Thank you again. I will make a note of the restaurants and clip it to a print out of my itinerary.

I disagree that carrying on your luggage or checking it won't effect your connections. My friend and I flew from Guatemala through Houston to Portland, Oregon in August with an hour and a half layover and only carry-ons. The lines weren't too bad for immigration and non existent for customs since most folks were waiting for luggage. We found out our gate number, caught the shuttle (or whatever it's called), and made it to our new gate about 20 minutes after we got off the plane.

Also, the airlines won't lose your bag and it's rather unlikely to be stolen when it never leaves your hands. There are many reasons to travel really light but quicker international connections and no lost luggage are 2 of the best.

Sher - have a great trip and be sure to tell us all about it. Happy trails!

hopefulist. I have just about decided to carry on my bag going.
I have knee and hip implants and I always get stopped for extra screening. I am not a particularly nervous flyer, but I don't like tight connections. I don't know if I have to go through security in Houston again because it is a domestic/international connection. But I will be prepared.

I will post when I return but by then this is going to be a very old post.

Thanks for the kind words.

What about places to stay??? I can't find availability for ANYTHING!? The best place I found prices for flights is hotwire.com

Sher wrote <b>&quot;I don't know if I have to go through security in Houston again because it is a domestic/international connection.&quot;</b>

On the flight to Mexico you don't go thru security again in Houston, but on the return flight from Mexico you will have to go thru customs, re-check your bags if you have checked luggage, then go thru security again. This is usually a very crowded checkpoint.

Hi Bill. I asked this also because recently I had to go through securtiy in Philadelphia because my Southwest flight arrived at one terminal and departed from another.

And thank you for the information.

Suze,
I just bought 2 RT tixs SEA-PVR for $618 (TOTAL!) on Obitz--signed up for TLC for fares under 325 and they e-mailed me this just now! Thought you might be interested.

Artlover. I couldn't resist checking my price after I saw your post.

Orbitz lists my flights for $499, so I guess I still got a decent deal.

I hope Suze can take advantage of the great price you found as she listed prices much higher.

<b>Hi Bill. I asked this also because recently I had to go through securtiy in Philadelphia because my Southwest flight arrived at one terminal and departed from another.</b>

Ah, OK ... good question, we've faced the same thing at the Los Angeles airport.

In Houston we've always flown the same airline on the connection to Houston and then to Mexico or South or Cental America (Continental) so we didn't have to go thru a 2nd security check, though a few times we've had to walk quite a ways.

I *think* all the terminals in Houston are inter-connected so you don't have to go outside and change buildings (unlike say LAX) ... do you know what airline(s) you are flying? If the same carrier both flights you should be OK.

Bill

Hi Bill

I am flying Continental from Pittsburgh through Houston to Mexico.

Even though I was flying on Southwest into Philadelphia and also out of Philadelphia, we had to change terminals.

It was explained to me that there is a problem with 1. Philadelphia and 2. that Southwest was given gates in various terminals. Maybe there wasn't room for them in one terminal.

This isn't always the case. We could have lucked out and been given arrival gates and departure gates in the same terminal, but we weren't.

Thanks for the info.

Sher,
I hope so too, which is why I posted. Took some time and patience (which I'm not good at) to get that price, but feel good about it.