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-   -   Is 1 hour enough time for EWR layover going international? (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/is-1-hour-enough-time-for-ewr-layover-going-international-934682/)

Andrew_M May 9th, 2012 08:47 PM

Is 1 hour enough time for EWR layover going international?
 
Hey guys, Im flying from PIT>EWR>BON and only have a 1 hour layover in EWR.

Now, i know this is risky to begin with (risking late departure in PIT, amongst other reasons), but assuming the airline gods are in my favor that day, is one hour enough time in EWR for baggage to transfer, and get to my next gate?

Does anyone know if i have to switch terminals or will i arrive and depart from Terminal C? I believe that my flight from PIT to EWR is on a turboprop and wasn't sure if it would arrive in T-C; but I'm assuming id leave from T-C because its an international flight.

Fri, 20JUL12 UA49291 DEPART PITTSBURGH, PA (PIT) 9:17 PM
ARRIVE NEWARK, NJ (EWR - LIBERTY) 10:59 PM
Fri, 20JUL12 UA14222 DEPART NEWARK, NJ (EWR - LIBERTY) 11:59 PM
ARRIVE BONAIRE, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES (BON) 4:34 AM

Thanks!
-AM

tracys2cents May 9th, 2012 09:37 PM

No way. Late night flights are notoriously late, especially commuters. Some of the prop planes require a bus ride into the terminal. I check on that first plane TONIGHT and it was 37 minutes late. And there definitely is no other flight to Bon after midnight if you miss the connection.

Actually, they are not supposed to put you on that plane in Pittsburgh if it is showing any delay. They are not supposed to strand you at the connecting city if they know you won't make it, they re supposed to make new arrangements for you from Pittsburgh even if it means using another airline. But, that late at night there probably won't even be any other choices. And, you're luggage might leave Pittsburgh even if you refuse to get on the plane due to the delay.

Big mess waiting to happen.

That said, even if you had a 2 hour layover, your first plane could be 90 min late and you miss the connection anyway...you just never know. It's always better to get morning flights if possible because if there are problems, there's a better chance they can put you on the next flight out.

Dukey1 May 9th, 2012 11:01 PM

GO for it. Just because somebody ELSE's flight was late doesn't mean YOURS will be also.

rizzo0904 May 10th, 2012 02:40 AM

17% of the time, that flight is 30 or more minutes late. July is prime thunderstorm season with numerous delays. You are flying a turboprop that is sequenced like and with the jets into EWR. I would get an earlier flight out of PIT. Take the 615pm flight and alleviate some stress.

nytraveler May 10th, 2012 03:36 AM

Is this a legal connection on the same ticket? If so - and you are willing to risk it (including loss of luggage - go ahead). (I think your chances of making it are slim to none.)

If this is two separate tickets, and you are late, then you will be considered a no show and will have to buy a new ticket for the ongoing flight the next day (at the walk-up price) as well as pay for a hotel for the night yourself.

If it were me I would get the first plane out the following AM and leave yourself a reasonable amount of time (for EWR I would want at least 2 hours early in the day - more later in the day).

Andrew_M May 10th, 2012 07:48 AM

Yeah its a legal connection which is very surprising. According to United's website, they wouldn't allow me to book it if it wasn't able to be done. There are still openings on the earlier flight so i can make accommodations, just wasn't really looking forward to a change fee.

If i knew for sure id land in the C terminal flying in from PIT, and that the next flight out was earlier than the midnight flight the following day, Id feel a little more comfortable risking it.

HappyTrvlr May 10th, 2012 08:28 AM

The later in the day, the more delays there are in all of the NY area airports. You can transfer terminals easy by the airport train.

doug_stallings May 10th, 2012 09:07 AM

The only reason this is a legal connection is that it's on a United to United flight. I have to assume you are all in Terminal C, which at least gives you a fighting chance. If you have to change terminals, then there's no way I'd choose this itinerary.

But I still think there's little to no chance you'll make. And we'll leave off the fact that Pittsburgh has some of the worst baggage-handling in the U.S.

joesorce May 10th, 2012 09:09 AM

I'm not crazy about 60 minute connections for regular domestic connections, I prefer 90. For a turboprop connecting to International, that is really really tight and just meets the minimum connection time for Newark if your plane is on time.

SAB May 10th, 2012 12:58 PM

My sister flies in and out of EWR at least 8-9 times a month and her flights are so routinely delayed that it is a major event when a flight is on time. Apparently there are issues with too much traffic and too few air traffic controllers.

panecott May 11th, 2012 03:33 AM

Based on prior bad experience I wouldn't risk a one hour connection on most domestic flights.

Newark is notorious for delays. A one hour connection is a bad idea.

RoamsAround May 11th, 2012 05:14 AM

remember, the outbound flight will begin boarding 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure and the gate agents usual stop the boarding process 5 or 10 minutes before scheduled departure so in effect you have less than 1 hour to make your connection.

Regardless, even if the consensus was in favor of a keeping that short of a connection if you are delayed and miss the connection telling the airline the people on a travel forum told you everything would be OK won't amount to a hill of beans. Save yourself now while you still have the chance - rebook an earlier flight into EWR.

aliced May 13th, 2012 03:43 PM

No way. Terminals and gates are switched routinely and with weather delays at origin/destination, it's simply NOT worth it. We use EWR as our home base for all domestic and intern'l travel for last 40 years.


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