30 minute lay over?!

[Carriemel]

At SFO, United's domestic to domestic transfer time is listed as 30 minutes. It's technically a legal connection.

It's an almost impossible legal connection, though.

 

[writerguyfl]

It seems as if this is right on the edge of being a legal connection. As such, it's probably worth a second call to United. You may get an agent that is willing to make a flight change without additional fees.

If that doesn't work, here are a few random thoughts on your situation:

• You could see make a fully-cancelable rental car reservation. Make it for some time after your connecting flight is due to depart. If you make it, simply cancel that reservations. (Most car rental companies allow last minute cancelations.)
• Your OMA-SFO flight appears to be on an Embraer regional jet. That's a good thing. It only has 76 seats (a total of 20 rows front to back). Even if you're at the back of the plane, it's not going to take that long to get off the plane to make your connection.
• If you miss your connecting flight and don't decide to drive, there are three other flights into SFO on December 26th.
• United also flies nonstop from SFO to Los Angeles International (LAX). There are 9 flights leaving between 11:50am and 10:50pm that you could take. All of those flights are on large aircraft each with 150, 154, or 167 seats (depending on the type). That's lots of options to get you to the LA area. There are also bus services that can get you to the Disneyland Resort from LAX.
• United also flies into Ontario International (ONT) from SFO. There are 3 flights that could get you there. The only ground transporation option there is probably a rental car.
• Finally, it's still over 7 weeks until your flight. Your flight times may change again. I've had post-Christmas flights change times multiple times.

 

[seashoreCM]

Things to do right now.
* Hand pick alternate flights that would work out better for you.
* Call again, being prepared to ask for a supervisor and, if necessary a manager.
Don't forget to mention that they changed the schedule to make your connection time shorter.
Don't talk about "minimum conneciton time". Instead just quietly say you expect to have great difficulty making the connection if the incoming flight is late.
Be prepared to make a third call if you don't succeed on the second call and also can't get all the way to a manager on the second call.

By the way, an announcement on board at landing that there are others with tight connections tends to be ineffective.

 

[supersnoop]

Don't talk about "minimum conneciton time".

Talking about “minimum connection time” means telling them they need to follow their own policies. Demanding to speak to a supervisor or manager means you’re asking them to make an exception. Airlines don’t make exceptions these days. Policy is the only option.

 

[sam_gordon]

Talking about “minimum connection time” means telling them they need to follow their own policies. Demanding to speak to a supervisor or manager means you’re asking them to make an exception. Airlines don’t make exceptions these days. Policy is the only option.

Well, if it is a minimum connection time (as @Carriemel ) says, mentioning it doesn't really help.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

At SFO, United's domestic to domestic transfer time is listed as 30 minutes. It's technically a legal connection.

It's an almost impossible legal connection, though.

I disagree and I have flown through, to and/or from SFO on United many, many times. If the arriving flight is on time, a 30 minute connection is definitely doable.

 

[bumbershoot]

To others, if 30 minutes isn't a legal time, would the computers be able to schedule that?

Yep.

 

[JessM]

Just a word of advice... If you do go for it and your first flight is on a regional jet DO NOT bring a roller bag as a carry on. You often have to gate check these and then get them returned to you on the jetbridge. It can sometimes take FOREVER to get these back cutting into your valuable connection time. Bring a carry on that will fit in one of the smaller overhead bins and check any larger pieces. I would also bring a change of clothes for everything in case the checked bags don't make it, they should put them on the next flight and deliver them to your hotel but it may be the next day.

 

[StageTek]

Do you know if you will be staying on the same plane? Often on such a short stop it's to load passengers. You may not even disembark but if you do you will end up on the same plane.

The connection is at 1045 am the DAY AFTER CHSIRTMAS. that is what worries me most. If we miss it, I worry they wont be able to book us on the next plane because it will be full. That's where the car rental back up plan came in because while we would have to drive the whole rest of the day at least we would make it Disneyland in time for our first park day the following day.

In this case it might be wise to reserve a car. Many places will not charge you until you get the car so you can cancel without losing any money. If you make the connection you can cancel, if you miss the connection and there isn't another flight you have the back up and a 9 hour drive.

