Stop Over Flights

[angel659]

Hi

I am trying to look at some flights at the moment. Stop over flights are working out alot cheaper. I dont want to arrive in Orlando too late. There are some ok flight times. The connection times is 1hour 1.2. Is this enough time. I am thinking if we are delayed or have problems getting through customs. Is there another area we have to go to other than customs? I have always seen signs for connection flights, but have never been on a connection flight since I was 12. I cant remember what we did. When you go through flight connections do you have to wait for customs there or do you clear customs at your final destination?

Sorry to ask so many questions, but I am quite confused and would hate to miss the connection flight due to delays or customs. If I kind of know what to expect then it shouldnt be too bad.

 

[Claire L]

You will clear immigration and customs at your first arrival in the US then have to get on the internal flight. One hour is cutting it very fine to allow for any delays etc, 2 hours would be better.

Claire

 

[AliceGardner]

The connection times is 1hour 1.2. Is this enough time. I am thinking if we are delayed or have problems getting through customs. Is there another area we have to go to other than customs? I have always seen signs for connection flights, but have never been on a connection flight since I was 12. I cant remember what we did. When you go through flight connections do you have to wait for customs there or do you clear customs at your final destination?

Sorry to ask so many questions, but I am quite confused and would hate to miss the connection flight due to delays or customs. If I kind of know what to expect then it shouldnt be too bad.

It is immigration that can be a problem - depending on whether you are first or last to get off the plane, whether a big plane has just landed before you, whether most of the people on this flights are international (rather than US) citizens, and how many queues they have open. Sometimes we have got through immigration within 10 minutes, other times it has taken us over an hour

Then you have to collect your baggage, then clear customs (which is normally them just collecting your form), then you have to re-check your bags. Then you have to get to your departure gate and - depending what airport you are at - that could be in a different terminal.

To be honest, I wouldn't be comfortable without a 2 hour connection time either (on a flight into the US - can get away with a shorter connection time going home). Anything less is possible, but is very uncertain and could be very stressful (especially if you are unfamiliar with the airport and have kids with you).

Also, with a short connection time, you are at a very large risk of your luggage not making the connection even if you do. Think about it - even if you clear immigration, customs and recheck your baggage and then have 20 minutes to run to the gate... you might just get there, but there is little chance of your luggage running to the gate within 20 minutes. Hopefully, if this is the case, they will put your luggage on the next flight to Orlando, but it could take a day or two to catch up with you (worst case).

So it would be a good idea to get a longer connection (you can normally do this by playing around with the online bookinf engines).

Alice

 

[wayneg]

Depends on which airport, some of them you have to get your bags then take them to bag drop, go thru Immigration then get on a shuttle train/monorail to another terminal. There are some big airports about. I would say 90 mins min but would prefer 2 hours. I once had a change of flights which we had booked thru Expedia, they rang me and said new flights had a connection of about 45-50mins in Newark, NY, I told them no chance and got them to put me on the next flight which they tried telling me was sold out, I knew there was spare seats as their own system would let me book them.
If everything goes to plan I don't mind going indirect, Some airlines like BMI are better than Virgin and you get your immigration out of the way before you get to Orlando. Another thing is car hire desks are usually dead as its only an internal flight arriving not 500 UK travellers looking for cars.
Immigration took just under 1 hour at Easter with Virgin flight, longest ever.
Downside we have had a few delays with the connection down to Orlando, last one where we should have arrived about 5pm ended up at 11pm.

 

[angel659]

Hi

Thanks for your help. The flights I have been looking at is a stop over at either Newark or Washington. I have been to Newark before, but didnt pay any notice really other than the fact the customs officer was rather scary. It also didnt help me when I was in Orlando I got my thumb prints the wrong way round, so I had to go to a different area to get through immigration. I was rather embarrassed and they had a rather stern face at all times. They scared the life out of me. I cant remember how far or how big the airport was really.

I should be looking at 2 hours minimum?

 

[AliceGardner]

You are talking about "connecting" flights - a "stopover" is when you are staying somewhere a day or so before moving on (i.e. you fly into New York, stay a couple of days in a hotel, then fly onto Orlando).

The scarey bit (with the green forms, finger prints and photo) is immigration. That is lengthy queuing bit (sometimes with a grumpy immigration officer) that you always do first. Then you collect your bags. The "customs" bit is when you go through the "nothing to declare" bit and just hand your customs form to a guy at a podium (they are hardly EVER scarey or grumpy ).

They fingerprint your index finger and not your thumbs - if they fingerprinted your thumbs, may have explained the problems.

Two hours would definitely make your life easier

Alice

Hi

Thanks for your help. The flights I have been looking at is a stop over at either Newark or Washington. I have been to Newark before, but didnt pay any notice really other than the fact the customs officer was rather scary. It also didnt help me when I was in Orlando I got my thumb prints the wrong way round, so I had to go to a different area to get through immigration. I was rather embarrassed and they had a rather stern face at all times. They scared the life out of me. I cant remember how far or how big the airport was really.

I should be looking at 2 hours minimum?

 

[angel659]

Sorry I meant connecting flights. I also got mistaken with the thumbs. I was meant to write index fingers. I got them the wrong way round L was right and right was left. At the time we had three young children and trying to get through immigration was a nightmare. I probably wasnt listening which finger to use.

I think I will be booking some direct flights. All this connection business seems to hard work with a family. I think the extra money would be worth it.

Thanks for your help.

 

[AliceGardner]

I think I will be booking some direct flights. All this connection business seems to hard work with a family. I think the extra money would be worth it.

