TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Flying in November on AA? Check Your Flt.

Just did my weekly flight check for our flight on 11/23 out of CLE on AA and they were a mess. 3 stops instead of 2, and an impossible connection in MIA that leaves an hour before we get there. I'll wait a few days to see if it sorts itself out, and then call if not. As usual, no email or text of the changes. No changes going home (yet).

I have found over the years that AA makes their biggest changes about 3 months out as you found out.

Fortunately, our flights have changed for the better. Now we have over an hour to connect in CLT on the way down, where we had only 35 minutes before. We just got a change to our return flight, giving us over two hours in CLT on the way home; we had only an hour before. Hopefully these will hold!

The timing of this thread is pretty good noting that yesterday I got two emails about changes to my flights to and from SXM coming up here in Nov/Dec, note that this was not the first of the changes since booking and each time I was sent an email but on previous changes this option was not an option. They were not big changes to our flights, on the way down we have a bit more time in CLT which we really didn't need but on the trip back even though the flights only changed a bit that gave me the ability to call in and change from our three leg trip that was SXM - CLT - DFW - PDX with a night spent at DFW to a SXM - MIA - PDX with two hours at MIA and home that night. It was a more expensive option but did not have to pay any extra thanks to the changes. I have Emerald status in Oneworld (AA's partner program) so that may have helped. Hold time was a bit long but the person was very pleasant and easy to work with.

I like to book early for the least expensive route and then hope something like this is an option with schedule changes. Saved a bunch of travel time and a hotel at DFW.

I like American Airlines and I know many of you complain about them but I for one am thankful for the routes they fly and while I have had some issues they to me are much better than Delta, United or Jet Blue.

See you on island GaKaye! Whoooooop Whooooooop!

I did the same thing last night, Todd: changed from a three-leg return to the two legs thru MIA with no overnight. I was surprised that the price showing on my confirming email was less than what showed on the web site and is less than what I originally paid ($5xx vs $6xx). I am not going to bother trying for a refund. This will be the first time in a long time that I get home on the same day I leave, assuming the flights stay as they are now.

Hope they stay for your return. I'll be booking our return for our July trip in a couple of days. Getting home same day is wonderful living on the west coast.

Years ago we seemed to have more options that would in theory get us home same day, but then half the time we missed our connector (usually ATL) and then had the unexpected yet not a surprise night on the trip which was lousy. Even the three leg trip is a gamble on if you will make it to, in our case DFW, to spend the night or lose that reservation. So pretty happy with this and two hours is plenty for us in Miami with Global Entry. I do suggest if at all getting close on time after you check your bags to leave that area and go out and come back through regular security where there is Clear and TSA Pre, saved us a lot of time on our last trip.

Linda, did you get an email notification that your flights changed or were you just checking?

Yes. In the past we have had to stay overnight in DFW because of missed connections. So far the SXM-MIA-SEA or SXM-CLT-SEA have got us home same day unless there was a mechanical or weather related problem. Fingers clossed for next years 2 returns.

They hadn't changed recently so no emails. I was just checking.

Like you, I did get a change on the outbound adding time in CLT, which isn't ideal. I like 2-3 hours so I can have a leisurely breakfast after a redeye and change clothes, but I now have over four hours' layover. Thank goodness for the Admirals Club.

Decided to call this morning and the agent stated that there had been "a ton of schedule changes," hence the long wait. I took the call back option and they called me back in just under 2 hours. Our return ended up getting changed too, with an aircraft change that eliminated first class. Anyway..ended up having to leave a day earlier to get a same day arrival. Now all connections thru CLT versus MIA on the way down, and PHL on the way home.

Staying at the Holland House for a few nights before 2 weeks at BSV and when I went to Travelocity to modify, I noticed the price had gone down big time..more than enough to absorb the extra night. They also have an option to add their fantastic breakfast for $13 per day (for 2), and snagged that. I typically avoid booking engines and book direct, but for whatever reason, HH is half the price via Travelocity. Free cancel/changes too.

So, all fixed for the moment and an extra night on the island isn't exactly a tragedy. Also had a very pleasant agent, and she too had a tough time understanding how the system could move us to a connecting flight that arrived in MIA an hour after the SXM leg took off. She repeated a few times that it was the only option to get us there the same day, then finally she caught on and we had a good laugh.

OK, glad you got it straightened out and hopefully no more issues!

Linda and Todd which of the two AA Admirals Clubs, MIA or CLT, do you prefer? I've been to both but want your opinions.

Thanks Carol! Not looking forward to flying the day before Thanksgiving as busy as it will be, but it is what it is. At least today anyway.

gomer--wow, yeah, not an optimal day to fly! Best wishes!

In Miami I prefer the one close to D30, but a bit depends upon which one I am close to and how busy they are.

At CLT the one on B concourse is pretty bleak, so even if I have to walk a ways I go to the one near the intersection of C and D concourses. I have been lucky when there crowd wise, and it is fairly new. We are going to have about 4 hours at CLT after a redeye so we will probably go to Minute Suites and take a nap and probably get a shower and then the lounge, will see how we feel when we arrive. With Priority Pass I get an hour free as a walk up if they have availability and then not much more for extra time, have only used Minute Suites once there and it was just me. I have the Amex Platinum so if by myself I would usually prefer the Centurion Lounge but it is an extra $50 for me to bring a guest and in the morning there is not enough of a difference to make it worth the $50. Better food and cocktails at the Centurion but it can get really crowded and while it has two shower suites they are first come and again the place gets very busy.

After a red eye, I like to get a shower if at all possible. We for the most part have quit taking red eye flights but the cost difference sometimes makes it well worth it. MJ sleeps well on a jet, I do not but getting better at it.

Thanks for the feedback. We'll have a 4+ layover in CLT after our redeye going in July and a 2+ layover for our May trip. Returning through MIA for May trip and will book our return for July via MIA or CLT depending on prices, layover times connecting to Seattle and arrival time in Seattle.

Howdy Todd..I'm with you on the Priority Pass. Maybe the most useful travel subscription I've ever bought. I was thinking just the other day when the discussion about the new premium lounge at SXM came up here on TTOL, how cool it would be if it accepted Priority Pass..

We flew JetBlue to the island for the first time this June, and the original flights both ways were totally blown up with overnights added both ways. The Priority Pass came in very handy, and gave us access to great lounges at both JFK and BOS.