American Airlines-STL

[donmil723]

DD and I will be flying AA from STL-MCO in March for the first time since May, 2001. We have flown SWA since 2001.

Their website says to arrive in STL 90 minutes prior. Is that about right? Even if we are leaving early--6:55 a.m. on a Sunday morning?

Also, we were only able to get one seat assigned when we booked our flights earlier this week. Does this mean they are overbooked? Will they open more seats for assignment as it gets closer? They aren't even offering our 6:55 a.m. flight to MCO any more.

Any other tips, suggestions, or reasons why you like AA would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Donna

 

[NotUrsula]

Well, I could give you lots of reasons why I *hate* AA, but you bought the tickets already, so we won't bother with that.

The 90 minute thing applies for two reasons: 1) they absolutely will not accept baggage checked less than 61 minutes before scheduled flight departure, and 2) the security line for the B/C concourses at Lambert can be nightmarish. If the line looks horrible, track left along the inner wall of the hallway until you find the B concourse security line (the entrance is hidden behind a staircase) -- that line is usually much shorter because few people know that it is there. You'll have to walk back about 40 yds. to the C concourse from there, but it's quicker than waiting in a monster line.

You will have to get your second BP before entering the security line; you'll be able to do it at a kiosk if you checked your bags with the skycap. Just take whatever is available that comes closest to what you want; they usually don't release seats until the day of departure, so odds are that there will nothing left but single middle seats. You can always ask at the gate to get a better seat if someone with status gets an upgrade and gives up their original seat.

 

[kdkbrebel]

We flew AA out of STL in Aug of 03 and didn't have any problems at all. Well unless you consider them tagging my then 5 year olds ticket for extra security a problem, they wanted to take her by herself, of course I said no way and they said well you will all have to go then, no big deal really it just took about an extra 20 min. You definately have to be there at least 90 min ahead though, thats checking in, so make sure you allow time to get to the desk from the parking area. We are flying AA again this year for our July trip.

 

[dudspizza]

Well unless you consider them tagging my then 5 year olds ticket for extra security a problem, they wanted to take her by herself, of course I said no way and they said well you will all have to go then, no big deal really it just took about an extra 20 min. .

This is a TSA issue, not AA. AA has nothing to do with who gets chosen for extra security.

 

[Jestocost]

Another thing you can try with regard to the seating assignment is to sign up for AAdvantage (American's frequent flyer program) on the Web site, then log on, go to My Reservations, find your reservation and see if you can select your seats there. Sometimes the system won't assign you a seat automatically, but you can go in and pick one. They may not be together, but if it gives you more peace of mind to have assigned seats for each of you then it might be worth it. Doing this won't prevent you from following NotUrsula's recommendations for what to do at the airport.

Also, checking in at the B terminal vs. the C/D terminal can be a great choice, but the line at C/D has to be pretty long or they have to be running only one security station there to make it worthwhile, IMHO. They rarely have more than one station open at B and it always seems to move more slowly to me, but YMMV. I've been in and out of Lambert on AA at least once a week since late November, so I do speak from some experience.

 

[NotUrsula]

Yes, Jestocost's advice about going through the online account manager might work, and it is certainly worth a try, or actually, several tries. However, I would advise not getting your hopes up too far.

In my experience, when a ticket purchased around 6-8 weeks in advance only nets you one seat assignment, it is because the only ones left are being held for high-status passengers or crew that they expect to be deadheading. If that is the case, they normally won't be released to low-status passengers until day of departure. A passenger with status would be able to see them in the software while other people wouldn't.

 

[donmil723]

Thanks everyone for the replies! I did sign us up for the AAdvantage program and have logged on and checked daily to see if any seats have opened up.

I am going to print out this thread and take it with me so I can follow your suggestions about going through security.

Do you recommend printing out boarding passes prior to arrival at the airport? Can I even print out one for my DD since she doesn't have a seat assignment yet? Is it helpful to use the skycap if you have bags to check?

Since AA is a RAC participating airline, should we check our bags at BC and get our boarding passes then? I think I read we would have to do this at least 3 hours prior to our flight's departure. Is that right?

Donna

 

[marc1477]

The security checkpoint at STL for concourses C and D can be a bit rough, but its not that bad. Its probably one of their main ones though. Depending on what concourse you are in you might be in for a decent walk to your gate as well. Its not bad thought. I fly in and out of STL about once or twice a year. I have flown AA and Delta. When I flew AA, I was in C and D on respective trips and Delta is in A. Have fun.

 

[Jestocost]

Do you recommend printing out boarding passes prior to arrival at the airport? Can I even print out one for my DD since she doesn't have a seat assignment yet? Is it helpful to use the skycap if you have bags to check?

Since AA is a RAC participating airline, should we check our bags at BC and get our boarding passes then? I think I read we would have to do this at least 3 hours prior to our flight's departure. Is that right?

Donna

I'm not sure if you can check in online without a seat assignment. I suspect not, but maybe someone else can provide a definitive answer. Regardless, if you're checking baggage anyway there's very little advantage to checking in online and printing out your boarding passes in advance. You still have to use a self-service kiosk, or wait in line at a skycap or the AA counter to check your bags and getting your boarding passes at the same time doesn't make the process any longer. I know that all of the in-airport options—including the kiosks—will print you a document that will allow you to go through security even if you have to wait for the gate agent to assign you a seat.

Unless your flight time won't allow for you to use the resort check-in service, I highly recommend taking that route. The desk is open from 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and you can check in as early as 12 hours before your flight and as late as three hours before. As a result, if you have a flight before 8:00 a.m. you can't use the service. Otherwise, the only obstacle is having to be at the resort when the time window during which you are allowed to check in is open.

 

[NotUrsula]

Technically, there is a checkpoint for B and a shared checkpoint for C/D, plus another checkpoint in the East Terminal for E (the Southwest Gates.) You can, if you like, walk between E and B without passing security a second time. Concourse A is walled off from the other concourses and has its own TSA checkpoint, so you cannot cross from there to the other concourses without dealing with TSA again.
http://www.lambert-stlouis.com/maps/index.htm

Gates in the B terminal are not normally used by commercial flights, though I think AA may still own the rights to them. AA's flights pretty much all leave from C now, with a few stragglers in D, though D is mostly deserted these days, except for a gate used by Frontier. I know folks who like to run laps through D while waiting for flights; all that open space makes for a nice running track.

AFAIK, you cannot use AA online checkin unless you have an assigned seat, but if you do have some assignments you can go ahead and get those printed in advance, so as to save time at the airport kiosks.

 

[Jestocost]

Gates in the B terminal are not normally used by commercial flights, though I think AA may still own the rights to them.

FWIW, AA's RJs and full-size jets virtually always fly out of the C terminal, but the ATRs and SAABs still fly out of B. If you are coming in and/or leaving from one of the airports still served by those planes, you'd be in the B terminal.