Only 1hour between flights at Chicago
 

Just noticed AA changed our flight to LHR via BOS to ORD. We will be arriving at ORD from SAN on AA flight #1438, then switching to AA#66 to LHR. This leaves us only 1 hour to change planes. The AA rep assured me that is plenty of time "it only takes 15 mins to get to new plane" I have looked at the airport map can't tell what terminal the flights are. Anyone out there famillar with ORD, AAFF or Garydo (sp)?? I understand the only other option is to fly into ORD 6 hours earlier - really don't want to do this for we will be flying all the way to NBO. Our ticket is a One World and do not have many other options to change our flights.

Thanks!
SD

I routinely pass through ORD on AA. When weather isn't a problem 1hr is plenty of time - agent is correct it takes very little time to get from one gate to another. The longest walk is to the Am Eagle gates, and you're not using them.

When weather is bad (esp winter), it really doesn't make a difference if 1hr, 2hrs or 3hrs. Either you will make the connection or you won't.

Now, I avoid ORD whenever possible in the winter since snow disruptions are common, but rarely have problems other seasons. ORD also seems to get disrupted when there is weather in the Northeast, and air traffic routes ORD to NYC get clogged. Tan really mess up LGA or EWR to ORD, but would not affect SAN-ORD or ORD-LHR flights.

When connecting dom-int then you only have to get from 1 gate to another. No need to change terminals.

AA uses Councourse H ank K in terminal 3 for mainline service.

Your London flight will probably leave from a high numbered K concourse gate.

At the end of your SAN flight, the FA will announce arrival gate as well as connecting gates. You can look at the back of "American Way" magazine in the seat pocket in front of you, at the ORD map to see what's the best way to get from your gate to the LHR departure gate.

Don't know where your SAN will arrive, but at worst it's 10-15 minutes walk, usually much less.

Nothing to worry about.

btw, if you don't feel comfortable with an hour connection and since it was AA that changed your flight, you can always call and request an earlier SAN-ORD flight, but then expect to sit around ORD for few hours.

I wouldn't do it, but it is an option.

When are you flying?

AA has plenty of ORD-LHR non-stops. They can put you on other flights with better connection than AA66.

Similarly, they also have lots of SAN-DFW, so you can also fly SAN-DFW-LHR with a better connection.

Since they changed your itinerary, you can basically pick whatever connection you want, as long as there's last-seat availability.

I certainly would not sweat a one hour connection.

I traveled PHL-ORD-SEA yesterday and when I booked the ticket there wasn't space on an ORD-SEA flight that left 30 min. after my PHL-ORD flight was due to arrive, so I had to wait 3 hours for the next one. As it happened, I could have strolled to the earlier flight via Starbucks and still had 5 minutes before boarding, and that was from L2B (one of AA's more distant gates) to H13.

However as there still wasn't space, I had to wait the 3 hours. My bags, however, didn't have to wait and were at the SEA baggage office waiting for me when I arrived on the later plane. Absent poopy weather (and yesterday was pretty poopish) AA at ORD runs extremely well, better by far than at BOS.

Thanks everyone for your input, I now feel much better!

Yes AA has more flights to choose from prefer DFW - but the timing of our connecting flight LHR-NBO doesn't work out.

Flying 1st week of Sept. so not worried about the weather. We are beach lovers and fair weather flyers. Moved out to So Cal 20 years ago from Mich & Indiana and never looked or went back :))

SD

You should make it as long as there are no delays. Personally, I would prefer a longer layover just because I wouldn't want to have my vacation screwed up by a missed flight.

But as the reservation is on the same ticket and AA has ticketed it, a misconnect would simply mean the OP is protected and would be put on the next available AA flight. There are 2 later AA flights (after AA 66) from ORD to LHR most days.

While the OP would be put on the next AA flight to LHR, wouldn't it result in a 24 hour arrival delay at NBO?

What if there are no seats on the next few flights? Plus, there's another connection in London.

"But as the reservation is on the same ticket and AA has ticketed it, a misconnect would simply mean the OP is protected and would be put on the next available AA flight. There are 2 later AA flights (after AA 66) from ORD to LHR most days."

Patty is correct; if they get to LHR late they could miss the NBO flight. BA is the only AA partner that flies to Nairobi, so it probably would result in the loss of a day. However I still think one hour at ORD is sufficient.

When is this, by the way? If it's during T-storm season at ORD or DFW I'd be more concerned than if it's at a quieter time of year.

It also depends on when you go through O'Hare. Delays are common going in the late afternoon/early evening even in good weather. It seems that if I leave from there early in the morning, my flight is on time, but when I arrive in the late afternoon or early evening, it is almost always late. If the arriving flights are late, then chances are your next departing one will be too.

I'd be more worried about whether my checked luggage would make the next flight with only an hour to spare. If you're flying with only on-board bags, of course, that's not an issue.

I gave in to the fear and booked the earlier flight to ORD from SAN - will have a 5+ hr layover. Will spend most of the time in the Admirals Club.

Now we are working out our May 2009 flight SAN/SJU/STT bummer! No 1st class seats avail. I see there are some avail the end of April but not for our date 5/1.

Thanks again all,
SD