Connecting flight in 43 minutes???

[Disneyof3]

Okay big QUESTION. Never flown with the kids before and we leave BUF and land in JFK at 7:17 problem is connecting flight is at 8:00. Seats are already booked, we are in the middle of the plane. How big is JFK? (I know it is one of the largest in the USA) and 2nd will there be someone to ask which gate I have to get too? I know with Chicago it was a H pattern and we were dropped off at the top of the H on the left side and had to get to the bottom of the other line in the H on the right in 1 hr. It was confusing and tough without kids. Will the airline closer to departure know what gate the connecting flight is and let me know if I call???

 

[duckhere]

Our experience this last trip showed me that if we have a layover anywhere no matter how large or small the terminal I plan on having at least a 2 to 2 and half hour layover. It was just too difficult to get from one terminal to another on time. We were running through the terminals for a flight that had an hour and 15 min layover and still had issues making it. Plus not having time for drink/bathroom stops made the shorter layover times not worth it for us.

 

[PlutoPony]

Will the airline closer to departure know what gate the connecting flight is and let me know if I call???

Yes they will. You can check the flights on-line now for arriving and departing gates but be aware that it's possible they'll change right up to the time of the flight. I'd suggest making yourself familiar with the layout of JFK via their website before you leave and even print out a map to take with you. Then ask for gate information when you check in at the airport day of your flight for the most up to date info and plan accordingly. Planes can close their doors to additional passengers prior to their departure time (to ensure on time push back) so even if it seems you have "extra" time between flights I wouldn't count on it - go straight to your next flight, do not stop at the bathroom, etc. Good luck, this could be tight!

 

[Hopefully]

In my opinion JFK is huge! I had a connecting flight from a domestic to an International flight and it seemed that I hiked forever. Maybe it was because I was leaving on in International flight though. Are you flying on the same airline? That would make it more likely that the gates are near each other.
That said, I would not connect with only a 43 minute layover. Too much tight for me.
Good Luck and have a great trip

 

[bavaria]

Domestic to domestic flight connections CAN be done in larger airports such as DEN, ORD, ATL, JFK etc if you don't plan to stop along the way and familiarize yourself with the airport terminal map in advance. That means NO stops for the bathroom or food - get to the gate and on the plane, then use the bathroom and buy food on board (or bring it from home or your departure airport)

Also check the arriving and departing gates a few days in advance, they CAN and MAY change, but you will have some idea of what they may be like on the day of your flight.

 

[hygienejean]

We had a 35 min layover in JFK a year ago. We flew Delta. Our 6:30 AM flight from PWM left a little late and then we had to circle JFK when we were there. Long story short is that we missed our flight and we had to WAIT 7 HOURS (with 5 kids)for the next one out. The Delta manager said that there were more flights to MCO out of Laguardia than JFK and that she didn't rec routing through JFK for that reason. She said JFK was geared toward more international flights...

Anywhoo, we considered it a learning experience and we are only going nonstop on future flights.

IMHO, I would see if you could at least route through another airport. We did try that before we left and were told many times that anything more than 30 minute is a valid layover!

Now incedentally, on the way home we routed through Charlotte (I think) and we had a 27min layover there. We were REALLY worried about it and kept calling Delta, trying to switch flights. We couldn't....HOWEVER! We made the flight! Go figure.... Try to route out of another airport besides JFK....

Good Luck!

 

[snowbunny]

Our 6:30 AM flight from PWM left a little late and then we had to circle JFK when we were there.

This is the biggest problem with JFK...air traffic. It's a crapshoot as to whether you land on time. The only times I've successfully changed planes at JFK with less than an hour window were changing from one JetBlue flight to another around the corner and even then, we did not mess around. (Sometimes on JB though you have to ride the shuttle bus over to where they are renovating the old TWA terminal which takes an extra 10 minutes or so.)

As previous poster said, make sure the kids go to the bathroom before the first flight starts its descent, know exactly where you have to go, and book it over there promptly when you deplane. And carry what you'll need on arrival if possible, in the remote chance that your bags don't make the connection and end up on a later flight.

