Easiest airport to make a connection at....

[goofy4tink]

Ok guys...going to those who know, because I don't!!! I'm hoping to talk my dd into flying into Orlando vs Boston (and going home) when she returns from London in Dec. She is studying there for the semester! But, since I have a trip to DLR/WDW planned for when she returns, I thought it might be fun if she flew to Orlando and joined me for the last 4 days of my trip! BUT.....there are no direct flights from London to Orlando...at least that I can find. She would have to connect at JFK, ATL, or DTW. Any recommendations for the easiest place to connect would be? She isn't going to be thrilled to be flying alone to begin with, and will be pretty nervous about making a connection. So, figured I would check here.
It may not work out but I want to be prepared. Thanks.

 

[Yellowjj]

Unless something has changed overnight there are all kinds of direct flights between London and Orlando.
British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Thomas Cook Airlines and soon to be Norwegian Airlines all fly direct from the London metro area. Virgin alone probably has 2 or 3 daily flights. That's not mentioning the other tour company airlines that goes to Orlando Sanford. British people love WDW.

Or do you prefer her to only fly a US flag carrier? In which case ATL will be the better choice. DTW will be less crowded than ATL, but ATL is on the way to MCO. So a shorter trip overall and the ability to avoid any cold weather and potential delays DTW might be facing in winter. Avoid JFK at all costs. It's not for the easily frustrated or inexperienced traveler.

 

[goofy4tink]

Unless something has changed overnight there are all kinds of direct flights between London and Orlando.
British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Thomas Cook Airlines and soon to be Norwegian Airlines all fly direct from the London metro area. Virgin alone probably has 2 or 3 daily flights. That's not mentioning the other tour company airlines that goes to Orlando Sanford. British people love WDW.

Or do you prefer her to only fly a US flag carrier? In which case ATL will be the better choice. DTW will be less crowded than ATL, but ATL is on the way to MCO. So a shorter trip overall and the ability to avoid any cold weather and potential delays DTW might be facing in winter. Avoid JFK at all costs. It's not for the easily frustrated or inexperienced traveler.

She is going to be flying Virgin Atlantic...most likely anyway. I have not been able to find a direct flight with them. All the flights are connecting......at least out of Heathrow.

 

[charmed59]

Virgin Atlantic has non-stops to Orlando out of Gatwick.

A nonstop from London to Boston is 7hrs 20minutes. Once you add a connection in there, getting to Orlando will take around 13 hours. And, where ever she first stops in the US she will have to go through passport control and customs, pickup her luggage, and then lug it over to recheck it for the last flight. Given that, there isn't really a convenient place for a connection.

 

[Yellowjj]

She is going to be flying Virgin Atlantic...most likely anyway. I have not been able to find a direct flight with them. All the flights are connecting......at least out of Heathrow.

Ahh. She would need to go to Gatwick for the non-stop flights. Orlando isn't considered premium enough for them to use a Heathrow slot on.

So if Heathrow is the only choice for her to depart. Choose ATL as the gateway. Avoid any northeastern US airports due to the potential for snow/ice.

 

[goofy4tink]

Ahh. She would need to go to Gatwick for the non-stop flights. Orlando isn't considered premium enough for them to use a Heathrow slot on.

Yep, plugged in Gatwick and saw that. It's easy enough to get to Gatwick. Going through customs anywhere is going to be a huge pain...and one she's going to have to manage on her own...be it in Boston or Orlando.
Thanks guys. I never considered Gatwick!

 

[Yellowjj]

I was given this abit of thought. I would hold off on getting her ticket right now. The airlines are only selling "Y" bucket right now, which is the most expensive economy fare. I also see Aer Lingus flies to MCO from DUB. As you know, Dublin has pre-clearance. She could possibly fly to DUB from LHR, clear US customs there and arrive in MCO as a domestic passenger. Just some food for thought.

 

[debster812]

Given that it's December, I'd go for the ATL connection as well. Back in the dark ages, when we all used travel agents, I had one who impressed on me that if you had to connect in the winter, to connect at the biggest hub, as far south as you could, so if you were dealing with weather delays, you had a better chance of ultimately getting out. But if she can get herself to Gatwick, and a non-stop, that would be my preference.

 

[supersnoop]

Since she'll have to clear customs anyway, I don't think any one airport will be much better than another. She'll have to change terminals regardless.

 

[Carriemel]

Diane, I'd look at her connecting thru Dulles in Virginia on United. There's what's known as FIS (Federal Inspection Station) under concourse C. She'd collect her bags, hit customs, recheck her bags and go thru TSA all in one small area. Lots of flights between IAD and MCO.

