I am wondering if any of our members have flown on American Airlines and then on the connecting flight flown USairways?
I'm asking because I'm currently holding Feb. Las vegas trip tickets where the return they switched carriers in Dallas Ft. Worth?
I'm more then a little concerned about my luggage.


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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

You have every reason to be very concerned. DFW is a HUGE airport, and sometimes things are spaced very apart.

I guess I'd burst your bubble if I told you that a nice AA guy takes your baggage off an AA jet, and drives right over to another terminal on the other side of the airport, and loads that bag on a US flight when it arrives.

It's been a while since I've worked the ramp at DFW, but here is how it worked at most airports back when I was there...
AA unloads bags off of their airplane. There are 3 major types of bags. Bags that get transfered to other AA flights, bags that go to baggage claim, and bags that go on flights that are not AA flights. And that is the priority order also. So the AA transfer bags go to their particular AA airplane, the local bags go to bag claim, and the OTHER transfer bags go to a place called T-point, which is a universal transfer point. AA drops the bags off, and looks for bags that others have left for AA.
Then it is up to a US ramp agent to go to T-point, find your bag, and take it to your flight. Meanwhile 15 other airlines are dropping bags off and picking up bags at T-point.

Some of the factors you don't want to hear about are how often AA delivers bags to T-point, how neat and tidy and organized T-point is, and how often (and how thorough) US checks T-point for bags connecting to their flight. As you might know, some airlines use color coded tags, some use bar codes, some use other kinds tags. They are all different and sometimes hard to read. AA has a huge presence in DFW and are dropping off bags left and right. US has very few DFW flights, minimal manpower, and doesn't spend a lot of time at T-point. AA engulfs two entire terminal buildings, and US has a couple of gates in another county.

Chances of your bags making a connection within the two terminals of AA are not the best. Chances of your bags making the trip to USAirways are even worse.

I guess the good news is that T-point gets well used every day. All the ramp agents know the routine. In theory, the system works just fine.

BTW, have you made that transfer at DFW as a passenger? It's not the simplest airport to get from one terminal to another.

[This message has been edited by JMT (edited 10 November 2000).]

Joe, I figured you would know something about this! <S>
The good news is, it's on my return flight from Las Vegas, I won't be needing my dirty clothes right away when I get back home! <S> There are few airports I dispise as much as Dallas, and none I dispise more! Heck I even hate when I fly through there and I'm just flying American. That tram is not my friend, and neither are the long walks. I have yet to take the tram and it be quicker to get to a gate, however it does save on the leg work!
Now as far as my fuzzy thoughts on how the baggage would be handled, the way you discribed it, is actully better then what I invisioned. I somehow had a picture of my luggage sitting in one of those luggage train carts out on the tarmac in the driving rain for a couple of hours, untill maybe a jet blew it off the cart and under the wheels of another jet! LOL

Thanks for your input. I really need to think about this.
BTW, if it does get left at DFW, who's problem is it to get the lost baggage to my doorstep?

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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

Usually, at the end of the day, each carrier makes another trip to T-point and goes through the leftover bags. This is the best chance for making sure the bags get to the right carrier.

USAirways would be the final responsible carrier. If your bag doesn't make it home with you, there is a great chance that it will be on the first flight the next day.

They renamed all the terminal buildings since I last flew out of DFW. Instead of 2W 3E, 2E, etc., the decided to make them Terminal A, B, C, etc. I assume the tram is just as bad as it has ever been, but if you can read the maps right and get on the right tram, it will be less of an enemy.

I've never switched carriers in DFW, and only used AA through the place. I guess my problem is, do I feel lucky? LOL

One more question, if I miss my Usairways conecting flight because of a delay on AA, where do I stand then....this doesn'e sound like a very good plan the more I think about it!

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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

I'll pass on that question, as I'd hate to steer you wrong. I suggest you talk to both sides, and maybe a travel agent for a tie breaker. I SUSPECT that it is up to AA to protect you. If it were the last flight of the day, I SUSPECT a hotel room and food voucher are in order, along with a positive space ticket on the first available flight the next morning.

If you do get stranded, give me a call. I'm only a mile from the airport.

Joe,
Thanks for the offer! Actually, dinner with you in Dallas sounds like a great time, but my plan is to just get thome! LOL
But I have serious doubts this change of carriers is for me.
I'm going to try Continental again today. The agent I talked to, seemed very positive something would open up after Saturday. I would like to make my conections on the same carrier.

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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

I just thought I'd update you allon this flight of mine. If you've been following, you'd know I booked a split carrier route home from Vegas in Feb., However tonight AA called me to tell me I had an invalid flight, due to some American Airlines schedule changes. They tried getting me to sit in Dallas for over 4 1/2 hrs to make the connection on USAirways...I said no way. So I got what I wanted. American Airlines all the way home, on the flights I wanted through Chicago, leaving LV at noon. So I won't be switching airlines after all. I'm so glad, as the time was getting closer, I was regreting do it in the first place.
Lee-PA