International flights and layovers...a question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to prefer international layovers because I could take a quick trip into town. Now I prefer domestic layovers so I can avoid going through immigration at Dulles.

Omg currently standing in the immigration line at Dulles - it is a disaster!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to prefer international layovers because I could take a quick trip into town. Now I prefer domestic layovers so I can avoid going through immigration at Dulles.

Omg currently standing in the immigration line at Dulles - it is a disaster!

Mobile Passport! You can still use it now if you have a long way to go in the regular line.

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control

[Anonymous]

I used to fly that route often. I would absolutely pay more for a non stop to Madrid from DC, but it may be seasonal route or prohibitively expensive.

If you must have a layover, JFK is the superior choice for a few reasons:

1. Iberian peninsula is closest European destination to North America, why fly further only to have to come backwards to arrive at your destination?

Closest option, Heathrow is a mess with connections and I have missed them at least twice. Had to wait five more hours to get to my destination and that was precovid with lots of available seats on next flight.) No gracias. Although, if you can get the midnight flight out of Dulles to heathrow, might be worth it so you don’t have to take a vacation day to fly out.

2. Lots of flights to Spain/Europe on different airlines so you have options if your flight is delayed/cancelled.

3. Coming back there are many options to get from jfk to dc (fly, Acela, bus, etc) if your connecting flight gets cancelled. You will not be camping out on the floor of some random European airport.

4. Flight to/from mad - jfk is very zippy, 6 hours and you are there. I love that!

One anecdote: the downside of flying out of national is if your connection to jfk gets cancelled, it is harder to get overseas. I once jumped in a cab from dca to Dulles to get a different flight when my flight to jfk was cancelled. You can avoid this stress by flying out of Dulles, lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to fly that route often. I would absolutely pay more for a non stop to Madrid from DC, but it may be seasonal route or prohibitively expensive.

If you must have a layover, JFK is the superior choice for a few reasons:

1. Iberian peninsula is closest European destination to North America, why fly further only to have to come backwards to arrive at your destination?

Closest option, Heathrow is a mess with connections and I have missed them at least twice. Had to wait five more hours to get to my destination and that was precovid with lots of available seats on next flight.) No gracias. Although, if you can get the midnight flight out of Dulles to heathrow, might be worth it so you don’t have to take a vacation day to fly out.

2. Lots of flights to Spain/Europe on different airlines so you have options if your flight is delayed/cancelled.

3. Coming back there are many options to get from jfk to dc (fly, Acela, bus, etc) if your connecting flight gets cancelled. You will not be camping out on the floor of some random European airport.

4. Flight to/from mad - jfk is very zippy, 6 hours and you are there. I love that!

One anecdote: the downside of flying out of national is if your connection to jfk gets cancelled, it is harder to get overseas. I once jumped in a cab from dca to Dulles to get a different flight when my flight to jfk was cancelled. You can avoid this stress by flying out of Dulles, lol.

A lot wrong with this advice. For starters, there’s no midnight flight from Dulles to LHR. And MAD back to JFK in winter is at least 9 hours with wind, not 6. Who is this person?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to fly that route often. I would absolutely pay more for a non stop to Madrid from DC, but it may be seasonal route or prohibitively expensive.

If you must have a layover, JFK is the superior choice for a few reasons:

1. Iberian peninsula is closest European destination to North America, why fly further only to have to come backwards to arrive at your destination?

Closest option, Heathrow is a mess with connections and I have missed them at least twice. Had to wait five more hours to get to my destination and that was precovid with lots of available seats on next flight.) No gracias. Although, if you can get the midnight flight out of Dulles to heathrow, might be worth it so you don’t have to take a vacation day to fly out.

2. Lots of flights to Spain/Europe on different airlines so you have options if your flight is delayed/cancelled.

3. Coming back there are many options to get from jfk to dc (fly, Acela, bus, etc) if your connecting flight gets cancelled. You will not be camping out on the floor of some random European airport.

4. Flight to/from mad - jfk is very zippy, 6 hours and you are there. I love that!

One anecdote: the downside of flying out of national is if your connection to jfk gets cancelled, it is harder to get overseas. I once jumped in a cab from dca to Dulles to get a different flight when my flight to jfk was cancelled. You can avoid this stress by flying out of Dulles, lol.

A lot wrong with this advice. For starters, there’s no midnight flight from Dulles to LHR. And MAD back to JFK in winter is at least 9 hours with wind, not 6. Who is this person?!

Yup, normal latest flights to LHR out of Dulles are around 10 PM. Also, Dublin is the closest major airport in Europe to the United States. If you look at the flight map for today's Delta MAD-JFK flight it almost goes over Ireland as it heads northwest towards Greenland to take the great circle route. MAD-JFK today around 8:40 gate to gate, DUB-JFK today is 7:10.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it’s best to fly as direct as possible. Layovers are for those who can’t afford direct flights.

Well a direct flight doesn't exist so...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I prefer to get closer to my destination in case something happens to the second flight.

Also, I'd rather be in a foreign city - a new place to explore!

This. I’d rather be stuck in London or Amsterdam or even Frankfurt than the nyc suburbs.

[Anonymous]

One thing to keep in mind is the Covid restrictions may be different in the European layover in one country than another. Be prepared for having to adhere to both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to prefer international layovers because I could take a quick trip into town. Now I prefer domestic layovers so I can avoid going through immigration at Dulles.

Omg currently standing in the immigration line at Dulles - it is a disaster!

Mobile Passport! You can still use it now if you have a long way to go in the regular line.

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control

I didn’t see it! Have you used it recently? I remember doing exactly that years ago, but not sure if it is still an option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One thing to keep in mind is the Covid restrictions may be different in the European layover in one country than another. Be prepared for having to adhere to both.

I don't think there are any more substantive covid restrictions anywhere in Europe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you travel internationally do you like layovers in the US or closer to your destination. We are going to Spain and found flights with a layover at JFK or various European cities. Do you have a preference. Someone I talked to said they like European city layovers because there are more chances to get out if you get stuck/delayed. But I like the idea of just having this long continuous flight overnight (best for sleeping?

Any preferences?

Depends on the combo of itinerary and time zone shift.

Assuming a redeye to Europe:
Prioritize a later departure on the long leg -- you will sleep more on a flight that departs at 11PM than a flight that departs at 7PM. You'll also get a later arrival which will help you transition time zones more easily.
If the layover is short (i.e. you won't leave the airport) it doesn't matter very much where it is.
If the layover has to be longer, do it in the city you'd prefer to see

[Anonymous]

On the way there I prefer a layover in the US so that when I land and am exhausted, I can get out of the airport and to my destination right away. If I have a layover and then another flight, I will fall asleep on the next flight. That nap plus lack of natural light in the morning make it harder to adjust to the new time zone.

[Anonymous]

NP - How are layovers in Munich or Frankfurt? I don't hear about them as much but that's probably a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Recently, European airports have been a mess. My spouse is an airline pilot and with the flight we just booked said only layover in US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP - How are layovers in Munich or Frankfurt? I don't hear about them as much but that's probably a good thing.

Frankfurt is very easy. Haven’t been through Munich since COVID.