 

[Forevryoung]

A buddy is an air traffic controller at JFK, I'll let him know you are coming (there are just sooooo many planes!). Funny story- he knew what flight my mom and sister were taking to Paris and reduced their ground time (due to a back up of planes) by approximately an hour! The pilot got on the intercom and announced that my mom and sister must be very special

To that person that had a JFK/LGA 7 hour issue- they are across the island from each other. It's about a 30 minute drive with slight traffic. If anyone is ever in that situation and has enough time to get to the LGA flight (like 2 hours) I wouldn't hesitate to jump in a cab and boogie over there. Beats sitting at JFK for 7 hours.

 

[maxiesmom]

Just wanted to wish you good luck! Myself, I never take a layover of less than an hour anywhere.

Try to have as few carry-ons as possible, the less weight you have to try to hustle thru the airport with, the better. Also, do potty breaks either on the first plane before landing starts, or on the second plane as you as you get on. You will not have any time for potty or snack breaks in the terminal. If you are cutting it close, sometimes the flight attendant will try and pull you off of the plane first. It happened on my last flight where a lady would have missed her connection if she waited for everyone else to get off before her.Doesn't hurt to ask! And maybe make a game of it with the kids. Let's see who can find our next plane first.

Again, good luck.

 

[Alexander]

When I flew Delta in August, the booking agent wouldn't even connect me through JFK. She said "don't ever fly into JFK if you can avoid it." I took her seriously and connect through other cities if possible. (Direct flights for us don't exist.)

 

[gigi1313]

i don't know what kind of fares you got, or which ariline you are flying, but i'd be very concerned about a such a short amount of time to change planes at jfk... if it's not too late, you may want to look into southwest as they have $69 fare each way to/from BUF, nonstop!

 

[Disneyof3]

WOW now I'm scared. We are flying with Jetblue from Buffalo and we have 3 kids the youngest 6. The connecting plane is also Jetblue. We plan on no bathroom brakes and will just head to the gate for departure. We will have only each one small carry on bag and that is it. We also will wearing running shoes!!!!!! I can't change my flight have already booked it and don't want to get into a hassle with credits, this is our first time traveling with the kids. The kids are pretty good and are excited and if we tell them to run they will.
Snowbunny you said that your jetblue connecting flight was just around the corner, is that normal for jetblue?? What though is just around the corner??
Thanks everyone for the help, I'll just have to pray that time is on our side.

 

[Lewisc]

don't worry Jet blue only has one terminal. You won't have to leave the security area and you won't have a long walk. Weather delays normally affect both flights. You might not have time to use the bathroom and it's not likely you'll have time to stop for food.

WOW now I'm scared. We are flying with Jetblue from Buffalo and we have 3 kids the youngest 6. The connecting plane is also Jetblue. We plan on no bathroom brakes and will just head to the gate for departure. We will have only each one small carry on bag and that is it. We also will wearing running shoes!!!!!! I can't change my flight have already booked it and don't want to get into a hassle with credits, this is our first time traveling with the kids. The kids are pretty good and are excited and if we tell them to run they will.
Snowbunny you said that your jetblue connecting flight was just around the corner, is that normal for jetblue?? What though is just around the corner??
Thanks everyone for the help, I'll just have to pray that time is on our side.

 

[Disneyof3]

THANKS Lewisc that makes me feel alot better. I told the kids already they will have to go the bathroom in Buffalo and I will be watching there fluid intake till we arrive in Orlando. Anyway if they have to go the bathroom they can go on the plane. Food I will p/u before heading to the plane in Buffalo and that will save us time. We'll all be too excited anyway to eat anything.

Thanks again

 

[snowbunny]

don't worry Jet blue only has one terminal.

That's not strictly true...they have one terminal in the main area, and one terminal that's undergoing renovation (the old Saarinen TWA terminal). As of the last time I connected to and from JetBlue through JFK this year, you still had to take a shuttle bus to make a gate connection between the two.

To the OP: I do think you can make it if your first flight lands on time. When I say around the corner in JFK, I mean about a 5-minute walk between gates in the main part of JFK. It will be great when all JB flights come and go through the one restored historic terminal (in mid 2008 I believe). Have a great trip.