Originally Posted by
whimsey21
Hi all,
I'm planning a trip to Madrid, and the most attractive return option involves a 1hr 35 minute connection at JFK from the AA flight from Madrid to a domestic AA flight to DCA. From reading this thread, it looks like the MCT I-D is 1:45, and I could instead book a later flight to DCA with a nearly 4 hour layover. I'd rather get home as soon as possible, so I'm wonder what my chances would be of catching the shorter connection? I will have a checked bag, so I'd have to receive that and then drop it off again when passing through customs. Is it worth trying, or am I better off just accepting the longer connection so I'm assured of being on that later flight if its a busy travel day?
Your checked bag makes this nearly impossible. Not that it can't be done in 1:35, but dealing with checked luggage when trying to stand by for an earlier flight likely will doom your chances. Book the longer connection. After you clear customs, if it appears that you have time to make the earlier flight, go to the connections desk and see if it can be done.