Need opinion on which airport for connecting flights

[yooperfan]

We are going to WDW end of Jan., 2010-Feb. 3rd. We have to connect through Detroit Metro on NWA. Our choice of airports for the second stop are, Miami, Cincinnati, Atlanta or JFK. Flying NWA, which airport would you use if you had never flown into any of them before and why?

 

[dudspizza]

We are going to WDW end of Jan., 2010-Feb. 3rd. We have to connect through Detroit Metro on NWA. Our choice of airports for the second stop are, Miami, Cincinnati, Atlanta or JFK. Flying NWA, which airport would you use if you had never flown into any of them before and why?

I am confused. Are you looking at a flight that has two stops or connections before getting to MCO? Are there no flights from Detroit to MCO?

I have heard Cincy is a smaller airport, so I would personally choose that one or Atlanta. Miami is past MCO and JFK is huge. I like Atlanta airport, though some here don't. I find it very easy to navigate.

Duds

 

[yooperfan]

Flights from our airport connect through Detroit Metro, Northwest is the most reasonably priced, but 1 connection flights are $100 or more per person than 2 connection flights at this point. I want to get my tickets before Delta takes over NWA schedules totally near the end of the year, I feel the prices will go up then.

 

[debster812]

If you are flying in the winter, I would go with either Atlanta or preferably Miami. Bad weather in the winter can have ripple effects all over, so the further south you get, the safer you are from weather delays.

This is advice given to me YEARS ago by my parents' travel agent (back when everyone still used a TA to book flights), and it has so far served us well.

This is of course taking the 'all things being equal' approach. I would stay away from JFK or Cincinnati.

We fly to Ft Myers every February, and if I have to book a flight with a stop, it will usually be on SWA, with a stop/connection through Orlando. That way too, worst case, we could rent a car and drive if need be.

 

[solotraveler]

I'd go with Atlanta. Not usually affected by snow and lots of flights to Orlando if something should go wrong.

I'd worry about the weather with Cincy and JFK... not to mention JFK's sheer size. Miami is the pits and I wouldn't imagine they would have very many flights to/from Orlando if you should become delayed.

 

[Jestocost]

Personally, anything I can do to avoid Detroit is well worth it. Literally all of my worsty airline experiences have involved travel through that airport.

That said, if Detroit is a given and you are picking from the others for a second connect:

• JFK is a nightmare and to be avoided.
• Miami is an option if winter weather is a concern, but it's a dump (the American terminals at least, not sure about NWA's areas).
• Atlanta is an OK airport, but very large
• Cincinnati is an OK airport and more manageable (however if you are switching to or from a Comair flight and a regular flight, the connection can be difficult)

Realistically, if Atlanta and Cincinnati are options, Delta already is in the flight mix, FWIW. There also is at least one thread addressing the fact that a DISer had previously booked NWA flights switched to Delta flights without notice (or vice versa, maybe). So, if you're booking on NWA at this point there's going to be a decent chance that things get muddled later.

 

[DebbieB]

[*]Cincinnati is an OK airport and more manageable (however if you are switching to or from a Comair flight and a regular flight, the connection can be difficult)
[/LIST]

They recently closed concourse C in Cincinnati (the commuter terminal), so no more busses. So all flights are on A or B. It's a quick connection in either. That would be my pick. Atlanta can be very hectic. Haven't been to the others but east coast metro airports can have huge delays, I would rule out JFK if possible.

 

[prncess674]

I would pick ATL of the choices listed. If you do happen to miss your connection in ATL there are flights practically every hour to MCO.

To those who don't like DTW, I think it is great airport that is simple to navigate, can't get much simpler than a big ole straight line.

Also note that you can get a same day change for $50 a ticket, which may be worth it if you can eliminate the second connection.

http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/ticket_changes_refunds/sameday_travel_changes/index.jsp