Best airport for a layover? (U.S.)
 

Hi all! I am going to be flying from Hartford CT to Seattle WA later this year. I am trying to decide between several flights, with the main difference being the location of the layover. I want to choose the place (from the options I have) with the easiest/least stressful to navigate airport for a layover. My options are Detroit, Atlanta, Dallas and Cincinnati. (I eliminated Chicago myself, based on what I've heard). I've also heard not so great things about Atlanta and Dallas... and nothing about Detroit or Cincinnati. Any input? I just don't want to be lost, running around and/or traveling miles just trying to switch flights. Thanks in advance!

It really has a lot to do with the airlines in question. If both segments (BDL-XXX and XXX-SEA) are on the same airline, then usually any connection is quite simple. Using American, I fly through Chicago and Dallas fairly frequently (both are AA hubs) and really don't have any problems. Now if you're switching airlines at connection points, things can get more complicated, as they often require a change of terminal and may even require you to go outside the security area and have to go back through to make your next flight - ugh.

"Later this year" is not specific enough, since some airports (e.g. DFW) can have lousy weather at certain times - thunderstorms, snow, etc. - which can slow things down big time. When are you flying?

Thanks for your response! I'll be flying in mid-late August. And it would be the same airline on both flights. The layover times vary from 40 minutes - 3 hours. I only worry because last time I flew and had a layover, it took so long to get to the second plane that we missed it and were stuck waiting around for hours for another flight. Would like to avoid another situation like that!

I live in Seattle now and used to live in Vermont (using Hartford as my airport between the two). I've had fine experiences in both Chicago and Atlanta. When you say "later this year" I assume you're flying in spring or summer? Or winter weather won't be a consideration (the main reason I'd avoid Chicago, the weather).

I personally don't think it's about the airports as much as the airline you are flying and the timing of your connection. Allow 2-3 hrs. No reason to be "lost", just talk to your flight crew on the incoming flight, then check the arrival/departure boards as soon as you deplane for the gate of your connection.

you can also check the onetime arrival statistics for your particular flight you are looking at flying. For instance if you are flying through Chicago, and the your flight from Hartford typically lands late more than 50% of the time, and you only have an hour layover, I wouldn't choose that flight and connection.
You can do this at flightstats.com however, you must know the flight number to look up this info.

DL's McNamara Terminal at DTW is clearly one of the nicest airport terminals in the US with great dining and easy to navigate. If all things equal, I'll clearly pick it over the other ones.

If you truly mean layover ATL always best for me bigger
better more to do.Also generally not always better for weather but the most popular in the US in terms of numbers.
I have been stuck in one too many blizzrds in the north
to choose northern airports if I have a choice. insuremytrip.com always wise.

Well, here's my take on this. A 40 minute connection, even on the same airline, is only asking for trouble. All you need is a slight delay on your inbound flight and you'll miss your connection. Remember, most flights begin boarding 30 minutes prior to scheduled take-off so that means your connecting flight will start boarding only 10 minutes after your inbound flight lands.

Murphy's Law of Airports always applies in cases like this - as any experienced traveler can tell you it clearly states the shorter your connecting time the greater the chances are your inbound flight will be delayed taking off, your arrival gate will be "blocked" by a departing plane for 10 minutes and the gate for your connecting flight will be at the opposite end of the terminal. On the other hand if you choose the 3 hour connecting time your inbound flight will arrive early and your connecting flight will be departing from the same gate.

Basically, you should never have a connection time for a domestic to domestic flight that is less than 60 minutes - 90 minutes is better.

Perhaps I'm lucky, but every time we have had a short connection, I have asked the agent at the arrival date how to get to the next gate, and if we have time. Often, they will call for a cart if the time is short. Sometimes, when our inbound flight has been delayed, they already have the cart there for us. That is on Continental, which has a reputation for good service. I think it largely depends on what airline you are using, not what airport you use.

What have you heard about the Chicago airport(s)?

I haven't flown through Cincinnati, but the other 3 are all fine if a) you are flying the same airline and b) you have enough layover time. I travel way too much, and I try to never have less than 2 hours... It could just be me, but whenever I try to be optimistic, some pesky problem occurs, so less stress is better for me, so I tend to go for longer layovers.......

If I were going from Hartford to Seattle, I probably would prefer not to go through Dallas or Atlanta since they're out of the way. As far as Detroit vs. Cincinnati, both are fine. You're only going to be there for an hour or so, anyway.

Thanks everyone for your input. We ended up going with the flight with the layover in Atlanta. We had far fewer options for the return flight, which will switch in St. Paul. My cousin is very familiar with the Atlanta airport, and he said an hour layover, staying with the same airline is definitely do-able. I also checked out the link someone provided above to see how often the flight is on time, and it appears that this particular flight getting into Atlanta is almost always on time. So let's just hope that day is one of those times. :)

I don't have details on the Chicago airport, but I've had 5+ people say "Avoid Chicago!!" Because it's bigger and more crowded maybe? I'm not sure.

If you consider O'Hare too big and crowded, I'm not sure how Atlanta is a solution. O'Hare has 192 gates and in 2010, handled almost 67 million passengers. Atlanta has 199 gates and had 89 million passengers in 2010.

One thing I recommend when you are nervous about a new airport, is to go to the airport website and print out a map.

http://www.atlanta-airport.com/Passenger/terminal/

My thoughts exactly Citylights, Altanta is a much bigger airport, handles more flights and consequently will have more delays. Also my experience is that the closer the airport is to the eastern seaboard, the more delay.

I live in SEA and have flown through Detroit several times. I find it a very easy airport to navigate. Delta, Northwest Airlines in the past, is my airline of choice, and it has a hub in Detroit. Don't know about Cincinnati or Atlanta. I may have transferred in Atlanta in the past but have no personal recollection of it whatsoever.

"Avoid Chicago!!"

It's just something people say. They probably haven't ever even been thru O'hare (lol)! More urban legend than reality. Although can have bad weather issues in the wintertime.