In an ideal travel world, all fights would be non-stop. But realistically, that isn’t going to happen.
During the post-pandemic, these connecting flight tips are more important than ever. Domestic travel has more connections than ever. International travel has not really come fully online yet. Plus, airline cost-cutting and cutbacks mean fewer and fewer non-stops. So if a connection is the only option or the only reasonably priced option, how do you make it as painless as possible? Here are a few suggestions ranging from what may seem obvious to more complicated issues.
1. Try to travel on one airline, if possible
These days, this is easier said than done. Often, an international connection shown on United Airlines, for example, might be United connecting to an aircraft operated by Lufthansa. With a code-share. I don’t care what airlines say — code-shares are not as seamless as they imply.
Not that either airline will be malicious, but the truth is airlines do not care as much about another carrier’s passengers as they will about their own. This is especially so in terms of holding planes for a late-arriving connecting flight, getting baggage transferred, etc. Of course, how often have we seen any real consideration for passengers?
Consider a commuter carrier as a two-airline domestic connection. (In most cases, they actually are.)
Personally, I would estimate that 90 percent of my missed connections involve a commuter carrier. Either that small plane was late and the parent company wouldn’t hold the flight, or communications don’t run smoothly between the two airlines. Be aware that about half of the domestic flights offered by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, or United Airlines are actually flown on commuter airlines that are actually different airlines.
This is all in spite of DOT requiring that “Express” flights be bundled together with the main carrier for lost luggage reports and late arrivals statistics.
Last year, for example, I was on a United flight into Chicago that was delayed upon arrival by the gate not being available. I only had about 15 minutes to make my connection. After running at as close to full speed as I can get with a carry-on rolling bag, I was told at the United Express flight (in another concourse) that I had missed check-in time. As were four other passengers from my original flight who arrived a few minutes later. United Express claimed they had not been advised of any connecting passengers by United and it was now too late.
On the other hand, when flying on United across the Atlantic I connected on Lufthansa to Poland via Munich. The partner airline made sure that I made my connection. If only that would happen here in my home country.
2. “Minimum connecting time” is an inexact science.
Don’t assume just because a website says it works that the connecting flights have enough time between them. I get asked all the time when I offer flights to clients with connecting times ranging from 45 minutes to 2 hours, “Is that enough?” And the answer is, “Well, usually, but …”
The basic answer is that airlines don’t schedule connections they can’t generally meet, because it is a major hassle to deal with passengers and luggage that don’t make those connections.
On the other hand, the “minimum connecting time” doesn’t allow for stopping for snacks or a meal between flights (especially for families with children where not eating is not an option), or for travelers who might not move as fast as they used to, or for any delays whatsoever.
3. Consider the likely weather in your connecting city.
The short version of this is that it snows in a lot of connecting cities in winter (and often in fall and spring, too). Some cities deal with snow and other weather better than others. Minneapolis Airport, for example, seldom closes. Denver manages some storms, but not all of them. Places like Atlanta and Washington, D.C., may seldom get snow, but when they do, it closes them down completely.
In addition, there are other local climate issues that come up regularly that result in missed connections. Thunderstorms form in Chicago, New York, and Dallas. They are a regular problem that can delay flights in the summers. Clouds and fog at San Francisco Airport delay flights regularly as well, especially during the winter rainy season. And, winds have caused thousands of cancellations during this past summer for several carriers.
4. Ask your travel agent’s advice or research online, about temporary airport issues.
For example, most (but admittedly not all) agents know that JFK airport had major runway closures during recent years. This caused huge delays that may not be reflected in schedules. However, during the post-pandemic period and the depths of the pandemic, flights were curtailed. Many of the problems were avoided. As we return to normal services, check what is happening at connection airports.
5. Consider the worst-case scenario in case of missed connections.
If you are on, say, American Airlines in Chicago and you miss a connecting flight to LaGuardia, there will likely be another flight within an hour. If you are on Delta Air Lines in Atlanta and miss the only flight to Madrid, you will wait 24 hours for the next flight. United has plenty of flights between Chicago and Denver. However, there is only one plane flying to Dublin, let’s say.
