Hi, I'm a first time poster and hope someone can help with my questions. My husband and I are flying to London from Albuquerque in October and then flying out from Edinburgh to Albuquerque. The flight I'm looking at has a layover time in Philadelphia (return flight) of 1 hour and 50 minutes. Will this be enough time to go through customs and make our flight? I've never flown into or out of Philadelphia and have no idea what to expect. This is a really cheap flight on US Airways and I want to nail it down asap. Thanks for any info you can give me.

I've never had a connecting flight in PHL because we live here, but I just returned from Paris on Air France last week (Thursday around 5pm). We went through passport control, had our luggage, and were out within half an hour. For connecting flights, you just bear right instead of left and go directly through another security check. I guess one would recheck luggage after that if necessary.

Other people will tell you horror stories about connecting at PHL, but on this particular day you would have been fine. Of course, it also depends if your original flight gets in on time, etc.

It should technically be long enough, or they wouldn't sell the connection, but the closest I've ever come to missing a flight because of delays at Customs was at Philly -- the line to reclear security to get to connecting flights was insane. Managed to make it by RUNNING to the gate. I don't fly into Philly often enough to know if that is normal, though.

Oh, just realized you may also have to change terminals if your second flight is domestic. International flights arrive at terminal A while USAir domestic usually flies out of terminal C. The transport between terminals would probably be your feet, so you might have to hoof it. Could be tight...

Sorry, I forgot to say that we are only taking carryon luggage (at least we're going to try to get away with it). Will this make a big difference in the time it will take to get through customs?

It will certainly help, as you won't have to wait for luggage. The day we were there, the line to reclear security looked very small, but there's really no way to predict it.

If it were me, I would book the flight. Melissa is right in that you'll probably have to switch terminals, but with carry-on bags you should be okay. I often fly in/out of PHL, but haven't had to make a connection. I've always managed to get thru customs within 30 minutes or so and most of that time was waiting for my luggage.

The problem at PHL, in my experience, was not with immigration or customs but with the throng of passengers at security screening between the international arrivals wing and the rest of the airport. I seem to recall that it is possible to exit the building and enter the main terminal from outside, thus getting security screening at another point, but that could be a roll of the dice too. I didn't bother to try that on my recent trip because I had plenty of time to waste.

As for your 1:50 connection time, my guess is you'll probably make it but it will take some hustle over considerable distance. The Europe flights seem to me to be better able to keep on schedule than intra-US flights. And having only carry-on bags will get you to the security screening before most of your fellow passengers.

If the price is right, I'd take the chance with the less than ideal connection time. (And put aside the savings in case the tight schedule results in an unplanned overnight at PHL.)

Just a general comment (not relating to PHL) - if you have carryon only and have a connecting flight; make sure you don't buy any liquids from Duty Free shops at the Edinburgh airport that are larger than 3oz. If you buy stuff like perfume or creams or liquor that are bigger than 3oz, while you can bring them onboard your EDI-PHL flight, you would need to check those in for your flight to Albuquerque.

I would not pass a great price up having such a time frame.
If the line is bad at that one security you CAN go out and doww to another one that is usually much less crowded.

And not having to wait for luggage certainly would help.But even with luggage I would do it.

Thanks for all the helpful advice. Sadly I waited a day too long and the fare (US Airways) almost doubled overnight. I'll have to keep an eye out for another sale. I was a little nervous about booking six months in advance. I've never flown US Airways, does anyone have any opinion on them? This will be the first time my husband and I have gone on a big trip like this together (I've been to Britain once and Ireland 4 times and it will be for our 20th wedding anniversay and also my husband will turn 50 during the trip so I want it to be really special. We have friends picking us up at Heathrow but later in the week we want to take the train to Edinburgh. Any info on how long it will take to get there from the Pulloxhill area? Thanks so much for your help.

I've made the PHL connection for USAirways to Europe several times (London,Amsterdam, Rome, Paris). The filghts are no better or worse than any other in coach (well, a lot better than an old United 747 cattle car packed to to rafters). All transatlantic flights but one have been pretty much on time; the one time it was really late leaving Rome they gave us vouchers for food in the Rome airport and a boarding pass for a later PHL-DCA flight since it was clear we'd miss the one we were booked on.

Their Airbus flights have good in-seat entertainment, but the Boeing they used on my recent London (LHR) trip had only drop-down screens for the movies. At first I was disappointed because the inseat stuff was fun, but I don't need it and I really didn't miss it.

Starla,

USAir doesn't get great reviews, I usually try to avoid them, though it's tricky out of their hub PHL. Taking only carry-on is a good idea. We always fly AF to Paris and it's just lovely compared to most US carriers. Maybe BA will come up with a decent fare to London. You have some time, so just keep watching the fares.

The amount of luggage doesn't make ANY difference in terms of the time it takes to get through Customs UNLESS they decide to INSPECT yours.

A great deal is going to depend on how many OTHER flights arrive around the same time yours does and the number of people who are trying to get through Customs at the same time you are.

I am sure if the line is long and you tell the agent that you have a tight connection they will accomodate you. After all your taxes pay their salary.

hey, I have a similar problem:
we are going from chicago to Nassau and have a 46mins stay at PHL

now by reading all these posts I dont think I've enough time to change terminals & get through security checks. we are carrying our luggage so it would help a bit.

can anyone tell me how far is the international terminal and would i be able to make it through?

I book my tickets through expedia and they have this whole trip pre-planned, and whats why i thought it shouldnt be a problem. and now that i've been calling them they are refusing to change my flight cuz it was a last minute reservation.

PLEASE HELP ASAP
thxx

tanyaa: OK -- you have a flight from the States to the Bahamas and you tacked on to a two+ year old thread on the Europe board about flights to the UK. PHL is the ONLY common issue.

You should re-post on the Air Travel forum and/or the USA forum. Lots of pros post on the Air Travel board . . .