Connecting Flights

[hosler427]

I know this is different from airport to airport but I was curious how long do people typically allow for catching a connecting flight. I bought non-refundable tickets and the connection time is tighter than I like...especially when flying out of the northeast in the winter. I am close to just getting new tickets and easing my anxiety on this a little. I jumped the gun on the ticket purchase for sure.

 

[sam_gordon]

Depends...

Am I traveling by myself?
How large is the airport?
Will a concourse change be needed?
If I don't take the tight connections, what are the other options (I'll try a 40 minute connection if the next option is 5 hours for example)?

For me, I'll generally shoot for 60-90 minutes.

 

[hosler427]

Depends...

Am I traveling by myself?
How large is the airport?
Will a concourse change be needed?
If I don't take the tight connections, what are the other options (I'll try a 40 minute connection if the next option is 5 hours for example)?

For me, I'll generally shoot for 60-90 minutes.

All great questions. It is just my wife and I traveling and from what I read, the gates should be close together. It is Charlotte airport so not huge by any means. But what made me nervous was that this particular flight had a 74% on time rate this last month according to American Airlines themselves. We are there for a 49 minute layover.

My other option is a flight with a 3 hour layover but would get me to MCO 3 hours earlier.

 

[maxiesmom]

49 minutes is tighter than I like. I would go with the longer layover that gets you their sooner.

 

[hosler427]

49 minutes is tighter than I like. I would go with the longer layover that gets you their sooner.

It is an extra $380 expense but honestly I am kind of looking at this as travel insurance. I don't want this trip to be ruined by a late flight. It was a bad mistake but I can fix it ahead of time I guess.

 

[AquamarineSteph]

49 minutes is tight at the Charlotte airport, but it is not impossible. If your first flight is on time, you have just enough time to grab your carryon bags, exit the plane, power walk to your next gate and then catch your breath.

And before you change your flight, remember that AA often changes flight times even after you have booked a comfortable layover. I've had a 3 hour international layover changed to 50 minutes. I've had two hour domestic layovers changed to the minimum connection time. All of this was before the flight ever departed. I'd hate to think you spent that extra money to change the flights and then they make additional changes after you pay to change.

 

[hosler427]

49 minutes is tight at the Charlotte airport, but it is not impossible. If your first flight is on time, you have just enough time to grab your carryon bags, exit the plane, power walk to your next gate and then catch your breath.

And before you change your flight, remember that AA often changes flight times even after you have booked a comfortable layover. I've had a 3 hour international layover changed to 50 minutes. I've had two hour domestic layovers changed to the minimum connection time. All of this was before the flight ever departed. I'd hate to think you spent that extra money to change the flights and then they make additional changes after you pay to change.

On the flip side, what if they bump up the connecting flight and I end up with a 20 minute window? Really torn here. Great insight though

 

[sam_gordon]

My other option is a flight with a 3 hour layover but would get me to MCO 3 hours earlier.

A 3 hour layover and show up 3 hours earlier? Sign me up. I assume the replacement flight leaves earlier, but I'm ok with that.

It is an extra $380 expense

Does that include the change fee? Even if it did, I'm willing to gamble and not spend the $380.

if they bump up the connecting flight and I end up with a 20 minute window?

Can't do it. There's a minimum time they must allow. If you feel it's too tight (after they've changed it), call and tell them you won't make the connection and want to change with no fee. I've had no problems doing that on Delta, but don't know what AA's policy is.

 

[ironz]

If you booked within the last 24 hours, I think at least on some airlines, you have a shot at changing without a fee.

Another point to consider before dropping $380-- is there another flight to MCO after the one you are supposed to connect to? That might be a fallback option (not guaranteed) if your first flight segment doesn't arrive on time. If your 2nd flight is the last one of the evening, I'd switch it for sure.

 

[hosler427]

Can't do it. There's a minimum time they must allow. If you feel it's too tight (after they've changed it), call and tell them you won't make the connection and want to change with no fee. I've had no problems doing that on Delta, but don't know what AA's policy is.

That is what prompted this thread. I called AA today to try to adjust my flight. They said it was a non-refundable flight and any changes would incur a $200 per ticket change fee. That is more than I spent on the tickets.

My alternate plan would be to book through JetBlue. I would leave earlier and arrive 3 hours earlier as stated. Tough Choice...So annoyed at AA that I will never deal with them again. I had reservations flying with them in the first place and the whole customer service aspect of it didn't ease my worries.

 

[hosler427]

If you booked within the last 24 hours, I think at least on some airlines, you have a shot at changing without a fee.

Another point to consider before dropping $380-- is there another flight to MCO after the one you are supposed to connect to? That might be a fallback option (not guaranteed) if your first flight segment doesn't arrive on time. If your 2nd flight is the last one of the evening, I'd switch it for sure.

There is an additional flight after ours BUT it is the last of the evening. I don't like that either

 

[charmed59]

On the flip side, what if they bump up the connecting flight and I end up with a 20 minute window? Really torn here. Great insight though

Then you get to change your flight for free. Twenty minutes isn't a legal connection.

