NYC to Chicago connection
Mar 28th, 2009, 09:35 AM
#21
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Yes, I will seriously consider getting on the 1:42p flight. As mentioned a few times already, the main reasons are:
1. You are on 2 separate tickets. The consequence of not making your connection may be very serious.
2. Late afternoon delays from all NYC-area airports are legendary in the summer.
1. You are on 2 separate tickets. The consequence of not making your connection may be very serious.
2. Late afternoon delays from all NYC-area airports are legendary in the summer.
Mar 28th, 2009, 10:30 AM
#22
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AA Frequent Flyer -
That is NOT an urban legend. I have not heard about this from anyone. I have experienced it myself at least half a dozen times - and because I'm such a frequent flyer I was in the FF club and heard about the cancellations long before the public announcements were made - and could switch to another flight.
As for the absolute final check in time you're correct. But, the airlines SUGGEST that you arrive earlier since the lines for checking in and for security can be (esp if there are any weather problems and esp at O'Hare - horrendous). I'm been on lines at O'Hare to check in when there were more than 100 people in front of me. If you arrive 1:30 in advance of the flight there's no way you'll check in on time. And I've been on security lines that have take 10 minutes - or almost an hour. It's partially the luck of the draw - but can be hugely affected by weather - not just in Chicago, but around the country - since flights coming in late from other places make a mess of the entire process - mobs of people arriving at once so luggage is even later, lots of people on line trying to change tickets etc.
Will any of this happen - who knows?
The issue is that the OP has cut this very close - and has the option of building a much bigger safety window for only a few dollars more. Isn't it worth spending $100 to avoid the risk of having to buy walk-up price transatlantic tickets at thousands of dollars each?
That is NOT an urban legend. I have not heard about this from anyone. I have experienced it myself at least half a dozen times - and because I'm such a frequent flyer I was in the FF club and heard about the cancellations long before the public announcements were made - and could switch to another flight.
As for the absolute final check in time you're correct. But, the airlines SUGGEST that you arrive earlier since the lines for checking in and for security can be (esp if there are any weather problems and esp at O'Hare - horrendous). I'm been on lines at O'Hare to check in when there were more than 100 people in front of me. If you arrive 1:30 in advance of the flight there's no way you'll check in on time. And I've been on security lines that have take 10 minutes - or almost an hour. It's partially the luck of the draw - but can be hugely affected by weather - not just in Chicago, but around the country - since flights coming in late from other places make a mess of the entire process - mobs of people arriving at once so luggage is even later, lots of people on line trying to change tickets etc.
Will any of this happen - who knows?
The issue is that the OP has cut this very close - and has the option of building a much bigger safety window for only a few dollars more. Isn't it worth spending $100 to avoid the risk of having to buy walk-up price transatlantic tickets at thousands of dollars each?
Mar 28th, 2009, 10:40 AM
#23
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Major US airlines do not cancel flights last minute just because load is low.
What happens is that airlines are often forced to cancel flight(s) - a plane has mechanical problems, weather delays in some parts of the system, air traffic control restriction at a hub airport, etc.
When that happens, the airlines often will get to choose which flights to cancel. And of course, load can play a major part of it.
What happens is that airlines are often forced to cancel flight(s) - a plane has mechanical problems, weather delays in some parts of the system, air traffic control restriction at a hub airport, etc.
When that happens, the airlines often will get to choose which flights to cancel. And of course, load can play a major part of it.
Mar 28th, 2009, 11:01 AM
#24
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nytraveler,
The airplane is not dedicated to run just that one flight. It runs pretty much 24/7. Just because the JFK-ORD flight is light does not mean that the same plane is not needed for ORD-MIA flight about an hour after it arrives in ORD and that flight is booked solid. What do you think the airline will do with the passengers? Tell them "sorry about your luck?"
and I agree with rkkwan's reply. When and if the airline has to cancel flights it's because of other circumstances, not because of light loads, although that may come into play when considering which flights the airline decides to cancel.
btw, I clocked ~125K miles per year for the last 8 years or so.
The airplane is not dedicated to run just that one flight. It runs pretty much 24/7. Just because the JFK-ORD flight is light does not mean that the same plane is not needed for ORD-MIA flight about an hour after it arrives in ORD and that flight is booked solid. What do you think the airline will do with the passengers? Tell them "sorry about your luck?"
and I agree with rkkwan's reply. When and if the airline has to cancel flights it's because of other circumstances, not because of light loads, although that may come into play when considering which flights the airline decides to cancel.
btw, I clocked ~125K miles per year for the last 8 years or so.
