Hello,

I am trying to find the best route to Guatemala from Ireland in one day!

There is an Air Lingus flight arriving into JFK at 13.40 and a connecting flight with Air Mexico at 14.55.

I am wondering is this enough time to connect?

Customs will be cleared in Ireland but bags will have to be collected in JFK and wheeled through to following flight.

Appreciate any help!

Thank You

If you were already checked in for Aero Mexico before you left Ireland and did not have any checked bags, then you MAY be able to make the connection. Maybe, at best.

But since you have bags, there is no way. Not enough time.

Aero Mexico requires you to be at checkin to drop off your bag 90min before departure.

No - for international flight many airlines want you to check in 3 hours in advance. (Do check for the specific flight you are interested in). So you would already be landing with only 1:15 and it can easily take more than 30/40 minutes to even get your luggage.

To be comfortable I would want 4 hours (on paper) to connect, since you face one of more of the following:

Delay of incoming flight
Delay in luggage arriving
Trek to departure area (may be different terminal - you have to check)
Long line to get boarding pass/check luggage
Security lines at JFK can easily be 30 to 40 minutes

But I am risk averse. For many people 3 hours would be enough. There is no way I would even consider less than that.

That might be cutting it close. At JFK, it's not so much the check-in requirement (you can probably check in for your flight online the night before, though I don't know if Aeromexico allows that), but the checked luggage requirement. Most bags at JFK have to be checked in at least 60 to 90 minutes in advance of the flight because of security requirements. Also, JFK is notoriously slow in getting bags out. I often am still waiting for my bags for 15 or 20 minutes even after I clear immigration.

You'll have to change terminals for this connection. Aer Lingus is in the JetBlue terminal, which is a particularly long walk from the Airtrain. Aeromexico is in Terminal 1, which is among the worst terminals for security lines depending on the time of day.

If you were not checking a bag I'd say no problem, but but a checked bag it could be tight. Or not. I'd also normally want 3 hours as well. Also, if you can book this itinerary on a single ticket, I might take the chance. If two different tickets, no way.

>

No, it's not cutting it close, it's a bad choice.

I wouldn't transit JFK without 3 hours in my pocket.

Given the requirements J62 discussed above and the terminal transfer issues Doug mentions, the 85 minute layover is not adequate.

Choose again.

Thank you everyone for the swift replies.

Much appreciated.