Anonymous
Post 03/27/2024 10:26     Subject: Will me miss our connection tomorrow?
Anonymous wrote:Guess what DCUMers….this is OP and we made it to the gate for our flight to Aruba 15 min before boarding started. Wahooo!!! Our bags also made it. For those that are curious, this trip was a package deal…5 nights at a new hotel not on the main strip and not an AI, but between Eagle Beach and Palm Beach, including flights (flight home is direct to IAD) and transportation to and from hotel in Aruba. Two adults and two kids. Breakfast included every morning, $4,700 total.


Nice! Looks like the DCA-EWR flight did arrive just after 9 AM, in line with the pattern of that flight for the last week. Definitely more likely with morning flights- as the day goes on, in general flight delays are more common. Enjoy your trip OP.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2024 09:42     Subject: Will me miss our connection tomorrow?
Guess what DCUMers….this is OP and we made it to the gate for our flight to Aruba 15 min before boarding started. Wahooo!!! Our bags also made it. For those that are curious, this trip was a package deal…5 nights at a new hotel not on the main strip and not an AI, but between Eagle Beach and Palm Beach, including flights (flight home is direct to IAD) and transportation to and from hotel in Aruba. Two adults and two kids. Breakfast included every morning, $4,700 total.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2024 01:47     Subject: Will me miss our connection tomorrow?
Have not read every post in this classic chicken little v no worries mate debate but o would like to let you know that United has a system to try to save connections known as
ConnectionSaver

https://crankyflier.com/2019/06/20/a-more-detailed-look-at-uniteds-connectionsaver/

https://liveandletsfly.com/united-airlines-connectionsaver/

Anonymous
Post 03/27/2024 00:46     Subject: Will me miss our connection tomorrow?
Anonymous wrote:In the situation, our plan is usually for whoever runs faster to wear their sneakers and run for the gate and the slower on takes the kids and lags behind a few minutes in the hope that faster parent (my DH) can get them to wait a couple of minutes once he’s physically at the gate


I was on a plane once where I got moved to the front and pushed through first class (we landed late as the next flight was finishing boarding). I was the sprinter (the gates were next to each other) and I got there as they locked the door. The pilot gave permission to unlock it in which time a young man arrived. Then a couple, then a family, etc. Eventually there were 12 of us who made the flight because I sprinted - I’m surprised they didn’t hold it!
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2024 00:30     Subject: Will me miss our connection tomorrow?
Anonymous wrote:in 2022 our flight from Germany was delayed 2 hours because someone got sick on the plane. We were terrified of missing the Amtrak in Philadelphia, we rushed, we ubered, we bolted. The train ride was delayed an hour and it was all for nothing.


This is just dumb traveler shit. Philadelphia to DC on Amtrak after a RETURN flight? Between the NE regional and the Acelas there's at least a train an hour that would get you home unless you were arriving at like 3am. Even still, this is not "terrifying" travel derailments, get a grip.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2024 23:39     Subject: Will me miss our connection tomorrow?
In the situation, our plan is usually for whoever runs faster to wear their sneakers and run for the gate and the slower on takes the kids and lags behind a few minutes in the hope that faster parent (my DH) can get them to wait a couple of minutes once he’s physically at the gate
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2024 22:34     Subject: Will me miss our connection tomorrow?
You’ll be fine - the flight to ewr will probably land early since you’re leaving early. Hopefully the gate changes to keep you in one terminal.

United isn’t going to sell you a ticket that won’t work if the airplane lands on time.

People panic about this stuff - but short layovers are the most efficient and you should seek them out.

