Changing flights at Philadelphia, can anyone talk me through it?

[janiebubble]

We are flying Manchester to Orlando via Philadelphia. I have flown indirect but not for 9 years and always via Newark.

Is there anything I need to know? Outbound we are on the same flight number flight and I think we have about 3 hours to clear immigration etc, coming home I've played it safe and gone for any earlier flight from Orlando as I've had bad experiences with over booked internal flights and would like to minimise the chances of missing the flight home. We have 3.5 hours between them.

 

[wayneg]

Been via Philly a few times but not recently so wouldn't like to comment on what its like now, but in 13 days (21st March) we fly out to ATL from MAN via PHL so can give you the latest when we return.
We have 2.5hrs out, 1.5hrs coming back, anything over 2 hrs going and 1 hr on return should be OK.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

If I remember rightly, as we did the same change as you last time, you clear immigration and customs, collect your suitcases and follow the signs for onward transfers (or whatever it is called). You then recheck your bags, and go to the terminal where your connecting flight is leaving from.

However, on the way home, you check in at Orlando and don't see your suitcases again until you land at Manchester. When you land at Philidelphia you just go straight to the terminal where your flight departs to the UK and your suitcases magically do the same!!

I hope this helps.

 

[buzz242]

We are travelling back via Philadelphia and only have 1hr 25mins to catch our connecting flight and I was feeling a bit panicky but you have set my mind at rest - thanks

 

[janiebubble]

Been via Philly a few times but not recently so wouldn't like to comment on what its like now, but in 13 days (21st March) we fly out to ATL from MAN via PHL so can give you the latest when we return.
We have 2.5hrs out, 1.5hrs coming back, anything over 2 hrs going and 1 hr on return should be OK.

Thanks Wayne, will keep a look out.

 

[janiebubble]

If I remember rightly, as we did the same change as you last time, you clear immigration and customs, collect your suitcases and follow the signs for onward transfers (or whatever it is called). You then recheck your bags, and go to the terminal where your connecting flight is leaving from.

However, on the way home, you check in at Orlando and don't see your suitcases again until you land at Manchester. When you land at Philidelphia you just go straight to the terminal where your flight departs to the UK and your suitcases magically do the same!!

I hope this helps.

Brilliant. Sounds like Newark so should be ok. We leave in exactly one month so getting excited now

 

[wayneg]

They all work in a very similar way.
I doubt I will be posting anything on the boards, this trip has nothing to do with Florida or Disney (apart from a night at the theatre to see this http://www.orpheum-memphis.com/events/detail/disneyinconcert ) I might just post updates on FB.

 

[janiebubble]

That looks like a fab concert Wayne, have a great trip

 

[wayneg]

That looks like a fab concert Wayne, have a great trip

I hope it is as good as it looks.
We have done more planning for this trip than any other before, its one of the reasons I have not been on the boards as much(along a crazy few months in the business) We have planned so much in the 15 nights we will need a holiday after it

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

We are travelling back via Philadelphia and only have 1hr 25mins to catch our connecting flight and I was feeling a bit panicky but you have set my mind at rest - thanks

We only had a 1 hour connection on the way back so it was a quick walk through the terminal to our gate, they kept calling for people to board (rather than get their food and toilet break I think! But we managed both)

 

[cheryl.UK]

When I did it, it was a very swift walk on the way back but there were stupid understaffing delays getting through security. I still arrived before the called my row.