Looking for input from seasoned airline travelers

Parent Cafe
41

<p>We are very experienced travellers with very bad luck, so I think we have had every bad flying experience possible including driving back from Chicago to NY because there were no flights for three solid days during a storm at Xmas. I love Charlotte’s airport! Good choice on that one. </p>

<p>You can generally use the airline website to send alerts about your flights to your cell phones. I find these very helpful. Not sure if it was mentioned, but the app Flightaware can do the same thing. </p>

<p>Hope it all goes super smooth!!</p>

42

<p>Blizzards or extreme wind/rainstorms can paralyze airports, obviously, but there are all kinds of other unpredictable reasons for delays too. My worst travel experience ever was the 30 hours it took to get back from Salt Lake City to WI one June. There was no weather anywhere–just a perfect storm of mechanical/crew issues.</p>

<p>Three weeks ago my sister got stuck in Charlotte for eight hours when we were returning separately from a trip to Las Vegas. Again, no weather, no reason. Just because. She ended up getting a $50 voucher from United without even complaining–they just sent it to her after the trip.</p>

<p>Since I live in the upper midwest Delta has the most flights from here to anywhere (all the old Northwest routes). I prefer DTW for connections because they tend to be fastest and I rarely have to hustle from one end of the airport to the other. Plus there’s a really good middle eastern grab-and-go food place that I always stop at. MSP is nice because of the little booths with iPads and charging stations. I avoid ATL like the plague. </p>

43

<p>

</p>

<p>Plus, there’s a handy Spanx store right opposite the Delta Sky Club lounge</p>

44

<p>^What?? In the airport? Who would want to wear Spanx on a plane?</p>

<p>I will look next time. :)</p>

45

<p>Earlier this year, I was on a flight from ORD-(Someplace, I forget)-NRT (Tokyo) that was delayed out of ORD due to mechanical issues. They moved us to a direct flight (so much the better!) AND I got a $400 voucher! That enabled me to fly my D back from school on a free ticket, and first class so she got better luggage.</p>

<p>When we were at the “taking kids to college visits stage,” we were traveling to Florida to visit grandparents on flights that were overfull. I got us bumped at $400 per person - which enabled us to do a lot of our college visits essentially for free. I was very proud of that one too!</p>

46

<p>@pizza
<a href=“Someplace,%20I%20forget”>quote</a>-NRT (Tokyo)

[/quote]
</p>

<p>If you flew from DTW, you could visit the Spanx store. It’s near Gate 40, the Delta departure gate for NRT. </p>

<p>This is probably too much info for OP. </p>

47

<p>I can’t think of anything I’d rather wear less when flying internationally than Spanx!</p>

48

<p>You don’t wear it ON the plane. You wear it to look svelte after you get OFF the plane.</p>

<p>But who knows… Maybe you can claim it as a legitimate business safety expense to ward off deep vein thrombosis during long flights.</p>

49

<p>Bogi, yes, my husband was booked totally on USAir. His flight was delayed leaving his point of origin. When he arrived in Charlotte, his gate was right opposite his first flight. He thought he was good to go, and watched them close that door. There were six other passengers also taking the same connection. Surely USAir knew they were on a plane that was arriving! Tough luck. He and the others did a lot of whining…and they finally gave them hotel vouchers and food vouchers. But instead of arriving home on Friday at 11 p.m. He arrived Saturday at 2 p.m. (Next “available” flight). And he was a gold frequent flyer. </p>

<p>This has happened twice…in Charlotte…with USAir.</p>

<p>But both times, my husband was on the last flight departing for here in the evening.</p>

<p>He says that USUALLY 1 hour is plenty for a connection in Charlotte. But that first flight needs to be close to on time.</p>

50

<p>I’ve taught my kids to shamelessly use the **“I’m a minor flying alone” card<a href=“and%20bat%20eyelashes”>/b</a>. When a problem crops up in the airport, this line always gets the agent to act. </p>

<p>It’s not the the agents are particularly sympathetic towards children. It’s more like the exhausted agents don’t want to get stuck w dealing with the bigger headache that comes w processing stranded kids.</p>

