Continental connection time

[2Tiggies]

I have been watching flight prices and checking out various routes for the last year or so - you would think I earned a living from it

With my accommodation booked I am almost ready to take a serious look and buy flights if the price is right.

So far, taking into account travelling costs and if applicable, overnight at an airport hotel to get to an alternative airport for a better price, Continental and BA are coming out the cheapest for me.

TBH I would rather do Continental if the price is within £100 of the others for DD and I together.

The dates will only be out on Thursday/Friday for my return trip. Meanwhile, looking at the schedule, there is a 1 hour 30 minute connection time at Newark (similar on the return actually although with the option of earlier domestic flights so not worried about that).

I know that 2 hours is the generally accepted minimum, but is an hour and a half pushing it to the limit? There are other flights later in the afternoon but I REALLY want to avoid arriving at night - it kind of messed us around a bit this year - just because we are not used to the late arrival.

 

[disney_princess_85]

When we flew to New York via Paris earlier this year, we had just one hour to connect to our ongoing flight on the way out. It was fine. Having said that, with all that has been going on lately, it might take much longer than usual to get through once you get to Newark.

 

[2Tiggies]

When we flew to New York via Paris earlier this year, we had just one hour to connect to our ongoing flight on the way out. It was fine. Having said that, with all that has been going on lately, it might take much longer than usual to get through once you get to Newark.

Thanks. I know that it really depends on the airport and what is happening at the time. If we miss our connection we can (hopefully) be put on the next one. If we book a later one and have time, we could see if we can be put on the earlier one.

No right or wrong I suppose - just the Glasgow Departure arrives 30 minutes earlier (looking at Edinburgh because I prefer it and easier to get to) so that is an option.

Of course it all now depends what prices are like. So far on 'pretend' dates, the quotes are coming up around £1100 or so for DD and I. Nice thing doing DIY: DD pays a child fare

 

[irisheyes123]

We got through in less than 50 minutes but we cleared US immigration in dublin so only had to do customs we then had 2 hours for our next flight and always feels like forever lol

 

[torsie24]

Where would you be changing?

We changed in Detroit, i allowed us 2hr30, flight landed early, we we through and had our bags in like 10 minutes, so had a 3hr wait!!

Very smooth running lovely airport, so if you can change there do, and I'd certainly feel comfortable with a 90 minute change, and there were loads of MCO flights when we were there, so if you had missed on you'd be ok.

 

[2Tiggies]

Thanks guys. If I understand correctly, they when selling an indirect flight I THINK they have to offer you flight connections that fall within the minimum required change-over timeframe.

Where would you be changing?

Newark.

 

[missdopey]

You're right, they only offer connections that are possible to make. In August 2009 we had an hour and a half connection time in Philadelphia, unfortunately the Manchester flight we got was delayed 45 mins due to the incloming flight being delayed. When we checked in they asked us if we would like to be moved to a later flight as there was a chance we would miss the connection in Philadelphia, which we did. We didnt rush to immigration as we knew some people would we cutting it fine for flights and so we let others rush past. In the end we would have made our connection (and they even held the flight an extra 15mins for people who we're due to catch it and we're delayed). In the end we ended up getting a flight an hour and a half later, but we didnt mind as we were glad we didnt have the stress of wondering whether we would miss the flight.

 

[2Tiggies]

You're right, they only offer connections that are possible to make. In August 2009 we had an hour and a half connection time in Philadelphia, unfortunately the Manchester flight we got was delayed 45 mins due to the incloming flight being delayed. When we checked in they asked us if we would like to be moved to a later flight as there was a chance we would miss the connection in Philadelphia, which we did. We didnt rush to immigration as we knew some people would we cutting it fine for flights and so we let others rush past. In the end we would have made our connection (and they even held the flight an extra 15mins for people who we're due to catch it and we're delayed). In the end we ended up getting a flight an hour and a half later, but we didnt mind as we were glad we didnt have the stress of wondering whether we would miss the flight.

Thanks. That's how I understood it. I would have done the same if offered to go for the later flights in the event of a delay. However I am quite keen to go for the early one so that I KNOW that if I make the earlier one, we get to MCO sooner, but there is still the standby option if not.

 

[jockey]

We had 1.30 back in 2009 we were travelling with 10mth old and a 3 year old, it was the first week of esta and we were told we did not need visa waiver forms WRONG..... We had to fill them in at immigration and we still made our connection!

 

[2Tiggies]

We had 1.30 back in 2009 we were travelling with 10mth old and a 3 year old, it was the first week of esta and we were told we did not need visa waiver forms WRONG..... We had to fill them in at immigration and we still made our connection!

Thanks. YOu guys are great! This looks like it will work out brilliantly for me. I just needed some info on the particular airport. 2 hours at one airport may be way too much time and not enough at the next. (Try Heathrow with a terminal change )

 

[jockey]

It ran like clockwork for us and it was our first time on this route, on the return leg they even put us on the earlier flight up to ewr free of charge!!!!

We are using them again in feb they also allow you to collect frequent flyer points for kids

 

[2Tiggies]

It ran like clockwork for us and it was our first time on this route, on the return leg they even put us on the earlier flight up to ewr free of charge!!!!

