TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Required layover time in PHX

Not sure if this should be in people talk or here, but since ultimate destination is SXM, I'm putting it here.

Last July, I booked my outbound flight from Portland to SXM. Routing was on Alaska from Portland to Phoenix with a 95-minute layover in PHX, followed by a redeye on American from PHX to MIA and on to SXM. All of this was booked using Alaska miles, and first 2 legs were first class.

I recently received notice that my flight from PDX to PHX was changed, leaving PDX several hours earlier and resulting in a 12-hour layover in PHX. My initial flight from PDX to PHX was still operating; it just arrived in PHX 5 minutes later than I was initially booked.

When I called Alaska to see why the change and if I could get back on my original flight, I was told that after Alaska changed their flight, it resulted in a "misconnect." After pursuing this further, I was told that the required layover with airline change in PHX was 120 minutes. I pointed out my initial booking was a 95-minutes layover and, with same flight, would be now be 90 minutes, which is more than adequate per the PHX website. "Well, the FHA could have changed their rules." I was on the phone with Alaska for at least 30 minutes, including discussions with a supervisor. Bottom line is that Alaska says this is a FAA rule and they simply could not book the flight.

I've done some searching and can't find anything in the FAA rules regarding required layovers. Most of the flights still available using miles at this point are not attractive routings.

I know I could purchase a ticket. There's also a Delta option PDX - JFK (required overnight) - MIA, which costs double the miles. Neither are ideal although I may end out doing one of them if I don't get anywhere after calling Alaska and hopefully getting a different agent.

My questions are: Do you know where I could find FAA rules re required minimum layovers? have you ever heard of a required layover this long?

I think a minimum layover is 45 minutes. As a matter of fact I just booked a trip from DFW to SNA through IAH with only 45 minutes layover just yesterday.

I travel almost every week by plane and I never have a layover more than 90 min.

They probably had a cash buyer for your flight and bumped you for the other passenger. I would call back and ask for a supervisor and get back on your original flight. Alaska is pretty good with customer service so i would call back again. Asking for a supervisor is the key. A legal connection is 45 min. They are blowing smoke quoting a 2 hour. As I recall any layover over 12 hours on Alaska requires a baggage recheck at additional fees which should not affect you flying F/C

Spoke to a supervisor the first time. Called again tonight; same situation. It's a combination of several things: changing airlines, being ultimately an international flight, and not enough time. System just won't book it. So now I'm booked PDX - SEA - PHX - MIA - SXM. Ridiculous. Sigh. At least I'm booked and don't have to spend 12 hours in PHX, but it won't be a fun series of flights.

You could always try to book the flight as if you were paying. Use a multi-city option to insure that you can select each of the three legs. If it lets lets you book, put that res on hold, then call up the reservation desk and raise holy hell.

Sounds like BS to me, but if you can't book this on a cash basis, maybe the BS is true.

I think the catch is the changing of airlines and baggage change times between them. I missed that on the original post. Happy you got a new routing albeit a long one.

There are no FAA rules on layovers. When the term "legal connection" is used, it means in regards to the airlines rules and regulations.

I suggest you keep checking for options, I suggest rather than calling in check online to see what is available for miles and if something pops up I call in to get the change. That worked well for me last year on the trip back, ended up via Miami but on a 767 with lay flats to LAX where we spent the night before coming up the coast.

I think that is crap what they are stating, you are still domestic at that point. Alaska for the most part has been very good to deal with, this kind of surprises me. Noting the last time I called in the issues with the AA/US Air merger were still and issue. I know in my world of freight with AA and US they are still not merged completely with their systems.

Good luck,
Todd

I do check online, Todd, and that's how I made the initial reservations and checked online before calling them to find out about the change. This "close" to the travel date, however, seats available on miles are few and far between.

I agree it's crap, but if I'm told the same thing by 2 different supervisors on 2 different days . . . but they were very pleasant about it. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />