GWHaskell

I am new to international flights and have a question. I want to schedule a two stop international flight. All through the same carrier. The first flight will be domestic (LAX- EWR), second flight is international. The first layover is just over an hour. Will this be enough time?
Thank you

janisj

Welcome to Fodors. Assuming all on one ticket -- you will check your bags, have your passport checked and all boarding passes issued at LAX. Whether an hour is enough time at Newark mostly depends on if your LAX flight is on time. No crystal balls here. If things are running smoothly - then an hour is fine. If the LAX > EWR is delayed, you will be protected and put on the next available flight. (Sometimes even on other carriers/non-partners if there aren't any seats available in a reasonable time).

. . . The airline won't sell you a ticket if the connection time is considered too short. Each airline has a designated MCT (Minimum Connection Time) at each airport taking into consideration the complexity of connecting at that airport. You can google for the MCT for your airline at EWR if you are curious.

thursdaysd

I would want more than an hour at Newark. I would also check to see how many, if any, flights there are on your airline to your destination after the one on which you are booked. Yes, they are obligated to get you on the next "available" flight, but that requires both a flight and available seats. There is no guarantee, these days, that you will booked on a different airline.

Seamus

Airlines won't sell you a ticket with a connection less than the established minimum connecting time (MCT.) The MCT reflects optimal operational status. We fly in and out of EWR regularly and an hour is fine if everything is running smoothly. There is always the possibility of unanticipated delays en route - weather, mechanical problems, etc. but since you are on one ticket with one carrier, if a delay in getting to EWR results in you missing the connection the airline will put you on the next available flight. That could be the next day. What is your itinerary? Are you flying United?

GWHaskell

Flying United. LAX- Newark-Frankfurt-Nairobi

Seamus

The minimum connecting time is just that, minimum, so you mou may want to look at alternate routing options like LAX-DEN-FRA-NBO (UA 1029- 3.5 hrs- UA 182- 2.0 hrs - UA 8729 operated by Lufthansa) or LAX-EWR-FRA-NBO with an earlier departure to EWR - UA 1488 - 2.75 hrs - UA960 - 2.25 hrs - UA 8729 op by Lufthansa) which give you more comfortable connection times.

GWHaskell

Thank you

thursdaysd

Are you using United because you have FF miles with them? Because there are better and cheaper routings available. Especially on Qatar.

J62

I don't have any input on this particular route, but to address the gist of your question, connectig to the flight out of Newark to FRA is really no different than connecting to any other domestic flight. Your bags will be checked through and you'll get boarding passes before your start your journey at LAX. You'll just need to get yourself from your arrival gate to departure gate at Newark. You will need to show your passport before you board at EWR, and maybe at LAX baggage check as well.

Coming back into the US the process is different and you need more time for that.

janisj

Re this topic . . . I just this minute I was reading a long thread on FlyerTalk about a connection issue at EWR. Apparently they didn't build an airtrain connection to Terminal A and it makes connections between the A and B/C terminals sort of a confusing mess. Not sure if this impacts your flights or not but is an interesting read with all the 'get arounds' various members have worked out. Here is the thread (you don't need to be a member to read it).

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...-terminal.html

mrwunrfl

Most or all of the ft comments were about international arrivals which would all be at terminal B according to
New York/Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) (united.com)

The thread does mention difficulty with C-A transfers which would be worst case for the OP.

That map shows both a United Club and Polaris Lounge in terminal A and neither of those in C.

I see a LAX-EWR-FRA trip at UA that might be what the OP is taking:
UA 2161 (Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner)
Connection:1 hours and 2 minutes
UA 960 (Boeing 777-300ER)

I would wager that both flights would use terminal A because of the presence of those lounges. UA would want to have that 777 to FRA to be close to a Polaris Lounge. Same for that 787 from LAX which would be going on to Europe or some other long haul route or carrying high paying pax back to LAX. Pax who would want to use a PL or UC. I would be happy enough with the 62 min connect time.

thursdaysd

This is what the Newark website says about United:

"Terminal C
(United, United Express, Int'l/Dom Arrivals)
Terminal B
(Int'l Arrivals)
Terminal A
(United Express)"

Which implies both of the OP's flights would use Terminal C.

mrwunrfl

oops
>> That map shows both a United Club and Polaris Lounge in terminal A and neither of those in C.
>> I would wager that both flights would use terminal A

should be

That map shows both a United Club and Polaris Lounge in terminal C and neither of those in A.
I would wager that both flights would use terminal C