Tight connection in PDX - am I crazy?
Nov 11, 2017, 10:51 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: Northwest, United
Posts: 3,256
Tight connection in PDX - am I crazy?
I'm looking at booking a trip next summer from SEA to AMS. On the day I want to fly, the best routing available is SEA-PDX-AMS. That gets me the non-stop TATL leg that I want (it's all about sleep time for me). SEA to PDX is certainly a quick, easy hop, and I don't mind adding that on. My concern is the tight connection in PDX - just 62 minutes.
Delta's ticketing engine is offering this routing, so it's a legal connection.
We will have checked bags.
In most cases I wouldn't accept such a short connection, but in this case I'm tempted, since this routing gets me the long TATL that I want (other options don't). I figure that...
1. Both flights will be on Delta metal, and they will try hard to get us on the TATL flight rather than have to accommodate us later.
2. We will be in DeltaOne, so we will be seated in one of the first few rows, and we will be off the inbound plane quickly. Our checked bags will also get some sort of "priority" tags (for what that's worth...).
3. PDX isn't huge. I expect we will hustle off the inbound, hustle straight to the outbound gate, and board.
4. I know Delta puts an emphasis on being on-time.
All that said, I'm not very familiar with the gate layout at PDX, so I don't have a clear sense of how far it would be from the incoming gate (domestic) to the outbound (international). I'm assuming we would not have to re-clear security, so please correct me if I'm wrong (that could easily scuttle this plan).
I'd welcome input from those familiar with Delta ops in PDX on how risky this 62 minute connection would be.
What do you think - is one hour enough to make that connection?
Thank you!
Delta's ticketing engine is offering this routing, so it's a legal connection.
We will have checked bags.
In most cases I wouldn't accept such a short connection, but in this case I'm tempted, since this routing gets me the long TATL that I want (other options don't). I figure that...
1. Both flights will be on Delta metal, and they will try hard to get us on the TATL flight rather than have to accommodate us later.
2. We will be in DeltaOne, so we will be seated in one of the first few rows, and we will be off the inbound plane quickly. Our checked bags will also get some sort of "priority" tags (for what that's worth...).
3. PDX isn't huge. I expect we will hustle off the inbound, hustle straight to the outbound gate, and board.
4. I know Delta puts an emphasis on being on-time.
All that said, I'm not very familiar with the gate layout at PDX, so I don't have a clear sense of how far it would be from the incoming gate (domestic) to the outbound (international). I'm assuming we would not have to re-clear security, so please correct me if I'm wrong (that could easily scuttle this plan).
I'd welcome input from those familiar with Delta ops in PDX on how risky this 62 minute connection would be.
What do you think - is one hour enough to make that connection?
Thank you!
Nov 11, 2017, 11:08 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
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Posts: 21,371
absolutely no worries; the only possible source of slowdown will be if SEA-PDX is a CR7/CR9 and you have to wait 5 min for pink-tagged carry-on bags
Nov 11, 2017, 11:18 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: Northwest, United
Posts: 3,256
Nov 11, 2017, 11:28 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: IAH
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Nov 12, 2017, 12:22 am
#9
Join Date: May 2004
Location: formerly Gold now Diamond, formerly MSY, now LAX, formerly NW, now DL
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Posts: 4,635
It's the most efficient airport that I've been to, not too large and unless there's a big delay in arriving to PDX, you'll be fine. In fact, you'd probably even have time to use your Priority Pass at 1 if not 2 different locations (picking up goodies) and even stop at the Delta SkyClub if you have access to them.
Nov 12, 2017, 8:57 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LAS - where you can get married and divorced in the same 24 hour period. Perfect for the woman who's saving herself for marriage and the man who wants a one night stand.
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I was looking at LAS-SEA-PDX-NRT in July (DL 1632, DL 1741, DL 69). This has a 31 minute connection in PDX and that is domestic to international.
I see the gates are close but what about delays, if international boarding cuts at T-15 that leaves 16 minutes to get off the plane and get to the next flight. Too close?
I see the gates are close but what about delays, if international boarding cuts at T-15 that leaves 16 minutes to get off the plane and get to the next flight. Too close?
Nov 12, 2017, 9:06 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: DTW
Programs: DL DM, National EE, Hertz PC, IHG PL, Bonvoy Amb
Posts: 1,342
I'm looking at booking a trip next summer from SEA to AMS. On the day I want to fly, the best routing available is SEA-PDX-AMS. That gets me the non-stop TATL leg that I want (it's all about sleep time for me). SEA to PDX is certainly a quick, easy hop, and I don't mind adding that on. My concern is the tight connection in PDX - just 62 minutes.
