[Butch Cassidy Slept Here]

It appears this is a significant point leading-up to the bogus call to the cops.

Airline computer systems appear to be programmed to allow tickets to be sold, on a "connecting flight" itinerary, in cases where there is either no chance, at all, of the customer reaching the connecting gate before "close-out" time, or, said chances are very slim. In most instances, the airlines probably, with a straight face, justify this practice on the basis that the interval between flights is "legal" connecting time. The problem is, "legal" connecting time, at large hub airports, is completely out-of-touch with reality. Thus, another reason for re-regulation of domestic air travel. Or, another loophole that the airlines are abusing the hell out of.

Try looking at the connecting times American Air has, in Miami, for its flights arriving from South America. For a number of connections, there is simply no way any human being (of US citizenship) can clear Customs & Immigration, then run like hell, and still reach the connecting gate before "close-out" time.

With respect to flights originating at an airport near my home--Billings, Mont. ("BIL"), Northwest Air plays a similiar game. The two Northwest flights leaving Billings each day have their first stop in Minneapolis ("MSP"). For most Billings customers, MSP is a connecting point. At MSP, for Northwest, the Billings arrival/departure gate can be as much as a mile, or more, from the connecting gate. Still, many flights out of Billings show a connecting time of only 30 to 60 minutes. When the "close-out" time, at the connecting gate is figured-in (at MSP, Northwest really gets their cookies off when it comes to enforcing "close-out" times), a 30-minute connection time is reduced to 20 minutes--or less! Again, these ridiculously short connecting times are all "legal."

Sometimes, it's better to face reality, and schedule an overnight stay at a connecting airport. Or, in the case of cities like Miami, use Amtrak for the remainder of your trip if your arrival time allows you to get to the train station in time. Either way, you'll arrive at your destination in better physical, and mental, shape.