Newark airport

[dennise]

What are your experiences with connecting in Newark? We are considering going Halifax, Newark, Orlando. Twice we have gone through Newark and twice there were delays. The first time an ice storm that made all flights from JFK and LaGuardia go through Newark, the second, there was fog in Newark delaying our leave from YHZ. This one caused us to miss our connecting flight and had to overnight.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

I fly through Newark very often ... and I have found that it is the same experience as other airports (except more dirty, old and rude ) what time of year is your flight and how much time do you have on the connection down to Orlando? (ie how much time do you have between the landing of your yhz flight to your departure to MCO)?

I have flights through Newark in January/February 2015, so that may tell you something.

 

[dis_guy]

Out here in the west we get offered a lot of route choices for our flights to MCO. We've done most of them but are now at the point where we want our first leg out of YEG to connect somewhere below the snow belt to avoid winter weather issues. Our recent favourite has been Houston, but Dallas is now a solid choice and with less chance of the fog we sometimes get in Houston.

 

[Cottager]

Hate it, hate it, hate it, hate it.... We've had nothing but horrible experiences with Delta and United through Newark when flying to Disney World and Aulani from Buffalo and Toronto. EVERY time we've had a connecting flight through Newark, we end up delayed and have to sit in that horrible circular waiting area for the regional service. There's little food options there and you're surrounded by other grumpy passengers just as upset as you are. The staff are even grumpier. The shuttle between terminals is horrible and confusing. I wish I could say I'm exaggerating a little bit...but I'm not. We've learned our lesson and pay for non-stop flights no matter how cheap a Newark stop over flight is.

 

[dennise]

Ted, the connection is a little over 2 hours which would be lots of time, if we left YHZ on time. It is in April and the price was great, $230 taxes in, but we hesitated and tonight it is showing $299

 

[Ted in Halifax]

Two hours down is a good connect time .... Anything an hour of less doesn't give much wiggle room. This two hours allows for some delays from yhz. Plus by the time April comes, there is rarely fog and the chances of snow are lower.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

Also, I've seen united flights get more expensive as you move into the weekend, only to drop again as you head into the week.

 

[dennise]

I will keep checking. We had a fog delay on a September flight(fog in Newark), missed our connection by half an hour, had to overnight at our expense.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

Ironically, September has better delay and cancellation stats than April. I wish I had something encouraging to say, but I sort of frame these events as having some sort of hidden benefit.

 

[CaperTiff]

I'm following this one. We too , are flying out of yhz this September with options through Washington or Newark. LGA connecting times are just too tight.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

http://www.transtats.bts.gov/HomeDr...ort=EWR&URL_SelectYear=2014&URL_SelectMonth=3. Here is a link with stats .... Although this will not solve your concerns. It's still a throw of the dice.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

http://www.transtats.bts.gov/HomeDrillChart_Month.asp?Sel_Year=2013&Arr_Del=1&Sel_Carrier=000&Sel_Airport=EWR&URL_SelectYear=2014&URL_SelectMonth=3. Here is a link with stats .... Although this will not solve your concerns. It's still a throw of the dice.

Great tool. And looking through the list of US airports I connect through, Seattle seems most reliable. No hurricanes, no snow. But knowing Murphy's Law, I will likely get stranded by an earthquake during my next connection...

 

[Ted in Halifax]

Murphy's law is a universal law ... That's why when something happens, I write it off as having some sort of redeeming reason. When I fly, I tend to avoid some airlines, rather than airports. That being said, I travel through Newark for one simple reason, price. That's it.

 

[House_of_Mouse Fan]

Not my favourite airport in the world. I have never connected through there but have flown in and out when visiting NYC. Every single time I have flown out of this airport there has been some sort of delay. Also, there is very little to do in the terminal that Air Canada flies into/out of and I find it really dated and not very nice. I'm always happy to leave it.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

You are definitely talking about terminal A .... It is not a place to eat, except for the new Earl of Sandwich. Our rules for Newark when connecting, is to always plan t o eat in Terminal C. So on the way down, it's arrive at Terminal A, pee break, bus, arrive at Terminal C, eat, go to gate, pray .....

 

[dis_guy]

http://www.transtats.bts.gov/HomeDr...ort=EWR&URL_SelectYear=2014&URL_SelectMonth=3. Here is a link with stats .... Although this will not solve your concerns. It's still a throw of the dice.

That's an interesting site I've never seen before, thanks, Ted.

Lately I've been using www.hopper.com .

You just enter where you're flying from and to, and it generates a report telling you the best day to leave, return, buy your flights on based on huge amounts of data. I don't know how accurate it is but I do know that is constantly updating and changing. Definitely worth a look.

 

[Tinkershelly]

We almost always fly through Newark, and have gotten used to it enough that we are comfortable there. As Ted says don't spend any more time than necessary in Terminal A, do all your dining and shopping in Terminal C. Try the Garden State Diner if you want a quick sit-down meal. They have an all-day breakfast for under $10, and there are some interesting stores in Terminal C to help pass the time. I can't help with the frequent delays, I think they come with the territory, so many flights from so many airports in such a small area, as soon as you add a bit of fog or wind or rain the whole region delays.

Good luck!