How to Keep Your Connecting Flight On Schedule

We plan these trips for weeks, months, and even years, in some cases, but 

what we never plan for are interruptions with our flights.  However, in 

today's world of full flights and weather delays, there is a good chance 

that you will encounter a hitch with connecting flights.  Naturally, 

you should try to avoid connections all together when booking 

flights but that is not possible with many destinations.  

So, what can you do to ensure you get the most out of your vacation? Well, 

take these tips and pack them in your memory bank...it could mean the

difference between a trip to Capri and a trip to hell...

Always try to book your group within the same ticket reservation.

That way if something happens, it is much easier for the reservation

agent to locate all of the people with whom you are traveling.

If you are delayed or canceled on your flight and that airline

does not have a good option, ask the airline to check with 

other airlines for their availability.  

Avoid booking tickets on separate airlines for one flight itinerary if you

can.  Exceptions would be when your airline choices are limited for one 

 region and the city you ultimately are trying to get to does not offer airline

partnerships with your regional airlines.  Reason being is that airlines

are only responsible for getting you from point A to point B on their

flight.  If your first flight causes you to miss your connecting flight, then 

the second airline is not responsible for accommodating you to your final 

destination. You may end up having to purchase a brand new ticket at a

much higher price.  The exception to this would be if you purchase 

refundable tickets.

Allow 45 minutes for connecting times if you are traveling domestically.

Although the domestic to international flight connecting recommendation

is 90 minutes, if you are flying on two separate airlines, you need to 

increase that time to two hours to allow time for possibly changing

terminals.  And, if you have to clear customs before connecting to 

your next flight, you need to increase that to three hours.

Allow extra time on all connections if it is a high traveling time like

holidays and during school breaks.  

Allow extra time if you are connecting through a particularly large

or busy airport.

Always carry on your valuables such jewelry, and especially medicine.

If your first flight does not get your bags onto your connecting flight,

you want to be sure to have your medicine and anything that you

find irreplaceable.

Try booking your flights for first thing in the morning.  The later

the day gets the more chance there is that there will be a flight delay.

After all, your best connection is the one you
make with the people and places on your trip....

TRAVEL M GIRL