Flight connection times

[wysbcc]

Hi
I was just wondering if anyone has any views on the length of time needed to clear customs in the US and catch a connecting flight?

The reason I ask is that I booked our flights last year with Delta going from Manchester to JFK, with a 2hr 5min connection time for the flight from JFK to MCO.

Anyway, I have just found out today that the original flight from JFK to MCO has changed and we now have 1hr and 35mins to get off the plane, get our luggage, get through customs and onto the connecting flight.

I called airline-network and they assured me that Delta were still selling these flights as valid connections and are not allowed to sell them if they didn't think that passengers would be able to make the connection and that if we did miss the connection, they have to put us on the next flight as priority passengers.

Just wondering what other people's experiences of connecting flights were and how the airlines treated you. (especially Delta)

The upside to all this is that if we do make the connecting flight, we will arrive in Orlando an hour ahead of what we were expecting.

Thanks

Scott

 

[ford family]

We usually fly to Florida (Tampa) via Atlanta on Delta although we have gone once or twice via JFK, all from Gatwick.
We usually try for a connection of about two hours. Less time is possible, though, depending on how busy immigration is. Collecting luggage, going through customs and putting it on the connecting flight is fairly quick. You have to go through security again which can be busy. The distance between arrivals and the Delta domestic departure gates is fairly short.
Check on the Delta website (www.delta.com) and see what the next flight to MCO is after your booked one so you have a worst case scenario if you don't make it in time. Make sure you are looking at JFK flights as Delta also fly out of La Guardia.
I would not worry about it.

ford family

 

[wysbcc]

Thanks for the info

We're definately going to and from JFK, although I did find flights from manchester to JFK, then from La Guardia to MCO also with a 2 hr connection time. wouldn't fancy that one at all.

The next flight going from JFK to MCO is around 8pm so worst case scenario is a 5 hr wait at JFK

 

[wayneg]

I accept any connection with more than 90 mins. Last Oct flew out from Man-Chicago-Vegas had a 90 min connection, did it with 30 mins to spare, we have always been lucky arriving in US earlier than planned giving us more time for connection. Some people won't do it with less than 2 hours, I just think they will get us there asap they don't want us sat about longer than needed.

 

[wysbcc]

the last time we got a connection from Philadelphia to MCO and it took about an hour to get through customs, but that was 4 years ago, hopefully things have improved since then

We shall see what happens.

thx for the replies

Scott