Tight international flight connections, would you?

I would not attempt a plane change from domestic to international at Newark or JFK in under 2 hours. No experience with Dulles. My personal minimum is closer to 3 hours. It's just not worth the stress and worry about close connections for me. Is your final destination in a Schengen country?

Did an international flight last November, short direct flights between two European countries. Should have been a piece of cake, not so much.

Departure

Flight was delayed by a few hours due to weather issues affecting the plane arriving. The airport I flew in to was way bigger than I remembered, luggage took forever to show up, meant I missed my onward booked bus, thankfully got the next available one as I was going a few hours cross country.

Return journey

Flight slightly delayed departing but not by much. Was wondering why there were so many people in the gate area, turns out their flight was delayed by four to five hours.


If I had to make onward flight connections I would have been a wreck. I knew I just needed to land in either country and had options if I was really stuck, i.e. relatives I could call who would help.

I would have to have three/four hours wriggle room built in, less if I only had cabin luggage.

I try so very hard to have direct flights. And I have had that mostly. I hate lay overs I have the worst luck with stuff like that.

90 mins is cutting it close in Newark for changing terminals outgoing. I’d say at night you might be able to but then the linked monorail probably runs less so that’s tight.

Absolutely a NO GO on the way into this country as customs at Newark is literally the worst, slowest, meanest, customs I have ever been thru in any country. 3 hours MIN for a connection thru Newark if I’m entering the country. Customs is after you get your baggage so then you’d have to recheck? I can’t say for sure because Newark is usually my final stop but I know I go thru customs with my bags. Do they have separate customs for connecting travelers?

Good luck

Flights just suck right now... but, I also would prefer 2-3 hour.

Are you staying on the same airline? Switching airlines? Can you contact the airline and ask?

I only suggest this because I was recently bumped to the next (6 hour later) flight before I exited my connection even though I probably could've made it to gate in time with a bit of running. British Air didn't give the option and had it switched before I could do anything.

Also maybe research customs in the first country - if they have a lot of those kiosks then it can go rather quick, but all depends on how many other flights are arriving. Consider the days of the week you are traveling to estimate how busy it may be. I'm sure there's stats on this somewhere.

Good luck planning!

I learned something new today. I had to Google Schengen and look at a map.

Mind blown that I've never once heard this term.
🤯

Several trips ago we came home through Newark. Just had to get our luggage and walk it over to another carrousel around the corner. It was already checked through to SFO. We did go through customs but it wasn't bad so I'm thinking it must be separate for connecting travelers.

Same.  

I lean toward longer layovers.  90 mins for a layover to transfer to an international flight would make me nervous.  If my only options were 90 mins or 9 hours, I’d go with 9 hours.  90 mins is about my comfort zone for US domestic flights.  

It’s a big deal in Europe and affects a lot of life when traveling in and out of the area. If you travel from one Schengen country to another, it’s generally a breeze. But an hour? That’s never gonna happen these days. 

I have taken tons of flights just like you’re talking about (1 stop in USA, I stop in Europe). You will not have to go through customs until you land at your final destination on your way there. You will go through customs on your first leg back into the USA (except if you go through London which I would try to avoid). I have done lots of flight with 90 minute connections. Make sure it’s the same airline and you should be fine and not have to change terminals. I think you can do it!

Ask yourself if you would be okay if you missed your connection. I think you'll find your answer.

Tell me the airports and I can tell you better what might happen.

A couple weeks ago I flew from Dulles to Edinburgh with a plane change in Dublin. The layover was 1.5 hours and we landed 1hr15mns late. I made the flight because there were 20 people on the Edinburgh flight going to Dublin. My bag did not. I did not have to go through security again. If I had chosen London as my stopover, I would probably still be there. Hah.

Many times, you can do your international security stuff at your home airport so even if you have a layover in the US, you should not have to go through it again.

I pick where I fly from and to based a lot on security and any time I possibly can, I fly direct. It sounds like you can't but your situation is very dependent on the airports.

FWIW, I'd like a 2hr window. That is usually enough.

ETA: I see that your LOs can be Newark (NO!), JFK (NO!), Dulles (YES!). I will take a longer flight to avoid those first two airports. I am pretty sure you won't have to go through security again if you go to Dulles.

We were really worried over Thanksgiving. We had an hour between a flight from Detroit to Paris and then the flight to Abu Dhabi. We had time to use the rest room and that was it. We were the last people they let on the plane. But we made it.

Me too.  Even if your flight is on time, 90 minutes to navigate a huge complex and security check ins and all the rest would be way too stressful for me.  Load some books or movies on your tablet, find a spot to plug in your charger, and prepare for a relaxing--if long--journey.