Hi,

I am in the process of booking a trip to Europe and will be transferring from a domestic flight to an international flight in Philadelphia. I will be most likely be arriving from Boston on US Air and leaving from Philly also on US Air. Most of the connections we have found only allow 1 .25 hours for the transfer. Is this sufficient?????

Thank you.

Jeff

Some days yes, some days no.

I've flown from DTW to transfer onto flights to Rome a few times, and once to Montreal. On one occasion, bad weather in PHL forced the DTW flight to take off late, and I missed the flight to FCO. I was re-routed by the airline to Munich, where I caught a flight to FCO. I was unhappy about losing a day of vacation, as my lay-over in Munich was 8 hours long. But on the "up" side of things, I had trip insurance, and through some miracle my luggage did not get lost. All other times, I've had no problems making the connection. So unless you can definitely predict the weather in both BOS and PHL on the day of your departure, I'm afraid there's no answer.

BC

The outbound flight should be fine, the inbound connection is what you have to worry about in Philly.

I second bookchick's post as to connections at PHL. I use US AIR at times to travel between PVD & FRA. On the return flight I use CLT as my connecting airport despite a 4 hr layover. I usually relax,have something to eat and walk around. I prefer this rather than the anxiety of a tight PHL connection. Besides, the atmosphere at CLT is much nicer than that at PHL.

We have been booking later flights out of PHL to home, unless we can get CLT for our last leg. As we book with FF points, our choices aren't always great.

Here is the problem we encounter: after leaving immigration (where the lines are sometimes long) and baggage retrieval and/or customs, one is led into the pits of security hell. The lines snake through a hot and crowded structure and if it is afternoon, the sun beats through large plate glass windows, trapping the heat in with the crammed humans.

Quite often, when this security ordeal is over, you must find a bus to take you across the airfield to your departing gates. I realize this isn't the worst thing that can happen to you, but if you are in a hurry, it can feel like it.

Sometimes these busses stop for airfield bus or cart traffic. At about this time, I usually want to throw up.

In May, we will drive to PHL and get in our car and go home after customs. I would rather drive than endure that hell. Or book a really late flight and buy a Club pass. Or stay overnight. Or walk home.

Please allow more than 1.25 hours for your connection on the way home.

It really isn't enough time. Done that transfer before. Check the airport map (http://www.phl.org/flashterminalmap.html) and see how far apart your terminals are. We've had to run to our connecting gate.

I've done short transfer times in PHL en route from PIT to CDG, and it's always worked out ok, knock on wood,but not a minute to spare. Also, it's a long walk from where domestic flights land to international gates.

IMO and IM EXPERIENCE, the big thing you might have to worry about at ANY connecting airport is that your onward flight has been CANCELLED.

This recently happened to us in PHL (USAirways) as well as at JFK (Delta)

I am sure everyone now knows you will not get any sort of an explanation which you can put your arms around as to WHY these things occur. And, naturally, when the airlines do this they make sure to accompany it with a less-than-optimal number of people working one of those "customer service desks" to help get you on your way. In PHL, this was compaounded by the "attitude" of those who WERE working the desk.

THE answer: no connections whenever possible

To answer the OP's question: NOBODY knows what is going to happen because there are just too many variables, INCLUDING some passengers who just never get their own act together, sorry.

It's iffy, for some of the reasons already noted.

One is that PHL is notorious for delayed landings. So your flight out of Boston could be fine, but you also could end up circling PHL for awhile. Some days are better, or worse, than others.

You will have to make your way from domestic to international. I think US Air domestic is at terminals B & C, and international is at A, so it's not a ridiculously long hike, but you do have to build in some time. I've flown from terminal A several times, and the lines seem to move along pretty quickly.

BTW: I didn't quite understand tuscan's post. I guess he/she was talking about the return trip. I've found PHL's immigration/security to be about average -- just make sure you get in the correct line for returning US citizens. And I didn't get the part about the buses. After you go through immigration and then connect to a domestic flight in PHL, it seems to me to be a simple matter of walking out of immigration and then to your terminal. But maybe I'm missing something.

PHL, always one of the joys of flying, is a busy airport, but if you're booking your flights on one ticket, there shouldn't be a problem with your connection on the outbound international flight, as you will already have your boarding pass in hand. If you are booking two separate tickets, one domestic and one international, then, if there is any delay and you miss your international flight, you're own your own.

The return flight is the one you need to be concerned about because you will have to clear passport control and customs and then have to pass back through security to make your connecting flight. I would make sure to have at least two hours, if not three to make any connection regardless of the ticket.

I was a bit panicked when I did a transfer to my Europe flight at PHI. The longest delay was the shuttle bus from one gate to another. It seemed like we sat on the tarmac forever. About 15 mins to trasnfer gates

Michel: Am I understanding you correctly that you got off a domestic flight at PHL, got off the plane and onto a shuttle bus, and that took you to your gate at the international terminal?

The reason I ask is because I don't understand why someone wouldn't just get off the domestic flight and walk to the international terminal and check in.

They landed at the 'F' Terminal and had to take the shuttle to the main terminal, then walk to 'A' Terminal. It can take a while if the shuttles are busy.

k9korps, the last time I flew into PHL, not all terminals connected. There was a shuttle bus (which you had to catch outside) to take passengers from domestic terminals to the international terminal.

BC

Jeff - Just did it - 1 hour connection on the outbound an d2 hours on the return. We almost did not make the return connection. The fools in baggage claim posted our luggage for #3 but put it on #7... we lost 20 minutes wating for bags that were already waiting. Moral of the story is that on the return a lot can go wrong. Allow time. Sounds lke you are traveling US Air.... perhaps look at a partner carrier direct out of Boston. Where are you landing in Europe?

Hi All,

Thanks for the guidance. We prefer a flight out of Boston to Europe, but they are 50% more expensive. We will keep looking and hopefully find flights with longer layovers.

Thanks for all the help.

Jeff