Hi Again, Yes the questions just keep coming. But im being anal because Im the only one planning this whole vacation and if I screw it up some how I will never hear the end of it. My question is, We have 1hr. 20 minutes layover in LaGardia do you think we will or will not have enough time to catch our connecting flight to Orlando? I have never been to this airport so I have no clue how big it is. All I know is it is in NY and that alone scares me. Also we have 40 minutes layover to catch our flight in Chicago to home and Im sure we will miss that one for sure seeing how are in the last seats on the plane. Any opinions on layovers and the time to catch connecting flights would be greatly appreaciated. :)

I think that you'll be fine at LGA. It's not **that** big.

I'd worry more about 40 minutes to connect in Chicago, now that's a big airport.

On our recent trip from Palm Beach to San Francisco, we had about 40 minutes to change in Atlanta-- the airline let the people with close connections off the plane first- which really helped and we ran and just made it.

Just try to not plan any stops for bathrooms/food during your transfers (hard to do I know)and you should be fine.

I'm not directly familiar with laGuardia, but I used to fly a LOT for a living. Usually 50 minutes to an hour is plenty of time to get from gate to gate. You might even find out that your connection is right there in the same concourse. Is your connecting flight with the same airline? If so, chances are good that the gates will be close. As your trip date gets closer, check with the airlines (or their online site if they have one) for gate assignments.

If it is the same airline there is no problem. The piers at LGA are very small, with no more than ten gates per pier and no airline is on more than one pier. If you are changing airlines there may be a problem, as each of the piers have their own security. (I fly into LGA at least twice a year.)

as I live less than three miles from LaGuardia I can assure you its quite small for the most part.

The only thing that can be an issue, and its unlikely at that, is if you are transferring between USair and any other airline. They are in a different building. Its actually only a short (10 minute walk) between the buildings, or you can wait for a shuttle bus. The bus is ususally pretty consistent but if you are feeling rushed I would walk.

Of course after you've walked it five times in a row because neither USair or United can find your reservation then you can panic when you miss the flight (oh wait, that was my last Disneyworld trip).

Really though LaGuardia is quite easy to navigate, but if you are looking to grab food between flights there isn't all that much available.

We are coming in on a American Eagle and connecting to American Airlines. So not to sure if that will be close to each other or not.

k, i'll bite.. what's scary about NY?

out of 378 cities of all sizes with #1 being the safest statistically, NYC is ranked #142 (and #10 overall for those with populations > 500,000 and NYC is substantially more than that). Orlando is #368 (and for those playing along at home, Detroit is the most dangerous city)

that said, i'm not a fan of LGA myself. it is relatively small and awkward.

Is LaGardia smaller then JFK? I get nervous being in a big airport with time against me in a big airport. Im a small town girl. lol

ridiculously smaller. not that JFK is that bad, it's just a matter of getting between terminals which is a lot nicer with the airtrain in place.

This may sound like a dumb question but what is a airtrain?

It's a monorail (I think- we moved out of NYC before it was finished) that moves you between terminals.

Really LGA is a small-ish airport, I think Orlando is bigger.

Also we have 40 minutes layover to catch our flight in Chicago to home and Im sure we will miss that one for sure seeing how are in the last seats on the plane. Any opinions on layovers and the time to catch connecting flights would be greatly appreaciated. :)
As for the Chicago legs...
If you are flying AA/AE home, connecting through ORD, you will very likely have to go from one concourse to another, all within the same terminal and it can be a good 7-10 minute walk if your arriving and departure gates are on the far ends of the concourses. However, If they know that your connection time is close, you may be able to ask them to call down to the other gate letting you know that you are on your way. But at the same time, American Eagle flights are often delayed by 10 mins, depending on different things, so it may give you a little buffer. (Speaking from tons of experience, they "make it up in the air" often.)

Here (http://www.chicagotraveler.com/chicago-ohare-airport-map.htm)is a map of O'Hare. Most AA flights arrive/depart from the H/K concourses in Terminal 3. Most AE flights arrive/depart from concourse G, also in Terminal 3.

One thing that I like to do is to go to AA.com and check the seating assignments online. You can also change them there as well. I would check there often to see if you and your family could move up towards the front of the plane as seats often open up for one reason or another.

One other tip on the American Eagle portions of your flight, regardless of airport... These are smaller regional jets that do not have much overhead bin space. Because of this, you will not be able to bring anything on board much larger than a backpack with out having to gate check the bag. While they do give you back your gate checked bags at the gate when you get off the plane (they will NOT transport gate-checked bags to your next flight!!) it takes time for them to do so. So, my advice would be to take as few carry-ons with you as possible.

