I’m learning a great deal about what to look into in terms of selecting flights, that’s for sure! Thank you. I took a bit of time to look into various flight numbers and their on time percentages for the spring for the IAD - LBA route with KLM. I never thought, nor really had a reason to with my lack of air travel experience, to drill down that much and look at that factor.

While it’s still about a month from when the actual flights are able to be displayed, there is one flight route that offers a 2:10 layover (coming in) and a 1:15 layover (going back). All flights are around 83% on time. With that percentage, I think it may be acceptable to even choose the flight with the 50 min connection, if that is what is presented. It seems to be a given that nothing is given in today’s air travel, but I have been reading many stories of disgruntled AL customers not getting much support from that airline, esp coming out of IAD, so right now at least, I am leaning toward KLM.

Significant “pros” to flying KLM vs. AL. Right now, the cost is over twice the amount less to go with them. (That could obviously change). Also, the arrival time to our destination would be earlier. I like the bigger size of the plane with the option of maybe getting a chance to pay a little more for a seat with extra legroom/ comfort for the overnight portion. We’d give up the pre- clearance portion AL gives you, (not sure if we all want to do Global entry, so for now it’s not a choice to factor in). That is a nice perk, but does it outweigh the others?

I’m still gathering information, and really appreciate the help I have received thus far!