Originally Posted by
jmail1
I combed through the Destinations forum and didn't see Pakistan listed, if this is in the wrong forum please move.
I am considering flying out of Islamabad with my wife and 10 year old son in March. We wouldn't be visiting, simply connecting. My departing flight would leave around 9am on British Airways and I have two options on connecting flights to get us TO Islamabad, one that arrives at 1:40am (Qatar) and another that arrives at 6:35am (Oman.). We would have lounge access, and it seems the new lounge there is not horrible, but 7 hours is more than I care to sit in a lounge that doesn't have a place to rest.
We would be all carry-on luggage, no checked bags. Is 2.5 hours enough connection time on separate tickets? I know neighboring India has a horrible time of delayed flights, wasn't sure if ISB suffered the same issues.
Thanks in advance for guidance.
You appear to be throwing out two questions covering separate issues:
the feasibility of an airside self-connect on separate tickets. This should be straightforward, once Oman has accepted you on its flight. If Kathmandu can do it, and (as you say) Algiers, too: surely Islamabad can manage it. The nitty-gritties are something you are likely to have to discover yourself though. Certainly sensitize Oman and BA to the situation and their ground staff could well assist.
probabilities of delays. Who knows. Something out of the blue scuppered one of my two-ticket connections: scrutinising delay statistics wouldn't have helped. Since then I am very cautious. But you COULD look through historical flight information on Flightaware or any of the other we sites that record punctuality, to get an idea of the regular odds, and ignore the random elements of unservicable aircraft etc.
Taking on risk to save money is fine: but it's best to minimise the risk, rather than edge it back up restore comfort by cutting the connection time to a minimum. It would most likely turn out fine, but in the unexpected event that it does not it will be an expensive business to sort out travelling as a family group. My advice would be to bite the bullet and take the earlier flight from Muscat.