urghhh flight changes !!!

[cwt580]

United decided to change 1 of our connecting flights from Ohare... only gives us 50 min from arrival to departure to MCO. Never flown from chicago.

do you think we will make it from gate to gate in time?

Think we have non-refundable tix from priceline so i dont think we can change the flights.


on the bright side we get into MCO at 5:52pm instead of 8pm. that helps....think we can make a 8pm dinner at our resort (WL)?

 

[Jestocost]

United decided to change 1 of our connecting flights from Ohare... only gives us 50 min from arrival to departure to MCO. Never flown from chicago.

do you think we will make it from gate to gate in time?

Think we have non-refundable tix from priceline so i dont think we can change the flights.


on the bright side we get into MCO at 5:52pm instead of 8pm. that helps....think we can make a 8pm dinner at our resort (WL)?

IF your incoming flight is on time it should be no problem; although you will have to move purposefully from gate to gate. IF your incoming flight is even 10-15 minutes late you'll need to make a mad dash to connect and if it's later than that you could have problems. United tends to close boarding 10 minutes prior to the scheduled departure, so in reality you only have about 40 minutes to make the connection and United gates in O'Hare can be very far apart.

I know that many people will say the connection shouldn't be a problem and they are right most of the time. I just have had zero luck with United connections at ORD and have missed my outbound flight three of the last four times I have tried; the last time they had no more flights out that night and I had to make a mad dash to catch the last American flight out.

It's possible that you could make a change without being charged for it because the change is being driven by a schedule change by the airline. Of course that assumes that there are alternative flights that meet your needs and that United considers the change significant enough to allow you to switch flights without a penalty. Do your research in advance to determine if there are any other flights that will work better for you and then call United and ask to be switched. There's no harming in doing that and they might allow it.

If there are no suitable alternatives and/or United won't make the switch without charging you the change fees and any price differential, you'll just need to do whatever you can to make a quick change. If your inbound flight is on a regional jet where you would have to gate check any rollerboards or other large carry ons, that would include NOT bringing anything you need to gate check.

 

[dudspizza]

When are you flying? Wintertime connections are a bit tougher than connections made in warmer weather. Personally, I would not have a problem with a 50 minute connection. If you have kids, it will be tougher, but I feel that 50 minutes is plenty of time to get your connection.

I had a connection in Dallas that was supposed to be 35 minutes. My first flight was 10-15 minutes late getting in the air and I had to make a mad dash to the next flight but I made it. Big thing, is know where you are going and have a plan on how to get there.

Cool thing about United is that you can look at their flight status online and see where that flight is coming from. You can start to see if that flight is normally late and where it normally gates. You can track your first flight as well as the connecting flight..... it pretty cool..... look for this info on the flight status page.

 

[cwt580]

well i called United. he said flying into T2 and flying out from T1. said gate to gate should be 15 minutes. he said that is a valid connection time and wouldnt change it at this time. and yes its a regional jet into OHD....

NO kids..4 adults.....well there goes lunch. have to wait for Artist Point dinner at 8:30PM arrival night. MAY 4th 2013 !!!!!

 

[sam_gordon]

How much was the time change? If it was only 20-30 minutes, you're probably stuck with it. If it was an hour two, United might willingly change you to another flight with charging you. Delta's policy is the change needs to be over 60 minutes. I'm not sure about Uniteds.

 

[Kae]

well i called United. he said flying into T2 and flying out from T1. said gate to gate should be 15 minutes. he said that is a valid connection time and wouldnt change it at this time. and yes its a regional jet into OHD....

NO kids..4 adults.....well there goes lunch. have to wait for Artist Point dinner at 8:30PM arrival night. MAY 4th 2013 !!!!!

Do you check the Map of O'Hare. Where is your starting point?

Kae

 

[cwt580]

too far out to find gates but guy said arriving T2 and departing T1 which look fairly close on the map.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I would like a little more connection time at ORD, but you should make this. You should proceed directly to your next gate after deplaning. Since UA won't make a free change, you just need to hustle. If you miss your connection, they will try to get you on the next available flight out (which may be difficult for 4 PAX).

 

[Sweettears]

I wouldn't worry. Your biggest problem would be a weather delay and that could jeopardize even a 2 hour gap. It probably wouldn't hurt to alert the flight attendants. They can at least alert the departing gate that you are on your way.

 

[mcraige]

Terminal 2 to Terminal 1 can be quite a hike, especially if you land somewhere around F11 and depart from C1 or C32. Not only can it be a long walk, but ORD tends to be very crowded, making it harder to navigate thru the crowds.

