connecting flights-should I worry?

[tkitty]

Our flights in Oct are on Continental, and they just moved our first leg up 30 min. which is no problem. But this leaves us 29 min. to change flights in Houston. Now I'm a bir freaked as we'll have 4 adults and 2 children (ones 2) to make the switch. Since both are Continental, would the gates most likely be near each other? If they didn't think we could make it, would they have changed the final leg of the trip?

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Okay, a couple of questions:

Tell me more about your legs. Continental has more than one hub. Give me the origins and destinations of your legs. (Origins and destinations) along with plane type.

See, if you're on an Embraerer flying into Houston and then flying out of Houston into Orlando on a 757, 30 minutes, with a 2 year old? Is not enough time in the world. You have to change TERMINALS (granted, there's dedicated terminal link) and it's just not feasible for someone who can't move FAST.

If you're on a 737 making a connection with another 737, you should still be worried, but you might actually make your connection.

Might.

Basically, I'd say go ahead, call Continental and change your flights. But if you want to know if you might, possibly, make your current flights - give me more info!

(I currently have something like 150K miles in my Continental account. . .I might, possibly, have flown Continental once or twice. . .)

 

[DebbieB]

They sometimes don't make corrections right away. I have a Delta flight that was changed about a week ago, they are still showing us with a 7 minute connection in Atlanta! They usually make changes the first weekend of the month so I'm waiting to see if there will be more changes (trip not until December).

I would get it changed now. Since you have 6 people, you may not all make it on the next flight if you miss it, plus it's unlikely you would get seats together.

 

[tkitty]

Okay, a couple of questions:

Tell me more about your legs. Continental has more than one hub. Give me the origins and destinations of your legs. (Origins and destinations) along with plane type.

See, if you're on an Embraerer flying into Houston and then flying out of Houston into Orlando on a 757, 30 minutes, with a 2 year old? Is not enough time in the world. You have to change TERMINALS (granted, there's dedicated terminal link) and it's just not feasible for someone who can't move FAST.

If you're on a 737 making a connection with another 737, you should still be worried, but you might actually make your connection.

Might.

Basically, I'd say go ahead, call Continental and change your flights. But if you want to know if you might, possibly, make your current flights - give me more info!

(I currently have something like 150K miles in my Continental account. . .I might, possibly, have flown Continental once or twice. . .)

Thank you for checking this out. I know things could still change, as my flight is Oct 2nd.
This is what we have:
5:35am flight out of PHX(Pheonix, Az) to IAH. Boeing 737-800, arriving IAH at 10:01am.
10:30am out of IAH to MCO, Boeing 757-300.
I hate to change that flight, because it gets us to MCO so nice and early.
If they don't change this again, I may give Continental a call, and see what they say.
I appreciate your help, and any suggestions!

 

[tkitty]

They sometimes don't make corrections right away. I have a Delta flight that was changed about a week ago, they are still showing us with a 7 minute connection in Atlanta! They usually make changes the first weekend of the month so I'm waiting to see if there will be more changes (trip not until December).

I would get it changed now. Since you have 6 people, you may not all make it on the next flight if you miss it, plus it's unlikely you would get seats together.

I'm also thinking that the flight can change again. I sure hate to take a later flight to MCO. That's digging into my Disney time! (And may mess with my dinner ressie!)

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Oh dear.

I don't think you can make that, honestly.

You're supposed to arrive at 10 and leave at 10:30. Which means boarding starts at around 10:10.

Hmmm.

Okay, I've made plenty of 30 minute windows onto planes.

Sit in the front, do not be the last to dis-embark
No potty breaks.
No gate checked luggage
Walk v. fast

You're in C-D-E terminal, which is ginormous. . .

I had a thought that could possibly help - ask for a courtesy cart. They can whisk you to your location and that would get rid of the Walk Very Fast requirement.

Honestly, I know you want to get to the parks early, but I don't know if you can make it, and I don't know if it would be worth the stress you'd put on your kids.

Call Continental. Those 30 minute windows are there for people like me who road warrior, not families with toddlers.

 

[tkitty]

Oh dear.

I don't think you can make that, honestly.

You're supposed to arrive at 10 and leave at 10:30. Which means boarding starts at around 10:10.

Hmmm.

Okay, I've made plenty of 30 minute windows onto planes.

Sit in the front, do not be the last to dis-embark
No potty breaks.
No gate checked luggage
Walk v. fast

You're in C-D-E terminal, which is ginormous. . .

I had a thought that could possibly help - ask for a courtesy cart. They can whisk you to your location and that would get rid of the Walk Very Fast requirement.

Honestly, I know you want to get to the parks early, but I don't know if you can make it, and I don't know if it would be worth the stress you'd put on your kids.

Call Continental. Those 30 minute windows are there for people like me who road warrior, not families with toddlers.

Thank you for being honest! I'll hold off a bit to see if it gets changed again, then I'll call and see wfat I can change around. This sucks...

 

[eeyoresmom]

I have a similar situation with Airtran next month. A 30 min window. If I call to get the flights changed, will they charge me? I'm thinking probably yes! I really don't feel like we're going to make it.

 

[jamstew]

No way at IAH. It's a humongous airport, and if you have to change terminals, just getting from Point A to Point B could take 30 minutes. If you were flying Southwest and connecting at Houston Hobby, it would be no problem.

 

[pilotwife_02]

Now I just asked DH who's a pilot and flew into Houston for years as his base and he SWEARS you can do it, but as a mom I wouldn't try it. I wouldn't feel comfortable and if you missed the connection and had to wait for the next flight that would just be a pain!

I'd call and see if you could switch the flights around.

Good luck!

 

[tkitty]

Now I just asked DH who's a pilot and flew into Houston for years as his base and he SWEARS you can do it, but as a mom I wouldn't try it. I wouldn't feel comfortable and if you missed the connection and had to wait for the next flight that would just be a pain!

I'd call and see if you could switch the flights around.

Good luck!

How funny. If we try it, we'll send my SIL running like a madman through the terminal ahead of us. I contacted Continental through their site, but haven't called yet. The next flight is over 3hrs out of IAH. So, we'll see what happens.
I love how Disers are so quick with answers and suggestions. I feel like I have my own little support group!