Idiot's guide to change-over in Newark, please!

[Hilary]

DH and I are doing a changeover flight in a few weeks - we've only ever flown direct before. I'm sure it's straightforward and, after all, millions have done it before us and survived , but I'm a planning fanatic and would feel happier if I knew exactly what to expect!

Could any kind soul please give us a step-by-step account of what we need to do when we land in Newark, depart Newark, and land in Orlando?

 

[Head_in_the_clouds]

Are you going with Continental or something? If so do you know how long you've got in between flights? I've never flown this way via New York but have flown with a stop in Paris (Air France) and twice with a stop in Atlanta (Delta). I would say now, I hate Newark airport! It's just not that nice, its not terrible or anything, just a bit worn out and depressing, food is a bit rubbish (just hotdogs and the like) so take some snacks you like from England that you can legally take in (crisps, chocolate etc). Right, when we have flown via somewhere else, we had our luggage automatically transferred (so no need to go through baggage re-claim then check in again etc). You fill out your forms on the flight into the US (ie journey to Newark) then (I think) we went through customs in Georgia (so for you it would be Newark). We were issued our boarding cards for the Atlanta to Orlando flight and then just hung out in departure lounge, ate etc until we were ready to board the flight to Orlando. It was all smooth sailing, nothing to worry about. I know my Dad was saying he could have booked us with Continental this year with an overnight stay in New York and basically two full days (morning arrival, evening flight next day) so if you were having an overnight stop, I have no clue what you would do. Probably, re-claim luggage and check in next day as you would for two different flights. Hope I helped at least a little. Oh, also, on the food thing again - if you think you may get peckish on Newark to Orlando flight maybe buy some snacks at airport because when we did this flight with Continental two years ago ish, there were only drinks on board, with Delta (Atlanta to Orlando) we got little packets of yummy Nuts and Pretzels with each drink we purchased. After flight we just reclaimed our luggage (you have to do this twice now at MCO !) and there we were ready to start our holiday !

 

[saratogagirl]

Hi Hilary

We did this at Christmas time and I was a nervous wreck beforehand, being our first time. We originally had two and ahalf hours to change at Newark but then Continental changed our flights leaving us an hour and three quarters. We checked in at Bristol and were given boarding cards for the Bristol to Newark and Newark to Orlando sections of the journey. The flight from Bristol to Newark was brilliant, excellent entertainment system, good food and very friendly air hostesses. We landed in Newark off the plane and through immigration, we then had to collect our luggage - this was just around the corner from immigration, take our cases to baggage drop off again really close to baggage pick up, and there were Contnental staff there asking where you were going to make sure that your cases went off down the conveyor, it was at this point they started fussing us saying we had to hurry, we knew that as we didnt have enough of a stopover IMHO. We then had to catch the trolley airbus thing (monorail) to the other terminal, and pass through security, showing our passports, boarding cards, and make our way to the gate which typically was the furtheat one away. We practically ran through all the gates, when we got there we found they hadnt even started boarding as the plane was delayed half an hour. When we did board the captain announced that they would be waiting another twenty minutes for some connecting passengers.. We arrived in Orlando after a short two hour flight where we were served drinks, and then came off the plane straight into arrivals and baggage claim, no need for immigration, which was wonderful. I would definately do it again, but would insist that I needed more time for the stopover.

Hope this helps xx

 

[Lizzybear]

This was Continental flying Manchester-Newark-San Francisco: Leave plane, proceed to baggage carousels, collect baggage, proceed to immigration, clear immigration, proceed to baggage drop for connecting flight, drop baggage, take monorail to departures area (this is where my memory is a little fuzzy.. I can't remember which letter/number, it's on your ticket though), proceed to security, clear security, reach departures area and kill time in the numerous shops, eateries etc before you get called to your gate Once you reach Orlando you can collect baggage as domestic passengers, no need to clear immigration again.

 

[Hilary]

Thanks for all the advice - just what I was hoping for I feel much better prepared now!

Our flight is with Continental, and is exactly the same as Jules did - Bristol / Newark / Orlando - but with a longer connection time. We have three and a half hours between flights, so I'm hoping we're on time and won't need to rush to get the Orlando flight, and maybe have time for a drink and a snack if we need one.

So, when you land in Orlando are you automatically sent through a different part of the airport because it's not an international flight? I couldn't see how we would get through the immigration hall in Orlando without 'proving' that we'd already been through immigration in Newark - but it hadn't occured to me that it's a domestic flight

 

[saratogagirl]

Hi Hilary, when you get off the plane in orlando, I have no idea how they redirect you, you just come out up a ramp, and you end up where the departing people are going through passport control (if that makes sense). You will be just across the way from the monorail doo dah. You have a great connection time, three and a half hours is brilliant.

 

[Hilary]

Hi Hilary, when you get off the plane in orlando, I have no idea how they redirect you, you just come out up a ramp,

We'll just follow everyone else then!

 

[Beep]

Really useful info - thanks for posting. We are doing Birmingham-Newark-Orlando in December and it's the first time we've done a connecting flight to Orlando.

We've got 2hrs 50mins connection.

 

[pixiepower04]

You have a great connection time, we only had 1hr 30 minutes, missed it and had to wait 7 hours for the next one. Staff were great though

I personally really liked Newark, tons of shops & restaurants.

Continental have Terminal C all by themselves so there is plenty to keep you occupied. Because we had such a long wait we went off and explored another section of the terminal.

Here is the Newark link, you're bound to find some good info here.

http://www.panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/airports/html/newarkliberty.html

If you click on Terminal C it will bring up a pop up window and at the top right of that window there is a shopping/dining section and shops section, just click on which one you want and it brings up a list of them and the locations.

I am really hoping to go with Continental again next year as I really enjoyed the experience, except for the 7 hour delay of course

 

[Lizzybear]

Yeah you just follow the crowd, once you're there it'll be obvious Honestly.. I was so nervous before our connection but once it had all gone smoothly I wondered why i'd been so worried, it was the same before I drove in the US for the first time!

 

[jockey]

We used this route a few weeks ago, just one thing, we had completed the ESTA info and did not do the green paper forms, when we got to immigration we had to fill in the green forms too so have them done just incase.

We had a 1 1/2 connection between flights, just about made it but that's because we had to fill in the forms.