Transiting via the US

El_Torro

I’m going on holiday later on this year. Just having a look at flight options. It’s not that straightforward as I’m not getting a return flight, it’s multi stop. There are 3 flights I’ve found on the way out, trying to decide which is the best option:

1. Layover in Washington DC. My final destination is not the US, though I believe I still need to go through customs if I am in transit. That is a pain in itself, though my main concern is that the layover is only 90 minutes. Doesn’t seem long enough to me.

2. Layover in Zurich of 70 minutes. A bit tight but at least Switzerland doesn’t have crazy laws about transiting so might be OK.

3. Layover also Zurich but 4 hours instead of 70 minutes. 

All 3 flights fly out of Heathrow.

I’m tempted to take option 3 since I don’t want to miss my connecting flight. Just wondering what other people’s thoughts are on the subject. 

Thanks.

Voyager2002

Option 1 would not work: you need to clear Immigration and the queues for that can easily take as long as four hours.

Option 2 sounds fine, so long as all your flights are on one ticket. Most European airports have minimum connection times of less than an hour.

MalMonroe

For me, option 1 wouldn't be worth considering. You're right about the security measures. And Washington DC is of course the capital city so it could be even worse than other airports.

I think option 3 is best, even though you have to hang around longer. As you say you could miss your connecting flight if there are any delays. I've missed connecting flights in the past on two occasions and it wasn't pleasant either time. I've not been to Zurich airport but if I had to spend extra time somewhere like Changi airport in Singapore, I'd not be unhappy. But anyway, I'm sure there will be something to keep you occupied until you have to board your next flight.

Bon voyage!   

eDicky

If it's a through ticket with Swiss then option 2 will be fine, they'll take care of you in case of any problem. Four hours in transit at Zurich wouldn't be much fun, only necessario if you're looking at cobbled together flights that aren't on the same ticket, from an online agent - not advisable in any case.

Westin

Please be wise and select well who you book with.  As eDicky mentions make sure you are not buying cobbled together (what they term ‘self-connection’) flights from overseas ticket floggers.

daveyjp

If its an option go via Dublin or Shannon as US customs can be cleared there.

Despite what appeared to be a very long queue it took me just 40 minutes last week in Dublin.  Once in the US just 20 minutes from getting off the aircraft, collecting baggage and being in the taxi to the hotel.  Without baggage it would have been about 5.

El_Torro

Thanks for all the comments. Some more detail to address the questions:

I fly from Heathrow to Zurich with Swiss Air. My connecting flight is with Edelweiss Air. I haven't booked the ticket yet but I can book it all with United Airlines. My later flights are all with United, and I guess they have some sort of relationship with both Swiss and Edelweiss since I can book the whole trip with United. I might be assuming too much there... I can look at booking all the flights separately, though that might be a lot more costly. Plus since I am booking with different airlines I thought there'd be less room for redress if something goes wrong with one of the flights?

HogMan

Agree that option 1 is not viable.

My experience of international arrival gate to domestic departure gate is a minimum of one to one and half hours

As well as immigration, collecting bags, customs and dropping bags, you also have to go through security again in the US.

Voyager2002

daveyjp said:

If its an option go via Dublin or Shannon as US customs can be cleared there.

Despite what appeared to be a very long queue it took me just 40 minutes last week in Dublin.  Once in the US just 20 minutes from getting off the aircraft, collecting baggage and being in the taxi to the hotel.  Without baggage it would have been about 5.

OPsays "my final destination is not the US".

Voyager2002

El_Torro said:

Thanks for all the comments. Some more detail to address the questions:

I fly from Heathrow to Zurich with Swiss Air. My connecting flight is with Edelweiss Air. I haven't booked the ticket yet but I can book it all with United Airlines. My later flights are all with United, and I guess they have some sort of relationship with both Swiss and Edelweiss since I can book the whole trip with United. I might be assuming too much there... I can look at booking all the flights separately, though that might be a lot more costly. Plus since I am booking with different airlines I thought there'd be less room for redress if something goes wrong with one of the flights?

It would be insane to book all the flights separately. If your entire journey is on one ticket then you are protected against missing an onward flight if an earlier sector is delayed, and any checked luggage will be automatically transferred between flights: unless your transit is at an airport in the USA.

DullGreyGuy

El_Torro said:

I can look at booking all the flights separately, though that might be a lot more costly. Plus since I am booking with different airlines I thought there'd be less room for redress if something goes wrong with one of the flights?

If you book them separately then you have no redress should one of your flights not fly or is delayed in relation to your other legs. If your booking directly with an airline it will be a continuous ticket and so if you dont make the transit then its the airlines responsibility to sort it out.

There are plenty of third party sellers out there however who sell separate tickets as if it were a single ticket but may call it "self transfer" or "hack fare" or something. If you are a seasoned traveller you'll know that a RyanAir flight followed by an AirFrance flight is never going to be a single ticket but less experienced people may think because its one payment, one purchase it must be one ticket and then they lose money when the RyanAir ticket is cancelled and they can't get to CDG to get their intercontinental flight.