Delta's ticketing engine is offering this routing, so it's a legal connection.
We will have checked bags.
In most cases I wouldn't accept such a short connection, but in this case I'm tempted, since this routing gets me the long TATL that I want (other options don't). I figure that...
1. Both flights will be on Delta metal, and they will try hard to get us on the TATL flight rather than have to accommodate us later.
2. We will be in DeltaOne, so we will be seated in one of the first few rows, and we will be off the inbound plane quickly. Our checked bags will also get some sort of "priority" tags (for what that's worth...).
3. PDX isn't huge. I expect we will hustle off the inbound, hustle straight to the outbound gate, and board.
4. I know Delta puts an emphasis on being on-time.
All that said, I'm not very familiar with the gate layout at PDX, so I don't have a clear sense of how far it would be from the incoming gate (domestic) to the outbound (international). I'm assuming we would not have to re-clear security, so please correct me if I'm wrong (that could easily scuttle this plan).
I'd welcome input from those familiar with Delta ops in PDX on how risky this 62 minute connection would be.
What do you think - is one hour enough to make that connection?
Thank you!
Delta's ticketing engine is offering this routing, so it's a legal connection.
We will have checked bags.
In most cases I wouldn't accept such a short connection, but in this case I'm tempted, since this routing gets me the long TATL that I want (other options don't). I figure that...
1. Both flights will be on Delta metal, and they will try hard to get us on the TATL flight rather than have to accommodate us later.
2. We will be in DeltaOne, so we will be seated in one of the first few rows, and we will be off the inbound plane quickly. Our checked bags will also get some sort of "priority" tags (for what that's worth...).
3. PDX isn't huge. I expect we will hustle off the inbound, hustle straight to the outbound gate, and board.
4. I know Delta puts an emphasis on being on-time.
All that said, I'm not very familiar with the gate layout at PDX, so I don't have a clear sense of how far it would be from the incoming gate (domestic) to the outbound (international). I'm assuming we would not have to re-clear security, so please correct me if I'm wrong (that could easily scuttle this plan).
I'd welcome input from those familiar with Delta ops in PDX on how risky this 62 minute connection would be.
What do you think - is one hour enough to make that connection?
Thank you!
But you have to weigh what missing the flight would mean to you (in the event of a delayed SEA-PDX).
Nov 12, 2017, 10:39 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: ONT
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Posts: 2,159
I was looking at LAS-SEA-PDX-NRT in July (DL 1632, DL 1741, DL 69). This has a 31 minute connection in PDX and that is domestic to international.
I see the gates are close but what about delays, if international boarding cuts at T-15 that leaves 16 minutes to get off the plane and get to the next flight. Too close?
I see the gates are close but what about delays, if international boarding cuts at T-15 that leaves 16 minutes to get off the plane and get to the next flight. Too close?
Nov 12, 2017, 10:58 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LON, PDX
Programs: DL PM, AS MVP 75K, HH/SPG/MR Gold, Amex Plat, PRG, CSR
Posts: 2,064
I was looking at LAS-SEA-PDX-NRT in July (DL 1632, DL 1741, DL 69). This has a 31 minute connection in PDX and that is domestic to international.
I see the gates are close but what about delays, if international boarding cuts at T-15 that leaves 16 minutes to get off the plane and get to the next flight. Too close?
I see the gates are close but what about delays, if international boarding cuts at T-15 that leaves 16 minutes to get off the plane and get to the next flight. Too close?
You’ll have to judge your risk tolerance for delays yourself. Since it’s July any delays would likely be fully DL’s fault and you’d get a hotel paid for, but would arrive a day late.
Unless you’re landing and going to something critical within 24hrs I would be fine booking it.
Nov 12, 2017, 11:22 am
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
These sorts of questions are impossible to answer. The connection is within MCT and therefore "legal". That is not an issue. What is at issue is the consequence to you of a misconnect.
A delay of any significance means a misconnect and there is hardly hourly service to AMS and reroutes will involve inconvenient routings, possibly not in D1 for the TATL hop.
Thus, comes down to your risk tolerance. What if you lose a day in AMS? Is it downtime or something special or work-related where being late is not acceptable? If so, book an earlier flight to PDX or use another routing.
A delay of any significance means a misconnect and there is hardly hourly service to AMS and reroutes will involve inconvenient routings, possibly not in D1 for the TATL hop.
Thus, comes down to your risk tolerance. What if you lose a day in AMS? Is it downtime or something special or work-related where being late is not acceptable? If so, book an earlier flight to PDX or use another routing.