Barcelona-JFK then EWR-DFW / 4 hours layover is too risky?
 

My boyfriend is coming over to Dallas from Barcelona, Spain in a few weeks. He will arrive at JFK at 12.50 pm on Sunday then catch another flight at 4.55 pm in EWR to Dallas. With all the immigration, luggage collection, airport transfer, and another check-in process, I'm wondering if he can make it within 4 hours.

I made some phone calls to the airline, AA , asking for changing his flight to be JFK-DFW instead of the original and that would be $300 penalty fee. Should he go ahead and pay for that or take a risk to do all those crazy transfer things?

Thank you.

Another poster just had a similar question - and ended up changing flights to have a 5 hour window - and a better chance to make the ongoing flight.

This situation is worse since the flier has to go through Immigration at JFK - which usually is;t too bad for americans but can take forever for foreign citizens.

Under thee conditions I would want a 6 hour window to be safe.

And the cost of changing really isn;t $300 - since getting a car service from JFK to EWR - the only way to do this in time - wold cost more than $100. I would just reticket now to avoid a lot of angst (and a potentially much more expensive new ticket if he misses his flight out of EWR - later on).

Is his ticket on one airline only?

If it is then there is a recourse I believe.

Yes. His ticket is on AA only. When I spoke with AA agent, she said that he didn't directly book the ticket with AA so that's why it would cost him $300 to make a change.

Even if his traveling on one ticket on the same airline missing the connecting flight is still a big possibility. Sure the airline s obligated to get him to his final destination BUT HE WILL STILL HAVE MISSED HIS FLIGHT and there's no guarantee when he'll get to his final destination. He might get the "next flight" or it could be much later or maybe even the next day.

Now, getting from JFK to EWR is going to be you friend's major challenge. He won't have enough time to use public transportation so a taxi or private car service are his only viable options. Taxis MAY be problematic since he'd have to find one willing to make the trip (most NYC based taxis won't do it since they can't get a paying return fare). Private car services will cost at least $300.

Realistically, your friend will need at lease 1 to 1.5 hours to clear immigration and customs, he'll need at least another hour to get from JFK and EWR. That leaves him with about 1.5 hours to check in for his connecting flight, clear the TSA check point and get to his gate. Remember, his connecting flight to Dallas will begin boarding 30 minutes prior to departure so effectively he has only one hour of wiggle room.

Considering he will be spending about the same for transportation between JFK and EWR as he would to change his connecting flight to one that leaves from JFK the answer is OBVIOUS. Bite the bullet and pay the change fee. He'll have a much easier connection and he'll eliminate any stress about missing his flight to Dallas.

RoamsAround is giving you somewhat misguided advice.

To put things in perspective, the transfer itself will cost about $120 (not $300 by any stretch of the imagination). Reserve a car service like Dial 7 and you'll get a firm price quote, but expect to pay about $20 extra in tolls beyond the tip. You call the car service when luggage arrives on the carousel and are met about 10 minutes later. With luck, this whole process takes less than 90 minutes if your BF is an American citizen If he's not, then it can easily take more time. This leaves either 2 or 2-1/2 hours for the connection.

But I do agree that this is a risky transfer. At the worst times, immigration and customs at JFK can take well over 90 minutes when things get backed up; I've been in immigration lines alone for over an hour. AA has a relatively good terminal with decent service, but staffing is periodically a problem.

You can make the trip from JFK to EWR in an hour if the traffic gods are with you. On a single ticket, he will not have to check in for flight, but if he has to check luggage, the luggage might very well not make the flight, or he could get caught in security lines that can be monstrously long. EWR has a rather long lead time for luggage check in (AA posts such information on its web site) and pretty bad security lines depending on the day.

With all of this, I'd also pay the change fee. He really should never have booked this schedule. While technically ok, it's not realistic.

Sorry Doug but I paid a car service (Carey) $300 (plus tolls, tax and tip) to go from JFK to EWR as recently as July (on a Friday evening). Now, other car services might be less expensive but that's what I paid.

Regardless of cost, it's a big hassle to get between JFK and EWR so, if it were me, I'd pay the change fee and fly to Dallas from JFK.

Why people inconvenience themselves while traveling to save a few dollars (or even a few hundred dollars) is something I will never understand.

IMHO AA security lines are always a mess. I have bought upgrades to avoid standing in line for an hour just to get through security.

And while they will sometimes hustle people in danger of missing a flight to the front of the line - I have also seen them chastise people for timing their arrival at the airport too late - and not move them to the front of the line. (And really, why should those who turned up as instructed have to wait even longer to let those who chose not to follow the rules cut the line?)

Thanks y'all.

Carey is a limousine service - not a regular car service - which will definitely charge less. But certainly at least $100 - which with tolls and tip will be about $140. And it might be higher. I would check now with Carmel or Dial 7 to get a bid.

But -IMHO just changing the flights makes much more sense.

$300 from JFk to Newark Airport? That sounds like an insane price; but here are quotes from the Carey site:



Country: United States Nearest City: New York
Pick Up: Kennedy Intl Airport FBO Drop Off: Newark Liberty Intl FBO
Click on any vehicle name to learn more about it.
Best Value

Executive Sedan
USD 224.22 + Incidentals + Taxes and Government Fees USD 4.48 Details

Luxury Sedan
USD 251.62 + Incidentals + Taxes and Government Fees USD 5.03 Details

Stretch Limousine 8
USD 251.62 + Incidentals + Taxes and Government Fees USD 5.03 Details

Executive Van
USD 281.30 + Incidentals + Taxes and Government Fees USD 5.63 Details

Sport Utility Vehicle
USD 251.62 + Incidentals + Taxes and Government Fees USD 5.03 Details
We may have additional types of vehicles available for this reservation.
To learn more please call 1-800-336-4646.
*All quotes shown here are estimates only.





Agree that there is too much anxiety potential in the currently booked schedule.

OK, BOTTOM LINE: is all that "anxiety" everybody is talking about worth $300 to possibly eliminate? That is really the ONLY question you have to answer.

AND, given the cost of the transfer how much are you actually paying?

Carey is clearly a more expensive company with fancier vehicles. Here are quotes from Carmel for a random date & flight. Dial7 is usually comparable

From: JFK:AA 003 dfw (OUT)
To: EWR
Date: 9/19/2012 (Wed)
Time: 2:00 PM
Passenger: 1
Luggage: 1
Full Size Sedan 1-4 $74.00
Luxury Sedan 1-4 $81.00
Deluxe Sedan 1-4 $81.00
Mini Van 6 $89.00

Actually they are lower than I expected. Adding tolls and tip and we're back to the $100-$120 estimates other posters gave here

In my bf's case, AA will charge him $300 for the reticketing.

My question was whether its worth to pay $300 to reticket or take a risk of the very possibility to miss his flight and all the hassle process.

No the reticket is only about $150 - since the only possible way to make it from one to another in time is a car service at about $150.

And Carey is an upscale limo service with uniformed drivers, free beverages, TV screens for passengers, etc. Not just a regular Lincoln Towncar from a car service.

Well, that is a question only you (or your BF) can answer. You have to weigh the cost vs. risk and choose what's best in your BF's situation.

As you can see, the majority of the responders would pay the change fee, regardless of whether or not it is "worth it" but it's your money, so your decision.

Unfortunately,the reticketing is really $300. I made 2 phone calls to American Airlines and the AA agents told me the price.

I've experienced traffic there and been to those aiports before so I kinda knew that he'd not make it with 4 hours. But I wanted to hear out other opinions and experiences.

By the way, thanks everybody for being so helpful.