 

[Jestocost]

I wouldn't worry. Your biggest problem would be a weather delay and that could jeopardize even a 2 hour gap. It probably wouldn't hurt to alert the flight attendants. They can at least alert the departing gate that you are on your way.

My experience with United is they don't really seem to care. And a T2 to T1 change can be a looooooong way apart; or it can be pretty close.

On the last trip I chose to make on United, I had a 45 minute connection. Incoming flight was about 15 minutes late getting to the gate. The FAs just kind of shrugged at my predicament. The gate-checked carry-on bags took another 10 minutes to come off, I booked it at top speed from the far end of T2 to one of the far ends of T1--and I move very fast; even beating the tarmac shuttle to my destination--arriving seven minutes before scheduled departure only to find the boarding doors closed and the entire gate devoid of United personnel.

Sorry! Last flight of the night! TA tells me that American has one leaving in 30 minutes but they can't book it for me that close to departure. I then make a mad dash literally one or two gates short of the farthest possible distance you could travel within ORD and make it in time to book a ticket for one of the last seats on the plane at the gate (nice surcharge for that convenience) and made it home.

The United app was an excellent way for me to be pretty sure I was going to miss my connection as I was waiting to get off of my incoming flight.

 

[Sweettears]

My experience with United is they don't really seem to care. And a T2 to T1 change can be a looooooong way apart; or it can be pretty close.

On the last trip I chose to make on United, I had a 45 minute connection. Incoming flight was about 15 minutes late getting to the gate. The FAs just kind of shrugged at my predicament. The gate-checked carry-on bags took another 10 minutes to come off, I booked it at top speed from the far end of T2 to one of the far ends of T1--and I move very fast; even beating the tarmac shuttle to my destination--arriving seven minutes before scheduled departure only to find the boarding doors closed and the entire gate devoid of United personnel.

Sorry! Last flight of the night! TA tells me that American has one leaving in 30 minutes but they can't book it for me that close to departure. I then make a mad dash literally one or two gates short of the farthest possible distance you could travel within ORD and make it in time to book a ticket for one of the last seats on the plane at the gate (nice surcharge for that convenience) and made it home.

The United app was an excellent way for me to be pretty sure I was going to miss my connection as I was waiting to get off of my incoming flight.

I guess that's why I fly SW.

 

[bumbershoot]

NO kids..4 adults.....well there goes lunch. have to wait for Artist Point dinner at 8:30PM arrival night. MAY 4th 2013 !!!!!

I would wait to worry about this. It could change many times in the next 5 months.

But you could probably call again...United changed our flights (award flights, even) for a change involving almost no time whatsoever.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I guess that's why I fly SW.

WN never has any problems? No departure or arrival delays, no lost or misplaced baggage, no gate changes, perfectly behaved passengers and flight attendants, never any problems with getting the seats you want, etc.?

 

[Echo queen]

Omg I just checked my flights and 35 min in MEM. that's tight. Research time

 

[Echo queen]

Omg I just checked my flights and 35 min in MEM. that's tight. Research time

Just called, we are leaving an hour earlier and connecting in ATL. an hour layover now. much better glad I saw your post.

 

[DebbieB]

WN never has any problems? No departure or arrival delays, no lost or misplaced baggage, no gate changes, perfectly behaved passengers and flight attendants, never any problems with getting the seats you want, etc.?

I had a SW flight delayed 3 hours in May, luckily it was non-stop MCO-PIT. They did give each of us $100 vouchers for future travel. Arrived home at 2:00am.

 

[seashoreCM]

When you hand pick alternate flights you would like and telephone to ask the airline to make the change, include in your discussion that adequate connection time is important to you and they should make the change without any charge.

Published minimum connection time should be a part of the argument. Minimum connection time is to prevent "savvy" and "agile" travelers from booking connections that the airline may find undesirable. It is not intended to impose limitations on customers who are inconvenienced by airline created delays or changes.

You should not agree to pay more. Instead, if you do miss the connection using your original flights after the airline denied you your choice of alternate flights, you can argue that the airline did not use its best efforts to transport you, which is its violation of the contract of carriage. The airline's performance would be worse still if it was unable to put you on its next operating flight.

 

[cwt580]

just checked flights. the next earlier flight to ORD is almost 3 hrs earlier. thats 4 hrs in the airport........

 

[cwt580]

called and got it changed to earlier flight. feel much more comfortable about it. with a 3 hr layover gives us time for a bite at ORD.

Just makes an earlier morning rise since we have to drive 2 hrs to airport to meet up before flight.

UA rep was very helpful this am. she was much more accomodating. even kept our preferred seats. agreed w me on the time crunch