Short layovers for connecting flights

[ky-mike]

I recently had a conversation with a reservations specialist at Delta. She said that if you book end to end and the airline gives you flight options for connections, then those options should allow for adequate connection time. That being said, if your incoming flight is delayed at all with a short connection time, you will likely miss your connection. However, the airline should get you on the next available flight.

 

[Golden Mean]

I have not had good experiences at Heathrow and Charles de Gaulle. But when flying to Western Europe, it's hard to avoid these two airports, particularly as you try to go non-stop from the US west coast to maximize the flight portion that you fly premium economy.

When I become less stingy and spring for business-class, I will have more choices.

We did Gatwick (London) and Orly (Paris). Both were pretty quiet and convenient. The Thameslink station is right at Gatwick and is a quick ride north to the city center or south to Brighton. Orly has a shuttle to the tube in Paris or you can take the OrlyBus to Denfert-Rochereau and take tube/bus connections from there.

 

[FIYes]

I’ve decided that we need longer connection times. We are generally flying economy and in the back of the plane so just deplaning takes time. While I can hit the ground running if need be, DH cannot and moves fairly slowly especially if he has been sitting for awhile.

 

[Koolau]

I’ve decided that we need longer connection times. We are generally flying economy and in the back of the plane so just deplaning takes time. While I can hit the ground running if need be, DH cannot and moves fairly slowly especially if he has been sitting for awhile.

I know about "not running" anymore. We now both require a wheel chair which can take extra time OR get you to the next gate quicker. Back when only DW used a chair, I couldn't keep up with the kid pushing her chair. I always tip well as it's really nice in an unfamiliar airport when someone knows where your connection gate is actually located.

 

[SecondAttempt]

This isn't a good example, a lock is part of a "quote" working lavatory which is certainly on the safe operating certificate required by the government. They... meaning the airline weren't inventing anything.

Yes, I agree. But let's balance that against delaying 500 passengers for 9 hours and likely much more after missing connecting flights. Maybe that minimum equipment list needs to be reviewed. Yes, 1 lav for 500 people might be a risk. But is 7 out of 8 such a risk that they wait 9 hours? The world has gone senseless!

 

[Vacation4us]

Late to the party but I live near SNA. Personally we fly in and out of LAX to avoid connections, layovers, and expensive flights. Depending on the time of day LAX is as little as an hour away from Orange County. If you’re renting a car it’s a no brainer.

 

[Vacation4us]

PS you can’t land in the OC after about 10 pm this will cause a diversion to LAX and a bus ride back to OC. Talk about a pain.

 

[athena53]

I know about "not running" anymore. We now both require a wheel chair which can take extra time OR get you to the next gate quicker.

Totally agreed on the running/ walking. Just flew out of Kansas City this morning and am in Miami. I’ve walked over 3 miles although some of it was deliberate- had to transfer between terminals at MIA and then go through the TSA again although I do see there was a tram. The new Kansas City airport is big and shiny and pretty but requires a LOT more walking. If DH were alive and in the shape he was in his last few years we’d definitely need a wheel chair for him.

 

[53anddone]

I'm retired. I have more than 4 Million miles of travel experience from my working days.

When I fly now my primary goal is no drama. I don't run through airports anymore or try and swim upstream to "get off the plane to make my connection".

I don't book connections under 90 minutes unless its between two major airports. Sometimes I will drive to a major airport to avoid the connection, sometimes just spend extra time in the airport. Either way it is worth it to avoid the angst that comes with that tight connection.

 

[brett]

I'm retired. I have more than 4 Million miles of travel experience from my working days.

When I fly now my primary goal is no drama. I don't run through airports anymore or try and swim upstream to "get off the plane to make my connection".

I don't book connections under 90 minutes unless its between two major airports. Sometimes I will drive to a major airport to avoid the connection, sometimes just spend extra time in the airport. Either way it is worth it to avoid the angst that comes with that tight connection.

Ditto. Since retiring we have also switched to carry on only. Even if we are delayed we end up with a minimum amount of stress.

