Connecting Flights for dummies

Tauriel

I have a few really stupid questions in relation to getting connected flights. It will be my first time flying outside of Europe and requiring two flights to get to my intended destination, so just looking for some advice on what to do/not to do.

I will be traveling from Dublin Airport to the US and was wondering:

(a). how long of a stopover should I be aiming for? Would 2 and half hours be too short? Is over 4 hours too much? (The flights I have been looking at range from anywhere between an hour and a half to in excess of a 9-hour layover).

(b). when I reach the first airport in the US, do I need to go through the whole routine of checking in again or is this covered from checking in for my flight in Dublin Airport so I can head straight to the boarding gate?

(c). if I have a checked in bag, do I need to go collect it at the first airport and drop it off at the check-in desk or would the baggage handling crew know from the tag from Dublin Airport that it should go to the second plane? (Trying to figure out if it is worth my while to bring a checked in bag or to stick with just a carry on).

TIA!

Fred Astaire

The primary question here which will influence the answer to a, b and c - is everything going to be on the same ticket?

Tauriel

Yes, so I was looking at Delta Airlines although they use partner airlines to operate the internal flight.

Fred Astaire

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119736092#Comment_119736092

Right.

A) I'd give yourself 2 hours at minimum for peace of mind as you are new to this. You don't want to be sweating over the next flight on the first one. Four hours excessive. With everything being on the same ticket, if there is a delay on the first leg leading to you missing the second leg then they have the responsibility to get you on another flight. In American airports you emerge into what we would know as departures over here (it's mixed) so your next gate could literally be beside the one you walked in from.

B) You will check in the entire way at Dublin airport, including going through US preclearance. You'll arrive at your first stop effectively as an American domestic arrival, you will not need to go through security again.

C) Your bag will go the entire way although connecting flights increases the risk of missing luggage at a time where missing luggage is more prevalent. Odds are it probably won't happen to you but I'd just be aware of the possiblity. I personally don't like to travel with checked luggage if I can manage not to, check the carry on luggage limits with your airlines to see if you can manage it. I think Delta is around 8kg carry on, basically the mini suitcase that fits into the overhead.

Tauriel

Thanks so much Fred, much appreciated 🙂

whomitconcerns

Em Fred I would beg to differ... If you connect from an international flight to a domestic flight in the USyou will collect your bag and drop it again. It will be tagged to your final destination but unless you collect and drop at the designated place, you will not have your bag.

Fred Astaire

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119736459#Comment_119736459

That's not the case at all for luggage on the same ticket if you go through pre-clearance in Dublin. Because you arrive as a domestic passenger you do not need to go through customs at your first stop and thus the bag is checked through.

Your example would occur on a London-New York-Houston flight for example. Not on any flight which goes Ireland - American Airport A - American Airport B. OP is doing the latter so your post is not relevant.

ted1

From experience book the shortest , if you miss it they put you on the next flight anyway.

the one caveat is that if you have less than 60 minutes , there’s a high chance of your bag not arriving so don’t check it in.

whomitconcerns

Ah of course.. It's a few years since I did pre clearance in Dublin. You are correct!. Op ignore my last post!

Caranica

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119737275#Comment_119737275

Even with pre clearance you used to have to pick up your bag in Atlanta airport and drop it but I think they finally changed that.

Glaceon

I've been to Pittsburgh several times, booked entirely through Aer Lingus. They don't fly to Pittsburgh themselves so you usually end up on an internal United or JetBlue flight once you arrive in the US but the luggage was always transferred for me. So the partner airlines won't be an issue if it's all on the one ticket.

If the two flights are booked separately then you would need to claim the bags and go through security again.

89897

So long as all flights are on the same ticket and the connecting flight is in the same airport then you will be checked the whole way through and in most cases your luggage will also.

You will be able to see the final destination on your bag tag e.g DUB, JFK etc

I think there has to be a min of 90 mins between transfers but if you're not entirely comfortable, give yourself plenty of time.

endofrainbow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119736092#Comment_119736092

As a matter of interest, which partner airlines are you seeing operating the internal flight?

Tauriel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119738382#Comment_119738382

Republic Airways and Endeavour Air

miamee

Different airports have different minimum transfer times but if you are booking it all on one ticket via a travel agent or reputable airline website, those time calculations will already be factored in for you. Some airports are enormous and require taking a train or bus from one terminal to another and a long walk so it can be more time consuming than you might think.

endofrainbow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119738558#Comment_119738558

Endeavour Air are a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta but it might be worth checking cabin bag allowances, as both Endeavour Air and Republic Airways operate much smaller aircraft and overhead bins are usually smaller.

9320

Where you flying to and where do you expect to transit through? Some people on here likely to have done one or the other and may be able to provide greater insight if they know where you're going.

Tauriel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119739796#Comment_119739796

Output leg is looking like with a 2h 50min layover in Boston:

Dublin -> Boston Logan Intl -> Indianapolis Airport

Return leg is looking like with a 2h 21min layover in JFK:

Indianapolis Airport -> JFK -> Dublin

endofrainbow

Both entirely doable provided incoming is on time. If all booked on one ticket, it's the airline's responsibility to get you to your final destination.

On the return you MIGHT have to change terminals in JFK (Delta use 2 & 4). This can be done air-side as there is a jitney which runs between 2 & 4. Please do not exit land-side as you will need to re-clear security and that will severely dip into your 2hr 21mins. Also understand that international flights begin boarding 45 mins prior to departure.

hynesie08

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119739895#Comment_119739895

Both very very easy connections. As said above make sure you get the delta shuttle at JFK, it's basically hidden between 2 gates but it's there.

Tauriel

@endofrainbow. Thanks for the heads up on the switching of terminals, I actually hadn't thought of that. I suppose it won't be too bad if shuttles are provided.

Also apologies for whatever has happened with the mentions, I don't seem able to edit them on my phone and boards has decided to add Hynser03 a few times for some unknown reason 🤔 @hynesie08@Hyneser03@Hyneser03

endofrainbow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119740275#Comment_119740275

Just to reiterate you need to stay airside if you do indeed need to change terminals.

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119739738#Comment_119739738

you get the same baggage allowance on both legs. And it’s the long haul allowance

endofrainbow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119741532#Comment_119741532

noted, but as the overhead capacity is smaller, there is always the possibility that you might have to gate check.