51

<p>As someone who has missed a connecting flight I would want more than an hour between flights, especially in Chicago. Landing time does not equal time you get off the plane. If there is a delay in the plane getting to the gate, or you are in the back, it can be another 20-30 m inutes before you step off the plane. The connecting flight may already be boarding and if it is not in the same terminal, it could be a race trying to get where you need to go. Make sure your daughter asks the FA to verify which gate the connecting flight is leaving from. Also, even if you get to the connecting flight before the door closes, they may have overbooked and your D can lose her seat. It stinks having to sit and wait between flights, but better that then miss the connecting flight. </p>

52

<p>I think travel itineraries should definitely be planned by what retail is available in the airports! (not completely kidding here) I actually like the Charlotte airport because of the food AND the great rocking chairs.</p>

53

<p>I should have waited for more responses before booking the flights. I think the mistakes were booking the last flight to SFO and not allowing enough time for the connection. It sounds like the worst-case is that she misses her connection and is forced to spend the night at a hotel. It’s not ideal, but not a big deal.</p>

<p>Instructions to daughter:

  1. Wear tennis shoes and stock up on snacks
  2. Check your bag if your first flight is on time (you want to be unencumbered when running to your connection), but carry on if the first flight is delayed (you don’t know how things will shake out, so best to have your bag with you). [Does this make sense to others?]
  3. Let it be known to flight attendant that you need to make a connection
  4. Ask flight attendant for connecting gate before deplaning (also google it)
  5. Make sure to have both boarding passes
  6. If connection is missed, ask to be put on another carrier (know which airlines still have flights to SFO) or another destination airport - Oakland International? [would it be crass to ask for taxi voucher since this airport is further from the final destination?]
  7. If #6 is not possible, ask to be put up in a hotel and on the first flight out in the morning</p>

<p>Thanks everyone. I have a greater sense of possible scenarios and what I can reasonably expect from the airline if things go wrong. And if things do go wrong, I think it’ll be a great learning experience. She needs more practice in speaking up so, hopefully, she’ll rise to the occasion.</p>

54

<p>My daughter missed her connecting flight to a study abroad trip to Costa Rica & called me for what to do.
She actually has flown much more than me, so the most I could do is reassure her. She was easily able to find another flight & they waited for her.
(It wasn’t as big of a worry as when she was 18 & in Chennai, and had her cellphone and wallet stolen)</p>

<p>While our kids may run into bumps along the road to independence, don’t think of problems as insurmountable
They are really quite capable, and experience in dealing with things themselves, helps to give them confidence that they can tackle the next curve in the road…</p>

55

<p>I’d personally pack super light and keep the bag with me, but that’s me. </p>

<p>Just because a flight takes off on time doesn’t mean it won’t be delayed at the back end. </p>

<p>If it’s within 24 hrs why not call the airline and try to get on an earlier flight? </p>

56

<p>This has happened twice…in Charlotte…with USAir.>></p>

<p>You just never know. I know of at least two instances where they called ahead to the gate and told them DH was coming and they waited for him before closing the door. USAir in Charlotte.</p>

57

<p>I think someone said pretty early on (post 7) to look at what other connecting flights the airport had in case the second leg was missed. Perhaps we should have spelled it out more that earlier in the day was better. But honestly this time of year your odds are good. Let us know what happens! </p>

58

<p>@cap, your example just highlights for me the importance of letting the flight attendant know that she has a connection. If they know that she is coming, hopefully they’ll wait.</p>

<p>@pizzagirl, I’ve appreciated all your input. Obviously, I really did need things spelled out for me as I was clueless about a lot of this. I think I will call to see if she can get on an earlier flight. Thanks.</p>

59

<p>If you booked your flight less than 24 hr ago, you might be able to avoid the change penalties! Both Alaska and Delta have this provision, and so does Expedia for any airline. </p>

60

<p>United also allows you to make changes without charges within 24 hours. It’s worth inquiring if it was less that 24 hours ago they you booked. Figure out what you prefer with same airlines and ask. As I said, I always opt for 90+ minute connection and have never missed any. Also prefer never to have last flight out. </p>

<p>Good luck! Agree to suggest packing light and carrying everything. </p>