United definitely does hold flights for a few minutes when there’s not another that day and they have line of sight to the arriving plane’s gate and time. If the plane hasn’t landed or doesn’t have a gate assignment then all bets are off.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2024 21:27     Subject: Will me miss our connection tomorrow?
We’ll be waiting with bated breath to hear from you tomorrow, OP! Good luck!
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2024 21:25     Subject: Re:Will me miss our connection tomorrow?
How much could you have possibly saved by booking this insane connection? Just a really terrible idea all around.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2024 21:15     Subject: Will me miss our connection tomorrow?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised United would sell this itinerary. There’s a high chance you won’t make the connection, and your checked bags likely will not. You should notify the flight attendant and see if they will let you deplane first (sometimes they will ask passengers to stay seated unless they are on connecting flights XYZ). It’s possible they’ll hold the Aruba flight but it depends on a lot of factors (how many people need more time, how tight a turnaround time they have in Aruba, etc.).


Your bags have a better chance of making it then you do. Cargo holds are opened immediately. You have to wait 15-20 min to deplane.

OP unless you're in the front of the plane without kids I doubt you'll make it. Any slight delay and you're going to miss the connection.


What's with the basic wrong info so constantly? On a normal narrowbody I have usually been off the plane around 10 minutes from gate arrival, even at the back of the plane. If near the front of economy it's within 5 minutes. Pretty big difference between 10 and 15-20 when talking about making a connection.

Now the C to A connection, yes that's the major problem, especially now with the new A terminal being farther away. But the comment about the train is incorrect, because the train at Newark is before security, so if you take it you will have to exit the secure area and then clear security again at A. Instead you have to take the post-security bus that United runs. See here:

https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/travel/airport/ewr-map.html

You will have to walk to the bus stop near C71 and the bus will take you to the A terminal near gate A28

Also, you should check the gates/terminals again on the day of departure and when arriving at EWR. Gates often change during operations, and it's possible they would put the second flight into C.


This is OP. Thanks so much for the info about the United shuttle. Did not know about that and thought we’d have to go through security again.

Got very good fare/deal on this trip. Tried to change flight today and there is absolutely nothing available.

DH also insists we check luggage bc ‘trying to race through terminal with carry ons will slow us down’ Oh, I forgot to mention we are traveling with our two kids. We’ll pack bathing suits and change of clothes in backpacks. Keep your fingers crossed for us! We are so burned out and need this quick getaway.

I will be sure to provide an update!


OP I think your odds are pretty solid. Looks like you are on the 8AM United DCA-EWR and 10:15 AM EWR-AUA flights, right? That 8AM flight has 1.5 hour flight time, which basically builds in a ton of cushion time for a flight which takes around 40 minutes in the air. If you look at the last week's history of that flight, almost all of them have arrived at the gate around 9 AM. So you would have 70-75 minutes if that was the case as opposed to 45. Hopefully that pattern holds, and if it does, 70 minutes is definitely enough time to make this connection, even with the shuttle bus ride, etc.

https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/UAL4430


LOL you think just like my husband. Yes, those are our flights and he was looking at that same flight history from last week. Thanks!!


Yea but that’s if everything goes to plan. Any small delay like “we’re just waiting on some last minute paperwork before we push back” etc and that’s cutting into your departure time. So yes the flight theoretically may only be 1 hour in the air but there’s still the possibility of delays getting off the ground or taxiing to the gate when you land or the gate agent connecting the jet bridge so they can open the door, people taking forever to get off the plane etc. So that 45 min can become 20 min real fast. Not to mention having to switch terminals! I sincerely hope you make it but in the future best to avoid doing a connection this tight.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2024 20:59     Subject: Will me miss our connection tomorrow?
Anonymous wrote:I’m confused why recently so many flights are being sold with such tight connections when earlier flights are available.

It’s almost like every single flight I look at has a 30-40 minute layover. Recently tried booking a flight to connect in Philly to Heathrow and the layover was 35 minutes. Last flight of the day to Heathrow. I don’t get it.


The airlines have what is called "Minimum Connection Time" for every airport, depending on domestic-domestic, domestic-international, and international -domestic. Those haven't really changed much. If an itinerary meets the MCT, they will sell it to you. If it doesn't, they won't.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2024 20:38     Subject: Will me miss our connection tomorrow?
I’m confused why recently so many flights are being sold with such tight connections when earlier flights are available.

