NeoPatrick

Sure there's no problem at all if you don't mind a possibility of getting to Rome a day later. They'll get you there sooner or later. But I wouldn't book this regardless. Let your agent put it in writing that she will pay you the cost of the trip IF there is a problem; that might change her tune.

rkkwan

Let's see the alternative if they miss the FCO flight, which departs 7:30p.

CDG is also 7:30p, so no chance getting on that one. That would have been the best as DL, AF and AZ are pretty close partners, and lots of CDG-FCO flight on both AF and AZ.

FRA amd AMS are 7:40p. Again, no chance to have that rebooked.

LGW is 8:00p, but I doubt they can rebook them so quickly as well as an AZ connection to FCO. May tell them you'll get on regardless and deal with them after getting to London. Worse case, you buy your own ticket to Rome.

Where else in Europe does DL fly to from CVG?

ira

Hi J,

>talked to my agent and she said if we missed the flight it would be Delta's problem, ....<

NO, IT'S NOT. Is YOUR problem.

Have you called Delta yet?

Have they accepted responsibility if you miss your flight?

dfr4848

I agree with other posters' comments/observations and won't repeat. To the extent this helps you, we've connected through CVG twice going to Europe. Layovers were just over an hour - 75 min. Flights were on time, customs/security lines were not particularly long, baggage pickup and rechecking were very efficient - ie, everything went as smoothly as it possibly could. And we had VERY little time to spare to catch the next flight. Don't think 37 min will cut it even under the best of circumstances.

Dukey

Gee, you've gotten all kinds of "advice" from the people who already know this isn't going to work.

What will you do if it does?

Patty

rkkwan,
Just FYI, technically DL doesn't allow SDC on domestic segments which are part of an international itinerary. That's not to say you can't get away with it occasionally, but it's not something I'd rely on in this situation.

ira

Hi Dukey,

Why hope for a 10% possibility, when the consequences of missing the flight are so bad?

Why is "advice" in quotes? Was it not really advice?

rkkwan

Exactly. It's about risk and consequences. Everyday, lots of people make 37min connection at CVG, and most of them make it. But most also aren't starting a vacation in Europe on a once-a-day flight. Those people can afford the risk, while the OP may or may not.

And let's look at the record of DL5473, operated by Comair ORD-CVG. It's I believe a daily flight on a CRJ-700, and started on 9/6/06.

In Sept, these arrive later than 7:30p:
9/10 7:41p
9/12 7:32p
9/17 8:10p
9/22 9:08p
9/24 8:13p, after diverted to IND
9/27 8:22p
9/30 7:52p

Then, it made it every day until:
11/28 7:51p
11/29 2:13a (+1)
12/12 8:06p
12/14 7:50p
12/21 7:43p
1/4 7:48p

So, it had horrible on-time performance in Sept, then improved throughout the fall till Winter. But let's take the average, and say DL held the FCO flight for three other times, your average is around 10 misconnects in about 150 days.

6%. Higher in summer. Lower in the fall.

cupid1

Dukey's stats or no...37 minutes is not enough time to allow for any of the dozens and dozens of things that go wrong, especially at ORD. Take it from someone who lost an antire day in Rome because of one mechanical delay after another and the subsequent chain of missed connections and then missed connections from the re-routings due to weather! And yes, I was billed for the hotel and tour I could not use!

I'm with the others...FIRE YOUR AGENT and CALL DELTA NOW. You didn't hire a TA to enjoy starting your vacation with the high probability of missing a connection or missing your luggage or both.

AA agents won't book flights with that little connection time; they know it's not enough. Hopefully Delta's agents will feel the same way. And talk to your TA's boss if there's a fee. No way you should pay for her optimistic stupidity.

NeoPatrick

I'm no expert, but aren't those arrival times shown (including the late ones) actually the time the plane lands -- not the time the passengers get off? I can't tell you how many times I've been on planes that landed right on time, but we sat for up to half an hour waiting for our gate to clear, crew to pull the plane into the gate, or a dozen other issues once we were on the ground.

rkkwan

Yes, Neo - Those are time of touchdowns I got from flightaware.com.

I'm giving DL benefit of the doubt and assume that they'll hold the FCO plane if they know a flight with several passengers coming in from ORD has landed.

julieann

Thanks so much your help. I am calling Delta today myself and now I have specific info. (other flights etc. to ask about). I feel better already!

caroline_edinburgh

I'm just curious about where ORD is.

Margo_Chester

Good for you Juiliann, take this matter in to your own hands and don't risk missing a day in Italy. After you are re-booked with a reasonable itinerary, call the agent and tell her you no longer need her, she did you a terrible disservice.

tudorprincess

ORD is Chicago

caroline_edinburgh

Thanks tudorpriness ! Er - why ?

rkkwan

Found this on another website. I believe it's correct:

<i>Before becoming one of the world’s busiest airports, O’Hare International Airport was the site of an aircraft factory known as Orchard Place; and thus, the “ORD” designation for Orchard. Later, it became a commercial airfield, known as Orchard Field. In 1949, the name of the airport was changed to O’Hare Field, to honor local war hero Edward “Butch” O’Hare. The O’Hare legacy continues on to this day.</i>

caroline_edinburgh

Thanks rkkwan ! I learned something today

dutyfree

I would like &quot;Airports&quot; for $500, Alex er Rkkwan! Have a great weekend everyone-hope that Julieann got this straightened out? So what day are you going?

julieann

I called Delta myself and was told that since it is a nonrefundable ticket and it is within the legal number of minutes for connecting flights there is nothing they can do except change it for $200 fee plus difference in price (I do not have a problem with difference in price). So today I am going to call the travel agent again.