Do you prefer a layover when you fly?

[golfgal]

I prefer non-stop but don't mind one short layover. I will not take a flight that has a several hour layover-there just isn't that much to do in an airport. When we went to Arizona we had a non-stop going out that was just a bit over 3 hours, after about 3 hours I am about ready to be done on the plane (which is good because most flights for us are around 3 to 3 1/2 hours). When we flew to Europe we had a BIG plane so we were able to get up and move around a lot more so that wasn't too bad.

 

[wvjules]

I prefer non-stop as well and will pay more for it. We are going to Hawaii and our flight connection was a choice of Atlanta or Phoenix. We chose PHX because that made the second leg of the flight shorter. I think it was 10 hours from atlanta and 6ish from Phoenix. If I lived in Atlanta I think I would have picked a flight with a connection somewhere on the West coast anyway.

 

[Katieinwonderland]

I hate layovers. I'm terrified of flying and the worst part for me is take off, so the fewer of those in one trip, the better.

The flights I am on are also guaranteed to be delayed, and I'm constantly missing connections, no matter how long they are. A couple of years I ago I gave myself three hours between flights. Still managed to miss my connection

 

[klacey1]

A layover is never really the ideal situation because mainly if the first flight is delayed, it could cause you to miss your other flight, happened to me many times. Its not fun.

Same-- if we have to have a layover (usually due to $$), I'm super panicky the entire first flight, terrified I will miss the second. I don't feel okay until I'm on that second leg. Thankfully, we've never missed a second leg.
Otherwise, I'm all about non-stop.

 

[Pakey]

I prefer non-stop, even on international flights. The longest flight I've done is 14 hours but most are 10-11 hours.

 

[Meriweather]

nonstop flight.......not always possible for us though.
Layovers are a waste of time and an opportunity for luggage to get lost.

 

[IdesOmarch]

Same-- if we have to have a layover (usually due to $$), I'm super panicky the entire first flight, terrified I will miss the second. I don't feel okay until I'm on that second leg. Thankfully, we've never missed a second leg.
Otherwise, I'm all about non-stop.

Its not pretty when you do either, the airlines are typically totally un-sympathetic and un-helpful, down right mean IMO. I hate the airlines. I only fly when there is no other option. One time our flight was delayed, we literally were running all the way across this huge airport to the other side where the connecting flight was (no they don't schedule the gates close by, this was ridiculous how far away they were) anyway, the airline person literally shut the door almost in our face to the connecting flight we had just missed. Instead of just opening the door and calling the plane (that was still sitting there at the gate) to say we have missing passengers, she could have cared less. I wasn't a happy camper.

 

[Minnesota!]

Prior to kids, I PURPOSELY booked flights with layovers. I love seeing new places, etc. The more out of the way the layover, the better

Now, with kids, I still don't care either way, but non stop is easiest, obviously. Our last layover was supposed to be an hour and stretched into 9 hours for DH and ODS while YDS and I flew on to MCO. A night mare.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I HATE layovers. If the first flight is late, you could miss your connecting flight, have to reschedule, then so many things are screwed up. It's happened to us many times. Unfortunately, the only way we can get to WDW is with a change of planes. Southwest just revised their schedule from our airport and now one of their flights stops, but we wouldn't have to change planes. I was almost dancing with joy when I saw the new schedule. HATE, HATE, HATE layovers.

 

[plutotek]

Layovers are pretty much a given; it just becomes a matter of how long we want the layover to be. I'll usually schedule a 1.5-3 hour layover as that usually gives us enough time to compensate for delays. We have only had 2 occurrences where we were delayed; the first one, the airline held the gate, hauling us across the tarmac on one of their little golfcarts and seating us in first class since they had sold our seats, and the 2nd time was weather related and wasn't much we could do about it.

As for multiple layovers, we did that on a trip to WDW and had one piece of luggage disappear. I do everything I can to avoid multiple layovers for just that reason.

 

[Northstar]

Its not pretty when you do either, the airlines are typically totally un-sympathetic and un-helpful, down right mean IMO. I hate the airlines. I only fly when there is no other option. One time our flight was delayed, we literally were running all the way across this huge airport to the other side where the connecting flight was (no they don't schedule the gates close by, this was ridiculous how far away they were) anyway, the airline person literally shut the door almost in our face to the connecting flight we had just missed. Instead of just opening the door and calling the plane (that was still sitting there at the gate) to say we have missing passengers, she could have cared less. I wasn't a happy camper.

There's a reason they slammed the door in your faces... at that point, they had given your seats to other people, and if you had actually made it to the gate before they closed it, they would have had to tell you, "Sorry, no room for you even though you have a boarding pass!"
Well, it's not going to make you hate the airlines less, but possibly those people who got your seats were people who had missed the previous flight because they couldn't run across the airport fast enough!


On the question of nonstop versus connecting flights... NONSTOP! If I have to book connecting flights, there's sure to be either a soul-destroying 5-hour layover in a boring airport, or a nail-biting, adrenaline-filled couple of hours wondering whether we're actually going to make the connection.

 

[a1tinkfans]

When you take a flight that is 3 plus hours do you prefer a layover? We were talking about this at work and it was pretty evenly split.

For me it doesn't matter. Obviously going straight through you get there faster and you don't have to worry about making your connection, on the other hand though, it is nice to get up a walk around (other than the aisle of a plane) and get out of a cramped space.

we ONLY fly non stops
Oh, and if there is another leg of the flight, we usually will plan an (Xtra) as in an overnight to rest up...it just works for us....

 

[Bilberry]

Glad I haven't needed a long flight in awhile, but when flying direct is my choice.

 

[MIGrandma]

I much prefer non-stop. The flights we take are only 2-4 hours long, so I prefer getting on one plane and not having to get off, wait around for the next one, and board again.

 

[LBIJim]

I prefer a layover on cross-country flights. Not in any hurry, and never missed a connecting flight. I like to walk around the intermediate airports. Two or three times luggage wasn't there at the destination, but who's to say it didn't miss the first flight, not the connecting one.

Jim

 

[Mrs.Toad]

We much prefer non-stop. I'd even take the 14-hour flight to India over two 8-hours flights and a layover. I want to get where I'm going. A layover just adds to the travel time.

 

[Art 1]

No.

 

[7165red]

I hate layovers.

 

[Melmac]

DH and I despise layovers. Florida is only 2.5 hours away and I won't even look at the prices of flights with layovers.

Sometimes, there is no choice - when we flew to Australia, for example. However, we paid a bit more to only have 2 layovers instead of 3. Then, I only needed to worry about missing two connections, instead of three

 

[AndreaDM]

Non stop for me please! Unless of course I'd be going to China or someplace like that, not that out little airport could fly direct anyway.