides 2 tickets for $11.20 fee.
What changed this week with the award search engine?
10+ hour connection in PDX?
And this provides 2 tickets for $11.20 fee.
What changed this week with the award search engine?
May 24, 2018, 8:30 am
#15
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Perhaps a title change is needed then - "AA domestic award travel"? Because to me, flying through Miami is a "domestic connection" on "AA award travel".