We have also been spoiled during the pandemic by having plenty of open seats on most flights. It makes a big difference whether you are traveling, say, on a Wednesday in April or on a summer weekend. Midweek flights normally have plenty of backup space, but weekend summer flights are normally packed. Missing your connection when following flights are packed can mean lots of extra time at the airport.
And finally, a lot of it comes down to your own personal missed-connection comfort level. If you are the type of person who likes getting to the airport just in time to board when you have cleared security, you may feel more comfortable with a tight connection. If you get nervous without plenty of extra time to check in for your original flight, then why stress yourself out with a tight connection?
READ ALSO:
Should airlines be liable for missed connections?
How COVID connections have made connecting airports extra important
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Janice Hough is a California-based travel agent a travel blogger and a part-time comedy writer. A frequent flier herself, she’s been doing battle with airlines, hotels, and other travel companies for over three decades. Besides writing for Travelers United, Janice has a humor blog at Leftcoastsportsbabe.com (Warning, the political and sports humor therein does not represent the views of anyone but herself.)
About minimum conneection time: Also keep in mind the size of the airport and your familiarity with it. For example, ATL, while a huge airport and the busiest in the US, has a fairly simple and easy-to-understand layout. Compare that to ORD, or PHL, or for a worst-case scenario, Frankfurt (which makes ORD look small and is constantly under construction.) And if it’s an airport you’ve never been to before, give yourself a little more time–you may need to figure out where you’re going, and airport maps can be a bit misleading on distances.
As an involuntarily retired long-time airline employee with elderly friends and relatives who still fly (I no longer do) I find all of this information germane. There is one thing missing, however … if you are anything under Carl Lewis in running speed, and you have to change airlines in a large terminal, especially if you are older, it is a good idea to request a wheelchair. You can always “wave them off” if your connecting gate is nearby. ADA regulations require downline carriers to be notified of inbound/connecting wheelchair passengers, and therefore (theoretically) they will know that you are enroute. This is especially important in airports like Phoenix, O’Hare, Atlanta,Denver, or Philadelphia where connecting gates, especially to commuter carriers, can be almost a mile apart.
@SpaceCadet51:
Requesting a wheelchair for your convenience (not NEED) is unconscionable. There are always a limited supply of wheelchairs in an airport. If you request one because you *might* have a tight connection, you are potentially taking an available wheelchair away from someone who NEEDS it regardless.
In addition, airlines pay vendors for their wheelchair services. The costs go up based on the number of requests, even cancellations. So, that’s another way to make ticket prices go up is to request wheelchairs that you don’t need.
“In an ideal travel world, all fights would be non-stop.”
Quite so, Janice – nothing worse than intermittent fisticuffs.
Non-facetiously, if you’re travelling in Europe, consider the implications of the Schengen area, which is only a subset of EU countries. Travellers from one Schengen country to another do not need to clear passport control, and gate groupings tend to reflect that; but if you’re arriving, say, in Frankfurt from Vienna (Austria and Germany are both Schengen countries) and flying on to the UK, which is not, be prepared for a long walk to a different concourse and a full set of document and security checks.
Another point for overseas travel in particular…these days agents make separate bookings with separate airlines, so even though you have a connection from one airline to another, the other airline may well not know you are coming if it is not made in the same reservation. eg you have one booking with AA and another with UA for the next flight. That being the case, the delivering airline also is not responsible for any costs for your misconnection because the next flight was not shown in the same booking, so no liability.
My trip to Lakeland, Florida to see the Tigers at spring training: Seattle to Atlanta, one hour layover in Atlanta, Atlanta to Tampa, Van to Lakeland. Flight delayed 30 minutes in Seattle. Got to Atlanta with 30 minutes left. Told by gate person that I needed to go to the other side of the airport. Tpok 15 minutes. Then told gate was next to where I arrived so ran 15 minutes–had to go up and down escalators, ride some tram. Constantly trying to excuse myself and people don’t always respond which resulted in pushing them aside. They were boarding the flight and fortunately I made it. I keep my connections 90 minutes or more and I look at the board to make sure I’m given the right information.