The term "illegal" for connections is airlinespeak for not enough time between flights to connect. It's different for each airline and airport, and allows enough time for baggage transfer and for passengers to get to their next flight. Travel agents and airline reservations can look it up for each airport, BUT it is the minimum time needed.

For airports that often get congested, or any flights that frequently have delays, or a bad weather season, or any number of other factors, it's generally not a good idea to schedule the bare minimum connection time. You usually want a bathroom stop and a bite to eat too, which are not included in the calculation.

For Atlanta, if that's where you are changing flights, in reality you need at least an hour if not more, even though the minimum connect time shows 45 or 50 minutes for most flights. Flight connections scheduled within the same terminal can change at the last minute. Too many factors to worry about, especially if you have a flight delay coming in.

When a flight changes from a non stop to a connection, or schedule changes are more than a couple of hours, airlines will refund your money if you ask. Not a big help if all your other options now cost a lot more though.

The problem with buying air tickets early is schedule changes. I've seen some flights that clients purchase change a half dozen times before the travel date. Sometimes clients have me get the refund and book a more convenient flight, but other times that's too costly an option.

We have a connection in Houston that is 32 minutes. So now I am concerned. What if our luggage doesn't make it? Or if we don't? Will they put us on another plane? We are flying Continental for both flights. From Orlando to Houston and Houston to Portland, OR. Any thoughts or advice?

I would, to be safe, call DME with the flight change. Who wants a hassle when you are trying to get to WDW?

By the way, tdelaney, is the flight you are on being sold at the same price you paid for your original flight? That was what really sent me over the deep end with our flight change...I paid $99.00 and the flight they switched me to was being sold for $49.00. I started my conversation with AirTran as politely as possible, but when they basically told me I was screwed (they didn't come out and say that, but that was what they meant.) I took it up a notch. When I got told to shut up by their cs rep, I, to borrow from Stephen King, went nuclear, and got my refund and booked on another carrier.
We had flown Air Tran for 3 round trip flights to Orlando, and ALL SIX FLIGHTS were changed. One flight was booked on a Sunday to fly out Tuesday. Yep, both flights changed. (on that trip, they pushed our departure from Orlando from 7 pm to 9 pm, but I guess they didn't tell DME, because we were picked up at 4 PM. Sat at the airport with a 5 yo who was upset about leaving WDE as it was.) And they have lost my luggage twice, both times when we were switched from a non-stop to a layover. My husband booked them for this trip, originally, over my objections. He said to me "What are the chances they'll change our flights again?".

I hadn't even thought about a price difference! Since all-in-all it's only 1/2 hour later (even though I have to leave a bunch earlier), I left it alone. Now if they change it AGAIN, I'll be aggravated.

One of our good friends is a pilot w/AirTran so I threw him the business. I haven't been totally happy though, so I will probably go back to good ol Sun Country. They only have a few flights back and forth per day, so that limits the options, but they've never oversold the flight (that I've been on) or radically changed the flight.

Good luck!

We have a connection in Houston that is 32 minutes. So now I am concerned. What if our luggage doesn't make it? Or if we don't? Will they put us on another plane? We are flying Continental for both flights. From Orlando to Houston and Houston to Portland, OR. Any thoughts or advice?
I would definitely call Continental about what they would do if things get delayed on their end, just to make sure what their policies are. I think after reading this thread, it would be the only way to know for sure what that particular carrier will do in a certain situations.

As for your luggage, well, that could be a different story. I have had it where my luggage actually made it to my destination before I did. At the same time, if you are doing DME, it may be less of an issue because they will get the luggage and get it to your room eventually. I will admit though, that is oversimplifying things.

from delta's contract of carriage, as i again point out delta's practice, bolding provided by methis is the standard boiler plate that "protects" them and allows them to make these changes. The airlines still however have a responsibility once they sell the ticket. outside of conditions they cannot control such as weather, mechanical break down, or labor disputes they are responsible for completing the contract, and in a reasonable time that they contracted for. how they do this is entirely up to the airline. but to say "we can push you back to the next day, or next week because we changed schedules" is not within their ground. Airlines know this, and that's why they are willing to refund full fair when they do this, the last thing they want is for judges and juries to be looking at their business practices. by refunding money they bypass this oversight. also all airlines with the exception of SWA has the ability to rebook you on another carrier, but will only do so as a last resort. if you are a single or a small group they would rather refund your money and let you talk to the competition yourself as they know that by that point you will likely have to pay a higher price. the few times this is done is when there are no other flights by that airline out that day and they don't wish to pay for a hotel room for you. some day the airlines are going to dump on the wrong person or people and all this will be changed.

...if she even needs to switch planes at all during her 25 minute layover.ig thi Sometimes, I've noticed is that you can get a flight that stops off at another airport, but you stay in the same plane to get to your final destination.

Wonder if that's the case here if 25 minutes for the layover was deemed acceptable.this would be a continuation flight, it would have the same flight number. although it is possible that they would have a new flight number this usually only happens at hub airports first thing in the morning or late at night when flights are terminated, which usually means long layovers.

