Really want to book flights with Continental (in an attempt to use Onepass miles to upgrade) to go skiing in Stemaboat this coming February.

The only flights, from London, that I have found (which arrive in Hayden the same day) go through Houston and there is only a 50 minute connection time. This makes me very nervous: US immigration tends to be very "thorough".

My husband and I appear to have picked up "immigration alerts" (due to our passports being stamped incorrectly and US immigration thinking we spent 6 months on US soil...). Getting hauled into the immigration office (while entering the US) three times over the past couple of months is beginning to wear thin on my sense of humour (as well as time consuming). Am going to appeal to US Immigration to get the alert lifted, but have no idea how long this will take....

Anyway, 50 minutes seems VERY tight to clear imigration and make the next flight (with baggage) to Steamboat. There are no later flights between IAH and Hayden that day (with Continental or any other airline) and no direct flights with Continental the following day.

Would I be mad to book these flights? Do I have any chance of making the connection (would the international flight be in a different terminal, in IAH, to the domestic flight?)? Would I ever see my bags again?

Are there any alternative routes where I could use miles to upgrade (which don't mean a layover in New York)?

Thanks,
Boo
(Silver Elite)