Minimum safe layover times

Replies: 25 - Last Post: Oct 4, 2012 1:42 PM Last Post By: bzookaj

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Oct 3, 2012 8:36 AM
Posts: 18

I understand that which airports you go through and the carrier has a bearing on this, so here goes:

All on American Airlines:

inbound:
leave Sat 22 Dec 11:55am Sydney - arrive Sat 22 Dec 6:30am Los Angeles (LAX) terminal B
leave Sat 22 Dec 9:10am LAX terminal 4 - arrive Sat 22 Dec 5pm Miami International (2:40 hour overlay)
leave Sat 22 Dec 6:05pm Miami International - arrive 9:55pm Sint Maarten (1:05 hour overlay)

outbound:
leave Sun 6 Jan 9:25am Aruba - arrive 11:30am Miami International
leave Sun 6 Jan 3:55pm Miami International - arrive 6:45 LAX terminal 4 (4:25 hour overlay)
leave Sun 6 Jan 10:20pm LAX terminal B - arrive Tue 8 Jan 8:20am Sydney (3:35 hour overlay)

I am a Dutch national - so I'm not a US citizen, but my country is in the Visa Waiver program

markharf

Oct 3, 2012 9:33 AM
Posts: 1,956

"AA if it does go into Bankruptcy will be a formality in court, and not effect the operations, its huge, not some little 4 plane operation... "

AA is already in bankruptcy; this is not idle speculation.

AA is also in the midst of a bitter dispute with its pilots union, since their bankruptcy is designed to break the pilots union. The pilots have started calling in repair orders on everything in sight. That has been causing a lot of delays--record delays, in fact. Their on-time performance has suffered greatly, and there is no immediate resolution in view. This would be worth taking into consideration for anyone trying to cut connection times close to the bone.

It's current news. Google it if you care, but in any case try not to speak out of ignorance.

Mark

yaguri

Oct 3, 2012 11:14 AM
Posts: 403

Since everything is on one airline, I assume it's a single itinerary. Under those circumstances, the connection times you list are plenty long. However, the caveats people have listed about American are true: their current labor issues are causing serious and unpredictable delays on some (though not all) flights. If they haven't been resolved by the time you travel, there's a definite possibility of a flight being more than a few hours late.It would be their responsibility to get you on another connection, but employees would likely be overwhelmed and not eager to go the extra mile while they're pissed off at management.

BTW, the visa waiver saves you the hassle and uncertainty of applying for a visa, but it doesn't actually save you time getting through customs -- you stand in the same line with all the other foreign visitors.

SoloHobo

Oct 3, 2012 11:51 AM
Posts: 9,914

My error, I was referring to a carrier when it goes into Bankruptcy. Though there are major labor issues with its pilots and unions, the majority of AA flights are time, at least here in Chicago, a major hub.

I pretty much switched from AA to Untied 3 years ago due to the upgrades are easier for Frequent Flier status. They also have newer aircraft. AA is suffering a terrible PR problem now, as the unions have them in a stranglehold. If the airplane seat issues are determined to be intentional, that is criminal, but would not put past the unions.

This could all be resolved before Xmas though.

gardyloo2

Oct 3, 2012 2:32 PM
Posts: 143

Booking all flights on one ticket, even if some segments are on airlines that aren't partners, means that the airlines' scheduling computers will automatically assure that your connections meet "MCT" - minimum connection times - which are different by airport, or whether the flights are domestic/domestic, international/international, or international/domestic, and/or are "online" (same carrier) or "offline" (different carriers.)

If you misconnect in that scenario, you're "protected" to the next available flight, i.e., it's up to the airlines to get you to your destination. With separate tickets, you're on your own in that case.

SoloHobo

Oct 3, 2012 2:43 PM
Posts: 9,914

Miami is always a nut house at Xmas/New Year as everyone is returning from the beaches to work, at least you have plenty of time to get thru Immigration, the worst I have dealt with there was 1.5 hours and in 2006...things are more streamlined now. You will have to go back thru Security for your LAX flight after Immigration/Customs, so that can be a zoo too...be patient.

ianw6705

Oct 3, 2012 3:03 PM
Posts: 8,201

American Airlines don't fly to or from Australia, so those sectors would be Qantas, I would assume ... if they are flying the one codeshare/alliance. But outside of that, the layover times in your schedule seem very generous, even if AA is a mess. I certainly wouldn't feel the need to increase any of the connection times.

SoloHobo

Oct 3, 2012 3:36 PM
Posts: 9,914

Agree...

SusieGirl7

Oct 3, 2012 7:14 PM
Posts: 676

I think the biggest issue is that OP is flying the weekend before Christmas. Eeeek!!! The airports will be crazy crowded and full of people who only fly somewhere once or twice or year to visit relatives.

That said, you should be fine on the first leg. Not a lot of flights, if any, arriving at that hour and terminal "B" aka Tom Bradley Terminal is next to Terminal 4. Also, international flights tend to pad their arrival times.

I can't tell if you have an hour in Miami or the 2:40 you state. You will probably need to transfer terminals and I can't recall if that requires going through security again. Look that up and if you're running late, be prepared to ask for help.

The return looks fine. Sometimes the Qantas flights board early and sometimes people are still boarding last minute. And double check your departure gates. Quantas doesn't always arrive and depart from the same terminal.

At MIA, I recommend La Carreta for food.

lmnop