Minimum Connection Transfer Time at Boston (BOS): The Definitive Thread
 

Apologies if this question is obvious or has been answered elsewhere. I'm currently trying to book a flight from YYZ (Toronto, Canada) to YHZ (Halifax, Canada) on December 22, but prices on Air Canada, WestJet, and Porter (our three main airlines) are sky high. I'm currently looking at doing YYZ-BOS on AA, with arrival in BOS at 11:00am, and trying to catch a BOS-YHZ flight on DL at 12:15pm.

The question: if I do OLCI for the BOS-YHZ flight before I leave Toronto, do you think I'll have enough time to arrive at BOS at 11:00am, get my bag, go from Terminal B (AA) to Terminal A (DL), drop off my bag with the check-in attendant, and make my 12:15pm flight? I know it sounds a bit ludicrous but I'm unfamiliar with BOS... suggestions appreciated.

If u have Checked luggage, NO.
Carry on NOT an issue, if on time
I assume u mean a 12:15pm flight.
It is a 10 minute walk from AA to DL.
The bus could take 20 min.

If your incoming flight is ontime, then you'll have barely enough time. You'll need to collect your bag from AA then take shuttle #11 all the way around the airport to get back to terminal A. You need to be check your bag by 11:45 am, which should be doable, though not by much. If your inbound is at all late, you won't make it, and I'm guessing this is two different tickets, so DL won't be under any obligation to help you, especially since there's only one daily BOS-YHZ flight.

In short, I wouldn't try it. But good luck if you do!

I assume you mean a 12:15PM departure, 75 minutes away.

I further assume you are doing this on entirely separate tickets, as Canada to Canada via USA is cabotage and would likely puke in ticketing.

That said, I think a 75 minute international, inter-terminal connection at BOS is imprudent.

The comments are much appreciated. I assumed, too, that it was a bit unfeasible, particularly so close to Christmas with very few flights from BOS-YHZ, so I'll probably just suck it up and take the 6:45am YYZ-BOS flight and sit around BOS for four hours until the 12:15pm flight. No point in risking it. Maybe I'll try to weasel my way into the lounge for the wait... ;)

Several good restaurants and hangouts in Terminal A

Fastest/safest/warmest route b/w the 2 might be to walk through the parking garage.

75 minutes is a bad risk given flight frequency and lack of protection on different tix.

Absolutely. How else would you do it? I can't imagine walking along the access road. Is there another option? There's also a shuttle bus that links all the terminals if you have a lot of luggage.

Nightmare connection at BOS?
 

I have what appears to be a nightmare in the making tomorrow. I'm flying from JFK to BOS on DL 31 then to AMS on NWA. Best (worst) part is that the DL flight has a very poor on-time rating and I only have about an hour to connect as it is. Have to move from Terminal A to Terminal E. Will I have to go through security again in BOS??

yes, you'll have to go through security again. Quickest way may be through parking garage on moving sidewalks rather than shuttle buses.

It's about a 15 minute trek from where you'll land on DL31 (the satellite) over to E. When coming out of the Satellite tunnel, bear to the right, take the escalator to the main departure hall. Go left by Gates A1-A6, exit the secure area there, bear to the left and go up another escalator. Go all the way down that hallway until you hit Terminal E. Main security checkpoint in E will be a zoo at that time of day, so go all the way to the left by the NW check-in counters and clear security down there - should be a lot faster. Then you'll make your way back to Gate E3, which is where the AMS flights leave from.

Hour might be pushing it...can you SDC to an earlier DL flight?

DL 31 is due in at 1808
NW 38 leaves BOS for AMS at 1915, arrives at 0810. Airbus 333
NW 60 leaves BOS for AMS at 2200, arrives at 1100. 757

Yes, the 333 is a bit more comfy, but if you miss the connection they sould accomodate you on the 757, so it will be an inconvenience, but not a nightmare. (unless you HAVE to be in AMS in the morning)

btw, NW 54 leaves JFK at 1630, arrives AMS at 0600, also on a 757. So if it is clear by 1530 that there is a problem with DL 31, ask them to accomodate you on NW 54.

Not on an international itinerary.

Instead, since it is the DL flight that might cause you to misconnect, you might asked to be accommodated on DL 80.

you're right. DL 80, JFK 1730, AMS 0730, on a 752.

There are also two KL flights later that evening from JFK-AMS. Lots of options...

Thanks. All very helpful replies.

If I were to ask to be accommodated on a different flight is it recommended that I do it when I get to the gate at JFK? Or best to call now?