Four Basic Lessons from Recent Travels

[Talent312]

1. When flying, assume there will be a significant delay in meeting a connection.
-- In three recent trips (both cross-country or overseas), we found ourselves running thru airports to make connecting flights. Most recently, our Miami to Madrid segment was delayed an hour. In Madrid, we to had pass immigration and security (the next concourse), and were literally the last passengers to board (they closing the door).
-- My new rule: Domestic connections - at least 2 hours. International - at least 3 hours (even if the same booking) or plan on spending 1-N where you land. Otherwise you're asking for trouble.

2. Even if you make the connection, your bags may not.
-- We landed in France without our bags (they didn't make the connection in Madrid). We figured out how to report it, and could only hope they'd be delivered the next day becuz our carry-on did not have a change of clothes or toiletries... we bought some and made a claim, but try translating U.S. sizes to French.
-- My new rule: Always bring a carry-on with a set of clothes, toothbrush, meds, cameras and travel plans.

3. Outside the U.S., even if taxis take CC's, you still need a pocket full of coins in local currency for things like toilets, tolls, public transit and small souvenirs.
-- We needed 50c coins to use the toilet at a train station in France, and in Barcelona, a taxi strike meant using the metro and a bus to reach our destination - the cruise ship terminal.

4. Returning to the U.S., allow 1 hour for Immigration & Customs (even w-Global Entry).
-- Upon landing in Charlotte, we did the kiosk thing and had a pleasant conversation with the Immigration guy, but a thunderstorm meant sitting on the carpet in Customs for 45 minutes, waiting for our bags, just so we could walk 'em thru a door and recheck 'em.
-- Fortunately, it also meant our connecting flight was delayed.

.

 

[DaveNV]

1. When flying, assume there will be a significant delay in meeting a connection.
-- In three recent trips (both cross-country or overseas), we found ourselves running thru airports to make connecting flights. Most recently, our Miami to Madrid segment was delayed an hour. In Madrid, we to had pass immigration and security (the next concourse), and were literally the last passengers to board (they closing the door).
-- My new rule: Domestic connections - at least 2 hours. International - at least 3 hours (even if the same booking) or plan on spending 1-N where you land. Otherwise you're asking for trouble.

2. Even if you make the connection, your bags may not.
-- We landed in France without our bags (they didn't make the connection in Madrid). We figured out how to report it, and could only hope they'd be delivered the next day becuz our carry-on did not have a change of clothes or toiletries... we bought some and made a claim, but try translating U.S. sizes to French.
-- My new rule: Always bring a carry-on with a set of clothes, toothbrush, meds, cameras and travel plans.

3. Outside the U.S., even if taxis take CC's, you still need a pocket full of coins in local currency for things like toilets, tolls, public transit and small souvenirs.
-- We needed 50c coins to use the toilet at a train station in France, and in Barcelona, a taxi strike meant using the metro and a bus to reach our destination - the cruise ship terminal.

4. Returning to the U.S., allow 1 hour for Immigration & Customs (even w-Global Entry).
-- Upon landing in Charlotte, we did the kiosk thing and had a pleasant conversation with the Immigration guy, but a thunderstorm meant sitting on the carpet in Customs for 45 minutes, waiting for our bags, just so we could walk 'em thru a door and recheck 'em.
-- Fortunately, it also meant our connecting flight was delayed.

.

Wow. All that is reason enough to want to take the bus. What a hassle for you! I hope the trip itself was great, and this was just a footnote to the rest of it.

Dave

 

[Talent312]

Wow. All that is reason enough to want to take the bus. What a hassle for you! I hope the trip itself was great, and this was just a footnote to the rest of it.

The rest of our European trip went fine.

However, I am serious about the layover problem.
For Vancouver, we ran thru the Minneapolis airport and were next to last on board.
For SFO, Southwest held the plane at the gate for us and 10 other delayed passengers.
In Madrid, they'd left the counter, but we managed to get them to come back.

From now on, "excessive" layovers will be my practice.

.

 

[WinniWoman]

I agree on all points! Except I refuse to fly on a connection flight. if I can't get a non stop flight I don't go. Period.

 

[Luanne]

I agree on all points! Except I refuse to fly on a connection flight. if I can't get a non stop flight I don't go. Period.

That must limit your travel.

While I prefer nonstops, there are many trips we take where that just isn't possible.

Hawaii
Canada
Europe
Many places within the U.S.

 

[Talent312]

Here in the South, we have this saying:
When you die, you may go to heaven or hell...
But first, you'll have to change planes in Atlanta (or Charlotte).
.

 

[mtwingcpa]

I agree on all points! Except I refuse to fly on a connection flight. if I can't get a non stop flight I don't go. Period.

