30 minute lay over?!

[supersnoop]

Have we actually established that 30 minutes is legal? I can’t find it published anywhere, but I have found references to 45 minutes being the legal connection at SFO.

 

[Pooh2]

Definitely book a rental car as a backup with a company that you do not have to pay ahead or give a credit card (we use Enterprise, no penalty to cancel last minute).

That short a layover would make me nervous too. In such cases, we try to book more legroom seats toward the front of the plane and do carry-on.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

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.

from your stroller comment I am thinking carseats if you check those not even sure your could gate check them you will not be able to get them for the rental car. also have you ever driven the California freeways at rush hour in morning? in rush hour traffic would not be sure of getting to correct lane for getting off with GPS only directions. and yes you will have to go thru LA to get to Disney from SF

 

[sam_gordon]

Have we actually established that 30 minutes is legal? I can’t find it published anywhere, but I have found references to 45 minutes being the legal connection at SFO.

I'm taking these two posters at their word.

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.

It is a legal connection for UA at SFO.

 

[SirDuff]

Have we actually established that 30 minutes is legal? I can’t find it published anywhere, but I have found references to 45 minutes being the legal connection at SFO.

Expert Flyer shows a 30 minute MCT for United at SFO.

I'm taking these two posters at their word.

I pulled it up on Expert Flyer, but cannot access it right now. Also, there were 32 minute connections at SFO when I pulled up some flights on UA.com (I assume that, random flukes occur, when flights are changed, but would be surprised if it lasted long as bookable flights on the website).

 

[supersnoop]

Expert Flyer shows a 30 minute MCT for United at SFO.

Thanks, I can trust that. I let my ExpertFlyer subscription lapse a few years back.

 

[charmed59]

Rush hour traffic the day after Christmas should be very light. I’m not sure what time the OP would be driving through LA but due to the holiday there might be traffic around the malls

 

[FCDub]

OP, this would truly be a worst-case scenario if you're not able to get to LA at all. I wouldn't stress that much about it if I were you (easier said than done, I know). There are enough surrounding airports that you will be fine and get to your destination.

 

[katyringo]

OP, this would truly be a worst-case scenario if you're not able to get to LA at all. I wouldn't stress that much about it if I were you (easier said than done, I know). There are enough surrounding airports that you will be fine and get to your destination.

Thank you! Yes the rental car is worst case scenario.. but better plan for it then not.

We used to live in Southern California. I know alllllll about the crazy traffic

 

[seashoreCM]

Other ideas:
Write to the airline using snail mail.
Contact travel advocate Christopher Elliott (elliott.org)

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Thank you! Yes the rental car is worst case scenario.. but better plan for it then not.

We used to live in Southern California. I know alllllll about the crazy traffic

good that you know about the traffic

 

[SirDuff]

Thanks, I can trust that. I let my ExpertFlyer subscription lapse a few years back.

Yup!

Having said that...

1) I'd try calling again and asking about switching flights.
2) I don't actually see any OMA-SFO-SNA options on UA.com that have a 30 minute connection. Shortest that I see is 40 minutes. OP - is it possible that there was more tinkering? I know that 10 minutes isn't much difference, but it is another third more time.

 

[sam_gordon]

If you have anyone that has mobility problems (elderly, young, injuries, etc) that would cause them to move slowly, call the airline and explain that you don't think you'd make the connection. I did that once on Delta when we were travelling with small kids and they had changed the schedule to a 30 minute connection in Atlanta. No problem. However, if you have nothing that would knowingly slow you down, be willing to take your chances. If it's a legal connection time, there's going to be nothing you can do to FORCE them to change your schedule.

 

[writerguyfl]

2) I don't actually see any OMA-SFO-SNA options on UA.com that have a 30 minute connection. Shortest that I see is 40 minutes. OP - is it possible that there was more tinkering? I know that 10 minutes isn't much difference, but it is another third more time.

I ran into that same thing when researching my response. I kept seeing 40 minutes. Then, I re-read the first post that said it was the day after Christmas. When you use that date, you'll see the flights. It's a 32 minute layover.

Link to OMA-SNA Timetable on United.com: https://www.united.com/web/en-US/ap...6/2017&Time= &NonStop=False&NumFlight=50&FLN=

 

[SirDuff]

I ran into that same thing when researching my response. I kept seeing 40 minutes. Then, I re-read the first post that said it was the day after Christmas. When you use that date, you'll see the flights. It's a 32 minute layover.

Link to OMA-SNA Timetable on United.com: https://www.united.com/web/en-US/apps/travel/timetable/results.aspx?Origin=OMA&Destination=SNA&Date=12/26/2017&Time= &NonStop=False&NumFlight=50&FLN=

Actually, it wasn't the date that was my problem. I had just sorted by duration (thinking shortest duration equals shortest connection), but forgot to filter on SFO as connecting airport. So, I was seeing a 40 minute connection for OMA-DEN-SNA (with a total flight time about 90 minutes shorter than the OMA-SFO-SNA flight).