Short connection time in Chicago (ORD)

[hugowood]

Hi all,

I'm planning a trip to New York this November - December. I've seemed to just have missed out on the Qantas sales but United are showing a pretty good price and on the 787-9 Dreamliner too.

My question is... The connection time at Chicago is 46 minutes to get my connecting flight onto New York (La Guardia). Is that enough time? It's the last flight that day to New York, if I miss the flight, would I have to pay for the hotel for the night? Or seeming its all on one booking, they would be responsible for allowing such a connection time?

I've attached an image showing you the itinerary! Thanks

 

[JohnK]

That connection maybe doable but in my limited experience in the USA flights can easily be delayed 30 minutes by air traffic control which could mean missing connections or at the very least checked luggage not making the connection.

 

[Hvr]

Way too tight and every possibility you'll be paying for a hotel yourself.

If you do HLO you may, just may make the flight if all the planets align but way too risky for my liking.

 

[dajop]

That connection maybe doable but in my limited experience in the USA flights can easily be delayed 30 minutes by air traffic control which could mean missing connections or at the very least checked luggage not making the connection.

It's all about risk. If on one ticket, and fault of airline (mechanical, crew related delays) it is the airline responsibility to house misconnecting passengers and get them to final destination. If it's beyond airline control (ATC or weather delays), all the passenger will get is the opportunity to rebook on a later service and a one fingered salute (ie responsible for own accommodation etc).

The one thing that reduces the risk of misconnect is that if there are local weather or ATC delays they tend to affect many flights, so chances are that in these circumstances if inbound is late then outbound will also be late as it relies on another aircraft to get on the ground as well (unless it is rare situation of aircraft sitting on the ground at ORD). At that time of year weather may cause delays arriving at ORD, far less likely to delay LAX departure.

If you have good travel insurance, or willing to wear a $200-300 hotel charge, it maybe worth the risk to try get to NYC that evening. Just make sure you have some warm clothes and change of underwear in your hand luggage!

 

[JohnK]

It's all about risk. If on one ticket, and fault of airline (mechanical, crew related delays) it is the airline responsibility to house misconnecting passengers and get them to final destination. If it's beyond airline control (ATC or weather delays), all the passenger will get is the opportunity to rebook on a later service and a one fingered salute (ie responsible for own accommodation etc).

For me in these types of situations the biggest problem is time.

I don't have the time to schedule slack into an itinerary and if I miss a connection even if the airline is going to help out then I am still in trouble as it is going to affect onward flights.

But I never learn and continue to take risks although I would not risk tight connections.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi all,

I'm planning a trip to New York this November - December. I've seemed to just have missed out on the Qantas sales but United are showing a pretty good price and on the 787-9 Dreamliner too.

My question is... The connection time at Chicago is 46 minutes to get my connecting flight onto New York (La Guardia). Is that enough time? It's the last flight that day to New York, if I miss the flight, would I have to pay for the hotel for the night? Or seeming its all on one booking, they would be responsible for allowing such a connection time?

I've attached an image showing you the itinerary! Thanks

View attachment 46437

American carriers love these short connections... almost as much as they love their departures and arrivals at odd minutes (like arriving at 29 past instead of just plain old 30 past).

With airports like ORD and DFW it can be really weather dependent, with winter and summer issues in the ORD (T-storms or snow) and T-storms in DFW.

If it's weather and you miss your flight, you will be reaccommodated the next day, but you might need to use your insurance to cover a hotel for the night.

The one thing you can try to keep tabs on is how ORD looks at the time you are checking in for the flight. If ORD looks bad - ask them to re-route you straight out of LAX to NYC, either non-stop, or connecting via another hub.

Given boarding for US domestic flights is now underway about 30 mins prior to departure, and the wait-list starts to get cleared fairly early on, 46 mins is pushing it... but entirely 'doable' if everything runs to schedule (just move quickly between gates).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

just to add i spoke to my friend in the US about weather in ORD at that time of year - they said it should be fine.

But they are also 99.99% certain there will be a schedule change on one or more of the domestic flights between now and the time you travel - so you can potentially use one of those to get put on a flight with a better connection (or even non-stop!)