julieann

I am concerned that I booked a flight on Delta from ORD to Cincinnati; 37 minutes layover then Delta to Rome. I was told the terminals, flights etc were close so it would not be a problem. After more thought I am concerned that if I do miss the flight there is not another flight out to Rome. Am I overreacting since it is the same airlines? It will be summer so the weather should not be a factor but .. I am thinking of calling the airline and seeing if I can get another flight to JFK from ORD with a longer layover. Will they do this for a fee? I would appreciate some advice!

ira

Hi J,

I thought that 0:45 hr was the shortest legal connection.

Does the same airline on which you will be going to FCO have a later flight?

Is this all on one ticket?

Is this all on one carrier?

Did you book through the airline or a broker?

Can you change without penalty?

rkkwan

Your concern is very valid. A little thunderstorm over ORD, and your little regional jet will be an hour or more late into CVG.

Call DL. They probably can move you up an earlier flight for free.

Worst case, go to ORD early and try to standby on an earlier flight to CVG. I am not sure, but I think DL has "confirmed standby" for a fee on travel day.

julieann

I actually booked through an agent - she seems to feel it won't be a problem. We have 4 round trip tickets - all flights on Delta and return flight through JFK The best I can tell there is not another flight from Cincinnati, Ohio on Delta to Rome.

Judy

I'd certainly call Delta and try for an earlier flight out of Chicago. If you make this connection, I think it highly unlikely your luggage would do the same.

ira

Hi J,

>I actually booked through an agent - she seems to feel it won't be a problem.<

Not for her.

Check with Delta to see if this is a legal connection.

Will they issue you your boarding pass to FCO at ORD?

I think that Delta wants you to have your boarding pass 0:30 hr before flight time.

Images2

If you're on a Delta flight, you'll most likely arrive in the same terminal that you'll leave of Rome in. If your flight is a Comair flight, which is very well be, you'll be arriving in a different terminal and will have to take a shuttle bus to your terminal. They'll be boarding your Rome flight for sure, if it's on time.

Yes, there is only 1 flight to Rome, no back up flights.

I live in Cincinnati and use our airport often, and I don't think 37 minutes is enough time. Try and change it if possible.

rkkwan

- ORD-CVG is Comair regional jet.

- The OP will get their BPs for the whole trip.

- DL does have a $25 same-day confirmed standby.

I can't find minimum connection time at CVG, but probably 30 minutes, so this connection is "legal". Which means little if they miss their flight. They'll most likely miss a day in Europe.

travelhorizons

Your agent did a crazy thing to you, and, no, you're not over-reacting. Call Delta and ask them if it is a legal connection. If not, ask them to put you on their previous flight to Cincinnati.

Better yet, have your TA make the call. She put you in this situation. And if she says "it's no problem," she doesn't know what she's talking about. You could be delayed 37 minutes on the runway waiting to take off from ORD.

If Delta won't change your outbound flight ... and if your agent tells you there's nothing she can do unless you pay more ... ask to speak to the General Manager of the agency. State that you would consider the agency to be responsible if you miss an entire day of your trip to Italy, if you loose your deposit at the hotel in Rome, if you have to spend the night in the Cincinnati airport, etc.

They have lots of options. They can get you to Cincinnati earlier, to give you perhaps a 2 hour cushion. They can probably get you to Rome through Atlanta on DL, and probably through JFK.

prhirsch

I'm not sure if this applies if the ticket was issued through a travel agent, but I have agents jumping through hoops, apologizing and even offering upgrades when it was noted that they had ticketed an international connection with 40 and 42 minutes between flights. I was so taken by the change in the level of service and willingness to accomodate at all costs. It struck me that it must be illegal to have a connection with less than 45 minutes to spare. Good luck.

julieann

I talked to my agent and she said if we missed the flight it would be Delta's problem, that they know that the flight is going on to Rome and a lot of people will be on to make the connections. They will hold the plane or make other arrangements for us. Still makes me nervous!

rkkwan

First, I would fire this agent after this trip.

DL may hold the FCO flight if your flight coming from ORD isn't too late, and/or there are a lot of people making the connection. But usually that's only for 10-20 minutes. We all know O'Hare is a busy airport and that an afternoon thunderstorm or two can put most flights 1-2 hours late, easy.

And if you miss that connection, yes, DL will get you to Rome. But it mostly have to be next day, as there's no chance you can catch their JFK or ATL flights same day.

