Is 75 minutes too short for an international connection?

[NoiseBoy]

I am searching for decent airfares to Europe in September and not finding a whole lot of options. I can get to Paris through Madrid for a decent price and good flight times, with one caveat; I would only have 75 minutes to make my connection on the way over. Coming from the US, I would have to go through passport control in Madrid too. It's that enough time, or do I need to keep looking?

 

[tulak]

Do you need to pick up your luggage in Madrid? Are the flights arriving/leaving from the same terminal?

I suspect that the flights are in different terminals (international vs domestic). I’d think that 75 minutes is too short.

What happens if you miss the connecting flight?

 

[audreyh1]

Assuming you have to go through passport control and customs which means picking up your luggage in Madrid and going to another terminal (pretty much guaranteed in Madrid which uses different terminals for Schengen versus non-Schengen countries), I would say yes, 75 mins is not enough.

I would not try to change in Madrid, but take a flight from the US landing in Paris, even if it means another connection in the US.

 

[athena53]

I agree- Madrid Airport is huge (a lot of empty "retail space") and DH and I found it very confusing to navigate when we were there 6 years ago.


One thing I'd do is consider worst case- does your airline have more flights to Paris later in the day which would enhance your chances of still getting there the same day? If they tell you "you're on a flight tomorrow AM, now go away" would it be a disaster? Note that EU laws may apply and you could be entitled to compensation or at least overnight accommodations.

Personally, I wouldn't do it but it might be worth the risk if the cost savings is enough.

 

[NoiseBoy]

Do you need to pick up your luggage in Madrid? Are the flights arriving/leaving from the same terminal?

No, it is the same airline, Iberia.

I suspect that the flights are in different terminals (international vs domestic). I’d think that 75 minutes is too short.

I don't know, I have never flown through Madrid before. I will try looking up the flight numbers to see what terminal(s) they use.

What happens if you miss the connecting flight?

I am meeting my girlfriend in Paris so missing my connection, and not getting on a later flight, would be very bad.

 

[COcheesehead]

It “probably” could work, but international connections have so many strings attached it could be risky.

 

[NoiseBoy]

I was already uncertain about booking these flights, and with just a few responses, it sounds like the group thinks the risk of missing my connection is too high. Thanks everyone, I will keep searching.

I am still working, so I am stuck looking for flights with Saturday departures and Sunday or Monday returns, and there are hardly any good deals to Europe out there right now.

 

[gamboolman]

It’s tight
I prefer 2 hrs for international connections
As to Madrid Airport- it is not high on my list of nice helpful airports
Rude and not helpful and if we can avoid Madrid airport we do
I travel lots for oilfield so I do have basis for my opinion
All the best OP

 

[Aerides]

I agree Madrid is sprawling. I wouldn't want a short connection on an international flight unless I was already very familiar with the airport and the airline. I'd not want less than 2 hours between connections at your first international landing leg.

You are better off, as Audrey mentions, limiting the connections part to the stateside legs, and flying direct to paris. (ie, ORD > JFK > CDG, instead of say, ORD > MAD > CDG)

 

[NoiseBoy]

I just found a $1,200 premium economy ticket on Delta for a Sunday to following Monday trip to Paris. I would have 83 minutes to make my connection in Detroit on the way over (coming from Chicago.) On the way home I'd have 2.5 hours in Atlanta to go through passport control and catch my plane to ORD. What does the group think about 83 minutes in Detroit?

 

[Nemo2]

What does the group think about 83 minutes in Detroit?

Pull out my fingernails?

 

[NoiseBoy]

Pull out my fingernails?

Google flights will show options with connections as short as 45 minutes, which is crazy, but I can't find a config option to say "only show me 90 minutes or more." I am currently searching for flights using one stop or less and a flight duration under 20 hours. If you leave those settings wide open, Google will show you some pretty crazy connections.

 

[athena53]

What does the group think about 83 minutes in Detroit?

Possible- at least you won't have the issue with clearing Customs and Immigration that you would have connecting in Madrid although you may have to make a terminal change, which might involve going through the TSA mess again. Does Delta have any later flights out of DTW if you miss your connection? And how late in the day is the flight? Bigger chance of delays as the day goes on.

ETA: Holy crap- I was doing a search on Delta's site to see whether flights through DTW to CDG needed a terminal change (then realized I was looking at flights from MY home airport, which is probably irrelevant) and I can see why you're searching so hard for decent fares. Those prices are making my Business Class fare to Edinburgh in September look pretty reasonable! (And I have a round trip from Edinburgh to Paris for a 2-night side trip for $185 on Air France.)

