- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Coaching Changes
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Tight Flight Connections- What's Your Minimum Connection Time? (Pg 2 In Game Thread)
Posted on 8/20/22 at 3:20 pm
Posted on 8/20/22 at 3:20 pm
Figure I'll provide some entertainment and hopefully assistance to the board this week.
Flying Seattle-Atlanta-NYC Thursday with a 35min connection in Atlanta. Only reason I booked this tight connection was to get to fly on my first A350 from SEA-ATL
. But I'm keeping an eye on how this flight has operated the past several weeks and it's pretty much delayed everyday, meaning a guaranteed misconnect in ATL (today's flight left 1 hr 36 min late after not showing a delay until 20 minutes before departure LINK). Looks like the inbound flight usually gets to Seattle on-time, but they only scheduled 1 hr 20 min for the turn to head back to Atlanta and it's clearly not enough to offload cargo/luggage and reload new cargo.
So what I'm doing today is planning ahead to make sure I don't get stuck in Atlanta on Thursday night, finding alternative flights (there are three nonstops SEA-JFK, I could skip the A350 leg and take an earlier SEA-ATL flight, rebook on a later ATL-JFK flight, etc.), and trying to find the most full flights for potential oversold flights. Expertflyer has free or paid versions that show the inventory for all airlines/flights and allow you to see the various options for your flights on a given airline. I'm already planning on doing one of the above plus given the thunderstorms predicted in both Atlanta and NYC this week most flights will probably end up going out full.
The above thought process made be start questioning what are reasonable connection times between flights. American will sell you 25 minute connections in Phoenix, but again that is well below what I'd call a "reasonable connection". Same thing with this 35 minutes in Atlanta going from a widebody in the international terminal to a likely domestic terminal 738. I'm at the point that 45 minutes is the minimum I'll book unless I have flexibility in travel like this coming week.
For those who fly a lot, what is your minimum connection time that you'll book and what would you recommend for a leisure traveler?
Flying Seattle-Atlanta-NYC Thursday with a 35min connection in Atlanta. Only reason I booked this tight connection was to get to fly on my first A350 from SEA-ATL
. But I'm keeping an eye on how this flight has operated the past several weeks and it's pretty much delayed everyday, meaning a guaranteed misconnect in ATL (today's flight left 1 hr 36 min late after not showing a delay until 20 minutes before departure LINK). Looks like the inbound flight usually gets to Seattle on-time, but they only scheduled 1 hr 20 min for the turn to head back to Atlanta and it's clearly not enough to offload cargo/luggage and reload new cargo. So what I'm doing today is planning ahead to make sure I don't get stuck in Atlanta on Thursday night, finding alternative flights (there are three nonstops SEA-JFK, I could skip the A350 leg and take an earlier SEA-ATL flight, rebook on a later ATL-JFK flight, etc.), and trying to find the most full flights for potential oversold flights. Expertflyer has free or paid versions that show the inventory for all airlines/flights and allow you to see the various options for your flights on a given airline. I'm already planning on doing one of the above plus given the thunderstorms predicted in both Atlanta and NYC this week most flights will probably end up going out full.
The above thought process made be start questioning what are reasonable connection times between flights. American will sell you 25 minute connections in Phoenix, but again that is well below what I'd call a "reasonable connection". Same thing with this 35 minutes in Atlanta going from a widebody in the international terminal to a likely domestic terminal 738. I'm at the point that 45 minutes is the minimum I'll book unless I have flexibility in travel like this coming week.
For those who fly a lot, what is your minimum connection time that you'll book and what would you recommend for a leisure traveler?
This post was edited on 8/25/22 at 8:49 am
11
Posted on 8/20/22 at 4:35 pm to CuseTiger
I’ve made many connections in the past with 45 minute window. But I don’t like doing that anymore with all the airline issues going on.
I’d rather aim for 1hr 20-30 mins for connections nowadays. It’s an extra cushion, and I use any extra time to grab a beer or two between flights. It’s less stressful.
ETA: the only way I book 45 min connections now are on my way home if I’m connecting at an airport like Atlanta, Houston, or Dallas where I know there’s multiple other flights per day coming back to Nola.
I’d rather aim for 1hr 20-30 mins for connections nowadays. It’s an extra cushion, and I use any extra time to grab a beer or two between flights. It’s less stressful.
ETA: the only way I book 45 min connections now are on my way home if I’m connecting at an airport like Atlanta, Houston, or Dallas where I know there’s multiple other flights per day coming back to Nola.
This post was edited on 8/20/22 at 4:39 pm
Posted on 8/20/22 at 5:16 pm to CuseTiger
Normally I’d be ok with about 45 mins at smaller airports. I’ve done 40 at Charles De Gaulle which was an experience! Right now I wouldn’t do anything less than at least an hour given the current state of airline operations
This post was edited on 8/20/22 at 5:17 pm
Posted on 8/20/22 at 5:36 pm to habz007
quote:
I’d rather aim for 1hr 20-30 mins
Agreed. Have time to wait for food, use the restroom, and still relax before boarding.
quote:
the only way I book 45 min connections now are on my way home if I’m connecting at an airport like Atlanta, Houston, or Dallas where I know there’s multiple other flights per day coming back to Nola
I like your logic
Exactly why I'm sticking with the 35 minutes in ATL for now. The only risk you can run into is if the following flight is sold out, then you're stuck til the morning. 
