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[Kevenswife2]

I have reservations with NW, which may be my first mistake because of the strike talk. They just changed my flight times. The good news is: We arrive at MCO 15 minutes earlier! Bad news is: We have only 15 minutes to catch our connecting flight in Memphis! I have no experience with Memphis airport and was wondering if we can make it to our connecting flight.

We arrive on a NW airlink and depart on a regular NW flight. My Memphis airport map makes it look like we better take our running shoes as they're in different "wings" of the airport.

Don't you have to be "at the gate" ready to board 15 minutes before a flight takes off?

When we land in MEM should we have a NW person call our connecting flight and let them know we're on our way?

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated!

Oh, I checked all the flights and the only earlier one we could switch to leaves us with a large layover in MEM or another plane change on the way to MEM. Guess a large layover is better than missing my flight.

Do you think I should just sit and wait it out until closer to my departure date as they'll probably change my times again?

 

[Donald is #1]

I've never flown out of Memphis, but only 15 minutes would make me very nervous. If you decide to keep this flight combination, I would call NW and check with them as to when they "close the doors" on the 2nd flight. i.e. how soon do you need to be at the gate?

Good luck and here is some pixie dust in case you need it

 

[NotUrsula]

That is WAY too tight, and is actually what the airlines call an "illegal" connection, so that if you miss the flight you might have to pay a change fee to get accomodated on the next one. Call NWA and get them to either reschedule or reroute you, the "legal" connection for NWA in Memphis is a 30-minute minimum.

Remember that unless you are seated right in the front of the aircraft, it usually takes at least 10 minutes from the time the door is opened until you actually exit the aircraft. Even if you are out of adjoining gates, 15 minutes is not enough time.

 

[seashoreCM]

Since the airline created the illegal connection that was not there before, the airline may not charge you more money to finish the trip. Also the airline must book you on their next flight with available seats at the time you make the request, which could be at the airport just after your originally booked plane left.

You can wait and see if better flgihts open up, but don't wait too long or everything may be sold out. Whatever seats that you do find and that you like the airline must give you at no extra charge. This includes earlier flights too.

 

[DisneyGirl]

The one time (and only) time I flew NW, I connected in Memphis. The baggage guys (who were conveniently getting ready to strike) "accidentally" rammed the baggage cart into the wing of the plane (keep in mind the wing of this plane had a huge red upright end on it).

That is enough for an accident that has to be investigated by the NTSB. I was stuck in the Memphis airport for nine hours, so I thoroughly know the layout of that airport.

That said , it is small, but I still think 15 minutes would be too close. Definitely call and see if you can get rescheduled. Memphis is NOT the airport you want to be stuck in (unless, perhaps, if you really love barbecue food...)

 

[WeLoveThePoly]

A 15 minute layover is not going to work. I'd see if you could switch to one of the other flights. Like you said, a large layover is better than missing your flight.

Delta recently made some changes to our upcoming flight home from Orlando that resulted in our layover in Atlanta going from 2 hours to 4 hours. The Delta rep tried to see what he could do to improve the flight times we had but the only other thing they had would have given us a less than 40 minute layover. I didn't accept the offered change because that is just cutting it too close. I'd rather spend 4 hours at the airport than miss my flight home and be stuck!

Good luck (and enjoy your trip!).

Debbie

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

We have only 15 minutes to catch our connecting flight in Memphis!

I do not believe that a 15 minute connection time is even "legal."

You need to change your flight schudule asap.

 

[ChrisH127]

You need to call NW and get reprotected to another flight. You will never make a 15 minute connection -- and I can guarentee even if you do your Bags will not... this is not a legal connection-- off the top of my head I believe MEM NW/NW connection requires a min of 30 minutes... (I work in travel)
Based on NW being the one to change the flight times -- or have a schedule change as we call it--- you will NOT be charged any type of change fee.
Hope this helps - nothing worse then stressing about making a connection.. ruins the whole trip.

 

[Kevenswife2]

Thanks to all for your advice. NWA was happy to change my flights for me. Now we go north to Detroit (instead of south to Memphis) before heading to Orlando BUT we have 63 minutes to catch our connecting flight. Arrive at MCO only 7 minutes later then previous flight schedule.

Oh, and we traded an Airbus A320 for a Boeing 757-300!!

FYI: NWA's website did say you needed a minimum of 30 minutes to catch a connecting flight in Memphis.

 

[Devil_Dog99]

That it is ten minutes (or at least that's what the gate agents told me). I was going from OMA to BOS via MSP Friday night. I had a three hour layover so I had an early dinner then set up shop in one of the lounges and tried to get some work done. A late phone call to get some information (for work I was going to do on the plane) had me leaving the lounge for my gate a little later than I would have liked, but I had figured I had a couple extra minutes because with the new travel restrictions on carry ons, the bins would be empty and I didn't need my frequent flyer advantage to claim prime overhead space. And I also figured that I would be ok because planes are hardly ever completely boarded right on time (plus I was half expecting a weather delay).

Let me point out I travel a lot and have made flights with less than ten minutes to spare before so I figured I was ok.

Anywho, I get to the gate five minutes before departure time and the gate is closed and no agent. I get another agent and she starts giving me the ten minute rule and that the gate agent was probably closing the plane up (she was). What I had forgotten was that with the new restrictions on carry ons, planes load in record time because no one has to fight for overhead space. So even though my plane was 60 feet away from me, I was spending the night in Minneapolis.

At least I got to visit the Mall of America - nice place!!

Guess you could file this under great moments in d'oh!!!

What I want to know is if NW changed the flights the first time, didnt their computers know they were giving you an illegal layover????

 

[Kevenswife2]

Yes, NW was the one to change my flight times. They had my first plane depart 25 minutes later and the connecting flight depart 15 minutes earlier, thus giving me 15 minutes to change flights. Same flight numbers so same planes. I'm guessing I'm not the only one who had to change their flight schedule. NW gave me no kind of e-mail warning so it's a good thing I'm anal about picking my seats ( , I just reread that line )and had logged on to do it that day! That's when I noticed the change.

They have my e-mail address and I joined their frequent flyer (which I'm not) program. I signed up for all the updates/warnings/newsletters/my flight info/ etc. I'd of thought they would have at least sent me a "heads up" letter.

Now I'll be even more anal and check my flights every day!

One nice thing was the NW person I spoke with was extremely nice and understanding. What worries me is how easy it was to change. She didn't even ask my name, just my con. #. (Hope my ex husband never gets a hold of that! He'll change it so we're flying to Iraq)

A three hour layover and then you missed your flight (!)... if that happened to me my hubby would never let me live that down! Glad you liked the Mall 0f America. I saw a television show about it and would like to visit someday...just not in the way you did .

 

[TheWog]

Glad you got the change, because even if you had made the connection your checked luggage would not have. Have a great time.

(if your flight numbers were the same, did that mean you didn't have to get off the plane? Would you have just stayed onboard in your seats for the brief layover?)

 

[Kevenswife2]

(if your flight numbers were the same, did that mean you didn't have to get off the plane? Would you have just stayed onboard in your seats for the brief layover?)

No, we had to change planes.
We were scheduled on Flight #123 connecting to Flight #456. The numbers stayed the same but the times changed. NW changed Flight #123 so it departs 25 minutes later and Flight #456 so it departs 15 minutes earlier.