julianelcontento

Hi folks,

I was lucky enough to get an American Airlines itinerary redemption to go to NZ from Montreal in November through Asiamiles, with points (it wasn’t easy!).

The way in is awesome, business class YUL-DFW-AKL on Nov 2nd.
Return ticket is AKL-DFW in Premium Economy, and DFW-YUL in Economy on Nov 22nd, I was happy with it as well even if I would have loved business class tickets.

Today I got informed the segment DFW-YUL was cancelled by AA and I got rescheduled on DFW-PHL-YUL, still with AA. Problem is my layover in DFW is only 26mn, the MCT is illegal and there is no way I can make it. Furthermore coming from AKL I’m sure leaving to YUL will be a different terminal. Never been to DFW but I assume it is a huge airport.

I contacted Asiamiles to know my option but apart from cancelling the whole booking they can’t help. They are telling me there are no other points redemption, whether for DFW-YUL or the whole AKL-YUL trip. They also informed me they can’t cancel the segment DFW-YUL only, they have to cancel the whole booking (which I don’t want, it was hard enough to find availabilities, and I booked prior to the devaluation in Sept 1st).

For now, here are the options I’m considering, and they are not ideal :

1. do AKL-DFW as planned with AA, then book a separate trip DFW-YUL with Air Canada, and not use the rest of the segment DFW-PHL-YUL. I heard this is a dangerous game and companies condemn that activity, Not sure how American Airlines treats it.

2. miss my flight at DFW and asked to be rebooked then. How dangerous is that game though ? Do I need to ask American Airlines to rebook me, or Asiamiles ? I would assume Asiamiles and my concern here is do they need to rebook me at all cost and get me back to YUL on the same day, or will they try to grab a redemption flight only ? Because if there a no flights on points on that day what will happen ?

Sorry I know my problem is very specific but any comments or strategies will be appreciated. If there are any other options I’m not thinking please kindly let me know.


Thank you folks,

brunos

I guess that there is a typo on you mean "Return ticket is AKL-DFW in Premium Economy, and DFW-YUL in Economy ".

1. It is not a dangerous game if you don't do it systematically. The problem is your luggage. I don't know the arrangement at DFW for YUL. If the bags are checked through, you are in a bit of a trouble. If the arrangement is that you need to pick them up at DFW, then you are fine.

2.Once you started your trip, AA will be responsible for the IRROPS. AM is not directly involved anymore. AA should accommodate you.

But I doubt that the system will not detect that you have an illegal connection in DFW. Hence, be on the watch in the coming weeks.

sbs2716g

Usually the robot will pick up the short connection time. Then AA should do something. There is no suitable connection available?

julianelcontento

​​​​​​
hello,
Correct, thank you for pointing it out, I have modified my original post.
You have a valid point, I didn't think about that. I would have to ask in AKL that my luggage ends up in DFW instead of YUL which would be weird to them and might out my strategy.
Good to know that AA should be the one to help me, I would have thought it will be Asiamiles. I'm used to Aeroplan and Aeroplan is usually the one responsible in case of missed connection.
I guess I would wait to see if a new ticket is issued, thanks for your insight, it is much appreciated.

julianelcontento

Thank you for insight, I guess I would wait and see. There is a better connection later in the day that would be good, with AA as well.

tentseller

AM cannot do anything as it is not a CX ticket.
AA, with their recent trend in customer service, will not work on getting you a longer MCT at DFW.

I would fly it as ticketed and make AA ground staff to deal with the issue when you arrive at DFW from AKL.
But I game a lot in Macao.

ernestnywang

Problem is the trip has not started. This is a planned schedule change as the flights in question are still weeks away. AA is not responsible, but you should be CX to talk to oneworld liaison for AA to release award seat in a flight you can take.

I believe OP is on an Asia Miles-redemption hence CX-160 ticket, not an AA-001 ticket.

julianelcontento

Hello folks, I'm digging up this post as my trip is approaching and AA or Asiamiles hasn't modified the "illegal" layover.
Question for you expert, will I have any luck if I call American Airlines? I just don't know what booking number I should tell them because my Asiamiles booking is not recognized by American Airlines.
Thank you!

efamous

1. call CX and ask them for the AA PNR. It will be six letters long, letters only (as opposed to Cathay, which will be a mix of six letters/numbers)
2. Look up some acceptable AA flights for them to rebook you on to. I’ve found they’re much more reasonable if i do the work and suggest the alternatives.
3. Call AA and try your luck. Not sure how long away it is from your flight or if AA will point you back to CX since it’s a CX-issued ticket. You’ll never know if you don’t try though! If they do send you back to CX, try to be firm and politely remind them that it’s their schedule change which is well below any reasonable connecting time.

julianelcontento

I almost want to miss my connection on purpose.
After all, with the new Montreal convention, if I arrive at destination more than 7 hours later (which is going to happen after my missed connection), American Airlines will be liable for $1,000.

jeffrey262626

CX should be able to escalate this issue to the OW desk/liaison then AA will offer new flights to CX. The problem is it seems like a lot of CX reps do not know this process. Request a supervisor or HUCA if it doesn’t work out.

dvs7310

This is the first I've heard of any new Montreal convention rules with like that, would certainly be nice though.

I'd just fly it as is until someone figures out the invalid connection, like others have pointed out eventually AA is going to have to fix it.

Be careful with luggage if you are attempting to skip anything past DFW. DFW does participate in ITI, so you don't pick up baggage there if you have int-int, it'll go on to the third country automatically. If your connection is domestic then you'll pick up bags and clear customs with them in DFW and can do whatever you want after that, whether you continue on with AA or not. But really I'd just hang tight and it'll get fixed at some point, even if that's them telling you to go to DFW and talk to Customer Service there.

PaulC852

Could you please provide some source/link describing this "new Montreal convention"?

julianelcontento

https://otc-cta.gc.ca/eng/air-passen...ons-highlights

Basically Canada has chosen to align with European Union in terms of airlines compensation rights. The airlines are fighting back at the moment to have this reversed, they are going to be heard by the supreme court.

dvs7310

Your link was an interesting read, but what makes you think you're going to arrive more than 7 hours after your scheduled flight? You land from AKL at approximately 8am. I can see loads of flights on the schedule after 10am even if the direct AA flight isn't operating that day. AC has their own flight that departs just after the AA flight was scheduled, then there are boatloads of options via PHL, ORD, DTW, and LGA that still get to YUL just a few hours late. When you're re-routed at the airport it doesn't have to be on AA metal. They'll have to decide if paying CAD$1000 is cheaper than putting you on AC, DL, WS, etc.