Posted on 8/20/22 at 5:41 pm to CuseTiger
Anything less than 1 hr traveling with family I get uncomfortable. Also, Need to account for how far back you’re sitting in the plane and where arrival is in relations to the departure gate/ airport size. Sometimes it takes forever for idiots to deplane and that’s 20+ minutes wasted already.
Posted on 8/20/22 at 5:44 pm to Odinson
Why not just do the non stop?
Posted on 8/20/22 at 5:44 pm to usc6158
quote:
I’ve done 40 at Charles De Gaulle
No thanks
. Guessing your flight was late for the US and you had to rush through customs?Posted on 8/20/22 at 5:51 pm to Odinson
quote:
Need to account for how far back you’re sitting in the plane and where arrival is in relations to the departure gate/ airport size
Great point. On a 757-300 or 767/A350, if you're in the back it's gonna take a while
quote:
Why not just do the non stop?
I probably should
. But getting on an A350 is a novelty in my mind
Posted on 8/20/22 at 6:45 pm to CuseTiger
45 minutes is the minimum I'm usually willing to accept. That applies to any domestic airport except Atlanta since they tend to make my connection a long way away from where I landed.
I'd prefer at least an hour layover anywhere though so I have time to grab something to eat.
I'd prefer at least an hour layover anywhere though so I have time to grab something to eat.
Posted on 8/20/22 at 6:45 pm to usc6158
quote:Had a 1.5 hour connection there a few weeks ago for a flight back to the US and made it to the plane at the last possible second
I’ve done 40 at Charles De Gaulle which was an experience
What a shite show that airport is
This post was edited on 8/21/22 at 1:25 am
Posted on 8/20/22 at 7:20 pm to CuseTiger
quote:
Guessing your flight was late for the US and you had to rush through customs?
Nope. Got a crazy deal on flights to Spain. Like $350 dollars round trip from DC. The catch was having to run through CDG on the way back. We full on sprinted and got lucky and got on a bus that was just about to leave for the other terminal and made it.
Posted on 8/20/22 at 7:50 pm to CuseTiger
If I know that the gates will be close to each other in the same terminal, then I am fine with a 30-minute connection.
If I have to change terminals, then I want 45.
If I have to change terminals, then I want 45.
Posted on 8/20/22 at 7:54 pm to CuseTiger
30 mins in ATL is doable if on time.
30 mins in SLC is rough if going to a small airport. The distance between terminals is brutal.
So it sort of depends
30 mins in SLC is rough if going to a small airport. The distance between terminals is brutal.
So it sort of depends
Posted on 8/20/22 at 10:05 pm to CuseTiger
Absolute minimum is 45 minutes. Bc that includes the boarding time for your next flight, so in all likelihood by the time your flight lands and you get off, your next one is boarding or about 5 min from boarding. Unless arriving early is a big factor, I’ve started booking flights that have enough time for me to access a lounge and relax for a bit.
Posted on 8/21/22 at 7:48 am to CuseTiger
I’m okay with 40 minutes in ATL on a domestic flight. I generally fly in the front coming from CAE, so flights are almost always on time if not early and I’m off the plane quickly.
For international, I want at least an hour if not an hour and a half.
The A350 is really really nice- second only to an A380. Flown the A350 on Air France, Virgin Atlantic and Qatar. QSuites on Qatar is amazing.
Flew a brand new Delta A321 to BOS a couple of weeks ago. Super nice plane.
For international, I want at least an hour if not an hour and a half.
The A350 is really really nice- second only to an A380. Flown the A350 on Air France, Virgin Atlantic and Qatar. QSuites on Qatar is amazing.
Flew a brand new Delta A321 to BOS a couple of weeks ago. Super nice plane.
Posted on 8/21/22 at 10:24 am to CuseTiger
40-45 mins in ATL.
Posted on 8/21/22 at 11:49 am to Tigertown in ATL
quote:
30 mins in ATL is doable if on time. 30 mins in SLC is rough if going to a small airport
Good call on tight connections being airport dependent. I wouldn't do <60 min in salt lake if you have to go to the B gates from A1. Same thing with detroit if going A1 to B1 (at least they have the train to help). JFK is also another tough one if you have to go from all the way at the end of T4 to T2
quote:
The A350 is really really nice
That is what I wanted to hear to make this mess worth it
Posted on 8/21/22 at 3:29 pm to CuseTiger
You can transit ATL in 35 just do not screw around waiting for a chili dog and have a backup plan.
Good luck on the A350. Never been on one myself, but the similar composite 787 is awesome.
Good luck on the A350. Never been on one myself, but the similar composite 787 is awesome.
Posted on 8/21/22 at 5:14 pm to tadman
quote:
You can transit ATL in 35 just do not screw around waiting for a chili dog and have a backup plan.
I'm first row of main cabin seating (may get a comfort plus upgrade) so should be easy to get off. Only challenge is getting to Atlanta I know I'll arrive in E or F, the 738 to JFK could leave from anything from T or A-F. If delayed before boarding, I'll take the nonstop SEA-JFK. If delayed on the plane, hopefully the app will auto rebook me to the later ATL-JFK flight.
quote:
Good luck on the A350. Never been on one myself, but the similar composite 787 is awesome
I'll take some pics and share here assuming all goes well
Posted on 8/21/22 at 8:55 pm to CuseTiger
quote:
I wouldn't do <60 min in salt lake if you have to go to the B gates from A1
That’s what I was getting at. I have connections in SLC regularly and try to make it 60+.
If it’s longer they have an amazing Sky Lounge.
Seattle can be a bit tight too.
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News