American Airlines connecting flight issue

Tusky

Hi all,

Hoping someone here can advise me.

I am flying to Ecuador after Christmas from Dublin with American Airlines. The flight was booked on the American Airlines website and wasn't cheap (€1,500). The route is DUB -> LHR -> MIAMI -> QUITO. When booking it I noticed that the connection in Miami was only 1h40m, but assumed they wouldn't sell it as a package like that if it wasn't enough time. Since then I have received three emails from AA with various changes to the different flights. There is now only 1h30m for the connection.

I called their customer care to check if this would be enough time and the lady so no, it's not. She was very unhelpful generally. I asked what happens if I miss the connection and she said that they would rebook me on the next flight which is the following day (about 15 hours later). She said they would not pay for a hotel for me.

I have two questions.

1/ What are my options here? It seems mad that they can sell a flight in this way and then just leave you on your own if you don't make the connection. I have travel insurance but not sure if that helps in this situation.

2/ Are connecting passengers required to collect their bags in Miami and check them back in for the next flight? Or do you just collect at your final destination? I have found conflicting information about this online and the customer care lady was not able to shed any light.

Thanks in advance.

whomitconcerns

You will certainly have to collect your bags in Miami as an international arriving passenger. But will just dump them on a nearby belt as they will be tagged to final destination. It's for making sure of ownership.

As regards the former, they are required to get you on the next available flight.. But after that not sure what us law would require of them re hotels etc

steve-o

I would phone back again and ask what the "Minimum Connection Time" is for international to international connections in Miami. If you are now below that then it's an "invalid connection" they need to rebook you.

Otherwise, if your connection time is still above that, then there's still a good chance you will make it.

Your bags should, in theory, be checked through. Miami is one of the few airports in the US that allows direct international baggage connections without the need to collect your bag. The check-in people in Dublin will probably have no idea about this, so they may well tell you to collect your bag in Miami. It will be tagged to Quito regardless of whether or not you need to collect it in Miami. The baggage people transferring your bag in Heathow should add a red ITI tag to your bag that means that it doesn't need to go through US customs. Double check that at the gate in Heathrow before boarding. They may well make an announcement on the plane when you land in Miami to say that there's no need to collect bags if connecting to an international flight.

You will need to go through US immigration in Miami regardless of what happens with your bag. Don't forget your ESTA!

Tusky

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121502163#Comment_121502163

I rang them and they said the minimum connection time is 90 minutes, which is what I have, but she also said that it was flagged as an "insufficient connection" on their system. She offered me an alternative flight the day before, which won't work for me. She also said if I stick with original flight and miss the connection, they will refund my hotel. The next flight is the following morning. One thing she didn't seem sure of is what happens to my bags if I miss the flight. It's gonna be a stressful journey!

Arbie

Flew through MIA recently. If your final destination is outside USA then they will check bags straight through, no need to collect them, so you are OK in that respect.

You could get caught for time with customs/immigration as the queue there can be long and there are not that many agents. On this last trip people with tight connections did pass up along the queue asking if they could skip ahead and they were allowed. You might have to do that or ask the staff if they could fast track you.

Tusky

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121524962#Comment_121524962

To skip the queue like that do you need to ask everyone in front of you? Or what is the procedure? Or is it best to get a staff member to do it for you? Have never been in that position.

Arbie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121526030#Comment_121526030

I've never done it but I think first thing would be to approach a staff member. Something like "I have X minutes until my flight, can I please go to express lane/fast track?"

On the recent Miami flight the people skipping stopped and asked each one of us - it was pretty impressive and very polite - hard to say no!