Risks of short layovers and connecting flights?

[Anonymous]

I always research the connection times on flyertalk. Some airports 60 minutes is plenty (eg Reykjavik), others it is too tight (eg LHR changing terminals, US if coming in from international).
And of course, make sure it is on one ticket, ideally the same airline.

[Anonymous]

I assume they’d put you on the next flight, but these days, the next flight might not be for days especially around holidays. I won’t do any connection less than an hour.

[Anonymous]

Yeah I don’t like short connections. First plane could arrive late then depart late. There could be a maintenance issue. A crew issue where they need to wait for a replacement. And of course weather. And a ton of other things. No one will sit down and let you get off first to make your connection. And you don’t want to be those people running like crazy through airport only to find it’s too late to board.

[Anonymous]

If you’re checking bags and have such a short layover there’s a good chance your luggage won’t make it onto the plane with you.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't do it, but if you really think you must, make sure you're not connecting to the last flight of the day to where you're going. Do not do it if you have to clear customs/immigration or go through security. If all the airline's gates are in the same place, you might be able to walk off/walk on. I would be more inclined to do it if the first flight is an early morning one, as weather tends to cause fewer issues early in the day. They probably wouldn't pay for a hotel, since in theory YOU missed the flight, and we're in the US so you have very few rights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re checking bags and have such a short layover there’s a good chance your luggage won’t make it onto the plane with you.

Disagree— think it’s almost easier for bags than people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I assume they’d put you on the next flight, but these days, the next flight might not be for days especially around holidays. I won’t do any connection less than an hour.

I'll take the risk depending on the destination. Some have a new flight leaving every 30 min- 1 hour (e.g., to Newark or JFK or Orlando) so it's pretty easy to catch a different connection. Other times the next flight isn't for days.

[Anonymous]

It all depends on the airport, which the OP did not post.

But some advice anyway -- see if there is another flight later that day, so i fyou miss your intended flight, you can get on the other.

Of course that doesn't always work out. We flew to Europe via Munich last summer. Our flight was late leaving IAD so we missed our connection. There was a second connetting flight later that day to our destinnation from MUC, but it did not have room for all 4 of us (peak summer) so we spent a night at the airport Hilton and traveled the next morning. At least I got some great Bavarian food at a restaurant nearby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just had this happen. I worried but it worked. 70 minutes to change terminals in enormous CDG airport. I figured there would be enough Paris toNY flights to get on another. The airline in Athens had made up us check our carry ons and they made it to N.Y., too.

I wouldn’t do 70 min in CDG but I would do as short as 50 min in Vienna. It just depends on so many factors. Traveling in the summer in Europe you have to brace yourself for this no matter what.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't book short connections like that. I don't want to have to worry.

This.

My biggest travel pet peeve: the people who jump up as soon as we land and start loudly complaining they have a ridiculously short connection and are annoyed by everyone in the 35 rows ahead of them for not staying put so they can walk off first since they have 10 mins to catch their flight.

Take it up with the airlines who sell it this way. I don’t want to hang out at the airport for 3 hours so I don’t annoy you.

I’m not moving for you. Pay for a seat up front.

Often the flight attendant will direct the passengers with close connections to deplane first. Stay mad!

[Anonymous]

I’ve done it and it’s not worth the stress IME. Just get a direct flight or a long (3+ hours) layover.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for all of your responses. I was asking the question out of general interest, but for this specific trip, the airports in question are Atlanta and JFK (Delta).

You have made many good arguments--I think I might just risk it, but I hope I don't end up sleeping on the floor of some random gate!

[Anonymous]

Two summers ago with my kids I had a 30 min connection in SLC to the small town my sister lives in. I hadn’t realized they redid SLC airport. We just barely made it, sprinting. Last year I looked to see when the next flight was and (a) it was 6 hours later (about the same as driving to her town from SLC) and (b) flights tend to fill. We flew to a city closer to her and drove 3 hours the rest of the way instead of risking the SLC 30 mins or having a 6.5 hr layover. I don’t know why they schedule that way!!

[Anonymous]

It can work going through an airport like Dublin, but not somewhere like Heathrow. Dublin 60-90 minutes is OK but Heathrow you need 2-3 hours given its size and the security stops you have to make.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two summers ago with my kids I had a 30 min connection in SLC to the small town my sister lives in. I hadn’t realized they redid SLC airport. We just barely made it, sprinting. Last year I looked to see when the next flight was and (a) it was 6 hours later (about the same as driving to her town from SLC) and (b) flights tend to fill. We flew to a city closer to her and drove 3 hours the rest of the way instead of risking the SLC 30 mins or having a 6.5 hr layover. I don’t know why they schedule that way!!

We flew into SLC last summer and I swear it was a 30 minute walk to baggage. It was awful. I believe they are building a tram between the concourses but it wasn’t operating last summer.