We are going to Key West in early February. Our airline(AA) has changed our flight times and now instead of an hour between our flights in Miami, there is a five hour difference. Is there anything that we could do during this time period or are we just stuck in the airport waiting for our flight?

Hi don,

I love layovers in Miami... there is a hotel in the airport... check your bags and then take the elevator to the top floor of the hotel. Pay for a locker, grab a towel and head for the pool &/or gym. Great for a few hours of relaxation in the wonderful Florida sun.

Enjoy!

5 hr. wait for a 15 minute trip to a place you can drive to in 2 or 3 hrs.! I'd rent a car and drive to Key West. Lots to see along the island chain and each area of the keys has its own flavor. MP

I have thought about renting a car and driving, we would probably get there sooner and enjoy the ride down. But there is a part of me that hates throwing out the ticket that I have already paid for. It has made me feel just sick that the airline has done this, after all this trip is a gift. I have had schedules on flights changed before, but never to this extent.

They changed once, maybe it will happen again. Have you called the airline to tell them that wasn't really acceptable and you'd like to check on other options? I don't even know if that will work - it probably will depend on the mood of the rep you'll be speaking with, but it's maybe worth a try.

I agree with previous poster.Call the airline and tell them the schedule change is not acceptable; speak to a supervisor if the res agent says there is nothing they can do; ask them to change your ticket and waive the change fee. Let us know what happens. Good luck,

Just a friendly heads up, if you no show on the plane, they will cancel your remaining ticket. Make sure you check in with the airline employee and tell them you are skipping the last leg of the flight.

Also, and this is big, check Cape Air and see if they have an earlier flight to Key West from MIA. Since the airlines has delayed your flight FIVE hours, they are required by law to put you on an earlier flight whether their own plane or another airline. This is the law. They may not tell you since you haven't brought it up.

Thanks for the information and suggestions. I am still keeping open the idea of maybe driving down to Key West. I have e-mailed American Airlines and I am still waiting for a reply. I though that I would give them the chance of replying before having to call and talk to a rep. I have read options on the airport's website for a 3 or 5 hour layover, so I guess it must be fairly common in Miami. The thing that ticks me off is that the layover wasn't there when I purchased the tickets and could have gotten better times on another airline for around the same price.

Don, since the airlines are delaying your connecting flight by FIVE hours, they are required by law to accommodate you on another airline if there is an earlier flight available.

Why aren't you calling the airlines on this? I believe it is rule #240 on the Contract of Carriage.

the layover wasn't there when I purchased the tickets and could have gotten better times on another airline

Which could also have been changed.

Take a cab to the Sonnesta Beach Hotel on Key Biscayne.Have some frozen margaritas at the beach bar and enjoy the beautiful weather.

MikeBuckley, yes it is true that I could have reserved on another airline that wcould have changed schedules, but in almost thirty years of flying I have never seen such a large change in schedule. Most of the time that I have recieved schedule changes, I have had to look real hard to see what they even were. I think I would have taken my chances with another airline.