I think AW is America West, as you are flying both legs with AW the luggage should be checked all the way through. If the planes are on time 50mins should be enough.

Thanks Judith
Perhaps Phoenix is not that big an airport then as I was imagining it to be the size of Heathrow or Gatwick where it could be very easy to take 50 mins to walk from one gate to another.

Mark

Hello Mark

To answer your questions:

Q1: Would 50 minutes be sufficient time to change planes in Phoenix?

Yes, providing you do not exit the airport, if you do, you will have to go back through security, which can be time consuming.

I have travelled through Phoenix; it's a relatively medium sized airport, sufficient for just passing through, although not big enough for a long stay over.

Q2: Will the luggage be checked through to Cancun in Las Vegas?

Yes, providing both flights are with the same airline or even a code share airline.

Q3: Which airline is flying under the code AW?

I'm not sure about the AW code, as just over 12 months ago, US Airways merged with America West Airlines, and I believe that both airlines use US airline code.

If you have the flight details, enter your dates into this link and see if the flight details correspond with what you have:
http://www.google.co.uk/search&hl=en&q=usairways&meta" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" class="break-word">http://www.usairways.com/awa/?redir=http://www.google.co.uk/search&hl=en&q=usairways&meta

One tip, I am a star alliance member and on numerous occasions I have used US Airways, depending on your party size, be careful with your luggage allowance.

I say your party size, because if there are sufficient members, you can always spread the allowance, prior to reaching LAS airport.

If I can assist you any further just ask.

Driver02

Thanks for that reply Driver02

Unfortunately the itinerary does not state the full flight code, the code for this flight and the flight from Cancun to Mexico (which incidentally has an 'AA' against it - American Airlines perhaps?) are not complete. Suppose I have to wait for the tickets to arrive before I can get the complete code.

I am in the Virgin frequent flyer club (we are flying LGW-Las Vegas and on the return Miami to Heathrow with them) and if AW is indeed the code for American West then we can claim miles on the Las Vegas to Cancun leg in addition to both transatlantic sectors.

The two of us will each be taking one suitcase and as Virgin Atlantic has recently reduced the maximum weight per suitcase to 23 kgs from 32 kgs, the maximum we will be carrying is 23 kgs per person.

Will this be within American West Airline's guidelines or indeed American Airline's?

Mark

Hello Mark

Having never flown Virgin, I'm not familiar with their baggage allowance.

However, below is a link for AA baggage allowance:

http://www.aa.com/content/travelInformation/baggage/baggageAllowance.jhtml

This is the link for US Airways (American West) baggage allowance.

http://www.usairways.com/awa/content/traveltools/baggage/baggagepolicies.aspx

Below is a link for general baggage allowance for most airlines from the UK - USA.

http://www.agents.usairtours.co.uk/important_information/general_baggage_allowance

One issue Mark, you state "Unfortunately the itinerary does not state the full flight code, the code for this flight and the flight from Cancun to Mexico (which incidentally has an 'AA' against it - American Airlines perhaps?) Are not complete."

First thing "AA" is American Airlines.

Flights seats can be sold 330 days in advance, as your trip is well within this time scale, you must have seats booked on a system somewhere.

What tends to happen, although I'm not saying this is the situation in your case, Airlines over book seats, so, when agents try to book seats, they are held within the system, and your confirmed flight is only confirmed very close to the flight date.

For example, go onto any Flight website and enter a dummy flight itinerary for sometime in November this year, the itinerary will give you the official flight details, therefore, I'm unsure why you cannot obtain your flight details.

Reply in a pm to this message if you wish, One thing comes to mind, have you booked your complete trip through Virgin Holidays?

I don't believe Virgin have a code share, unlike most US carriers, which is why you have not received confirmed flight details within the US.

What you have confirmed is LAS - PHX - CAN this is a regular schedule, operated by several USA airlines.

Call your agent back again, and ask what flight you are booked on, if they cannot tell you, ask why not.

I travel on a fairly regular basis to the USA, and book well in advance, with confirmed flight details.

The fortunate thing Mark, sorting it out this far in advance, saves all the aggravation later on.

HTH

Driver02

Once again, many thanks for your reply.

We have, indeed, booked the whole package through Virgin Holidays.

Just went on the US Airways website and "dummy" booked a flight and all the details (e.g. departure/arrival times in Las Vegas/Phoenox/Cancun) matched that of the Itinary received. Therefore, I must presume that "AW" does indeed stand for American West Airlines - part of US Airways.

Will speak to my travel agent on Monday and post back here with details.

Mark

Hello Mark

Your welcome.

Re: We have, indeed, booked the whole package through Virgin Holidays" I guessed as much.

I'm still not convinced you are flying with America West, below is a link for all worldwide airline codes, scroll down on the first page to American West, they have initials HP, although now under US Airways umbrella, I'm sure they use US code.

http://www.travel-images.com/airline-codes-ab.html

I'm sure all will be revealed on Monday.

Driver02

Just received a letter from the travel agent, and the flight from Vegas to Cancun has changed as follows:

Flight AW from Las Vegas, NV to Dallas/Fort Worth arriving at 16:05
Flight AW from Dallas/Fort Worth to Cancun departing at 16:50

Both are with the same airline but this leaves us just 45 mins to change planes.

Panicking already

Is this time sufficient or is somebody being unrealistic here?

Mark

Having spoken to the travel agent about the tight transfer time on Friday, they explained to me that they wouldn't be able to sell flights/packages if transfers were not physically possible.

Rather than taking their word for this, is this true?

And more important, does anybody have experience in transferring at Dallas from a domestic to an international flight and if 45 minutes is sufficient.

As you may gather, I'm rather concerned about this.

Mark