Flight Connection - minimum time required?
I'm flying from Los Angeles (LAX airport) to Belfast International Airport (via New York Newark Airport) in August 2011. I've been searching for flights on Opodo.com. The best flight option it is bringing me up has a 55minute connection time between getting off the flight from LAX in Newark and the flight from Newark to Belfast taking off.
Both flights arrive and depart respectively from the same terminal at Newark - terminal C and the flights would be booked together through Opodo.com. The flight from LAX to Newark is with Continental Airlines. It says the flight from Newark to Belfast is with Lufthansa but I know that Continental Airlines are the only company to fly this route so it must be with them too??
Is it actually possible to have a 55minute connection window? Would bags be automatically transferred to the next flight? Do you have to go through security etc etc again?
Both flights arrive and depart respectively from the same terminal at Newark - terminal C and the flights would be booked together through Opodo.com. The flight from LAX to Newark is with Continental Airlines. It says the flight from Newark to Belfast is with Lufthansa but I know that Continental Airlines are the only company to fly this route so it must be with them too??
Is it actually possible to have a 55minute connection window? Would bags be automatically transferred to the next flight? Do you have to go through security etc etc again?
0
Comments
If you were coming from Belfast I'd say forget it as immigration alone can take a long time. I once had to jump a security queue and beg a security guard to let me go to the front once at Chicago airport due to an insane wait at immigration and security. Luckily she let me through. I was the last passenger on the plane. It was so close my bags had already been removed from the plane!
Terminal map:
http://www.ifly.com/resources/img/airports/sub-terminal-maps/Newark-EWR-terminalC.jpg
I recommend the McDonalds in that terminal if you get time.
I've looked and Lufthansa is indeed operated by Continental at Newark Terminal C, so you'd be boarding a Continental plane I imagine. Airlines often partner up like this. You'll get to the gate and the screen will have both flight details so don't panic if at first it's saying a different flight number, they often change a few seconds later to show the partner flight number.
It will be easy, just hop off the plane and look at the nearest screen for the gate number. Simple. The only way you'll be in trouble is if your first flight is late.. if so make sure you alert the plane staff and have them make sure you're first off.
If you were flying to London I would be relaxed as there will be several flights a day. However there will only be one Belfast flight daily so if you miss it you may have to spend a night in New York.
Having connected in US airports - its doable - but you will just feel very stressed the whole time on your flight from LAX worrying about your tight connection time. Its up to you!
You want to enjoy travelling - and not be stressed (flying is stressful enough as it is).
Continental also do a flight from LAX at 10am to Newark connecting to Belfast which gives a stop over of just under 3 hours in Newark - and thus time to chill out before another long flight. That may be better! Or alternatively fly from LAX to London direct - and then onto Belfast,
PS There are reviews of Newark on this website - terminal C is fine
http://www.airlinequality.com/Airports/Airport_forum/ewr.htm