We are using them again in feb they also allow you to collect frequent flyer points for kids

I saw that. I will definitely sign up for their reward program.

I wonder if they also have sales ..... Although realistically, I would have no peace with myself sitting it out until shortly before hoping for a maybe. For me the best option is, I think, to book when the flights are released.

 

[jockey]

I saw that. I will definitely sign up for their reward program.

I wonder if they also have sales ..... Although realistically, I would have no peace with myself sitting it out until shortly before hoping for a maybe. For me the best option is, I think, to book when the flights are released.

I have never seen them do sales, I use pillinger world travel and they give me a price before the flights are released, always works out very reasonable for us! You will def get the cheapest price either before or just as the flights are released

 

[2Tiggies]

I have never seen them do sales, I use pillinger world travel and they give me a price before the flights are released, always works out very reasonable for us! You will def get the cheapest price either before or just as the flights are released

I will be sitting up on Thursday night/Friday morning for those flights

I would love to get cheap deals,but having exhausted seemingly every option, the CO prices are sitting on a par with the other best prices at the moment. Quite frankly it has done me a favour. I was very keen on the CO EWR route from Glasgow from a practical perspective so the absence of competitive options removes a potential dilemma from the equation for me.

I really appreciate your help. Going to google Pillinger Travel now ... just in case. I didn't know about them.

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

Newark is a great airport! The terminals have a shuttle train between them which only takes a couple of minutes. There are loads of staff around to help We made it from arrival, through a massive immigration queue, customs and bag recheck (hand in!), back through security, change terminal and to new gate in about 30 minutes. No problem at all, even though it sounds like a lot everything runs very quickly. On the way home you will probably not need to change terminal so will just walk from one gate to the other. The airport is very big and we enjoyed the relaxing and exploring - I have booked big connections because of this. A friend of our missed a connection with Continental and they couldn't have been better.

 

[2Tiggies]

Newark is a great airport! The terminals have a shuttle train between them which only takes a couple of minutes. There are loads of staff around to help We made it from arrival, through a massive immigration queue, customs and bag recheck (hand in!), back through security, change terminal and to new gate in about 30 minutes. No problem at all, even though it sounds like a lot everything runs very quickly. On the way home you will probably not need to change terminal so will just walk from one gate to the other. The airport is very big and we enjoyed the relaxing and exploring - I have booked big connections because of this. A friend of our missed a connection with Continental and they couldn't have been better.

Thanks Kathryn

Is it going to be straightforward to go through the process even if I am unfamiliar with that particular airport? As long as things are well sign posted it's fine.

When you connect on the return flight, can you check in for both flights before your first one, or do you need to check in again for the international flight when you get to Newark? Just wondering if it is a full check in, bag drop or luggage goes straight through on the return.

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

Thanks Kathryn

Is it going to be straightforward to go through the process even if I am unfamiliar with that particular airport? As long as things are well sign posted it's fine.

When you connect on the return flight, can you check in for both flights before your first one, or do you need to check in again for the international flight when you get to Newark? Just wondering if it is a full check in, bag drop or luggage goes straight through on the return.

I am totally nervous and hopeless at anything unknown and it was totally painless to me. You really can't go wrong - everything is designed for connecting flights. Immigration you can't missed. Then downstairs to get your bags and through customs. After customs follow signs for bag recheck which was bearing left for us. Handlers just take your bags from you and you head on through security. Signs are really clear - up at the shuttle there is a member of staff standing there just to help if you are unsure - I asked them just incase - we went from C to B. You will be totally grand.

I checked all our bags for the return in at MCO and you get both sets of boarding cards. You don't see your bags again until the UK which is great. When you arrive back at Newark you just walk to the next gate and show your boarding card at the desk. Then enjoy the airport. I can't wait to get another giant pretzel from there!!!

 

[2Tiggies]

Ooh, giant pretzels. Now it seems easy peasy

I am not the best at following directions or a map, but I always get where I need to and once I have done it, I am fine. My DD is used to it, but she sometimes frets a bit when she realises I might be 'lost'. I would ordinarily not worry or even think about it, but if there is a terminal change and a fairly short connection time, I am unsure if the airlines allow time for passengers getting lost 3 or 4 times

Ah right, so on the outbound it is a bag drop. Do you get your boarding passes for the connection as well when you check in for the first flight in the UK?

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

Ooh, giant pretzels. Now it seems easy peasy

I am not the best at following directions or a map, but I always get where I need to and once I have done it, I am fine. My DD is used to it, but she sometimes frets a bit when she realises I might be 'lost'. I would ordinarily not worry or even think about it, but if there is a terminal change and a fairly short connection time, I am unsure if the airlines allow time for passengers getting lost 3 or 4 times

Ah right, so on the outbound it is a bag drop. Do you get your boarding passes for the connection as well when you check in for the first flight in the UK?

Yes, both sets of boarding cards both times.
And if I couldn't get lost it can't happen.

Also apparently they will look after you for a transfer if things do go wrong

 

[2Tiggies]

Yes, both sets of boarding cards both times.
And if I couldn't get lost it can't happen.

Also apparently they will look after you for a transfer if things do go wrong

Sounds perfect! Thank you!