Why the "impossible" connections on AA?
Jul 21, 2022, 6:52 pm
#31
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This is what triggered me to post this thread. On my flight this week, it was a 30 minute connection. Flight pulled up to gate on time, only for the pilot to get on the horn and say "Sorry ladies and gentlemen, but the jetway is not working." Then he had the gall to say "the jetways are not managed by American, they are the responsibility of the City of Charlotte, we have called them but do not have any feedback of when they can resolve this." I didn't have a super-long run, end of C to end of B (At least it wasn't end of E to end of B)
When they got it going and finally got off the plane, I ran to my gate, and they closed the door right behind me.
When they got it going and finally got off the plane, I ran to my gate, and they closed the door right behind me.
I'm confused by the apparent anger toward AA and its scheduling in this thread. When you book a flight, look closely at the connection time(s). If you're not comfortable with the amount of time, don't book the flight. If you still book the itinerary, you're accepting that you may have extra expenses/wasted time/other hassles if you misconnect, particularly if the reason is weather/ATC/something else outside AA's control.
Is this only an AA phenomenon?
It has been a while since I've had to connect on other carriers domestically, but I do have memories of running through DEN, DTW, MSP, ATL, and IAH. Have UA, DL, and WN extended their connection times?
Of course, if possible, I always opt for a nonstop flight, even if it means traveling on another carrier.
It has been a while since I've had to connect on other carriers domestically, but I do have memories of running through DEN, DTW, MSP, ATL, and IAH. Have UA, DL, and WN extended their connection times?
Of course, if possible, I always opt for a nonstop flight, even if it means traveling on another carrier.
Jul 21, 2022, 7:08 pm
#32
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Denver
Programs: AS, AA, UA, Hilton, Marriott, Caesars DE
Posts: 2,070
I’m sorry, but from my experience this is unequivocally false, I’ve landed countless times before the door has been closed on my connection and off-boarded from the flight, so much as even running to the gate and being there at T-10 to only find a closed door and no help. The rule would be T-15, while the exception is to hold the flight.
Jul 21, 2022, 10:44 pm
#33
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 38
The financial benefit of heavy banked hubs with a/c sitting on the ground for less time far outweighs additional cost of missed connections, particularly when said missed connections can often be attributed to weather related and the airline owes the traveler nothing. Look at it this way. A CK/EXP flying often has either the corporate or personal resources to absorb additional costs when a connection is missed and the airline is not on the hook for hotel/meals. Everyone else the airline doesn't really have much of an incentive to please anyway. Moreover, heavy business travelers usually have contingent plans in place.
Jul 22, 2022, 6:13 am
#34
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Tampa, FL
Programs: UA 1.5mm, *gold, AA - P, Marriot Titanium
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My daughter goes to school in the northeast, in a city where AA rules. AA has lots of flights there, but none with connections greater than 30 minutes. She has to travel back and forth a number of times per year, each one stressful because of potential misconnects. (and the 30 minute connections thru CLT are E to B or C, a long run) It is impossible to book AA with greater connection time.
I am now committed to flying her via UA, the MCT on UA are at least 50 minute connections, There is only one flight per day with a connection greater than 50 minutes, at 2 hours. This flight is at a premium, 50% more than the AA flights.
Jul 22, 2022, 6:16 am
#35
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
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Posts: 3,212
Anecdotal, but the few times I’ve flown UA with a “short” connection and arrived under MCT, I’ve been texted that the flight will wait for me and to proceed rapidly to my gate. I’ve sat on UA flights waiting for passengers connecting, to say the same of AA as an EXP is nonexistent. But you may be right, we just know AA has been doing this banked system and creates a big downstream effect once one segment is effected.
Jul 22, 2022, 6:26 am
#36
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AA has neither of the above, especially thru CLT.
Last edited by aztimm; Jul 22, 2022 at 6:38 am Reason: Masking vulgarities is against the FT rules: https://www.flyertalk.com/help/rules#offensive
Jul 22, 2022, 6:47 am
#37
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Anecdotal, but the few times I’ve flown UA with a “short” connection and arrived under MCT, I’ve been texted that the flight will wait for me and to proceed rapidly to my gate. I’ve sat on UA flights waiting for passengers connecting, to say the same of AA as an EXP is nonexistent. But you may be right, we just know AA has been doing this banked system and creates a big downstream effect once one segment is effected.
Sure, a true hub like CLT can't necessarily do that all the time, but it was the first time I've seen that at AUS, and I was happy that things seemed to work out for everyone.
Jul 22, 2022, 7:32 am
#38
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 949
Years back PM AA debanked hubs and went to rolling hubs to cut down on misconnects and the drama/costs that went with it. Then Parker re-banked PM AA hubs. You can bet if banked hubs didn't come out ahead financially even with the added costs AA wouldn't have banked hubs.
Jul 22, 2022, 9:42 am
#39
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
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Jul 22, 2022, 10:49 am
#40
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
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I would never book a 35-minute connection at ORD unless the route has 8 more flights that after....never mind.
I would -never- book a 35-minute connection at ORD.
I would -never- book a 35-minute connection at ORD.
Jul 22, 2022, 11:10 am
#41
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: STL
Programs: USair BA DL AA
Posts: 114
I’m sorry, but from my experience this is unequivocally false, I’ve landed countless times before the door has been closed on my connection and off-boarded from the flight, so much as even running to the gate and being there at T-10 to only find a closed door and no help. The rule would be T-15, while the exception is to hold the flight.
Jul 24, 2022, 6:07 am
#43
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,124
Airline MCT's are actually well planned out. If you are a person of normal intelligence and normal mobility you shouldn't have a problem with a MCT connection provided you actually arrive in time. Allowing yourself more time for connections will of course lead to a lower chance of misconnections due to late arriving flights.
There are a fare problems with MCT's. The biggest is codeshares. Some flights have longer MCT times, either because of the aircraft size, gate it uses, or origin, but for some reason code share flight numbers on the same flight often dont get the same adjustment, so will revert to the aiport standard MCT. One place this has caused a lot of problems is BA to AA connections on an AY flight number in SJC.
There are a fare problems with MCT's. The biggest is codeshares. Some flights have longer MCT times, either because of the aircraft size, gate it uses, or origin, but for some reason code share flight numbers on the same flight often dont get the same adjustment, so will revert to the aiport standard MCT. One place this has caused a lot of problems is BA to AA connections on an AY flight number in SJC.
Jul 24, 2022, 9:31 am
#44
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: CMH, West Coast
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, oneworld emerald
Posts: 2,741
I booked and pretty easily made a 36 minute connection in PHX last week. It's the shortest I've ever done, and it was close. I looked up the flight (8:00 TUS-PHX), and 7 of the last 12 days I would have missed the connect.
Jul 24, 2022, 10:30 am
#45
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AA PLT, IHG Spire
Posts: 551
I just realized I booked a 1:35 I to D connection in Miami which is exactly at MCT I believe. I forgot that MBJ is not a pre-clearance airport and wasn't thinking about customs when I booked. I would probably have no trouble as I am Global entry but I'm travelling with others what will not have that luxury.
Here's hoping for a schedule change, I found the reason why that Basic Economy flight was so cheap haha.
Here's hoping for a schedule change, I found the reason why that Basic Economy flight was so cheap haha.