It’s almost like every single flight I look at has a 30-40 minute layover. Recently tried booking a flight to connect in Philly to Heathrow and the layover was 35 minutes. Last flight of the day to Heathrow. I don’t get it.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2024 20:31     Subject: Will me miss our connection tomorrow?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised United would sell this itinerary. There’s a high chance you won’t make the connection, and your checked bags likely will not. You should notify the flight attendant and see if they will let you deplane first (sometimes they will ask passengers to stay seated unless they are on connecting flights XYZ). It’s possible they’ll hold the Aruba flight but it depends on a lot of factors (how many people need more time, how tight a turnaround time they have in Aruba, etc.).


Your bags have a better chance of making it then you do. Cargo holds are opened immediately. You have to wait 15-20 min to deplane.

OP unless you're in the front of the plane without kids I doubt you'll make it. Any slight delay and you're going to miss the connection.


What's with the basic wrong info so constantly? On a normal narrowbody I have usually been off the plane around 10 minutes from gate arrival, even at the back of the plane. If near the front of economy it's within 5 minutes. Pretty big difference between 10 and 15-20 when talking about making a connection.

Now the C to A connection, yes that's the major problem, especially now with the new A terminal being farther away. But the comment about the train is incorrect, because the train at Newark is before security, so if you take it you will have to exit the secure area and then clear security again at A. Instead you have to take the post-security bus that United runs. See here:

https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/travel/airport/ewr-map.html

You will have to walk to the bus stop near C71 and the bus will take you to the A terminal near gate A28

Also, you should check the gates/terminals again on the day of departure and when arriving at EWR. Gates often change during operations, and it's possible they would put the second flight into C.


This is OP. Thanks so much for the info about the United shuttle. Did not know about that and thought we’d have to go through security again.

Got very good fare/deal on this trip. Tried to change flight today and there is absolutely nothing available.

DH also insists we check luggage bc ‘trying to race through terminal with carry ons will slow us down’ Oh, I forgot to mention we are traveling with our two kids. We’ll pack bathing suits and change of clothes in backpacks. Keep your fingers crossed for us! We are so burned out and need this quick getaway.

I will be sure to provide an update!


OP I think your odds are pretty solid. Looks like you are on the 8AM United DCA-EWR and 10:15 AM EWR-AUA flights, right? That 8AM flight has 1.5 hour flight time, which basically builds in a ton of cushion time for a flight which takes around 40 minutes in the air. If you look at the last week's history of that flight, almost all of them have arrived at the gate around 9 AM. So you would have 70-75 minutes if that was the case as opposed to 45. Hopefully that pattern holds, and if it does, 70 minutes is definitely enough time to make this connection, even with the shuttle bus ride, etc.

https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/UAL4430


LOL you think just like my husband. Yes, those are our flights and he was looking at that same flight history from last week. Thanks!!
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2024 19:33     Subject: Will me miss our connection tomorrow?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised United would sell this itinerary. There’s a high chance you won’t make the connection, and your checked bags likely will not. You should notify the flight attendant and see if they will let you deplane first (sometimes they will ask passengers to stay seated unless they are on connecting flights XYZ). It’s possible they’ll hold the Aruba flight but it depends on a lot of factors (how many people need more time, how tight a turnaround time they have in Aruba, etc.).


Your bags have a better chance of making it then you do. Cargo holds are opened immediately. You have to wait 15-20 min to deplane.

OP unless you're in the front of the plane without kids I doubt you'll make it. Any slight delay and you're going to miss the connection.


You realize that the connections exist for multiple travel variations not just your flight right??? Are you serious that you do not know you can choose a variety or connections that will go with your initial flight - the travelled has to be responsible for this not airline. How many people are flying to Aruba you think?! OMG.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2024 19:31     Subject: Will me miss our connection tomorrow?
Why would you book this? No way you can make that sorry. The tone is counted by board time not departure time so basically you've got 15 min to run to the gate as the plane is boarding. That assumes you'll get out of your plane quickly! You need at least 75 min I think to do a connection and I would do 2 hr layover personally at min. Never book a connection less than that as you may even be delayed.