I'll fly a "direct" flight (not non-stop, but at least I don't have to change planes) but otherwise I agree! Or plan on staying overnight at the connection location (and if I don't want to do that, THEN I don't go). ;-)

 

[Jimster]

As to connecting flights, I have flown over a million miles and never missed a connection. Yes, i’ve Been lucky and i’ve Had some close calls. Since I fly from ORD i will never get caught there, so that is part of the reason. Yet I do agree that you have a potential problem every time you have a connection.

Obviously, I try to avoid connections when possible. For some people it is just not possible. In small market airports like Corpus Christi or Savannah almost everything is a connecting flight. There are some things you can do to minimize your chances of being left high and dry. First, try to take an early flight. If you get to your connection and miss it and then are other remaining flights to you destination, they can rebook you easier. That is not a guarantee but it improves your chances. Second, while any and all airlines have these kind of problems, some seem to have more than others. Spirt and Allegiant come to mind. If you fly a major airline, they have more planes. It is as simple as that.
Third and probably the most important is if you miss your connection, as soon as possible CALL the airline to reschedule. The flight attendants will tell you to go to the service center to stand in line with the other 200 people from your plane. That’s just plain stupid. Of course, by the time you get to the head of the line, no other substitute connections remain and you are stuck. If you have your phone, you can actually do both. I am amazed at the people that line up like sheep who have followed the flight attendant’s advice to go to the service center.

If you are really on top of your game, you have the phone numbers of your airlines overseas phone centers. So when there is bad weather in the USA and everyone is calling here and the lines are clogged, you call Singapore.

Finally, one last tip. Go to the airline’s airport lounge when possible. There have been some threads on here asking whether the lounges are worth it-ridiculous question. The first time you miss a connecting flight and go to a lounge you will get your money’s worth and more because the agents there will be a big help. I know! “I can’t afford to buy a lounge membership”. Then do what i do and that is always have at least one lounge pass in my pocket. That’s the easiest way. Of course, how to get into an airline lounge is entirely another topic. The point is- IT HELPS in time of missed connection.

 

[slip]

Finally, one last tip. Go to the airline’s airport lounge when possible. There have been some threads on here asking whether the lounges are worth it-ridiculous question. The first time you miss a connecting flight and go to a lounge you will get your money’s worth and more because the agents there will be a big help. I know! “I can’t afford to buy a lounge membership”. Then do what i do and that is always have at least one lounge pass in my pocket. That’s the easiest way. Of course, how to get into an airline lounge is entirely another topic. The point is- IT HELPS in time of missed connection.

Definitely agree on the lounge. It seems like they have their best workers there. They have helped me more than once!!

 

[Talent312]

We never missed a connecting flight, but I am tired of 90-minute layovers
becoming 20-minute layovers with the connecting gate as far away as possible.
My days as an airport track-star are behind me.

It's also then that checked luggage is most likely to miss the connection.

------------------------------
The most helpful airline worker I encountered was a gate agent who, despite
her plane having cancelled and the airline rescheduling us for the next day,
found us seats on a flight delayed at the gate, and got our bags rerouted, too.

 

[WinniWoman]

That must limit your travel.

While I prefer nonstops, there are many trips we take where that just isn't possible.

Hawaii
Canada
Europe
Many places within the U.S.

Well- we used to do those in the past so we did get around. But after a few bad experiences (running through airports- near misses, etc.) I said "no more".

You can look at it as limiting, but I look at it as being flexible. Still can go to plenty of places and avoid connecting flights.

 

[Passepartout]

[QUOTE="mpumilia, post: 2177240, member: 45443]You can go to plenty of places and avoid connecting flights.[/QUOTE]
From where you are, Boise isn't among 'em. Maybe someday, but not now.

Jim

 

[Luanne]

Well- we used to do those in the past so we did get around. But after a few bad experiences (running through airports- near misses, etc.) I said "no more".

You can look at it as limiting, but I look at it as being flexible. Still can go to plenty of places and avoid connecting flights.

You're lucky then.

 

[WinniWoman]

[QUOTE="mpumilia, post: 2177240, member: 45443]You can go to plenty of places and avoid connecting flights.

From where you are, Boise isn't among 'em. Maybe someday, but not now.

Jim[/QUOTE

Yeah- this I know. It is unfortunate. Same with South Dakota which we wanted to visit. I suppose we could do something like stay a couple of days in the connecting flight city or something like that and then fly on to Idaho. When we are retired and have more time.

 

[dsmrp]

+1 on using lounges, but I only can get in to the Priority Pass ones, and not always if the airlines decide to limit it to their passengers. But it helps to pass the time and get a bite for long delays. My husband tho' could have used one when delayed at Newark, but no lounges available in his terminal Also advise to have Priority Pass or similar lounge airline app on your phone.

