Advice needed please about indirect flights please

[rachelanne]

Hello, Im trying to get my son's friend on a flight to join us again, but economy is all full up, we are flying with virgin 30th October 12, so I thought about him going with American airlines (he is 22)

The bit im worried about, is 1hr 45mins enough time for the connection from New York to mco flight? Also what would happen then if he missed the connection, would he have to pay more money?

Im sorry if these are dumb questions but would rather feel daft now than manic woman over there! I have flew indirect via Philadelphia years ago but cant remember how it works, thanks a bundle

 

[Kath2003]

Hello, Im trying to get my son's friend on a flight to join us again, but economy is all full up, we are flying with virgin 30th October 12, so I thought about him going with American airlines (he is 22)

The bit im worried about, is 1hr 45mins enough time for the connection from New York to mco flight? Also what would happen then if he missed the connection, would he have to pay more money?

Im sorry if these are dumb questions but would rather feel daft now than manic woman over there! I have flew indirect via Philadelphia years ago but cant remember how it works, thanks a bundle

They won't sell him it unless its a "legal" connection (ie they believe he can make the flight).
If he doesn't, they'll put him on the next available flight.

 

[wayneg]

As Kath says they will only sell you a flight if they believe its doable, although Expedia once tried to get me to accept an alternative flight with a 55min connection via NY, I got them to change me to a longer connection but Expedia were insistant if the airline offered it I could make it.
I prefer 2 hours+ as you have to claim luggage and re-check, do immigration then get to your next flight which could be in a different terminal. I have accepted 1:45 in the past and had no problem but if the transatlatic leg is delayed it can be a struggle.
He would be trasferred to next available flight, is there another the same day? popular routes usually have one every 1-2 hours, there would be no fee involved.

 

[tinks_1989]

Have flown indirect twice both times stopping at Newark! First time we were through security collected bags and rechecked bags in with in 40 minutes were checked into an earlier flight! with no extra charge soninwouldnt of thought they would if you had to go on the next available one!

Second time took more like an hour 45 minutes had to change terminal security took forever! Still made our connection time the flight was also delayed but like Wayne said 2 hours to be on the safe side! It sounds like forever when you think about waiting on your own in an airport but allowing time for your first flight to be a bit delayed as well is something we always consider!

Xxx

 

[disneyholic family]

Hello, Im trying to get my son's friend on a flight to join us again, but economy is all full up, we are flying with virgin 30th October 12, so I thought about him going with American airlines (he is 22)

The bit im worried about, is 1hr 45mins enough time for the connection from New York to mco flight? Also what would happen then if he missed the connection, would he have to pay more money?

Im sorry if these are dumb questions but would rather feel daft now than manic woman over there! I have flew indirect via Philadelphia years ago but cant remember how it works, thanks a bundle

where is the connection? JFK or Newark?
Newark is probably doable in 1;45
JFK can be trickier, depending which terminal he flies into from the UK.
If he flies into and out of terminal 8, he might be ok.
if he flies into terminal 4 and out of 8, it will be impossible. I've done it. No way to do it in 1:45.

but again, is it jfk or newark? JFK you really need 3 hours to be safe.
Newark you can get by with 2 hours.

 

[scottishgirl87]

I also like at least 2 hours but have done Newark several times now, both connecting and staying there. It's a very easy airport to navigate and you can easily walk between the terminals.

We were delayed in 2010 due to the ash cloud and didn't make our flight down to Orlando. I'd say it took us about 30 minutes to get through immigration and transfer our bags over. We got lucky as our connecting flight was delayed as well and we had about 20 mins to kill before it took off.

Don't really think we've ever had much of a waiting issue at Newark but I guess it all depends on your transatlantic flight being on time.

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

The last 2 times we've flown into JFK (summer 2010 and Dec 2011) we've been in the queue for immigration for over an hour So I would definitely opt for a longer connection time although if they would just put him on a later flight at no extra charge I'd say there's nothing to lose.

 

[disneyangel]

Only issue might be if the next flight is full too. This happened to a colleague and I travelling from Edi to Kansas City via Newark for work. We were put on standby for next flight but all passengers turned up so the airline (Continental ) put us up in an airport hotel overnight and on the flight next morning ( with no extra charge) .

 

[disneyholic family]

delete - new post below

 

[disneyholic family]

ok, i finally went to look it up....i see that american airlines international arrivals are into terminal 8.

so actually, JFK should be a very easy plane change for american airlines and 1:45 might well be sufficient time since he won't have to change terminals...

he'll fly into terminal 8 and out of terminal 8.
though i suppose if his plane arrives together with other planes, immigration might take a long time.
so i still would probably prefer more time that 1:45....

but at least it's a pretty simple thing, arriving and leaving from the same terminal..
and terminal 8 is one of the nicer ones at JFK...

if there is a connection with 2 hours, or even a bit more, i think he'd be better off..
in fact, if there's a connection with 4 hours, it's preferable to the 1:45....better to make him hang around the airport a bit than for him to miss his connection..

 

[irenep]

Hello, Im trying to get my son's friend on a flight to join us again, but economy is all full up, we are flying with virgin 30th October 12, so I thought about him going with American airlines (he is 22)

The bit im worried about, is 1hr 45mins enough time for the connection from New York to mco flight? Also what would happen then if he missed the connection, would he have to pay more money?

Im sorry if these are dumb questions but would rather feel daft now than manic woman over there! I have flew indirect via Philadelphia years ago but cant remember how it works, thanks a bundle

I am really surprised that Virgin have sold all their economy seats this far out. is that V hols or VA you are going with?

I expect he will be ok with a 1.45 time to change planes though and I expect there will be a few planes doing that route if he doesn't make that connection.

Might be a bit of a pain for you though if you are having to collect him at MCO

 

[wayneg]

I am really surprised that Virgin have sold all their economy seats this far out. is that V hols or VA you are going with?

I expect he will be ok with a 1.45 time to change planes though and I expect there will be a few planes doing that route if he doesn't make that connection.

Might be a bit of a pain for you though if you are having to collect him at MCO

For some reason its just those dates, plenty of availabilty a day each way, thats if its for 2 weeks returning 13th Nov.

Just done some searching there are 2 seats available but not on VA direct for some reason, they are showing on Ebookers but a little pricey at £762.04pp
Other option if you have 7500 miles then PE Miles & Money is available at £794.29.
How much you paid? is that a lot more? might be worth paying the extra for the convenience. How much for AA? US airways via ebookers at £460 with good flight times.

 

[rachelanne]

Thanks for your replies, sorry couldnt reply sooner, We booked our original four when flights released and got them around 500 each, saw ebookers wayne but didnt think that price included baggage.also its a bit pricey for him with everything else, but he is waivering

Thanks Beth for checking things out also, he thinks he will stump up the money and fly with us, but wont commit to which one yet. I want to get him sorted as soon as possible, he came with us last time and we all had a good time, but when you change your mind and decide to come ,with only a few months to go its not as easy as booking all together like last time.

Thanks again for your time, Rache

 

[miss_bell]

There shouldn't be any fees for baggage added on with ebookers as the first checked bag with US Airways is free for international flights plus you get 18kg of handluggage, I know my other half would be fine with just taking hand luggage, makes it easier at baggage reclaim too.

I booked last week with ebookers for the US Airways flights and so far I haven't been asked to pay any more towards baggage.

 

[wayneg]

Anything you get booking direct you get exactly the same thru Ebookers same as any other agent, no worries about luggage, 23kg is included.