Bought connection tickets with not much leeway - am I guaranteed to board?
I recently bought a flight from SFO-IAD through LAX on AA's website (not separately - both flights are under the same reservation). The SFO-LAX flight arrives at 20:56, but the LAX-IAD leg departs at 21:40. This is a very tight window, and less than what AA recommends on their website.
Since I did buy both tickets from AA (and therefore wouldn't be checking in or checking luggage at LAX), am I guaranteed to board the second flight (barring exceptional circumstances)?
Best Answer
No, you aren't guaranteed to board. The second flight will endeavour to leave on time, regardless of the status of your incoming flight.
If you do miss the second flight, though, American Airlines will automatically book you in the next available flight. This could be the next day.
Note also that even if you do make it to the second flight, there is a chance that any checked-in luggage won't.
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If the airline is offering it, chances are it's enough for most people. That said, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to tell that it leaves little room for delays and that the risk of missing your connection is higher than if you leave, say, 2 or 3 hours to connect.Relationship between Constitutional Law and Administrative Law (Chapter 2, Part 3)
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Answer 2
As others have stated, you are not guaranteed to board the flight on your booking; you are not even guaranteed to board any flight at all - the airline may decide to deny you boarding (although this would be very unlikely in your case).
What you should really ask about is how you'd make it to Washington if you miss your connection. As both flights are on the same reservation, AA will simply put you on the next available flight (and, yes, it may be the next day, moreover it may be to DCA, as once happened to me).
Generally, about 45 minutes for domestic to domestic connection on the same airline should be OK. The airline would not have sold you the two flights on the same ticket knowing that the connection is not possible. Anecdotally, I have managed just fine with an international to international connection in 45 minutes (in Munich) and have missed a 3-hour domestic-to-domestic connection (in Charlotte, NC).
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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