<p>Thanks to all who helped me in my previous thread - yes, we are going to go to Switzerland as the last leg of a hs graduation trip next year.</p>
<p>Have a question, though, on our flight back from Zurich. We are using FF miles and cannot go non-stop to Chicago. Our options are these:</p>
<p>A) Zurich to JFK - 1.5 hour layover at JFK - JFK to Chicago</p>
<p>All recent international trips I’ve taken have been non-stop from Chicago. Is 1.5 hours enough time to collect checked bags, go through customs and re-check for the Chicago flight, since you have to go through customs in your point of entry?</p>
<p>B) Zurich to LHR - 2 hour layover at LHR - LHR to Chicago</p>
<p>This doesn’t require collecting bags but does require changing terminals, and it has seriously taken us almost this amount of time to change terminals at LHR. We’re probably tainted by this, but our last layover at LHR we actually missed our connecting flight (and it was a 1.5 hour layover on a partner airline). We hate-hate-hate changing planes at Heathrow and would really rather avoid it at all costs.</p>
<p>Which is the lesser of two evils, here? I’m leaning towards A being the better option but welcome any frequent travelers’ opinions.</p>
<p>(I suppose another option is to take a train to Paris, or even to Frankfort, and fly non-stop home from either of those locations.)</p>
<p>This is American Airlines, if that makes a difference.</p>
<p>I don’t have experience flying internationally through JFK and onward …however there are LOTS of flights from JFK to ORD so if there was a delay of some sort, there shouldn’t be a problem getting another flight for the last leg.</p>
<p>1.5 hours to go through customs at JFK is a little tight. When I went through it took over an hour to go through customs and then get my bag. This website should help <a href=“Error”>http://apps.cbp.gov/awt/</a></p>
<p>I hate JFK and I like Heathrow, but that might just be me. </p>
<p>It took my son two hours to get his bike back so he could go through customs at JFK on his recent return from cycling in Europe. After two hours he gave the baggage guy a $20 to go find it. He made his flight (3 hour connection) but just barely. He arrived in Portland annoyed. My husband connected through Heathrow and didn’t go through customs, had two hours, read a book, had a nice snack, and arrived happy, even though he had to connect in LA.</p>
<p>What I will say in Heathrow’s favor is that it has great food. Healthy options (a sprouted salad in an airport?), a caviar bar, great sandwiches.</p>
<p>I like the Heathrow airport and agree about the food, however they also lost one of our bags and it took nine days for them to get it to us. </p>
<p>All I know is that one hour was not enough time for changing planes at O’Hare, but they were able to put us on a later flight easily. Do you have to change terminals at JFK?</p>
<p>I don’t know if during your trip you will be travelling a lot by train or not, but having lots of experience with both Heathrow and Kennedy, I vote for your third option, taking the train. Frankfurt will be quite a bit less busy than either Paris airport, and I just love train travel in Europe. A non-stop to ORD for me!</p>
<p>I almost always prefer to make my connection in Europe rather than go through customs in New York or Newark and risk missing my U.S. connection. However if you do decide to fly through JFK, I recommend allowing for a longer layover if you are checking luggage, just to be on the safe side. 1.5 hours is cutting it too close, IMO and experience.</p>
<p>I vote B) Zurich to LHR - 2 hour layover at LHR - LHR to Chicago</p>
<p>The food is better and there are no worries with regard to making your connection. Once you’re on the LHR-Chicago leg, you can relax.</p>
<p>(Me, I’d fret the entire overseas flight if I were planning to connect at JFK…what if my plane were late, what if customs takes too long, what if I don’t make my connection, etc.)</p>
<p>I would go with A because you do not have to change terminals. While the BA Terminal 5 to AA Terminal 3 at LHR is no big deal at a 10 minute bus ride, interlining luggage is always a risk, one to be avoided if possible, especially if the bags are changing airlines AND terminals.</p>
<p>JFK will not be busy in the early afternoon. Your only issue is if you miss the JFK-ORD flight, there is not another flight for AA to put you on unless you schlep to LGA. </p>
<p>You did not provide which LHR-ORD you propose to be on- there are 3 AA flights, so conceivably you can make a later one if you are not on the last one.</p>