Flying New Orleans-Burlington Vt, which airline? Where should I connect?
 

We will be flying from New Orleans to Burlington VT on sat 4th October.
There are no direct flights. We are looking at flights with 1 stop.
We can fly Delta for $145, however it goes via NYC (LGA) but just with a 35min layover. I am a little nervous about making the connecting flight.

Another option is United $145 via Washington or Chicago with a 1hr layover.
Then, also United, via Newark with a 1hr 42 min changeover. These seem good prices and are on Priceline. Hopefully we can purchase them through Priceline.

As we are do not have any experience with internal US flights I am not sure whether these are good options.

Any suggestions?

I've never changed planes at LGA, but 35 minutes does seem like you're cutting it close, especially if they have to transfer luggage. (No problem if you're doing carry-on.)

I would probably opt for Washington, unless you're getting a great deal through Newark. Then that route might be worthwhile. I'd avoid Chicago.

I would probably do Washington also. I assume this is Washington Dulles so you won't have a lot of time to idle about, but an hour is more than doable for your baggage.

That United flight via EWR is the fastest of all the flights you have listed.

You can cross-check these itineraries by using www.kayak.com AND you can also price them on several sites simultaneously.

Here's another possibility: look at www.jetblue.com

They have a connection through New York LGA (about 45 minutes) and you can get a decent fare WITHOUT having to go through a discounter like Priceline or Hotwire. The advantage of doing so is that you are dealing directly with the airline and if there is a cancellation or other problem you are much better off having done so.

JetBlue is, for many of us, a far superior offering in terms of comfort (in Economy) than other airlines. If you are checking bags you can also get at least one bag checked for free unless their baggage policy has changed.

If you plan on connecting flights make sure that this is a single ticket so your fare is safe if you miss the ongoing flight. If these are separate tickets and you miss the ongoing flight you will have to buy a new ticket at the walk up price.

Separately 35 minutes is NEVER enough at LGA or any sizable airport. I would never do less than 1.5 hours - and then only if early in the day when fewer flights are late. By afternoon you would have no chance of making this connection at LGA - most likely your incoming flight would land after the connection had already left.

Are the JetBlue gates at LGA NOT on the same concourse???? For that matter are the UNITED gates not all on the same concourse? LGA is the smallest of any of the airports the OP might be flying through, Nytraveler, INCLUDING DCA and especially smaller than Dulles, Chicago, and Newark...do get REAL.

US Air also flies into Burlington. We used it last year to get to BTV although not from New Orleans.

JetBlue, my favorites to airline ever, connects from New Orleans to Burlington through JFK.

76-1734 has a comfortable 3 hour layover

576-234 has an uncomfortable 50 minute layover and gets you into Burlington at midnight.

All per their own site.

Sorry - but the doors for many flights close 25 to 30 minutes in advance. With a 35 minute connection the OP would likely still be either taxiing or waiting to get off her incoming flight (takes at least 10 minutes to empty any plane) so it's very likely the door on her ongoing flight would be closed before she gets into the airport corridor - IF her incoming plane is on time.

She can check the on-time record for her incoming flight - but I believe anything within 15 minutes is counted as on time.

I know LGA is small and flight for the same carrier are often on the same finger - but 35 minutes is only 5 or 10 minutes before the door for the next flight closes. Without a Star Trek transporter don;t see how this is realistic (physically possible yes, but highly improbable).

And while I do not change flights at LGA I have flown into it about a thousand times (since it's only about 20 minutes from our apt) and the on-time rate for flights there is truly dreadful.

Thank you for your suggestions. I was not sure of Jetblue as I had never heard of it before.
I did have a look at their site. The first flight has a layover at JFK of 4hrs which is a bit of a pain but far better than missing a connection. Cost is US$258 p/p, there will be 4 of us. The later flight that arrives at midnight has a 44m stopover, not so good. The United flights are much more expensive on their airline site. We will also have checked bags. I think I am leaning towards the Jetblue. Do they have sales?

Thank you also for the suggestion of booking directly with the airline.

I would avoid LGA like the bloody plague. I'd also avoid Newark too - half a decent wind and the whole place shuts down.

JFK may be better on various levels, especially considering it's JetBlue's hub. And the JetBlue hub at JFK is supposedly a thing of beauty.

No really. At JFK.

Does JetBlue have sales?

Oh, yes. And they have the best seats and the best snacks and the nicest staff.

You are looking way too far out at pricing. Just to clarify, what would the same flights cost you a month from now? Two months from now?

I am flying from Richmond to Boston return in March to see my doctor and dentist for <$100.

Get on their mailing list.

Ok , yes I will join their mailing list.
I thought maybe booking early was best.

The price in 2 days has even gone up.
But JetBlue does look good.