Connections at US airports

[Veryodd]

Hi

I'm travelling to Tucson, Arizona in a few months and trying to decide which flights to book currently. There are no direct flights from the UK so I have to pick up a connecting flight somewhere. Questions:

1. What is an appropriate length of time between flights that would allow me enough time to reclaim my baggage, get through customs and then check it back in and get a boarding pass for the second flight? (One connection is quoting 35 minutes which is definitely not feasible IMO). Several others are quoting 1hr 35mins which seems a bit better but is that still cutting things fine really? I'll be on my own so I don't want to be hanging around for too long between flights either.

2. Does anyone have recent experience of getting connection flights at LAX, or Chicago O'Hare - is one any easier than the other to find your way around and get through customs?

[Jumbo747]

1. I don't think you need to reclaim your baggage and then recheck-in. In my experience your luggage is checked straight through to your final destination where ( hopefully ) tou and it are reunited!

[Jumbo747]

sorry, YOU and it...........

[Veryodd]

Unfortunately, in the US on your inbound journey you are now required to reclaim and then re-check your luggage. All part of the new draconian security measures. On the return journey, I will not have to go through this palaver. They apparently don't trust the security arrangements for checking luggage, that are in place in non-US airports.

[Jumbo747]

Oh my goodness! I had no idea...........will remember that. Thank you. J

[Veryodd]

You're welcome! By the way, if you are planning a trip to the US you will also need to get a special lock for your luggage that the US security people can open. If you don't and they decide to investigate your luggage they will simply break your padlock/damage your luggage. (I know several people that has happened to). It's worth reading the security guidelines before you travel to the US.

[cathfromsaron]

when we were flying, the ongoing airline were dragging 'their' ongoing pasengers through the queues, to make sure they got the connections!

are you flying with a small internal airline, who won't have these resources?

[Veryodd]

Hi cathfromsaron. I'll be flying with British Airways.

[cathfromsaron]

you should go with their suggested times then!

cath x

[Veryodd]

I didnt realise they had suggested times? The times I have seen are simply from the airline ticket seller web sites, telling you which flights are going at which times - it's up to the traveller to work out which flights to book that will allow sufficient time to get through the "system". Maybe I'll trawl through some more websites to try to find some help on the subject.

[Hymie]

Most important – you must buy a ‘through ticket’ to your final destination. That ensures that the carrier is responsible for getting you to your final destination even if you miss the connecting flight.

By ‘through ticket’ I mean that the ticket is purchased as a single transaction from the UK to Tucson. Buying two separate tickets (on say Expedia), even at the same time does not count as a ‘through ticket’. If you were to buy two separate tickets and miss the connecting flight – you may find that you have to purchase another ticket.

The airline(s) will not allow the purchase of a ‘through ticket’ if the time between arrival and departure does not meet with their requirements.

As you state, you have to clear immigration and customs at your first port of entry within the USA – which entails collection of your checked in bags and rechecking to the onward flight.

I would allow at least 2 hours to make the connecting flight – but at some less busy regional airports, the carrier might reduce this time to 90 minutes or less.

[abstibus]

I go with Hymie: get a 'through' ticket. I've always used an agent, and though you might find it more expensive, you'll have the reassurance of knowing that BA will get you there and back.
As well as that, you'll have someone to call in case things go wrong (believe me, I speak from long experience).

[spudqueen]

I have flown from Manchester to Louisville, Kentucky via Chicago O'Hare. I booked American Airlines. I think I had about a 2 or 2 1/2 hour gap in Chicago between flight arrival and departures. On landing I collected my case then went through immigration and customs. Just the other side of customs there was an American Airlines desk which took my case off me. I then had to change terminals (dead easy - there's a train which takes about 5 minutes to get to the next terminal). I then had to go through security which took about 40 minutes. On arrival in Louisville there was my case. On the way home my case was checked in at Louisville and I was reunited with it at Manchester. I must say I was very impressed with American Airlines. It all went very smoothly, and I would recommend using the same carrier for all flights as it makes everything so much easier.

[dzug2]

As to the timing, it varies by airport and by terminal within airports. Each airport publishes a 'minimum connecting time' - normally you can find it buried on the airport website if you hunt hard enough. Many people prefer to select flights with more than the minimum time though. Whilst the airline will still get you there it may not be quickly.

I don't think it's anything new or to do with security - more a question of practicality. If you luggage is transferred direct onto a domestic flight then it's more than likely there will be no customs facility at the far end - either the airport doesn't handle international flights or has separate domestic and international terminals.

So you take your baggage through customs on arrival

[haggisbasher]

I travel regularly to the USA and in most instances I have a connection to make for an internal flight.

I would advise that you get a through ticket to your final destination as the connection is then the airlines problem if you are delayed. If you check with BA you should be able to get a through ticket to Tucson as they are shown on Flight Stats as having code shares with American Airlines into that airport from Dallas and Chicago.

Connecting at Ohare is a bit of a nightmare as it is HUGE and also once you have cleared security you cannot get a hot drink. I found out that the hard way.