Ok, so after reading some previous posts on here, I'm really concerned about having enough time to connect in PHL for our TA flight. This is our honeymoon and I don't want to be stuck in philly over night when we have a great hotel on Lake Como booked!

SEA to PHL --Departs 7:00 am, Arrives PHL 3:00pm
PHL to FRA --Departs 4:00 pm, Arrives FRA

We're NOT checking any luggage, since I know there's not a snowball's chance that the bags would make it in an hour. We land in PHL in B and depart A West for FRA.

Realistically, are we going to make our connecting flight?

I don't see how to change the tickets at this point-- they are UA MP F award travel and I ended up on US to get F. When we booked these tickets our SEA flight left at 6:30am, then a couple of months ago, they changed it to 7:00am, leaving us only one hour. There are no earlier flights from SEA to PHL.

Oh, and we leave in a little over a week--9/6. Please don't just tell me that we're screwed, any advice you can offer would be useful

To be honest, I'd be concerned about a 1 hour connect window for any TA flight. Not trying to be a doomsayer, but anything can happen which throws things askew. As you already note, this is a honeymoon and FRA is the key to your trip ( and memories ).

The good news is that your flight, #782 lists as being on-time 80% of the time ( it's an A321 ). B terminal is in close proximity to A west, so you could indeed scurry down to A west and literally walk to the gate and board your flight. But do you want to run the risk of possibly missing the connection if the travel gods are unkind that day? It's a hard call to make.

The only last-minute suggestion I can think of is to fly SEA to PHL redeye on the 5th, taking US 694 ( departs 10PM arrives PHL 6AM ). You'd still have to airport hotel it, but you'd be where you need to be for the TA flight out. The airport Marriott hotel is directly off of B concourse so you could reserve a room there and make the best of it, but you'll definitely make the TA flight. Of course this may screw up your award seats to PHL. I'd speak with US Air, explain your dilemma, and see what they advise.

It's a coin toss as to what to do.

In any case, have a great trip and a memorable honeymoon.

Barry

I now see that there is an 8:15 pm flight from PHL to FRA. If we miss our 4pm flight, would US be obligated to put us on the 8:15pm flight in Envoy class? We paid for it with a bunch of miles after all. Or are they only obligated to get you to your destination, and would likely put us back in economy? Or, if the 8:15 pm flight is sold/full, would they try to get us on somehow or just make us wait until the next day? Sorry if these questions seem elementary, but I don't fly all that much! (my dad is the UA P Exec who gave us the miles).

The later flight is your real ace-in-the-hole. They will put on on it as long as there's room. That might mean non-Envoy room, but it'll still get you there.

As plans B,C,... look at options to get to PHL if there's trouble with your morning flight. I'm primarily thinking UA through ORD or IAD, but look around for alternatives so you'll have suggested routings if the need should arise. UA's morning SEA-IAD flight is traditionally advertised as going to FRA, although there's a change of planes at IAD, so that might be something to ask for if your PHL flight gets delayed.

One other possibility is Alaska, which might have something to PHL (or DCA that can get you to PHL).

What I might do is try to switch now to the 8:15 PM flight. I know it's late, but it can't hurt to at least call and try, especially since this is due to a schedule change. Since you're flying Envoy, you'll have access to the Envoy lounge in PHL, which everyone says is great, and you won't have the anxiety of catching the connection. If you do get to PHL on-time, you could then try to go standby for the earlier flight.

I have to agree with LoganFlyer. Since there was a schedule change - US should have no problem changing your first leg to the earlier flight so long as there is space available.

The Envoy lounge in PHL is definitely a great lounge - and a few hours there shouldn't be too terrible. Personally, I would much prefer a few hours here instead of worrying the entire time about your Envoy trip being downgraded or put off by a day.

-Chris

I'll agree with changing to the later flight now. The Envoy lounge is great and the later flight will get you into FRA at a more reasonable hour.