Re: American Airlines - airport update

[The Mgmt.]

So check this out - really hard to figure why they need this much time at a small facility:

<img src="/images/Outlook.jpg">

[loria]

did i just read FOUR HOURS? have they lost their collective minds? that is ridiculous--and closing check in an hour before is just mean. probably just want us all to buy bad airport food in STT.

[jimg20]

My guess is that AA really understands "Island Time." They realize how long it takes to get things done.

JIM

[loria]

Anthony, is this new policy? if so when did /does it go into effect--and how seriously are they enforcing it (not sure you can answer that.... but thought i would ask anyway)

[Lovermont]

Interesting...
So AA wants us to arrive at 4am to catch AA 846 to Miami that's scheduled to depart at 8am? I think they haven't thought this one through. I don't know the full schedule of operations at STT, but I'm going to hazard a guess that there are no AA employees at 4am greeting folks and checking travelers in.

[rpplano]

I called a friend over at AA headquarters. He asked around and was told that they have been having a lot of trouble with ticket counter backups. Seems all of the airlines are departing too close to each other and gridlocking the airport counters. Not sure what the answer would be to that problem.

[California Girl]

Ok, so this is American Airlines policy only? Do I need to worry about cut-off times if I'm flying Continental??

[liamsaunt]

When we flew AA home in Febraury, our flight actually took off about 45 minutes early.

4 hours is ridiculous though. I'm not showing up four hours early!!

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[ScubaGirl]

4 hours is nuts! 2 hours is more than enough!

If you are leaving on an early morning flight, I don't think the ticket counters even open until 6am, I'd check before arriving there a 5am.

[Schnell]

Last time we flew out of STT in Nov. we arrived 90 minutes early for the flight to MIA. Ended up with over an hour to kill, just like we always have everytime we fly out of STT.

And the early morning flights to MIA....I would like to see the islanders show up at 4 or 5am to check in passengers! Not gonna happen. I think I will continue to arrive app. 2 hours early like always.

[The Mgmt.]

The 4 hours things is only "recommended" - the rest I think is corporate CYA. The truth is that a lot of the big planes do only turn around once a day - they all arrive close to the same time, and then they all depart within an hour of each other too. It makes sense for the airport to only have to staff for the big planes and big passenger loads for these hours, but it does create a bit of a rush. I have seen it pretty crazy at STT, but 4 hours does seem excessive. I think what would personally be an issue is if a plane left an hour early - which is on the other side of ridiculous. I won't say more now - had dinner at a Russian friend's house tonight and there was a lot of vodka consumed -

[Pia]

I believe the airline counter's open at 5:45am but in the past you could not get into Customs until 6:30am although I believe they are now changing/have changed that to 6:00am so there would be no point at all arriving at 4am

Pia

[Mippy]

Or you can just check in online at aa.com the night before.

[crasherino]

(Bumping the original one)

I would think this policy is primarily in place for the weekend flights in the early afternoon. I know that AA, Delta and Continental all have flights going to the NY area within an hour of each other. Add in all the other flights and the general nonsensical way that baggage is handled through customs, and you get total chaos checking in.

But when I've left on a weekday, I haven't had any problem at all. My sample size is not so great though so perhaps I was just lucky on those times.