Gusman, I just found out from AA that if we miss our flight leaving Ohara to our home town we will have to wait 8 hours for the next flight into TVC. Oh my god that would be bad. So they suggested that on our flight if were in the air late getting into Ohara that the flight attendants can call American Eagle and tell them to wait that we are on our way. Anyone hear of this service before?

Anyone hear of this service before?
I have heard of this before, but only to a certain extent of time. If your first flight is seriously delayed, you may not have a choice. However, something to keep in mind that if your flight is delayed, chances are, others will be as well. There are so many variables to consider its hard to guess.

O'Hare is a major hub and when delays happen there or at other major hubs, there is a significant trickle down effect that can actually help the situation.

But do keep in mind that airlines are padding their arrival times as well by a small amount of time since they know that there might be delays somewhere in the system.

Here's the thing... speaking as someone who travels often, if you find yourself in a situation where you are delayed, do not let it get you down. Just roll with the punches and dont get stressed over it. No, getting delayed is not an ideal situation. However, if you are delayed, just hope it is during your trip home and not while going down to WDW.

the airtrain not only goes between terminals at JFK (it's free for that), but for $5, it connects to mass transit.

http://www.panynj.gov/airtrain

So they suggested that on our flight if were in the air late getting into Ohara that the flight attendants can call American Eagle and tell them to wait that we are on our way. Anyone hear of this service before?

Airlines can do all kinds of things to help their passengers if they want to. Many years ago I had a tight connecting flight out of O'Hare (not Ohara!). When the plane pulled up to the gate, an attendant came on the PA and asked for passenger Dan Young to identify himself. I did, and they said my connection time was really tight, and would I come with them. They took me down the stairs and out onto the tarmac, and then gave me a quick car ride over to my connecting flight, which was waiting just for me. It was kinda cool to get on the plane and then have them button it all up as if it was waiting for some important passenger (ME!).

Good luck on your tight connection. But if you do get delayed, O'Hare is a fun airport to wander around in. I used to have really long (7 hour!) waits there, and I think I strolled into and out of most of the wings of that place!

Thanks for all the information. If we miss our connecting flight it will be on the way home so I guess it's ok as long as it is NOT on the way to WDW. But 8 hours for the next flight oh my god where could I sleep? lol

Having spent nights in and near airports on my dime or the airline's - it's not that big of a deal (well the IN the airport one was a bit of a pain), but they just highlight why you don't pack your medicines in your checked bag. You can't get to it in those situations. And if it's 8 hours during the day/evening - you go have a leisurely dinner (and tell them you're killing time), have a drink or two - walk around, window shop, etc etc. Ohare is NOT the worst airport to get stuck in for a few hours!

(The airlines are responsible for putting you up if it's not weather-related. If there's availability nearby, they will get you a 'distressed traveler rate' if it is weather related - but if it's a big snowstorm sort of thing, there won't be any available - that's when you get to spend the night IN the airport. And if you got stranded really early you MIGHT get a cot.)

You know what airlines need are sleeping rooms for the poor passengers who have many hours layover or cancelled flights for whatever reason. Especiallty if all the near by hotels are booked.

Those are the Private Clubs or Premium Lounges. They do have them, but not for the great unwashed masses.

Those are the Private Clubs or Premium Lounges. They do have them, but not for the great unwashed masses.
...and even then, most of the lounges are not open 24 hrs a day, so you will eventually have to leave and fend for yourself. :)

But if I found out that I was going to be stuck somewhere for 4 hrs or more, I just may consider buying a day pass to one of the clubs, if available.

I never heard of day passes to these airport clubs. can you explain it to me Gusman how this works and how big are these clubs and cost. Just trying to be ready for a possible 8 hr. delay if we miss our connecting at O'Hare which will most likely happen. Thanks:)

If flying on American, you can buy a day pass to one of their Admirals clubs. (In Chicago, there are two.) The cost is not cheap but it is a nice place to relax, get a drink and some snacks, maybe check your email and the like.
I know that it is something like $50 and you can check in two other adults at $25 each.

Here is a link (http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?p=/travelInformation/airportAmenities/AdmiralsOneDayPass.jsp) to their site. You might want to take a look around at the site and possibly call them directly if you have specific questions.

I have been at the one in Chicago and it is rather nice. Keep in mind that this is mainly a business traveler's haven, so you should keep that in mind if you are traveling with kids. (Not saying that as a discouragement if traveling with kids, just helping set an expectation as to what to expect.)

Thanks Gusman for the link I will look into it. No kids to worry about with me.