I would definitely call Continental about what they would do if things get delayed on their end, just to make sure what their policies are. I think after reading this thread, it would be the only way to know for sure what that particular carrier will do in a certain situations.

As for your luggage, well, that could be a different story. I have had it where my luggage actually made it to my destination before I did. At the same time, if you are doing DME, it may be less of an issue because they will get the luggage and get it to your room eventually. I will admit though, that is oversimplifying things.the big question I have had about DME is this one. the law is that the last carrier to handle your luggage becomes the responsible party for luggage delivery. that means if you are flying to Chicago on one of United's partners, then switching to United for the final leg to MCO it is United who is responsible for delivering your luggage even if it is one of their partners who lost the luggage. with DME this adds another layer, who is considered the final responsible carrier, Mears or the airlines? I really don't know how a lost luggage situation would be handled. but I can honestly see both Mears and the airlines claiming it is the others problem and not theirs.

For Splash......

The minimum connect time for Continental domestic flights in IAH is 30 minutes, except for connections to some of the smaller partner commuter flights, which range from 35-40-45 minutes.

If your flight is late, realize sometimes your connecting flight may be late too, and in that case you will make it. If you miss the connecting flight you can generally be confirmed on the next available flight, and be allowed to standby for others that might show full but have no shows. This is only a major issue if your missed flight is the last one of the day. The airline is not obligated to offer a hotel or meal voucher if the delay/missed flight was due to weather or other reasons beyond their control.

If your luggage misses the flight, it gets put on the next flight to your destination. Luggage rarely gets totally lost these days, just delayed or misdirected.

This is probably the standard answer you will get if you call the airline.

IAH also doesn't SEEM as totally spread out as ATL does, to me, either. Yea, they have different concourses and stuff, but it doesn't seem like it takes as much to walk from one gate to another most of the time.

And splash, I would HIGHLY recommend making sure you have whatever you need for overnight and next morning in case your luggage does get misdirected. It's a bit of a hassle (especially with the fluids restriction) but just in case something does get misdirected, you want to be able to 'survive' the night.

The other recommendation I've read, is to divide everyone's stuff between the suitcases. Don't have a suitcase with all Susie's stuff and another for all of Johnny's, plus Mom's and then Dad's - mix them up so that every suitcase has some of everyone's stuff - that way if one bag does get delayed, everyone has SOME of their stuff and it'll be much easier to 'survive' without an unplanned trip to Target!

Ok, it's done.

After 4 calls starting from last week and a 30 minute call today I finally go someone on the phone that was in agreeance that 25 minutes was not acceptable in time between flights. especially since they my layover was not on the same plane. (but they are right next to each other in gate numbers)

They move my departing flight from Orlando at 5:30 to and earlier flight at 4 which now gives me about a 2 hour gap between flights.

I just pray that they have DirecTV on the plane to keep my mind occupied on anything but the plane, lol.

Luckily the short connection flight is on the way home, but we live about an hour from the airport. If our luggage doesn't make it with us, does that mean I have to wait around the airport for it, or do they deliver it to you?

Luckily the short connection flight is on the way home, but we live about an hour from the airport. If our luggage doesn't make it with us, does that mean I have to wait around the airport for it, or do they deliver it to you?

I think they will generally deliver it for you - but not necessarily in a super speedy manner. Private homes are generally the last they'll deliver luggage to, just because people are generally home in that case, vs. the people that are 'on' their trip and don't have their normal stuff at home to get by with. I think they were going to deliver mine to me (I'm about 10 minutes from the airport), but that was such an ugly situation (many many many flights cancelled - spent the night IN the airport - MAJOR baggage snafu, especially with people going on cruises!) - I just went back to the airport and got it before they even 'acknowledge' my bag was in New Orleans.

with a 25 minute connection time even if YOU make the flight.... will your luggage. It could get lost and then you would have more stress.

Just a thought!

It would be good to keep this thread open. I dashed a note to my travel agent right after I read Wendy Bird's post. I normally book my own travel but I used a AAA agent this time to get the discounts, etc. Last year I booked our flight to Baltimore through Alaska/American and they changed our flight numbers and times. You should get an e-mail or phone call with every change. But, I had forgotten all about the changes fron that trip. My agent sent me back a note stating that she hadn't heard anything but would check into it and lo and behold, there had been a change. Delta changed twice within a period of four days! We travel in December and I'm sure there will be more changes to come. So far, the times vary little from what I originally booked and I'm hoping that remains the case. So, my advice is to stay alerted to the changes. Make sure your agent or your airline knows how to contact you and make it clear that you want to know about the changes as soon as possible (if working with an agent).

So, thanks Wendy Bird for your post. You are probably helping a lot of people with this discussion. I hope your new flight times stay in place!

my layover was not on the same plane. (but they are right next to each other in gate numbers)
There is no way for the ticketing agent to know this, and even if it were true today it doesn't mean it would be true tomorrow or the day or your travel. gate assignments change constantly, even hourly as flights get delayed or arrive :eek:early. pilots who fly the same trip every day get their gate assignments when they are about 20 min. from landing.