 

[AquamarineSteph]

On the flip side, what if they bump up the connecting flight and I end up with a 20 minute window? Really torn here. Great insight though

Airlines are required to book flights with what they call a minimum connection time. They can't legally change the second's flight's time to go below the legal minimum for that airline/airport. If they change the second flight's departure time below that threshold, they would no doubt rebook you onto a different plane leaving at a different time for your final destination.

Now what could happen is that your first flight is late arriving at the connecting airport resulting in not enough time for you to make your connecting flight. In that case, the airline should rebook you on the next available flight to your destination. Unfortunately, there's no way to know now which flights will be running early, on time or late.

It all boils down to your personal comfort level. This is your trip and you want to enjoy it!!! Just remember that if you pay to change your flights, the airline could still make additional changes to your schedule up to and including the day of departure.

 

[sam_gordon]

That is what prompted this thread. I called AA today to try to adjust my flight. They said it was a non-refundable flight and any changes would incur a $200 per ticket change fee. That is more than I spent on the tickets.

You won't get a free change unless the AIRLINE changes your flight to something that's not usable. If they haven't changed your flight time, why would you be entitled to a free change? "Buyer's Regret" is only a valid excuse for 24 hours after you purchase your ticket.

 

[hosler427]

You won't get a free change unless the AIRLINE changes your flight to something that's not usable. If they haven't changed your flight time, why would you be entitled to a free change? "Buyer's Regret" is only a valid excuse for 24 hours after you purchase your ticket.

I get this but I will plead ignorance. I have been able to make changes through JetBlue with no charges in the past and I have only used JetBlue for a long time. This time I branched out and focused more on the initial flights departure time. The more I thought about it, the less comfortable I was with it. It is my fault definitely

 

[kydisneyfans]

I would not pay the money to change the flight.

If American thought you would not make the connection, they would not have scheduled the route.

One thing you can do at no cost is to pick seats as close to the plane as possible to unload more quickly to catch the other flight. Airlines also rideshare, meaning if you miss the last American flight of the night but Delta has seats left on a flight, they will move you over. That happened to us with a missed connection in NYC a few years ago.

Charlotte is a big airport, at least it seems like it to us.

Personally, I exhaust every possible option of flying SW before booking another airline. There's just too much flexibility to change flights, get a credit, etc.
You also can retract the purchase in most cases if it's within 24 hours.


As for layover time, I shoot for the 60-90 minute window. I've had to run full sprint with an hour and 20 minute layovers, I've had 50 minutes turn into 5 1/2 hours. It's really impossible to tell.

 

[hosler427]

Personally, I exhaust every possible option of flying SW before booking another airline. There's just too much flexibility to change flights, get a credit, etc.
You also can retract the purchase in most cases if it's within 24 hours.

Southwest would be my choice as well but unfortunately the only airport in my area that offers it is 3 hours away. I have to choose between two smaller airports every trip and that limits options. Of those options, JetBlue is by far the best.

 

[JimMIA]

A couple of comments:

First of all, everything that sam_gordon has told you is spot on. Ignorance is no excuse, especially when you buy a non-refundable fare. And trust me, we've ALL done that!

You should also understand that there is a huge difference between buyer's remorse two days after buying a ticket, and making adjustments later because the airline changed something. Whole different ballgame. In that scenario, AA is great to work with.

Second, if the 74% on-time number is for your flight TO Charlotte, that's a bit of a concern. It that's the number for the flight from Charlotte to MCO, it's irrelevant. If your flight to MCO is late, no big deal. If your flight TO Charlotte is delayed, that could be a problem.

Third, AA is not Jet Blue. AA had hundreds of more planes, thousands of more crew members, and dozens of more options if you have a connection problem. Weather happens. And it happens to all airlines equally. Some airlines (the bigger ones) have options the little guys do not have.

I'm another 60-minute minimum connection time frequent flyer, but if your inbound flight to Charlotte is reasonably on-time and you and DW are reasonably fleet-of-foot, you should be okay. If not, you'll have the $380 you saved to spend on a hotel and nice dinner. I'd stick with AA.

One final suggestion. IF you do encounter a connection problem in-trip -- your cell phone is your friend. Do NOT go to a customer service desk! CALL AA. The phone agents can do everything for you that the people at the desk can do (often MUCH more), and you won't wait in a long line.

Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[Kaytie]

I get this but I will plead ignorance. I have been able to make changes through JetBlue with no charges in the past and I have only used JetBlue for a long time. This time I branched out and focused more on the initial flights departure time. The more I thought about it, the less comfortable I was with it. It is my fault definitely

JetBlue changed their policies a bit ago. They don't charge as much to make flight changes to nonrefundable fares, but they do charge now. https://www.jetblue.com/legal/fees/

There are exceptions, but feigning innocence isn't one of them.

 

[JimMIA]

The other suggestion I have for AA is to immediately sign up for their AAdvantage frequent flyer program. Do that before you fly and you'll receive some introductory info including credit card offers. In that info should be an AAdvantage member telephone number that you can use for reservations, etc, that is different from the regular 800 number.

If you hit a connection snag, that AAdvantage number is the one to call -- AA takes care of its frequent flyers, even newbies.