Changing flight at Washington Dulles- how much time?

[mommy-on-the-move]

A friend has booked our flights and now I am getting v.v.v.panicky as it has a plane change at Washington Dulles- on the way in we will have 1 hour 35 minutes to get off one plane and onto the next.

Has anyone done this? Is 1 hour 35 enough time?

What happens if flight A is delayed and we miss flight B?

Also does anyone know the process for changing flights? (will we have to do full imigration there or do we just switch planes and do imigration on landing in Orlando?)

Do we have to reclaim our bags at Washington and rebook them for the connecting flight or will they be sent on automatically? What about my pushchair?

(I'm a natural born stresser! )

Can anyone offer any advice or experience here?

I am really worrying (and we can't change flights as we're travelling as part of a 20+ group and got a v.good price and if we switch the whole group might lose the discount)

Thanks in advance!

 

[wickesy]

We changed at Washington when we went to Las Vegas one year. We had to do full immigration there and got caught in a VERY long line when we had already been delayed on the way in. We also had to reclaim our bags and go through another security check.

As a result we were late for our connecting flight but it was held for us (although that might have been because we were part of a tour group and there were about 20 of us). I'm not sure what would happen if they didn't hold it for you but I would imagine the airline would try and get you on the next flight.

 

[crashbb]

Since you are switching from an international to a domestic flight, you will have to claim your luggage and go through customs and immigration in Washington. If you gate-check your push chair, it is usually brought to the door of the plane (though it depends on the airline and how is was checked). However, the luggage should already be tagged for MCO (i.e. you just pick it up, take it through customs, and drop onto a luggage belt). You should also be able to get boarding passes for your second flight when you check in for the first flight.

Assuming that this was booked as a single ticket, if your first flight is delayed the airline will get you on another flight to MCO. Also, if it was booked as a single ticket, the airline considers this amount of time a "legal" connection (meaning, that they assume that it is enough time to get to your next flight).

Try not to stress too much - stressing won't make it any less likely to have a delayed first flight!

 

[fluffy bunny]

We used United to get to Orlando via Washington a couple of years ago. Not sure what time we had between flights, but we were also a little worried about the connection. It terned out to be fairly straight forward. We got off the plane and were channeled to the immigration out by the gates, not back at the main terminal. The lines were fairly short and we got through pretty quickly. Once through immigration, we had to pick up our bags, which were unloaded near the immigration centre at the gates. We picked these up and carried them about 10 yards through customs, then dropped them off again for the connection flight to Orlando. We then went upstairs to find the gate for the connecting flight. Both flights were in and out of the same set of gates (C I think). Would do this again and probably will if the flights are cheap enough.

As crashbb says, try not to get stressed and if you flight from the UK is late, just try to let the ground staff know, as they might be able to help you through the process. Have a good light.

 

[UKDEB]

The one time we flew into ICD, it took us ages to clear immigration - over an hour, I think. Luckily, we didn't have a connecting flight to catch. Maybe if you tell one of the officials in the immigration hall that you have a connecting flight to catch they will fast track you.

The good news is that, even if you do miss your flight, you will be put on standby for the next flight and US airports seem to be very good at getting you on them. And the good news is that, having cleared immigration at Dulles, you will have an easier passage through MCO.

 

[redtom]

We're doing the same thing in 2 weeks time.
When are you going? If its later than April I can tell you how it went.
We have slightly longer between flights (1:55).

We did another Airport last time and we were delayed plus we hit Customs at bad time. But they held up flight for a few minutes and everything was great.

I wouldn't worry too much and worrying isn't going to help anyhow.

 

[mommy-on-the-move]

Thanks everyone for the replies- I am having issue with the lack of control with having had someone else take care of the travel plans.

We're travelling in August and I have 4 kids- (age 1, 4, 5 and 10- 5 year old has special needs though so we're not anticipating an easy flight at all)

I guess I am going to have to grit my teeth, keep breathing and just roll with it

 

[Funky_dino]

Few years ago we had to stop at Cinncinati on the way to sanford, and atlanta on the return journey. Cleared customs at cinncinati after bout 45 min or so. all our luggage was automatically switched from our plane to the next, we didnt have to touch it at all. we had a cup of coffee (and a ciggie or 2 hehe) and then straight onto the plane, and no clearing customs at the other end. It was great.
what wasn't so great was the 5 hour dely at Atlanta on the way home hehe.
At that point your fed up because you have to come home, last thing you want is to hang around an airport

 

[Revtel]

To be honest, I would work on the assumption that you will get the NEXT flight, as 1.35 does seem very optimistic. American airlines are very adept at this, and catching a later flight will be straightforward.

If, by some chance, you make your original connection, look on it as a bonus! Whatever happens, you're going to Disney World

 

[fizz13]

ok did exactly the same thing in august and we had plenty of time at washington. like someone sadi, yes u have a bit of a wait at immigration but once you're through then your bags tend to be sitting there, you just carry them out the hall and they are straight onto a conveyor. once through there you just walk to your gate, i had time to have a cigarette, get a drink and sit at the gate for a while, belive me i was really worked up about the connection time before we did it and i rang airline network and united a couple of times to check i was guarenteed to have a seat on the next flight and they promised i would. after all that worrying i made it in plenty of time and wouldn't hesitate to do it again. More than anything i loved the united service better than virgin

 

[fizz13]

meant to also say that as it was a connecting flight we followed the signs for the connecting immigration hall, not the main one which made it a lot easier. Also at MCO as you are arriving on a domestic flight at orlando you will walk off the plane and be free to walk out the door, no customs and immigration at all.

oh yes one more thing (sorry keep remembering details) at gatwick when we checked in i used a desk as oppose to a machine and i was given boarding passes for both legs of the journey,in other words we were already checked in for both legs so i didn't need to worry about trying to check in again at washington, but by the gates you will find united desks and machines for check in for domestic flights.

 

[mommy-on-the-move]

Thank you everyone for all the replies! I am feeling alot calmer about it now (I am finding that i am having fluctuating periods of panic and calm... I have no idea what i'll be like the week before!)

You are all right- I have to keep concentrating on the fact we're going to Disney! (I went as a small child myself and never thought we'd manage it whilst our kids were all small having 4 of them and then my sister announced she was having a Disney wedding and so the decision was taken from us- we just have to be there.)

 

[DADAD]

We Did It A Coupleof Years Ago With Bmi A Bit Of A Hassle In Washinton But No Real Problems But When We Arrived In Mco What A Breeze It Was Getting Out Of The Airport
But As They Say Worrying About It Wont Change A Thing So Why Worry Have A Great Time