To be honest, if the cost difference isn't too much, with three young children it would probably be a lot easier for all of you to fly direct (might help to keep you sane ).

Good luck finding a good deal

Alice

 

[wayneg]

I have a £100 rule. If the direct flights cost more than £100 extra(£300 for 3 of us) then I will go indirect.
£300 pays for hotel for 14 nights so will put up with the inconvenience for a free hotel.

 

[fizz13]

Right now I am petrified, as I have 1 hour and 15 mins to make a connecting flight in August, clever me. Heathrow to Washington to Orlando. My question is this: on the new passports, there is a little symbol on the front which shows they have the chip inside. I know Orlando will fast track you through immigration if you have the new style passport, does anybody know if Washington have this facility too? Might ease my mind a little

 

[wayneg]

Right now I am petrified, as I have 1 hour and 15 mins to make a connecting flight in August, clever me. Heathrow to Washington to Orlando. My question is this: on the new passports, there is a little symbol on the front which shows they have the chip inside. I know Orlando will fast track you through immigration if you have the new style passport, does anybody know if Washington have this facility too? Might ease my mind a little

Hi Claire, Sorry can't help you with you question but do you have a link to info on fast tracking thru Orlando with new passports? Not due for renewal until 2014 but would pay and get new ones now if you can do this, wasted 45 mins at Easter in Immigration.

 

[fizz13]

I already have the new style passport and we were fast tracked last October, thats why i was asking about Washington. I have just spoken to United and Airline Network, and they gave conflicting information, but I believe United. basically all airports in US have this fast track system so my transfer in Washington will not be complicated. fast immigration, baggage pick-up, and on to other flight, but its all one terminal so they all think I have plenty of time. If for any reason I miss the flight, i am covered to get on the next one. I feel much better now
On the way back, baqggage pick-up is not necessary, it will go straight through to heathrow, it is just for your first point of contact with the US. Interesting stuff this.....

 

[wayneg]

You should be OK at Washington if you can fast track thru Immigration, thats all that held us up a few years back.
With the Fast track in Orlando, How did you do it? At Easter all the lanes had 25-30 people in them, none spare for fast track. Did you go over to the US citizens?
Can't believe I have not heard of this.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

With connecting flights, the major problem occurs if you use two different carriers, i.e. say BA into the USA then, say United to Florida. If your transatlantic flight is delayed, then Unitedare under no obligation to put you on another flight, and with many new loco's turning up, they certainly wont!

The other with children is the lenght of time. Eight hours across the pond, two hours minimum at the airport, plust 2-4 hours flight time down to Florida, thats 12-14 hours travelling, plus the hour/2 hours to your accommodation. If you have no kids its OK, interesting things airports, but with children, REALLY tireing for them.

Until our little 'un is older and will love the airports, then direct at 8 hours has to be the best.

 

[wayneg]

Until our little 'un is older and will love the airports, then direct at 8 hours has to be the best.

Yes it has to be the best but not always financially possible for a lot of families. Even myself who can luckily afford to go direct everytime find price differences good enough to put up with the inconvenence. Last August Virgin wanted £2,650 for 3 of us flight only. BMI thru Chicago £996. Even though we had a 5 hour delay in Chicago I would do it anyday to save £1,654.

 

[angel659]

Oh Claire sorry I hope I have not worried you. My passport isnt chip version, but is electronic still. I dont know if I did book your flights I would slow us up I wouldnt want you missing your flight because of my passport. Still looking at VA, I will look at BA and see if the £100 difference you mentioned includes PE.

 

[Claire L]

Right now I am petrified, as I have 1 hour and 15 mins to make a connecting flight in August, clever me. Heathrow to Washington to Orlando. My question is this: on the new passports, there is a little symbol on the front which shows they have the chip inside. I know Orlando will fast track you through immigration if you have the new style passport, does anybody know if Washington have this facility too? Might ease my mind a little

Can't say I have heard of this as basically a biometric passport is no different to an older style digi picture one, you still need to go through the same processes ie VW, fingerprints etc. The only fast track scheme I have heard of is the Flyclear but you pay for this and it is not related to biometric passports as such.

Claire

 

[fizz13]

Let me explain myself better, at MCo in immigration to the right hand side is US nationals, on these lanes you will also spot the new symbol that is on the front of the new passports, sort of looks like a little camera. They were asking anyone that had the new passports with the symbol on the front to please use these lanes and anyone in their party too. So even though I was the only one, all 5 of us were able to go through together and beat the masses. I am assured that Washington also operates lanes for people who have this symbol on the front of their newer passports.
Hope this is better

 

[wayneg]

Let me explain myself better, at MCo in immigration to the right hand side is US nationals, on these lanes you will also spot the new symbol that is on the front of the new passports, sort of looks like a little camera. They were asking anyone that had the new passports with the symbol on the front to please use these lanes and anyone in their party too. So even though I was the only one, all 5 of us were able to go through together and beat the masses. I am assured that Washington also operates lanes for people who have this symbol on the front of their newer passports.
Hope this is better

Hi Claire, yes perfectly understand what you are saying but still another question, sorry. Who told you to move to these lanes?
We were there Easter Saturday lines were crazy like I say 25-30 people taking upto 45mins-1hr. We got in the line next to US Nationals as its usually the quietest. There were no staff there only the officers behind the desks and a dog handler. US lines were empty but no-one told us to move over.
Our DS has the new chipped passport so wish I had have known, I would have asked.
Thanks
Wayne

 

[fizz13]

Firstly there were signs up telling us to go over, and secondly they made several announcements, but it is possible that they have changed it since October as more and more people have this as standard, don't know. the booths had the symbol on the front of them as well now I come to think of it.