The present invention maintains calls during transfers between different types of subsystems, even when there is a bearer path interruption at the user element due to the original connection from the transferring-out subsystem being dropped before the new connection in the transferring-in subsystem is established. The call signaling leg toward the remote endpoint of the remote party is held, while the call signaling leg toward the user element is moved from the transferring-out subsystem to the transferring-in subsystem and a new bearer path is established via the transferring-in subsystem. During transfers with a bearer path interruption, a portion of the bearer path leading to the remote endpoint may be connected to a media resource function, which will provide an announcement to the remote party. Once the user element is accessible in the transferring-in subsystem, the bearer path is further transferred to the user element via the transferring-in subsystem.