I have one item to add to Talent's #2 rule: pack your swimsuit in your carry-on, especially if you're going to place with swimming pools or beaches. My husband could probably find some swim shorts wherever he goes. But most women's swimwear I see at resorts are for the young, slim 20 somethings...
(Don't get me started on women who wear bikinis, who shouldn't be wearing bikinis )

 

[WinniWoman]

You're lucky then.

Yes- the last straw was last year when we had a connecting flight to Durango and a couple of months before the airline cancelled it and then when we tried to reschedule it they only had like 30 minute connection times. All I could envision was us 60 year olds running through the airport and having a heart attack.

So since you can cancel and get a full refund when it is the airline that changes the flight, that is exactly what I did. I cancelled everything- the car rental, the lodging - all of it. Was able to do so with those as well with no financial hit since we were a couple of months away- I think it was maybe two.

I then re grouped and set up a direct flight to Denver for the same dates, lodging in Estes Park and the rental car. Instead of visiting Mesa Verde- which was our intention with the first trip- we visited Rocky Mountain National Park.

Was so glad we did. Traveling was way easier and we had a wonderful time.

 

[moonstone]

We don't fly much and were so happy when 2 major Canadian airlines started flying non-stop Toronto to Belize City. It was so nice not to have to change planes somewhere in the US or fly direct to Cancun then catch (a very nice, cheap) bus to Belize. Last year we left YYZ in the morning and we were in our apartment before dinnertime. Those flights have become so popular, and fares have nearly doubled, that we are back to stopping in the US for a cheaper fare! On our flight down we have a 9hr overnight layover at DFW. I immediately thought of getting a lounge pass to rest/sleep in comfort but was saddened to learn that they (& apparently the whole airport) closes at 10:30pm! The flight was so cheap ($152.Cndn. each -taxes.. incl) that DH said it was worth spending the night at the airport. We aren't there long enough to pay a crazy expensive price ($2-300.) for a hotel room so I guess we'll rough it!

We have been watching for a cheap flight for our return home next spring and last week DH found a great deal on a flight with only 1 stop (3 hrs) in Washington DC. I was out for the day so DH texted me to tell me about his great find. Since I usually make all the travel arrangements I was nervous of letting him book something. He assured me he knew what he was doing and wanted to book right away as there were only 3 seats left. I told him to go ahead. When I got home he proudly showed me our flight bookings. Our flight from BZE landed at Dulles and our flight from DC to YYZ left from Regan, less than 3 hrs later! A detail he overlooked! No wonder the flight was so cheap! I told him there's a law that says we have 24hrs to cancel with no charge. The trouble is that he booked through the Cheapo Air website and they have a cancellation/change fee. I got him to get on the phone with el cheapo and get a different because that airport/flight change was nearly impossible. Now we have a flight from BZE to DEN with a 2+ hr layover before going on to YYZ. His super deal isn't so cheap anymore! Also, we are now landing at 11:30PM local time on a weeknight and none of our kids want to drive down to Toronto (60-80 mins) to pick us up, they were fine with a 7:30PM pickup.
DH is now suspended from making any further travel arrangements!


~Diane

 

[Talent312]

... When I got home he proudly showed me our flight bookings. Our flight from BZE landed at Dulles and our flight from DC to YYZ left from Regan, less than 3 hrs later! A detail he overlooked! No wonder the flight was so cheap!...

That's not so bad...
Once, a long time ago, I somehow reverse our outbound and return flights, so we were returning from our destination before we left. In those days, change fees were not a major deal. I managed to hide my mistake and preserve my status as the family TA.
.

 

[pedro47]

I agree on all points! Except I refuse to fly on a connection flight. if I can't get a non stop flight I don't go. Period.

I agree with you 90% on your post. Hereever, Living in the Tidewater Virginia region, when flying you are going to have a connecting flight to your final destination.

 

["Roger"]

1. When flying, assume there will be a significant delay in meeting a connection.

-- My new rule: Domestic connections - at least 2 hours. International - at least 3 hours (even if the same booking) or plan on spending 1-N where you land. Otherwise you're asking for trouble.

My own rule is one hour domestic (absolute minimum), preference about an hour and twenty minutes; two hours international, preference about two and a half hours.

I am amazed what the airlines themselves are willing to schedule. Often see something between 35 to 45 minutes domestic. Once, we needed to transfer in London and the airline offered us a 45 minute layover. 45 minutes and we were supposed to get through customs, change terminals, and still make the connecting flight. Would have loved to see an airline employee try to do that!

We ended up taking a flight option that included a five and a half hour layover. (Ouch!) Later, the airline offered a better option for the departing flight that would have allowed for a two and a half hour layover. I called and asked to change our later flight noting that the now preferred option was not available when we booked. The ticket agent refused to let me do that. I was very polite throughout the phone call, but no dice. So I had my wife call. The change? No problem.