57 minutes to change planes!?

[Mom2OandElle]

Is this realistic? Flying from BOS to CVG with just 57 minutes to switch planes for our CVG to MCO leg. We are traveling with two small kids (5 & 8) and my parents. Of course I'm in charge of all the travel arrangements so I'm feeling a little stressed! I have never been to the CVG airport so I have no reference point. Any help/advice would be appreciated!!

 

[Brit_Jude]

It's not ideal. Both DF and I are experienced business travelers and I usually will not take a connection anymore that is less than 1 hour, I will look for something else. It only takes your first flight to be a little delayed to mess up your connection (this has happened more times than I can count). With your kids they might want/need a drink, the bathroom etc when you land and you will be trying to get to your next flight. However CVG is a new and modern airport with good facilites. It will depend on a few factors:

- How much carry-on will you have? Lots of bags and carry-ons slows you down during a connection. No or little carry-on makes connecting easier and quicker.
- Where are your seats on the first plane, front means you get off a few minutes quicker which could make all the difference?
- How old are your parents, can they help you with the kids and the carry-ons or are they a little elderly and slower, not able to help much?
- Do you know if your connecting flight departs in the same concourse as you are scheduled to arrive, so not far to get between gates, this would make 57 minutes much easier.
- If you have to move between concourses you have to get on a train - they run every 90 seconds,pretty good, but you have to get everyone on and off the train.
- If you should miss your connecting flight, have you checked that there are other flights later on that day that the airline might be able to get you on? Or will you be stuck overnight?

Have you checked if there is a possibility of an earlier flight from BOS?

 

[momofsamandeden]

I agree with OP that no less than one hour is ideal especially with delays and children. I am sure that it is manageable you will just have to go in with the mind set of if we get delayed oh well. Also the less you bring on the better with two children in tow that may be difficult. Also senior citizens are not really up for running through the airport to get to the next flight. It would be hard for me since I am a firm never check a bag person even with kids.

 

[maxiesmom]

We connected at Cinci with 47 minutes, and it was fine, but a bit tighter than I like. The airport is easy to get thru, they have their own subway-like system to get you from one place to the other. It was me, my sis, and her 2 girls ages 14 and 9. Both girls are pros at flying and speed-walking thru the airport so they knew the drill before-hand. We get off the plane, and get to the next gate with no stopping. After getting to the gate we then go back for potty-breaks and snacks, if we have time.

 

[OKW Lover]

As a Delta frequent flyer, we've connected through CVG numerous times and its about the easiest place to change planes that you'll ever run into. If you're flying Delta, they have consolidated almost all their operations into a single concourse so your connection will be as simple as walking from one gate to another. At the worse this will take you 10 minutes to go from one end of the concourse to the other.

IAW, 57 minutes is no problem - even with children.

 

[DebbieB]

57 minutes is fine at CVG, it's not a big airport, especially now that concourse C is closed.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

57 Minutes is WAY more then enough time, IMO.

 

[Mom2OandElle]

Thanks so much to everyone who replied with such useful info. I had thought that carry-on was the best way to go, but with a tight connection I now see how checking bags will free us up to hustle to our next flight. I will also check to see what our alternative flights will be if we miss our connection; I honestly hadn't thought of that.

Sincere thanks!!!!!!!

 

[JoeCathyAngelina]

We're having the same problem.
A couple of weeks ago Delta cancelled our non-stop flight home from our April school Vacation trip and stuck us on a 1 stop layover in Detroit with 31 minutes to change planes.
Since then I've been checking flights morning, noon and night for a better flight with available seats.
Yesterday they changed our flight, now we have 41 minutes to change planes.
Good luck all,
Joe

 

[blanq]

57 Minutes is WAY more then enough time, IMO.

ITA, especially for CVG.

Airlines would not create short connection times unless they felt they could make them in most circumstances. If your plane is delayed leaving BOS, then you could have a problem, but hopefully the airline could rebook you BEFORE you depart in that case. I have had a number of 30 minute connections in ATL, and have made all but one. And, my luggage has made it too! This last month, I had a 1 hour connection time through ATL but my plane was late leaving MSP. When I checked in at MSP, AirTran just automatically rebooked me on my leg from ATL to HOU because they realized that I would not be able to make my connection in ATL.

