Did a quick search, but looking for a more definitive answer. Flying DL One HND-MSP in early October. Will be booking a separate ticket (also on DL) MSP-CHI (either ORD or MDW; no preference). The flight from HND lands at 12:28pm, and then there are flights to MDW and ORD at 1:05pm and 1:10pm; respectively. I’ll have a carry-on only, and am a GE member.

If I book one of the two flights above, but miss it due to a delay on the leg from HND, will DL move me to a later flight at no-cost? I realize that the two tickets won’t be linked/connected by PNR.

If that’s too risky, I can book a flight three hours later— and hopefully standby for the earlier flight if I make it in time. But in order to do SDC/standby, I understand that I need to purchase a first class ticket, right (no DL status)?

Just trying to find the best way to make it back to Chicago without a three hour layover (especially since there are no showers in MSP). Thanks all for your help!

By all accounts they'll protect you across two reservations just as if it was a single one -- fortunately I have not had to discover this firsthand yet -- BUT I doubt they will do so if your "connection" violates MCT, as yours would.

The HND flight arrives around the same time as some DL nonstops from Europe. Last month I had a long wait for the CBP machines after deplaning from the HND flight in D1 and then more lines, so it took a shockingly long time (for MSP) to exit the airport.

Moreover it can be a pretty long walk from the aircraft through immigration and customs and then through TSA security and into the airside portion of the terminal. [I'm not sure if there's PreCheck after exiting customs or if you need to go down to baggage claim and back up through the South or North checkpoints, which do have CLEAR also.] Even if you arrive on time, I think the chances of making a domestic departure in about forty minutes would be slight at best, although I don;t know what gates currently tend to be used for the ORD and MDW flights at MSP. [Long ago, the PMNW fast trsck (shuttle) flights to ORD always left from G6-G8, while incoming international DL flights that aren't preclearance tend to use G1-G6. I've had MDW leave from high F as well as middle C gates, depending somewhat on aircraft type.]

To reinforce what has already been stated:
Those proposed connection times are quite unrealistic. As MSPeconomist pointed out, that is a busy arrival time at MSP. The current scheduled midday arrival times from CDG, AMS, and HND are 12:14, 12:35, and 12:39. The TSA checkpoint for connecting passengers from Immigration & Customs has neither PreCheck nor CLEAR. The alternative to go back out through baggage claim and up to the TSA checkpoints on the ticketing level is long, with no assurances about the wait times, even for PreCheck.

Thanks all— really appreciate the guidance. I went ahead and booked a later flight— but will keep my fingers crossed for some extreme tailwinds and SDC on the earlier flight.

DL I-D at MSP seems to be an hour and fifteen minutes. I don't think there's an I-D MCT anywhere that would be under forty-five minutes, and I can't even think of one under 1:15 without checking a couple unlikely possibilities.