Not only that, but if your ORD-CVG flight is late because of weather, air traffic control issue, God's will, etc (i.e. anything except a mechanical problem), you'll need to pay for your hotel at CVG that night. So, not only do you lose a day in Rome, you also lose money.

Then, the next day, hopefully the CVG-FCO flight isn't full, or else you'll go through ATL, JFK, or if flights are all booked, you may not even get on.

Anyways, the fact is that your agent is probably right >95% of the time. And I am only right <5%. But can you take this few percent chance, and have your trip ruined?

travelhorizons

"she said if we missed the flight it would be Delta's problem"

but the point I'm making, and others are making, is: be proactive about this. Eliminate the stress of having to anticipate a potential problem. INSIST that she rebook your ORD-CVG to the previous flight, and insist that her agency pay any additional charges.

Don't let the agent tell you, "Don't worry." Tell her, "You gave me a questionable connection, and I insist that you fix it."

Luhimari

You are not overreacting. I agree with what Travelhorizons says, your agent does not know what he is doing.

dutyfree

You need to get rid of that travel agent ASAP-perhaps she only knows of booking cruises and trips to Disneyworld? You need to change your plans to be on the 155PM Comair flight (Delta connection) out of ORD at the latest-do NOT wait and take the later flights such as the 330PM. You will be coming in at terminal C and leaving out of terminal B around gate 9 for the FCO flight. If everything went perfectly,you still won't make this connection and if you add in traffic and weather out of ORD-forget it. The flights to FCO are packed daily out of CVG and there is no other backup other than trying to go to LGW,FRA,CDG or AMS and connecting there.Its a wonderful and easy way to get to Rome from Chicago with minimum hassle but the way your agent booked it,its not. Good luck and insist on them changing it with their money!
which is a hassle.

StuDudley

>>Then, the next day, hopefully the CVG-FCO flight isn't full, or else you'll go through ATL, JFK, or if flights are all booked, you may not even get on.<<

>> The flights to FCO are packed daily out of CVG and there is no other backup other than trying to go to LGW,FRA,CDG or AMS and connecting there<<

I think these two statments are the most important ones to consider.

If this was my vacation, I would insist either the agent (should be your ex-agent) or Delta re-book you to an earlier flight to Cinci. If they refuse, I would pay for it myself - perhaps even leaving a day earlier if need be.

Stu Dudley

Celiaanne

I wouldn't even think about this connection. I'm so paranoid that I'm staying in PHL the night before our flight to CDG.

My sister missed her Aer Lingus flight out of New York due to thunderstorms here in PIT and had to wait TWO DAYS to get on another one.

yipper

change that flight asap. flights are delayed a lot more in the spring and summer because of rain. every time I travel in the mild seasons, it is raining somewhere and the plane is delayed.

dutyfree

You don't need to leave a day earlier as the CVG airport is not like ATL,JFK or ORD.Just book the Comair flight out of ORD at around 155PM(the flight number changes every month) and you will be fine.This gives you several backup flights if there is weather,traffic or even a mechanical.There are enough places to eat and browse shops to kill time in CVG so that you will be relaxed and not stressed by the time you hit the gate.Boarding usually starts an hour before and most of the agents want everyone on by 10 minutes before so they can do "weight and balance",etc.

What date are you traveling? Is this a paid ticket or using your FF miles?
Just give a call tomorrow to the agent and demand a change and explain to them why. Its still early enough to change to the earlier flight and get a seat. Enjoy Roma!

nytraveler

It's Delta's problem only in a technical sense.

If you miss a day of your vacation it's still gone - no one can give it bacak to you. And I certainly wouldn't change a day in Cincy for one in Rome. I would go back to the travel agent and tell them this simply isn;t acceptable and they MUST find a way to fix it so you're comfortable with the time. I would want at least an hour and a half. (The percentage of flights late out of O'Hare is incredible.)

If the agent won;t fix it at their cost warn them in advance in writing that you wil hold them responsible for compensating you for any vacation time missed as well as any costs incurred.

And next time don;t trust a travel agent. Many of them (esp those in local offices of chain companies) are totally incompetent.

Separately, try to fix this with Delta yourself. If you can get an earlier flight for slightly more I would just stump up the money - to avoid the angst, and possibly missed day. And - charge whatever the extra costs are back to the "travel agent".