connecting in Memphis

[Rose Pink]

I am looking at a Priceline flight. My concern is that I will need to change planes twice. One in Denver--50 minutes. One in Memphis--only 30 minutes. If the plane is at all late, I don't think I'd make the connecting flight. Both the second and third planes are NWA. The first is Delta. I save significantly over booking directly with Delta.

Is 30 minutes a reasonable time to change planes in the Memphis airport? I've never been there.

 

[gorevs9]

If you are flying in/out of Memphis on Northwest, you should be OK (assuming the incoming flight is not late). However, if you have to walk from one end of Concourse B to the other, then it may be tight. Here's a link to the terminal layout. Also, keep in mind if you have checked luggage, it may not make the connection.

 

[Talent312]

... keep in mind if you have checked luggage, it may not make the connection.

or that your luggage might make it, and you might not...

If NWA permits this connection and its all in one booking, NWA will have to accomodate you,
even if the 2nd leg is late.

However, IMHO, its worth some $$ not to be so rushed. The standard by which I judge such
things is: Will I miss the $$ five years from now?

 

[Timeshare Von]

or that your luggage might make it, and you might not...

If NWA permits this connection and its all in one booking, NWA will have to accomodate you,
even if the 2nd leg is late.

However, IMHO, its worth some $$ not to be so rushed. The standard by which I judge such
things is: Will I miss the $$ five years from now?

Not true! I had a one-stop connection through Memphis back in October w/ a co-worker heading to KC, Kansas. We had a 40 minute connection time, was 10 minutes late and only had four gates to walk to our connection. They closed the door 10 or 15 minutes before the published departure time and we were hosed! They did NOTHING to accommodate us other than to try to put us on a flight to Dallas to connect over to KC. Unfortunately the Dallas flight was already oversold so when we arrived at their gate, they had nothing to do to help us. We ended up flying into Wichita and driving the 200 miles to our meeting in KC, missing that afternoon's part of the agenda. My friend's luggage got the run around and didn't arrive in KC for nearly 36 hours (a day and a half later!).

It was not a pleasant experience and the airline for all of that hassle (and the added expense of a rental car for three days) only provided us with $125 vouchers and that was only after my calling NWA's customer service hotline and bitching.

I would be very cautious about a 30 minute connection in Memphis or any airport.

 

[Rose Pink]

Thanks, everyone. I think there is a reason I feel so uneasy about this--I shouldn't do it.

 

[Carolinian]

Memphis is my preferred connecting airport with NW, especially from an international flight. It is generally an easy airport to connect in, but I avoid connections as tight as 30 minutes anywhere. Besides, 30 minutes would not leave time to eat at Interstate Barbeque, the best airport restaurant I have experience anywhere.

 

[Rose Pink]

...eat at Interstate Barbeque, the best airport restaurant I have experience anywhere.

DH would be interested in that! Unfortunately, he would not be going on this trip.

 

[jamstew]

Memphis is my preferred connecting airport with NW, especially from an international flight. It is generally an easy airport to connect in, but I avoid connections as tight as 30 minutes anywhere. Besides, 30 minutes would not leave time to eat at Interstate Barbeque, the best airport restaurant I have experience anywhere.

If I have to have a connection, I'll always choose NW because of Memphis! My other two options are usually DFW & IAH, both of which I hate. I agree that 30 minutes is way too close even there. Every time I've flown through Memphis, I've been as far away from my connecting gate as you can get, so I look for a minimum of 45 minutes--longer than that and I can eat at the Blue Note :whoopie:

 

[Rose Pink]

...eat at the Blue Note :whoopie:

Y'all are making me hungry! Now I'm going to have to plan a trip just so I can have a connection in Memphis and sample the food.