If Flight Gets Delayed - Connection

[wee-haggis]

1) If our flight gets delayed due to the new security measures and we miss the connection,will the airline (US Airways) automatically book us on the next available flight (from the second leg connection point) or do we have to rush around trying to do it ourselves.
We only have 1hr 15min stopover and most of the delays appear to be more than that.

2) If we checkin onlinne the night before, and we don't have any checked baggage (only carry-on) ,can we go straight to the Security with our printed boarding passes ? (I've done this in Buffalo but not sure about Pearson)

Thanks

 

[2gr8DisneyKids]

To be safe you will need to stop by the customer service desk. It should be automatic, but it is always good to check. You should be able to check with any gate agent to see if you have been rebooked, but they will not always check if busy with a different flight. If you know you will miss it before you take off, you can be reassigned at your departure airport.

Sadly, calling the airline will likely not work as seats that close to departure time (usually about 12 hours or so) get handed off to the direct control of the airports.

Also, they will not hold your flight if you are delayed at security, just if the plane needs to be delayed due to the new rules. Good Luck!

 

[fuzzy164]

I can assume that you are flying out of Pearson in Toronto. This is considered an international flight and you should arrive 3 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure time and don't forget the passports.
The new security rules now include a "pat down" of your person, hand checking all carry on luggage.
The delay if any should be minimal especially if you do arrive the 3 hours before hand.
If the flight is delayed for any reason the airline will take into consideration how late they will be arriving and can they delay the connecting flight that long?
If it is due to a weather problem you should get priority for the first available flight to your destination. A quick check when you arrive at the airport with your carrier should eleimate any worries.
Enjoy!!!

Fuzzy164

 

[megan_in_pink]

This is my worry also :| I have 21/2 layover at pearson, not the 3 hrs cheack in that is needed ( at the 3 hrs point i will be in the air flying in from Montreal. Will I be ok?

 

[crashbb]

1) If our flight gets delayed due to the new security measures and we miss the connection,will the airline (US Airways) automatically book us on the next available flight (from the second leg connection point) or do we have to rush around trying to do it ourselves.
We only have 1hr 15min stopover and most of the delays appear to be more than that.

2) If we checkin onlinne the night before, and we don't have any checked baggage (only carry-on) ,can we go straight to the Security with our printed boarding passes ? (I've done this in Buffalo but not sure about Pearson)

Thanks

1) They will book you on the next flight on which they have seats for all of you. This may, or may not, be the next actual flight. This is especially true if a number of people have missed the connection - there will be a hierarchy. Unless there are a lot of you making the connection and the delay will be short, it is unlikely that they will hold the second flight for you.

If, when still in Toronto, your first flight is clearly going to late enough to make the connection impossible, I suggest being pro-active and try to get yourself rebooked. Out of Toronto (especially with no luggage), you have more options. You can try to get onto a direct flight (US Airways partners with AC, which has direct flights - though they may not be willing to transfer you) or you can connect through a different city, if that works better.

2) Sort of. You cannot go straight to security, but you can go straight to US customs/immigration pre-clearance (since you are on US Airways, I am assuming that your connection is in the US). You will need to fill out the form (found at tables right be the entrance) and show the completed form, boarding pass and (sometimes) passport to the person by the door. Note - this may be slightly different as I've not flown to the US since Christmas Day. Check with US Airways about their carry-on rules - Air Canada, for example, is only allowing a personal item onto the plane (i.e. no big backpacks or wheeled bags), so you may end up having to check bags you usually take as carry on (AC is waiving excess luggage fees - I don't know about US airways).

 

[wee-haggis]

1) They will book you on the next flight on which they have seats for all of you. This may, or may not, be the next actual flight. This is especially true if a number of people have missed the connection - there will be a hierarchy. Unless there are a lot of you making the connection and the delay will be short, it is unlikely that they will hold the second flight for you.

If, when still in Toronto, your first flight is clearly going to late enough to make the connection impossible, I suggest being pro-active and try to get yourself rebooked. Out of Toronto (especially with no luggage), you have more options. You can try to get onto a direct flight (US Airways partners with AC, which has direct flights - though they may not be willing to transfer you) or you can connect through a different city, if that works better.

2) Sort of. You cannot go straight to security, but you can go straight to US customs/immigration pre-clearance (since you are on US Airways, I am assuming that your connection is in the US). You will need to fill out the form (found at tables right be the entrance) and show the completed form, boarding pass and (sometimes) passport to the person by the door. Note - this may be slightly different as I've not flown to the US since Christmas Day. Check with US Airways about their carry-on rules - Air Canada, for example, is only allowing a personal item onto the plane (i.e. no big backpacks or wheeled bags), so you may end up having to check bags you usually take as carry on (AC is waiving excess luggage fees - I don't know about US airways).

With reagrds to #2
We do realize that the new security measures(which change daily) may indeed be a factor but, will checking with US Airways make any difference?....because if you go through Security at T1 in Pearson, it doesn't matter what airline you are travelling with ....we all go through the same checkpoints. So, is it fair to assume that the rules that you encountered with AC will be the same for all others........or are you referring to the secondary check that happens before boarding ?
Thanks crashbb

 

[crashbb]

With reagrds to #2
We do realize that the new security measures(which change daily) may indeed be a factor but, will checking with US Airways make any difference?....because if you go through Security at T1 in Pearson, it doesn't matter what airline you are travelling with ....we all go through the same checkpoints. So, is it fair to assume that the rules that you encountered with AC will be the same for all others........or are you referring to the secondary check that happens before boarding ?
Thanks crashbb

Sorry, I wasn't clear.

I haven't flown to the US since before Christmas Day, so it is possible that my scenario (fill out forms and show them to people in front of doors) may be slightly different. Flying US Airways vs AC shouldn't make a difference.

You may find that you have to check your luggage after all (if you are flying very soon). It appears that US Airways has the same rules that AC does.

Travel from Canada to the United States

Effective December 28, 2009:

Transport Canada, a department of the Canadian government, has implemented a ban on carry-on baggage. Customers on flights from any airport in Canada to the United States are not permitted to carry-on any baggage. Exempt from this ban are medication or medical devices, small purses, cameras, coats, items for care of infants, laptop computers, crutches, canes, walkers, containers carrying life sustaining items, a special needs item, musical instruments, or diplomatic or consular bags.

This restriction on carry-on baggage is in effect until 9 PM ET on December 29, 2009, although it may be extended.
Checked bags

You can pay for your 1st and 2nd checked bags when you check in online and save. There’s a $5 service fee for checked bags at the airport. Check in for your flight beginning 24 hours and up to 60 minutes before your departure. You can check your bags at the airport starting 4 hours before your flight. All bag fees are per person and each way

Temporary policy effective immediately (updated December 26, 2009):

To better comply with new industry security requirements issued by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), US Airways will temporarily amend its baggage policies on all in-bound flights to the United States from foreign destinations. Each passenger will be limited to one carry-on item per person, and first and second checked bag fees will temporarily be waived. These changes do not apply to flights from San Juan, St. Thomas and St. Croix.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued new, additional security measures for all flights departing from a foreign location for travel into the U.S. Please allow extra time at the airport.

 

[tigger2on]

I honestly think you are really going to be pushing it for time.... Toronto is always late.. takes forever to taxi in to a gate and then the gates are sooo far apart as it is... I would do as a previous poster said and try to be proactive and book another flight.
Better safe than sorry...