Save Time when Changing Planes
"If I run, I'll make it", "I know the airport, I'll chance it", are statements often heard from frequent travellers when they are to be inconvenienced by a flight transfer.
By – Graeme Payne
Check-in times, minimum connecting times and even flight times have all been extended recently, to allow for additional security and congestion at both airports and in the sky.
Airline reservation systems are geared up to only allow transfers that involve minimum connecting times agreed between airlines, airports, IATA and local authorities. No travel agent or astute travel arranger will ever guess the amount of time necessary to transfer between two flights.
Often the arriving and departing aircraft may be parked next to each other at the airport of transfer but it is still necessary for the passenger to clear security and make a significant detour to get to a plane situated just a few feet away.
One of the user-friendliest airports in the world, Amsterdam, is a favourite amongst many people transferring from Scotland, Manchester, Dublin or Leeds / Bradford. This one-terminal airport offers relatively short connecting times, varying from 25 minutes between two domestic flights to 50 minutes between international flights.
Certain airlines, such as El Al, Air India and many American international carriers require significantly longer transfer times. These should always be checked with the operator concerned.
Passengers transferring at Moscow Sheremetyevo must allow 2½ hours for international transfers. Those needing to connect to a flight leaving from one of the other three airports in the city must allow up to 6 hours.
Nowadays boarding cards for the second flight are normally handed to the passenger when checking in at the point of origin, but where a change of airline is required it may be necessary to find the transfer desk, queue up and receive another boarding card. Many airlines, such as Jet Airways and British Airways in India, have an interline agreement which enables passengers to enjoy a more fluid transfer at the gateway city.
Baggage is normally labelled through to the final destination but this is not possible when arriving at a United States gateway airport - even if travelling on to a destination outside USA. As an example: a passenger travelling from London to Auckland, New Zealand via Los Angeles will have to clear US customs and immigration, even though they are intending to transfer onto an international flight within a couple of hours. They must collect their baggage and complete the whole check-in process again. Similar rules apply for those travelling via a US gateway en route to Canada or Mexico.
Transferring at London Heathrow can be daunting and time consuming, with minimum connecting times varying from 45 minutes for domestic flights to 90 minutes for international connections between Terminal 4 and the main airport. It is essential that the traveller is aware of the terminal at which he or she will arrive and depart. Never take a chance – always check with the carrier.
Inter-airport connections are even more aggravating. In Paris, passengers must allow 2¼ hours between Orly and Charles de Gaulle; in Milan, 3¼ hours between Linate and Malpensa and in London 3½ hours between Heathrow and London City airports. More time must be allowed when airlines with higher security.
Low Cost carriers, such as EasyJet and Ryanair, do not allow transfer connections between their flights. The traveller may book the different legs separately but these airlines will not normally make any effort to help the passenger if the incoming flight is delayed. Baggage may not be labelled through to the final destination and so another check-in procedure is required for the second flight.
Top Tips
- Always check connecting times with the carrier
- Find out which terminal flights will be arriving and departing
- Allow longer for people with extra baggage or disabilities
- Try to book connections between flights of the same airline
- Avoid changing airports, where possible
- Transfers between airports are usually at the passenger’s expense
- Check if it is necessary to clear customs and immigration
- Airline reservations systems will not honour bookings that have not left sufficient time to connect.
Graeme Payne has trained on travel related subjects in over 60 countries around the world and has worked with hundreds of major companies, airlines and government departments to ensure that they manage their travel effectively. He currently writes for a number of travel magazines in UK and USA and is author of the annual International Luxury Travel Market catalogue. In 2004 he is working in India, Thailand, Morocco, Spain and Canada, researching leisure and business travel for a number of guides used by travel agents and corporations.
