Originally Posted by
dpakman91
Thanks! Given the combination of convenience vs. risk, given the following options, which would you choose:
1) Arriving via plane from BDL 8.5 hours before the flight
2) Arriving via plane from BDL 50 minutes before the flight
3) Arriving via train from SPG 1 hour and 47 minutes before the flight
2). Is out for sure. Not enough time, especially as the RJ's are the flights most often delayed at EWR.
Of the remaining two choices it's very tough indeed.
If you choose 1). you will not miss your flight, that's almost certain. And if, by some horrendous circumstance, you do, you will be accommodated by UA.
If you choose 3). and Amtrak is delayed, you're on your own, since UA will not accommodate you for a delay on Amtrak.
And the thing is, remember, you must check in no later than one hour before you flight's scheduled departure time, or you will be denied boarding. If your Amtrak is right on time and it takes 20 minutes to get from rail station to check-in counter, that leaves you a pad of only 27 minutes, so if Amtrak is 30 minutes late, or the horrendous EWR AirTrain has another malfunction, you are cutting it very close.
And, since there is only one flight a day EWR-EZE, if you miss it, the "wait" (for the flight the next day, assuming there are seats available) would be much longer than your choice #1 above.