rob_88

Hi all,

I've got an upcoming trip which involves AKL-JFK-LHR-FRA, all QF/BA operated, and AA marketed/ticketed.

Two bits to this question: first, MCT confusion; second, how does BA handle misconnects at JFK?

My AKL-JFK leg (QF3, as AA7284) is scheduled to arrive in JFK at 16:50
My JFK-LHR leg (BA174, as AA6923) is scheduled to depart JFK at 18:40
So, assuming all goes to plan, 1:50 to connect I-to-I, meaning CBP/Customs/Bagging/Recheck/TSA lapping JFK T8.

1:50 feels tight, particularly with luggage, but looking at the history of QF3, it's averaged about a 30 min delay (sometimes as long as 2 hours) in the last few weeks, meaning I'd be down to 1:20 to do all of the above. There was some married segment nonsense and I wasn't able to book a better connection without getting ticketing errors; so I booked this on the assumption I'm likely going to misconnect.

Now, looking at EF, I see MCT for **-BA seems to be a bit of a mess: STANDARD.D/D...D/I...I/D...I/I.
ONLINE 1.00 1.15 1.45 2.00
OFFLINE 1.00 1.15 1.45 2.00
** OR * ARE ALL
**-BA II 1.15 TRM 8 - **
**-BA II 2.00Can someone help me figure out how to read this?
I see three possible variants:
ONLINE I/I - 2:00 - Same airline Int to Int - Maybe because they're both AA coded?
OFFLINE I/I - 2:00 - Diff airlines Int to Int - Operating carriers are different (QF to BA)
**-BA I/I - 1:15 - anything to BA where I land in T8?
**-BA I/I - 2:00 - anything to BA?

With all that background:
1. What is the I/I MCT connecting to BA at JFK? 1:15, or 2:00?
2. If 2:00, should I proactively do anything to resolve my invalid connection?
3. If I do nothing, and travel as booked, and QF3 lands on time (ie. no irrops) - if I miss my connection due to Immigration/Customs/Baggage/TSA - how does BA handle this?
4. If I do nothing, and travel as booked, and QF3 lands late - if I miss my connection due to Immigration/Customs/Baggage/TSA - how does BA handle this?
5. Once I'm through baggage claim / immigration / customs, and present myself to the T8 Check In desk, what's the actual cut-off point where they won't check my bags for the connection?

I assume someone will help me out, but I'm curious what the process is?

bisonrav

I don't think you'll need to go to the T8 check in desk. Usually at US airports there's a bag recheck on the way out of security, and you'll get your BP in Auckland or London. In my experience where passengers are at risk of missing a connection they are met by an AA rep and expedited through security back airside, IIRC by means of a large and very obvious dayglo laminated pass. I've had this at JFK, I don't recall whether this was handed to me on the way out or off the jet bridge.

I agree it's tight, and without GE I wouldn't be at all confident I'd make that connection even with an on-time arrival. I'd call Qantas and have them verify MCT if anything has changed. If you're outside MCT there isn't a lot of point doing anything proactively because it will be subject to a change fee and possibly fare difference. If you don't make your connection for reasons not under your control, you will be rebooked on whatever is available (assuming you're on one ticket), present yourself at the first AA assistance desk you see. I'm pretty sure it's the responsibility of the operating carrier to rebook, you wouldn't go to a BA desk, but others will confirm.

Andriyko

In your scenario it is 1H15M since your flights fall within the exception.
Your connection is valid. There is nothing for you to do.

If you miss your connecting flight either QF or BA will rebook you.

LCY8737

As this is all on one ticket I wouldn�t worry. JFK-LHR on AA/BA feels a bit like taking the bus, there should always be space on one of the later flights. Plus there are tons of other routing options to FRA that don�t require you to go through LHR.

orbitmic

If this is all on a single booking and you are delayed due to immigration etc, Ba will just put you on the next available flight - there are some till 11pm. Also there may be � short connection � cards for connections under 2hrs like yours.

if you are booking flights separately, however, you�ll be on your own and if you �miss the next flight you�d need to buy a new ticket (or change yours before departure time with whatever fee applies).

cauchy

Does JFK have ITI bag transfers, i.e. no need to recheck bags? It's restricted to specific airports and routes though -- e.g. MIA has it, but not sure about other airports.

KARFA

if you are arriving from an INT flight you will need to collect your bag and re-check it at JFK.

rob_88

Yep, all one ticket. 1:15 feels very short for I-to-I, but like you say, plenty of JFK-LHR to follow, and as long as there's accomodation on the next flight in case of delay that's fine.

I guess I was confused by the MCT listing 2:00 for basically everything else in JFK I-to-I and 1:15 to BA.

I'll have to wait for bags to be delivered and recheck, but I can rest a little easy that I won't be treated as a no show if I'm forced to wait.

Incredibly, I've never missed a flight before (except perhaps the odd leg to European cities on some cheap tickets ), so not sure of the steps to take to recover my trip.

I'll just leave it all as is, and hope things all go reasonably to plan, but won't stress if they don't.

Thanks all.

jerry a. laska

As noted by Andriyko the 1:15 MCT is correct as QF uses T8. The 2:00 MCT would apply to I flights arriving into a JFK terminal other than T8.