Why the "impossible" connections on AA?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Tampa, FL
Programs: UA 1.5mm, *gold, AA - P, Marriot Titanium
Posts: 71
Why the "impossible" connections on AA?
I had pretty much stopped business travel since the start of Covid, but been flying a lot lately on AA (unfortunately) up and down the east coast. Almost all flights now thru CLT are all "impossible" connections, at 30 minutes. If anything at all goes wrong, and the connecting flight leaves on time, you are screwed. Fortunately AA is so messed up right now that I am able to make 75% of connections since the connecting flight is delayed or they leave the door open longer than they are supposed to. I am getting too old to run between gates.
Why on earth do the insane AA ops planners think that a 30 minute connection is a valid connection? They know that passenger loading is so high right now that they cannot fit the misconnects in subsequent flights. Couldn't they alleviate a lot of badwill they are generating right now by overhauling their system to do at least 60 minute connections?
Why on earth do the insane AA ops planners think that a 30 minute connection is a valid connection? They know that passenger loading is so high right now that they cannot fit the misconnects in subsequent flights. Couldn't they alleviate a lot of badwill they are generating right now by overhauling their system to do at least 60 minute connections?
#2
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: AAdvantage Exec Platinum, Hertz #1 Club Gold Five Star, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, HHonors Silver
Posts: 2,039
I had pretty much stopped business travel since the start of Covid, but been flying a lot lately on AA (unfortunately) up and down the east coast. Almost all flights now thru CLT are all "impossible" connections, at 30 minutes. If anything at all goes wrong, and the connecting flight leaves on time, you are screwed. Fortunately AA is so messed up right now that I am able to make 75% of connections since the connecting flight is delayed or they leave the door open longer than they are supposed to. I am getting too old to run between gates.
Why on earth do the insane AA ops planners think that a 30 minute connection is a valid connection? They know that passenger loading is so high right now that they cannot fit the misconnects in subsequent flights. Couldn't they alleviate a lot of badwill they are generating right now by overhauling their system to do at least 60 minute connections?
Why on earth do the insane AA ops planners think that a 30 minute connection is a valid connection? They know that passenger loading is so high right now that they cannot fit the misconnects in subsequent flights. Couldn't they alleviate a lot of badwill they are generating right now by overhauling their system to do at least 60 minute connections?
#3
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: AA PLTPRO, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,559
I'd add #3 - Search Results
Since #1 above applies and they don't care, shorter connections = shorter overall time traveled and I think that either pushes the result higher in the search or folks sort that way. I've been tripped up by this a few times until I drilled into the details to see how tight the connection is
Since #1 above applies and they don't care, shorter connections = shorter overall time traveled and I think that either pushes the result higher in the search or folks sort that way. I've been tripped up by this a few times until I drilled into the details to see how tight the connection is
#4
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: DFW EGE AUS
Programs: AA EXP | UA PLT
Posts: 75
I don't get it either, but it's easy enough for me not to book them. Given all the advance press about how this was going to be the summer of misery, I haven't booked a connection shorter than 90 minutes. I've still spent the night in DFW and DEN, but the extra time has saved me more than once.
#5
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: SFO/STS
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond
Posts: 396
Yesterday, I was looking to redeem some miles for a family trip and the only semi-reasonable mile requirements (under 50k for coach) were flights with those impossible segments. I'm not running through the airport with the wife and kids in tow, especially if we are sitting in MCE.
#7
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP (3MM), DL PM, BONVOY TITANIUM, HYATT GLOBALIST, HILTON DIAMOND, IHG DIAMOND AMB, et al
Posts: 5,913
-FlyerBeek
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,247
I'd call it luck. Some of AA's published MCTs for CLT border on physical impossibility, IMO. For example, I believe the mainline->regional domestic MCT is 0:35. Assuming an exactly on-time flight arrival and door closure 15 mins prior, that could give someone 20 minutes to deplane (potentially from the last row of a full plane) and then get from B15 all the way to E42 (granted an extreme example, but definitely a possibility). I'd be challenged doing that, even knowing my way around CLT.
-FlyerBeek
-FlyerBeek
I showed up at CLT 22 mins before departure on Monday (brilliant Uber planning, I'll accept awards now) and we made it to D13.
IMO, PHX with it's 25 minute connections is far worse.
#9
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP (3MM), DL PM, BONVOY TITANIUM, HYATT GLOBALIST, HILTON DIAMOND, IHG DIAMOND AMB, et al
Posts: 5,913
#10
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Denver
Programs: AS, AA, UA, Hilton, Marriott, Caesars DE
Posts: 2,070
I've been dealing with a hell storm the last month of 60 minute connections basically turning into overnights or being put on much later flights out because a single disruption essentially jeopardizes any connection. Considering doors close 10-15 minutes beforehand. You really have even less time than advertised in your connection.
#11
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 949
I've been dealing with a hell storm the last month of 60 minute connections basically turning into overnights or being put on much later flights out because a single disruption essentially jeopardizes any connection. Considering doors close 10-15 minutes beforehand. You really have even less time than advertised in your connection.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Tampa, FL
Programs: UA 1.5mm, *gold, AA - P, Marriot Titanium
Posts: 71
When they got it going and finally got off the plane, I ran to my gate, and they closed the door right behind me.
#13
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AA PLT, IHG Spire
Posts: 551
I had a tight connection in DCA this week, but I had the choice of 40 min or 4.5 hrs. Luckily I still made it after we took off 20 mins late but I was one of the last to board. DCA has gotten slightly harder to connect with the new terminal, as it seems like I always have to switch between the D and E gates haha.
#14
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
I can't help but think that AA is not doing this on purpose - after all AA had dozens of flights in a given bank. I don't think the planners and schedulers are purposely building in tight connections just to make people miserable. AA 1114 from DCA to CLT feeds passengers into upwards of 100 different destinations - from Florence, SC to Florence, Italy. If the schedule algorithm is such that DCA-CLT and DCA-FLO happen to meet the computer-mandated MCT, the airline systems view it as a legal connection and will publish it as such. I don't think there is a planner who wants a good laugh at Jeffw5555's expense and decides to create a connection that is next to impossible.
If anything, perhaps schedule planners and airport operational managers need to revisit what constitutes a valid MCT on a seasonal basis.
At the end of the day, airlines can publish schedules and passengers have the ability to accept a schedule or find something better (unless that tight MCT happens to be the only flight of the day or the last flight of the day). Personally, this summer, if there is less than a 60-minute connection, I'm finding a different routing.
If anything, perhaps schedule planners and airport operational managers need to revisit what constitutes a valid MCT on a seasonal basis.
At the end of the day, airlines can publish schedules and passengers have the ability to accept a schedule or find something better (unless that tight MCT happens to be the only flight of the day or the last flight of the day). Personally, this summer, if there is less than a 60-minute connection, I'm finding a different routing.
#15
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
I had a tight connection in DCA this week, but I had the choice of 40 min or 4.5 hrs. Luckily I still made it after we took off 20 mins late but I was one of the last to board. DCA has gotten slightly harder to connect with the new terminal, as it seems like I always have to switch between the D and E gates haha.