Frequent Flyers: any advice on connections/layovers?

[iamtoldtherewillbenomath]

I'm about to book a flight that has 2 connections.

Does anyone have any tips? Like how much is the ideal time between connections, to make sure you make your flight, but don't sit around, either?

Has anyone ever booked a multi-leg flight and one of the legs is with a different airline?

And finally, how likely is it that my luggage will come off the plane at my final destination?

Any advice on connections appreciated! (The airline will almost certainly be US Airways, or American Airlines...or a combination)

[HighFlyer]

Like how much is the ideal time between connections, to make sure you make your flight, but don't sit around, either?
It depends on the airport. At PIT, you can easily make a connection with a 20-30 minute layover. At airports like YYZ, LAX, LHR, chances are your connecting flight will leave from a different terminal building, thus requiring a bus ride and re-clearing security. If arriving from an international flight into the US or Canada, you would also have to factor in customs and immigration clearance. If you post your itinerary, maybe one of us who's been through it could advise further.


Has anyone ever booked a multi-leg flight and one of the legs is with a different airline?
Many times.


And finally, how likely is it that my luggage will come off the plane at my final destination?
There *should* be no problems. Make sure that your bag is tagged all the way to the final destination. Sometimes I will show the bag tags to the gate agent of the connecting flight if the airline is not in the same alliance (ie. AC connecting to BA) just in case the bag info is not already in their system.

[iamtoldtherewillbenomath]

Thanks for answering, Highflyer: I was hoping you'd post: you clearly are travel-savvy! (I can tell from your posts you're in (or have been in) the industry.)

My specific issue is the Philadelphia airport, where I'll need to go from Terminal F to Terminal A in about an hour. Anyone know if this is do-able?

[HighFlyer]

You can probably make it, but I recommend 1 hour as the bare minimum for PHL. The wildcard will be ATC/weather/baggage delays. After you get off your flight, head to F10 (I think) or where the signs lead you to the shuttle bus. The bus will take you to the B/C gates, where you will speed walk over to the A gates. You will not need to reclear security.

If you're connecting in PHL on your return flight (assuming it is int'l), leave at least 2-3 hrs in between flights. The lines for customs and TSA are a nightmare to deal with, particularly at that airport.

[Pete_Coach]

Thanks for answering, Highflyer: I was hoping you'd post: you clearly are travel-savvy! (I can tell from your posts you're in (or have been in) the industry.)

My specific issue is the Philadelphia airport, where I'll need to go from Terminal F to Terminal A in about an hour. Anyone know if this is do-able?

I have booked several trips on aeroplan points. A suggestion is to talk to an aeroplan rep instead of just online. They can help you with the time between flight issue. They can even give you better and more options than those that are presented on the website. I find that one hour is often not enough especially in some airports. I even think that the airlines do not recommend it. You need to take a bus in some of them for transportation between terminals.
As well, it is up to your booking agent and you (not the website) to ensure you have enough time to make it. There is in fact a minimum time ( I cannot find the exact rules but there are some) for connecting flights. Remember. if you don't make it becasue of a time issue, they will not accept reponsibility. Take a little more time, sit, relax, have a beer and then you don't need to rush. That tight of a schedule makes the trip stressful.
You can find the Philidelphia airport (and most others) online and find an airport map to give you an idea of the challenges ahead. Be careful though, some cities have several airports and you can get confused. The airport codes come in handy at that time. The codes will be on your ticket or booking references.
Oh and to answer the improtant question, the shorter the time between flights has a direct proportional probability that you may arrive at final destination without your luggage. Your luggage does not get to ride on the shuttle bus with you...

[gilboman]

I have booked several trips on aeroplan points. A suggestion is to talk to an aeroplan rep instead of just online. They can help you with the time between flight issue. They can even give you better and more options than those that are presented on the website. I find that one hour is often not enough especially in some airports. I even think that the airlines do not recommend it. You need to take a bus in some of them for transportation between terminals.
As well, it is up to your booking agent and you (not the website) to ensure you have enough time to make it. There is in fact a minimum time ( I cannot find the exact rules but there are some) for connecting flights. Remember. if you don't make it becasue of a time issue, they will not accept reponsibility. Take a little more time, sit, relax, have a beer and then you don't need to rush. That tight of a schedule makes the trip stressful.
You can find the Philidelphia airport (and most others) online and find an airport map to give you an idea of the challenges ahead. Be careful though, some cities have several airports and you can get confused. The airport codes come in handy at that time. The codes will be on your ticket or booking references.

actually if all segments of the trip is on one ticket/reservation, it is their responsibility. minimum time between connection i think is 30 or 45min and the website accounts for this so no connections is less than this time.

but of course you should get 90min at least to transfer flights since we all know how common delays are. e.g. waiting for taxi, waiting for gate, etc.

[Pete_Coach]

actually if all segments of the trip is on one ticket/reservation, it is their responsibility. minimum time between connection i think is 30 or 45min and the website accounts for this so no connections is less than this time.

but of course you should get 90min at least to transfer flights since we all know how common delays are. e.g. waiting for taxi, waiting for gate, etc.

Actually, airport issues (shuttle bus delays, baggage issues, customs delays, terminal transfer issues etc) will not be taken into consideration by the airline if it comes down to a bun fight between you and the airlines, particularily the regularily overbooked American airline industry. Been there.