Connections can be a pain, and I only book them when my travel allows for delays and I go EXPECTING them. Granted, even without a connection you can experience delays when you are dealing with flight travel.

 

[clkelley]

I haven't been through CVG in awhile, but when I did go through there my rule of thumb was if I was on a small commuter jet for both legs, then short connections were fine cause they were right there in the same area. (This being Delta). They have a very compact commuter terminal that I LOVE having layovers at.

If I switch from a commuter jet to a large plane, then I want a longer layover because then it takes longer to get from the commuter area to the large plane terminal.

 

[Mom2OandElle]

Both are Delta flights. I know the first leg, BOS to CVG is on a small plane operated by Canadair Regional Jet. The next leg, CVG to MCO is on a Boeing 737-700 (winglets). Is that a larger plane? I can tell that it has 28 rows, so I am assuming that's large. I am completely obsessing about this whole issue! Thanks again for the information and advice.

 

[maxiesmom]

We're having the same problem.
A couple of weeks ago Delta cancelled our non-stop flight home from our April school Vacation trip and stuck us on a 1 stop layover in Detroit with 31 minutes to change planes.
Since then I've been checking flights morning, noon and night for a better flight with available seats.
Yesterday they changed our flight, now we have 41 minutes to change planes.
Good luck all,
Joe

Call Delta. They did that to me too, and I told them I was simply not comfortable with less than an hour layover. They switched me to a different flight with no hassle.

 

[DisneyZane]

Only thing to consider with checked bags:

If your first flight is delayed and you rush to make your second one, you might make it to the plane but your bags might not. We always check bags because it's a hassle not to, but if you cut it close, your bags can't change flights as quickly as you can. It will definitely make it easier not to have to carry them through the terminal though and I think 57 minutes is plenty assuming no delays.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Call Delta. They did that to me too, and I told them I was simply not comfortable with less than an hour layover. They switched me to a different flight with no hassle.

I don't think it was the layover they were willing to avoid, rather your flight times changed enough for you to be considered a significant change to them. Most airports have "legal" connection standards, below these times airlines are under a somewhat obligation to rebook you on flights with "legal" connections. The only airport that I can think of that hits close to an hour is ATL which is 45 minutes if I recall.

It is also good to note, as long as a "legal" connection is obtained, the airlines are under no legal obligation to rebook you if they move you from a direct to one with a layover, although most will.

Only thing to consider with checked bags:

If your first flight is delayed and you rush to make your second one, you might make it to the plane but your bags might not. We always check bags because it's a hassle not to, but if you cut it close, your bags can't change flights as quickly as you can. It will definitely make it easier not to have to carry them through the terminal though and I think 57 minutes is plenty assuming no delays.

I actually disagree with this for most airports. By the time a typical person deboards and transfers to the new gate, your bags have already been deplaned and being loaded into the next plane. Now things do happen where bags don't transfer under extremely tight timeframes, but I have in more then one occasion missed my connection, but my bags still made it. Remember it is more direct for luggage to get between places at an airport then it is a person.

 

[jwcollin]

Delta is so funny! When I booked our flights, we had 55 minutes to change planes in Minneapolis. Now they have changed flights and when I go into my itinerary, it now is giving us 56 minutes to change planes! But they give me a warning at the top of the page that says "There has been a change affecting one or more of your flights. Your itinerary has been updated, but it may cause you to miss at least one connecting flight during your trip. "

They didn't have that warning when I first booked the flights! Silly company...

 

[clkelley]

Both are Delta flights. I know the first leg, BOS to CVG is on a small plane operated by Canadair Regional Jet. The next leg, CVG to MCO is on a Boeing 737-700 (winglets). Is that a larger plane? I can tell that it has 28 rows, so I am assuming that's large. I am completely obsessing about this whole issue! Thanks again for the information and advice.

One thing you can do is check on the Delta website for flight status for your flight numbers for today (or tomorrow). The website can generally tell you what gates the current flights are landing at and then go to the CVG website and see if there is a map of the concourses. That can give you an idea of how close or how far apart your flights are.