Connection time at Newark on holiday Friday night?
 

Is one hour ten minutes sufficient connection time on Continental at EWR on the Friday night of a holiday weekend - for a family of six, including three school age kids, connecting from DTW to DUB? Thanks!!

While it doesn't leave much of a pad, it's a "legal" connection and it's one that I might be willing to book if you're not talking about REALLY little kids. You'll be checking in for the whole itinerary when you begin in Detroit, so you'll have boarding passes and baggage all taken care of.

Keep in mind that the plane will begin boarding within about 10 minutes of your arrival at Newark and they like everyone to be in their seats 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time on these international flights, so you're not going to want to have a ton of carry-on stuff to deal with.

Of course, all of this is assuming that everything goes according to the schedule. A better option -- in my opinion -- would be to take a Northwest flight to Newark that would give you a little more time. There are a number of them and even an extra half hour or 45 minutes could make it a lot less stressful. These flights are codeshares with Continental and if it doesn't have a negative impact on your fare, it's worth a hard look.

Well, I flew through EWR on CO last Friday night, DFW-EWR-BRS (Bristol, UK), 5/27. That was a holiday weekend too. So, here is my experience:

The schedule was like this: DFW-EWR 3:15pm 7:52pm. EWR-BRS, departs 8:55pm. So, my connection is 1:03.

So, there was a delay at DFW. Didn't start boarding until 3:35, and because the flight is full, it takes a long time for passengers to get all their luggage stored. Didn't take off until like 4:15pm, with a scheduled arrival at EWR around 8:15pm. I was getting a bit nervous.

When we got to over Lynchburg, VA, before DC, we were put into a holding pattern for 30 minutes by air traffic control. Now, that would put EWR arrival at 8:45 in Terminal A (DFW, ATL and Chicago) flights arrival at different terminal; so at that time I thought unless they hold the Bristol flight, I'd miss it.

Fortunately, after 10 minutes circling, we were cleared to proceed, and arrive EWR 8:30. And lucky for me, they switched the gate to one in Terminal C, not far from my Bristol flight. And I sat down in the plane with about 10 minutes to spare.

So, what I'm trying to say is that, with a 1:03 connection time, even with a significant (~45 minutes) delay at DFW, plus 10 minutes by air traffic control, I still make the connection.

And flying NW means arriving EWR at Terminal B, and you'll need to take the train to C, and reclear security. You don't know how bad it may be on a Friday holiday weekend night. Unless your NW flight is much much earlier, I'd stick with what you have.

Thanks,Flyboy and RKKwan - appreciated your help. Still sounds too close to me - RKK's connection last weekend was too close for comfort - IF they hadnt changed terminals, it would have been a different story! But it was amazing that it worked out for you. If it's necessary to go thru security again when changing terminals, that's another thing to consider. (Will CO from DTW and the flight to DUB both be terminal C?) I 'll call Continental to discuss.

GmaMcD - Only flights to/from DFW, ATL, ORD and MDW use Terminal A. I've never heard of any other flights using them, so you really do not have worry about that.

My intention of my post is that 1:10 is plenty of time. Not trying to scare you! :D

Also, there's a 10pm flight to Paris, and if you're flying Friday or Saturday, there's a 10pm flight to LGW. So, if you miss your DUB flight, there are still ways for CO to get you to DUB the same day.

<b>Plus</b>, if there's a system-wide delay at EWR, CO will likely hold the departures for its international flights from EWR to wait for passengers. It happens quite often.

So, 1:10 is really not as tight as you think it may be. Thousands of people fly through EWR each day with that type of connection with no problem.

RKKwan - thanks - now I feel better. I had misread the DFW thinking it to be DTW, and needing a change of terminals! And the thought that there might be alternatives if the DUB flight is missed was reassuring! Your late departure story from DFW gives encouragement too, for the five from AUS-IAH-EWR-DUB - in case of Texas weather delays!
Now I have one more concern out of our seven family groups - MSP on NW,then Aer Lingus -ORD-DUB - on separate tickets, with slightly under 2 hour connection and Aer Lingus saying to check in 3 1/2 hours ahead! NW told them they can check baggage thru but Aer Lingus says they have no baggage agreement but NW can do it as courtesy if they wish. So what do you think? Will they make the Dublin flight or not? Thanks again.

I don't fly through ORD that often, but two hours should be just enough for them to make the connection. Northwest comes in Terminal 2, while Aer Lingus departs Terminal 5 (the International Terminal). There's a train that runs through all terminals.

There is something you need to know about EWR - to go from one terminal to another they have special carts to move people, and not just elderly. For a small tip they will take your family to your gate in no time! The driver will also know if they changed the gate number - I flew round-trip connecting at EWR in May - both times the gate number was changed. When they checked me in all the way in San Francisco, and later in Zurich, they didn't know about the gate change.

If the first flight is on time, 1 hr 10' is plenty. I needed about 1 hr coming back from international to domestic going through customs. Going there... don't remember exactly, just few munutes for the ride.

By the way, on this website somebody (Gail?) warned me that the food places close early, you may want to pack more snacks traveling with children.

Why can't I remember to type everything :)

Bring your own head phones for TV and music, they offer them on domestic flights for $5 OUCH! But this is to buy for this and future flights, not to rent.

FainaAgain is talking about transferring among the three concourses <b>within</b> Terminal C. No need to reclear security in that area, unless you're coming in an international flight.

But if it's from Terminal A (e.g. CO from DFW, ORD, MDW, ATL) or B (e.g. NW), then one will need to take the free AirTrain, and reclear security.

As for food, with a 1:10 connection, I don't think one need to care about food. They will serve dinner once you reach cruising altitude.

No inflight entertainment on the DTW-EWR flight, which is either 737-500 or ERJ-145.

You will get the free headphone on your EWR-DUB flight, and it's for you to keep.

RkKwan, sorry, must've been jetlagged.