In retirement we have become spontaneous travelers. No point in painting yourself into a box or sweating over a late flight or missed connection once you have commenced your trip.

 

[camfused]

Its been awhile since I flew international, so I forget some of this. I want to go from my home US city to Copenhagen. The flights that are most convenient go through Paris or Frankfurt, both with 1hr20min stops. Yeah, I know this is tight, but my question is: when I arrive in Paris/Frankfurt, do I have to go through customs, or is that not until I get to Copenhagen? I am thinking that if I just have to get off the plane and change terminals, I might just squeak that out, but if I have to go through customs too, I doubt it.

Also, Frankfurt seems a lot smaller than CDG Paris, and that might help here too.

Thanks

 

[audreyh1]

You have to go through customs at the first Euro zone (Schengen) country of entry.

1 hr 20 mins at either Frankfurt or Paris is not enough. Sometimes passport control gets backed up.

I'm not sure what they do with checked baggage either - do you have to pick it up again like in the US? This can introduce yet another level of delay.

The last time in Frankfurt arrival - it was a very long walk to passport control, so that took a while. But we also ran into trouble retrieving our baggage. I got mine, but DH's was sent to the wrong carousel and it took quite a while to retrieve it. Fortunately I had allowed over 3 hours before the train to Cologne (another very long walk). There could have been several factors - plane late arrival, delays in customs, delays getting baggage. If the plane had arrived very late we might not have made it, so I was taking a gamble.

 

[camfused]

Thanks for that. Checked luggage will not be an issue...its only 9 days, so we will have carry ons.

Ok, I found a flight via Frankfurt with a 3h55m layover, so I will go with that. On the way back, though, leaving from Rome, I think I will risk a 1h20m layover in Frankfurt, since its within the Euro zone.

 

[tulak]

For Amsterdam, they have someone at the beginning of the custom line to redirect you to a quicker line if your flight is leaving soon.

It was nice to see that, since I have a shorter layover for an upcoming trip in July and I’m skeptical we’ll make it in the regular line.

 

[rodi]

Its been awhile since I flew international, so I forget some of this. I want to go from my home US city to Copenhagen. The flights that are most convenient go through Paris or Frankfurt, both with 1hr20min stops. Yeah, I know this is tight, but my question is: when I arrive in Paris/Frankfurt, do I have to go through customs, or is that not until I get to Copenhagen? I am thinking that if I just have to get off the plane and change terminals, I might just squeak that out, but if I have to go through customs too, I doubt it.

Also, Frankfurt seems a lot smaller than CDG Paris, and that might help here too.

Thanks

There is no way you can get through CDG in Paris in that time. I had a 2 hour 20 min connection and it took us over 3 hours to run the gauntlet. Every one in the very long lines was panicking about missing flights. We got super lucky that they held our plane because over half the ticketed confirmed passengers were stuck in these lines.

My son was returning through CDG this past December and missed his flight because if the long lines.

I would never go through CDG with less than 3 hours after that experience. It's an airport to avoid.

 

[tulak]

+1 on CDG. We had an hour and 20 min layover in CDG and we’re (very) lucky to make our next flight.

Our flight arrived a little earlier, but lost all that time when they bused us to the terminal. We had to cut lines at security and were the last to board the connecting flight.

I knew at the time we booked it was going to be tight, but it was cheaper than a later connecting flight and I figured if we missed our flight, then they’d rebook us on the later flight anyways. But in retrospect, I’d probably pay more and not deal with the potential hassle.

 

[audreyh1]

Oh right, I forgot that when we arrived at Frankfurt they had to bus us to the terminal.

 

[braumeister]

There is no way you can get through CDG in Paris in that time. I had a 2 hour 20 min connection and it took us over 3 hours to run the gauntlet. Every one in the very long lines was panicking about missing flights. We got super lucky that they held our plane because over half the ticketed confirmed passengers were stuck in these lines.

My son was returning through CDG this past December and missed his flight because if the long lines.

I would never go through CDG with less than 3 hours after that experience. It's an airport to avoid.

I couldn't agree more. Terrible airport in several ways.