Miles & More / Passenger Rights due to Flight Rescheduling?

Question

I booked a flight using my Miles & More points for a flight from Amsterdam to Tampa and back. They sent me a notice recently that the flight schedule has been changed. The problem is that on the return flight, the connection time in Washington DC Dulles airport between two United Airlines flight is reduced to 35 minutes due to the rescheduling. With passport control, I am pretty sure the passenger will miss the connection.

What rights does the passenger have to demand United and/or Miles & More to rebook onto a flight with more reasonable connecting times? If they refuse to change the booking, what rights does the passenger have if and when she misses her flight to demand compensation or lodging until she can catch the following day’s flight?

Answer 1

Wow!  you're getting all twisted up inside!

Relax a little and listen up.

1.) Flight schedules are subject to change and often do.  You're lucky you were even notified...most of the time they drop that ball.

2.) The airlines have a standard set called 'minimum connect time'.  This is the MINIMUM time they have determined it would take to transfer your luggage from one gate to another...regardless of the distance between the gates.  It's also factored in for international arrivals, but then, until you are actually cleared and released by the US Customs and Immigrations officials, it won't matter HOW much time you have between flights.  Don't give them any reason to pull you aside.

3.)  Have you tried contacting United yet to ask about a different connecting time?  Since they rescheduled your flight, they may be willing to address your concerns and re-accommodate you.

4.) It's not unreasonable to ask for over night accommodations should you miss your connection when it is a fault of an airline.  If your flight is late arriving and you miss your connection and it ISN'T due to 'an act of GOD' ie: weather, it is up to the airline to get you on the next available flight to your destination.  If that can't be done until the next day, then THEY are responsible for your accommodations for the evening.  You are due no monetary compensation.  

If you are late arriving and miss your connection due to 'an act of God', ie: weather, then the airline will get you to your destination on the 'next available flight'...no over night accommodation considerations given.

The flight's United rebooked you on MUST meet their own 'minimum connect time' standard, or their computer would not have permitted the rebooking on those flights.  United must feel secure that you have sufficient time to make that connection.

THE GRAY area here is, of course...the processing time for US Customs and Immigration at Dulles.  During that time you are at the mercy of the US Government, and who knows what contigency United has in place for those situations...Don't anger them (Customs and immigration)...they have EXTENSIVE powers to make your life miserable if you agitate them...kinda like the IRS...maybe worse.

Your best bet??  Talk to a United Representative to see what their minimum connect times are for a United to United international connection at Dulles. See how it compares to the time between flights you're scheduled to have now.  If you're not comfortable with that and the agent isn't willing to budge...ask to speak with a supervisor...couldn't hurt.

Good luck