Mar 28th, 2009, 04:44 PM
#25
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AAFrequentFlyer -
Well, my current job doesn;t involve that much travel - and most of it is to europe. For for 15 years I had clients in Chicago and Cincinnati - and was in each at least once a week, plus traveling for market research and congresses - so distinctly more mileage than you put in.
And you're perfectly correct - the plane is supposed to be going on somewhere else. But that doesn;t mean that it won;t be cancelled. The 6 or so times it happened to me is out of hundreds of flights - but it does happen at times - and they do change the ongoing flights. I've had that happen to me too - waiting at an airport for a flight that was cancelled and we all had to (try) to reschedule.
But - none of this changes the problems of the OP. Who is cutting it very close and has the option of earlier flights for a minimal fee - but seems to prefer to risk a huge amount to save a few dollars.
Well, my current job doesn;t involve that much travel - and most of it is to europe. For for 15 years I had clients in Chicago and Cincinnati - and was in each at least once a week, plus traveling for market research and congresses - so distinctly more mileage than you put in.
And you're perfectly correct - the plane is supposed to be going on somewhere else. But that doesn;t mean that it won;t be cancelled. The 6 or so times it happened to me is out of hundreds of flights - but it does happen at times - and they do change the ongoing flights. I've had that happen to me too - waiting at an airport for a flight that was cancelled and we all had to (try) to reschedule.
But - none of this changes the problems of the OP. Who is cutting it very close and has the option of earlier flights for a minimal fee - but seems to prefer to risk a huge amount to save a few dollars.
Mar 28th, 2009, 05:10 PM
#26
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I realize it's too late for you to change but it might help future travelers to look more closely for open jaw options.
I'm seeing numerous August flight options from different cities in Italy to Chicago, then back to Italy from NYC (JFK or EWR) - total price comes to less than the $800 USD your BA & JetBlue flight are totaled together.
Your itinerary sounds like a great trip. There are lots of daily flights from NY area to ORD every day. CO out of Newark, Delta from JFK, UAL from LGA, and, AA out of LGA hourly throughout the day, AA from JFK or EWR (fewer flights). Since AA and BA do have a partnership it may be possible to link your two itineraries, get BA boarding pass when you check-in at LGA. Maybe not - others will know better than I.
At a minimum if you flew AA you could check your bags all the way from NY to Italy and therefore not need to retrieve them in ORD. Right now JetBlue has the lowest price for 1 way tickets - but the others could come down as Aug approaches. You have lots of options with no need to hurry to purchase tickets.
I'm seeing numerous August flight options from different cities in Italy to Chicago, then back to Italy from NYC (JFK or EWR) - total price comes to less than the $800 USD your BA & JetBlue flight are totaled together.
Your itinerary sounds like a great trip. There are lots of daily flights from NY area to ORD every day. CO out of Newark, Delta from JFK, UAL from LGA, and, AA out of LGA hourly throughout the day, AA from JFK or EWR (fewer flights). Since AA and BA do have a partnership it may be possible to link your two itineraries, get BA boarding pass when you check-in at LGA. Maybe not - others will know better than I.
At a minimum if you flew AA you could check your bags all the way from NY to Italy and therefore not need to retrieve them in ORD. Right now JetBlue has the lowest price for 1 way tickets - but the others could come down as Aug approaches. You have lots of options with no need to hurry to purchase tickets.
Mar 31st, 2009, 05:15 AM
#28
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I live in Chicago and fly back and forth frequently to New York. Delays of several hours occur often enough that you are wise to fly the day before, as you have now planned.
I've also often had flights cancelled and my reservation moved to a later flight (at which point I lose my desirable exit row seat and end up by the lavatory, typically). This seems to happen more often on United than on other carriers.
How did you plan your itinerary? I wonder how many foreign visitors go to Milwaukee and Marquette?
I've also often had flights cancelled and my reservation moved to a later flight (at which point I lose my desirable exit row seat and end up by the lavatory, typically). This seems to happen more often on United than on other carriers.
How did you plan your itinerary? I wonder how many foreign visitors go to Milwaukee and Marquette?
Mar 31st, 2009, 06:30 PM
#29
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And here I thought you wanted a NYC Chicago connection. While you are waiting for and riding all of those airplanes you might want to read "Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson about the Chicago Exposition of 1893 - Fredrick L Olmsted and a lot of New York architects were involved and there was a serial killer on the loose.
It is a NON fiction novel (every quote has a footnote) - It's a great airplane read.
It is a NON fiction novel (every quote has a footnote) - It's a great airplane read.
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