 

[CardsFan]

In my experience, connecting to an international flight, within the US, is no different than a domestic flight. So 83 minutes should be plenty. Of course, you are always subject to weather and mechanical delays.

 

[fh2000]

I have made international connections in Tokyo, and Osaka with one and a half hour connection, with both Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways. Each time, their ground crew held up signs at the gate for each destination. Once everyone is ready, they lead you thru the walkways, security line and to the new gate. The connection flight was always there waiting and we never missed a connection.

 

[athena53]

I have made international connections in Tokyo, and Osaka with one and a half hour connection, with both Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways. Each time, their ground crew held up signs at the gate for each destination. Once everyone is ready, they lead you thru the walkways, security line and to the new gate. The connection flight was always there waiting and we never missed a connection.

It sounds like the airports are better-organized in Japan. When DH and I connected in Madrid on the way home we had no idea what we were doing (and we'd done at least one trip to Europe every year in the 15+ years we'd been together). We asked an Aeroflot agent who happened to be in the area and she gave us incorrect directions. There was actually a BUS between terminals. Madrid Airport's abbreviation (MAD) is well-deserved.

And I have NEVER had an airline employee escort me thought a security line. I wish!

 

[NoiseBoy]

ETA: Holy crap- I was doing a search on Delta's site to see whether flights through DTW to CDG needed a terminal change (then realized I was looking at flights from MY home airport, which is probably irrelevant) and I can see why you're searching so hard for decent fares. Those prices are making my Business Class fare to Edinburgh in September look pretty reasonable! (And I have a round trip from Edinburgh to Paris for a 2-night side trip for $185 on Air France.)

Yeah, I blew a chance at a $1,300 round trip, premium economy, direct flight fare to Barcelona in June due to not being able to confirm that my girlfriend could travel on those dates. That flight is $2,200 today

I've been using the map feature in Google Flights to search for destinations. Since I'm still working, I want reasonably good travel times so I can relax and enjoy the trip, as much as anyone can with air travel these days.

Pretty sure I am going to book the trip on Delta. The savings on airfare will help offset the cost of an Airbnb in Paris. Budapest was great, but it really screwed up my travel value calculator. $70 a night for a 2BDRM/2BATH flat!

 

[audreyh1]

No, it is the same airline, Iberia.



I don't know, I have never flown through Madrid before. I will try looking up the flight numbers to see what terminal(s) they use.



I am meeting my girlfriend in Paris so missing my connection, and not getting on a later flight, would be very bad.

I can tell you that Madrid does use different terminals for international (non-Schengen) versus Europe flights.

 

[audreyh1]

I just found a $1,200 premium economy ticket on Delta for a Sunday to following Monday trip to Paris. I would have 83 minutes to make my connection in Detroit on the way over (coming from Chicago.) On the way home I'd have 2.5 hours in Atlanta to go through passport control and catch my plane to ORD. What does the group think about 83 minutes in Detroit?

Should be fine IMO with "normal" flight delays of up to 30 mins or even a bit more. Both directions. Heading to Europe there is nothing special about a US connection other than you have to show your passport to get on the plane heading to Europe.

 

[audreyh1]

In my experience, connecting to an international flight, within the US, is no different than a domestic flight. So 83 minutes should be plenty. Of course, you are always subject to weather and mechanical delays.

Exactly! - Just have to show your passport to get on the international flight plane.

 

[audreyh1]

I have made international connections in Tokyo, and Osaka with one and a half hour connection, with both Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways. Each time, their ground crew held up signs at the gate for each destination. Once everyone is ready, they lead you thru the walkways, security line and to the new gate. The connection flight was always there waiting and we never missed a connection.

Wow - never seen or heard of such a thing!

 

[flyingaway]

Passport control is Europe is nothing like that in the U.S. They do not ask you any questions and there is usually no line.

 

[braumeister]

Passport control is Europe is nothing like that in the U.S. They do not ask you any questions and there is usually no line.

Not at all true in my experience.

 

[Nemo2]

Not at all true in my experience.

Not in mine either.

 

[audreyh1]

Passport control is Europe is nothing like that in the U.S. They do not ask you any questions and there is usually no line.

It depends on how busy the airport is at the time of arrival. I've experienced both very long passport control lines and very long waits for luggage. MAD is a very busy international airport.