 

[DebbieB]

Diane, I'd look at her connecting thru Dulles in Virginia on United. There's what's known as FIS (Federal Inspection Station) under concourse C. She'd collect her bags, hit customs, recheck her bags and go thru TSA all in one small area. Lots of flights between IAD and MCO.

I connected at Dulles on my way back from India (via Frankfurt), it was very quick.

 

[OKW Lover]

I'd avoid JFK because the international arrivals is a real pain in the neck plus you need to change terminals outside of security. At least in ATL or DTW you'll clear customs/imigration and not need to change terminals or re-clear security.

 

[debster812]

Hey--here's another outside of the box thought. What about flying IcelandAir. There would be a stop in Iceland but she would not clear customs until she landed in Orlando. They seem to be significantly less expensive as well.

 

[goofy4tink]

Great ideas guys! Now, to figure out if she wants to do this. I think she is a bit nervous about flying by herself to begin with. If there are other kids flying in and out of Boston, that will probably be her first choice, even if it means missing a stay at WDW! But, it's her choice. We shall see.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I agree with the poster who suggested making a connection through Dublin. She would clear customs and immigration there, making her arrival at MCO a breeze.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I connected at Dulles on my way back from India (via Frankfurt), it was very quick.

IAD is my home airport and I have gone through customs and immigration there many times. I have Global Entry, so it just takes minutes for me now, but when many international flights arrive at once (happens every day), the lines can be very, very long and slow.

 

[charmed59]

If I never flew by myself before, especially internationally, I'd try and make it easy as possible. That would be taking a direct flight home to Boston. Look at it this way.

Option 1, flying direct to Boston

Get off, clear Passport Control, pickup bags, clear customs, drag bags to homeward transportation

Option 2, fly direct to Orlando

Get off, clear Passport Control, pickup bags, clear customs, drag bags to Orlando transportation, drag bags from transportation to hotel, 4 days later drag bags back on transportation, checkin bags at MCO, pickup bags, drag bags to homeward transportation (This could be made easier with ME, would she be getting that?)

Option 3, fly through ATL or Dallas

Get off in ATL or Dallas, clear Passport Control, pickup bags, clear customs, recheck bags, then you are the same as Option 2 after customs.

Is being jet lagged at Disney for 3 or 4 days with London weather clothes really worth the extra 3 to 8 hours of travel time and luggage handling? It might even be easier for her to fly home to Boston then hop on a plane the next day well rested with a carryon full of Disney appropriate clothing for 2 or 3 days.

 

[canadiankim]

Whilst I am now living in Canada I am an expat of the UK. Depending on when she is travelling the only problem with flying direct and having to clear customs in MCO is the sheer volume of flights and people coming in. Now I assume if she is an American coming back into MCO its going to be a lot easier than if she is of another nationality trying to go through customs.

I have flown with Virgin Atlantic, BA, US Airways and Iceland from the UK and my Mom who lives in Ireland has flown via Aer Lingus. I would say that they all have their positive points and negatives, I like the idea of clearing customs in Dublin which is a significantly smaller airport than Gatwick or MCO but you do have the added hassle of flying from London to Dublin to add in.

I would think if she is confident enough to do a school semester in England then she should be good to travel into any airport to clear customs so would just go for the cheapest flights that have the best times.

Happy hunting

 

[bumbershoot]

I would think if she is confident enough to do a school semester in England then she should be good to travel into any airport to clear customs so would just go for the cheapest flights that have the best times.

I so agree. I was a really young 17 when I started college (and my mom remarried and moved cross country from my college). First flight alone was from SEA to MIA, connecting in O'Hare at 2 or 3 am. 'twas a breeze.

I would want the VA flight, absolutely.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Hey--here's another outside of the box thought. What about flying IcelandAir. There would be a stop in Iceland but she would not clear customs until she landed in Orlando. They seem to be significantly less expensive as well.

I flew IcelandAir between Minneapolis and Munich. The Keflavik airport is small and super easy to navigate. However, because the UK doesn't participate in the Schengen Agreement, passengers that are connecting between two non-Schengen countries (like the US and UK) are restricted to a small area of the airport unless they choose to go through Icelandic Passport Control. It shouldn't be any big deal (I was going to a Schengen country so I did have to do Passport control in Iceland and it was a piece of cake, no lines at all), but it's just something to keep in mind/be expecting if you do connect in Iceland.

FWIW, I picked IcelandAir over a legacy airline because it was half the price of a legacy carrier, and I was able to do a free stopover in Iceland for a couple of days on my way to Germany. Since the cost was so much lower than a legacy airline, and the hotel expense didn't even come close to the difference in fares, my company picked up the hotel cost, so I essentially got a free trip to Iceland.