 

[sam_gordon]

Just a word of advice... If you do go for it and your first flight is on a regional jet DO NOT bring a roller bag as a carry on. You often have to gate check these and then get them returned to you on the jetbridge. It can sometimes take FOREVER to get these back cutting into your valuable connection time. Bring a carry on that will fit in one of the smaller overhead bins and check any larger pieces. I would also bring a change of clothes for everything in case the checked bags don't make it, they should put them on the next flight and deliver them to your hotel but it may be the next day.

Would you necessarily know that before you get to the airport?

 

[LYSE]

It should be doable, just uh..pick seats as close to the front of the plane as possible.

 

[katyringo]

Thanks everyone. We have our back up plan of driving but hopeful we wil make the connection. We aren't gate checking anything. We were going to gate check the stroller but not now.

 

[FCDub]

Would you necessarily know that before you get to the airport?

Sure. You can look up the daily flight schedule on Flight Aware and see what kind of plane it is.

 

[seashoreCM]

One significance of asking for a supervisor or manager is that they are better able to understand the situation and also have the authority to handle the situation properly. Whereas rank and file reservationists have more strict rules they must follow.

 

[writerguyfl]

Just a word of advice... If you do go for it and your first flight is on a regional jet DO NOT bring a roller bag as a carry on. You often have to gate check these and then get them returned to you on the jetbridge.

This is great advice.

Do you know if you will be staying on the same plane? Often on such a short stop it's to load passengers. You may not even disembark but if you do you will end up on the same plane.

This itinerary definitely involves a plane change.

Would you necessarily know that before you get to the airport?

During the booking process, airlines are legally required to disclose if any portion of the trip involves a regional carrier. For example, you'll see something like this: "Flight UA XXXX is operated by Skywest Airlines dba United Express."

Sure. You can look up the daily flight schedule on Flight Aware and see what kind of plane it is.

You can also view timetables at the airline website. That's how I figured out how many possible flights were available later in the day to SNA and nearby airports. Plus, that's how I determined the number of seats on each flight.

Of course, the information is subject to change based on operational needs of the airline.

 

[Firepath]

Is it too late to purchase travel insurance? That might pay for your rental car and other expenses related to a delay. You can also keep an eye on the flight times starting a week or so prior to your flight to get an idea if those particular flights are arriving and departing on time. I'm a huge planner, so I'd definitely check for other flight options and maybe even the train if it runs that way.

 

[SirDuff]

I disagree and I have flown through, to and/or from SFO on United many, many times. If the arriving flight is on time, a 30 minute connection is definitely doable.

Just using this one to jump off of. It is a legal connection for UA at SFO.

However, looking at the UA booking tool, the shortest connection I see on a OMA-SFO-SNA booking is 40 minutes. OP - have they tinkered with the timing again? Which SFO-SNA flight are you on? There are six non-stop flights on the 26th, so if you're scheduled for one of the earlier ones, there are a few options afterwards if you miss it.

 

[JessM]

Would you necessarily know that before you get to the airport?

You should be able to tell when you select your seats, it will show you the aircraft. If it's a 2x2 configuration I would assume regional jet on United with small overhead bins. You can also look up your flight number on Flightaware and it will tell you the type of plane.

 

[seashoreCM]

On second thought I think you should put some effort now into working on the airline as opposed to working on backup plans.

After you booked, the airline created the bad situation with a high chance of added costs to you somewhere, so they should be strongly encouraged to provide a solution that does not have a high chance of added costs including change fees.

Now I don't consider this an exception or a favor or a waiver by the airline in your behalf. It can be said (requires verbosity; PM me for it) that letting you reselect flights free of charge in this specific case is the airline's obligation.

 

[sam_gordon]

On second thought I think you should put some effort now into working on the airline as opposed to working on backup plans.

After you booked, the airline created the bad situation with a high chance of added costs to you somewhere, so they should be strongly encouraged to provide a solution that does not have a high chance of added costs including change fees.

Now I don't consider this an exception or a favor or a waiver by the airline in your behalf. It can be said (requires verbosity; PM me for it) that letting you reselect flights free of charge in this specific case is the airline's obligation.

Based on what? If the legal connection time is 30 minutes, they are within that range. Now, we can argue all we want on whether a 30 minute connection time is reasonable, but it is a legal connection time.

I agree the airline should change to a longer connection time at the customers request, but I don't feel they are obligated to do so. They would be obligated to get the customer to their destination if the connection is missed.