Enough time for connection? (USA)

jackieblack

Having only ever flown non-stop before, I am looking at flights to destinations in the USA which require a connection.

Having previously experienced long queues at US immigration, I am a bit nervous about how much time is necessary to allow between connecting flights.

If an airline's own website is offering flights with a short connection time, does this indicate that that amount of time is feasible for that particular airport?

And, am I right in assuming that if I don't make the second flight due to delays at immigration/baggage carousel/customs at the point of entry, that the airline have the responsibility of getting me on a later flight to my final destination?

Thanks for any advice

steve1500

You haven't said which airport, connection time etc

PeacefulWaters

The joy of US immigration pre-clearance in Dublin should be part of your thinking. What routes are you considering?

If your connecting flights are all booked on one ticket the airline should look after you, subject to availability, but ... I'd prefer to leave gaps between and waste a full day though!

This thread on Flyertalk may assist thinking.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1756629-will-ba-rebook-me-if-i-miss-my-connection-even-without-inbound-delay.html

torbrex

Don't trust the airline Jackie, allow at least an hour an a half to clear immigration, the airline will tell you that it is your fault you missed the connection and bill you for another flight.

richardw

jackieblack wrote: »

...If an airline's own website is offering flights with a short connection time, does this indicate that that amount of time is feasible for that particular airport?...

Nope. It's just computer software putting things together.

jackieblack

steve1500 wrote: »

You haven't said which airport, connection time etc

Am looking at a few different ones, including DTW, ORD, MSP, ATL, DFW ....


Some only allow about 90 minutes (have just seen one with a 40 minute connection time! I know that can't be done!:eek:)

jackieblack

PeacefulWaters wrote: »

The joy of US immigration pre-clearance in Dublin should be part of your thinking. What routes are you considering?

I had thought of that, but would be looking at 2 stops then

Just at early stages of looking but considering places like:
Rapid City SD, Omaha NE, Kansas City MO etc

jackieblack

richardw wrote: »

Nope. It's just computer software putting things together.

My naturally cynical/suspicious nature suspected as much

Caz3121

jackieblack wrote: »

H
If an airline's own website is offering flights with a short connection time, does this indicate that that amount of time is feasible for that particular airport?

although a time is offered as it meets the minimum connection time for the airport but it does not make it 'simple' for every passenger. The connection time may be possible for someone with a US passport and global entry and no checked baggage but not for a UK passport holder and checked baggage (it needs to be collected and taken through customs at first entry point in US)

If on the same ticket and onward flight is missed you would be re-accommodated on a later flight that has availability (which may not be the next flight)

Pre clearance makes things much simpler as you would arrive as if you were a domestic passenger, get off the plane and head to the next gate

...looking at your updated airports (I type too slow) there is much less concern if these are domestic to domestic in the US and a shorter time would be much simpler (but I would still opt for longer!)

Marmaduke123

You need at least 3 hours at busy airports. We always check if there are plenty of additional flights to our final destination, after the one we are meant to connect with.

We've only missed our connection once. AA had already rebooked us on to the next flight when we finally got through immigration and customs, after about 3 and a half hours.

Murphy_The_Cat

jackieblack wrote: »

Am looking at a few different ones, including DTW, ORD, MSP, ATL, DFW ....


Some only allow about 90 minutes (have just seen one with a 40 minute connection time! I know that can't be done!:eek:)

whenever I've missed a connection on a 'through' ticket, I've always been sent on teh next flight with available seating.
No fuss, no drama.

However :- good planning suggests that you check how many additional flights go to your destination per day if you miss your connection. If there are flights every half hour, happy days - if your connection is the last/only flight of the day, less happy days.
If you want to go really anoraky, look at alternative routings to offer up if it all goes wrong.
Several years ago, I was flying MAN-ORD-LAS and the MAN-ORD flight was delayed, so I missed the ORD-LAS flight. The next flight to ORD was 7 hours away.
I suggested that we got routed via DFW and went ORD-DFW-LAS and got to LAS several hours earlier.

For this year, coming back to the UK, I've got a 49 min connection in LAX - would I have chosen a 49 min coneection ? hell, no. But it exceeds the LAX min connection time, so if my flights delayed, they'll put me on the next one :beer: