Realistic Connection Time @ JFK
Mar 18, 2019, 8:03 am
#1
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Realistic Connection Time @ JFK
Hi
What are the views on a reasonable connection time at JFK in the early afternoon for a BA (Terminal 7) flight to a domestic AA (Terminal 8) flight on separate tickets - assuming that the incoming will be broadly on time ? Does 3 hours sound ok ?
What are the views on a reasonable connection time at JFK in the early afternoon for a BA (Terminal 7) flight to a domestic AA (Terminal 8) flight on separate tickets - assuming that the incoming will be broadly on time ? Does 3 hours sound ok ?
Last edited by petez; Mar 18, 2019 at 8:04 am Reason: .
Mar 18, 2019, 8:11 am
#2
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Do you have Global Entry? Do you have checked luggage? What class of service are you flying in? On separate tickets this would be too close for me. Depending on when you come in (exactly) the wait can be ok, or you could be at the back of another wide body that has just unloaded three hundred people.
Mar 18, 2019, 8:14 am
#4
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On separate tickets I wouldn't attempt this, though AA may just stick you on the next flight to wherever you are going. But I suppose I would need to know where you are going after. If it is LAX, I'd be a bit more concerned than if it was PHL or ORD.
Mar 18, 2019, 8:15 am
#5
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I would allow at least 4-5 hours since you will be self-connecting, and your connection will not be protected by a single ticket. AA does protect passengers from other OW carriers but it may be a case of there being no free seats on the later flight if you miss the original flight.
Mar 18, 2019, 8:26 am
#6
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I would be happy with 2.5 hours personally, but that is with GE.
Without GE, 3 hours is adequate. T7 to T8 is easy on the AirTrain and it is relatively frequent. Early afternoon is when JFK is at its quietest.
Of course, opinions will vary widely on this - from the very conservative to the reckless.
Without GE, 3 hours is adequate. T7 to T8 is easy on the AirTrain and it is relatively frequent. Early afternoon is when JFK is at its quietest.
Of course, opinions will vary widely on this - from the very conservative to the reckless.
Mar 18, 2019, 8:32 am
#7
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What happens if you miss the connection and AA isn't willing to help (and this may simply due to the fact that later flights are full)? Are you OK to buy another, walk-up, ticket on AN Other Airline?
Mar 18, 2019, 8:44 am
#8
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AA is the only major carrier which offers protection across separate tickets so long as MCT is met as this is a OW-BA situation. BA will not, however, check OP's bags through and thus OP will need to take his bags to AA to check them in . If he has been a no show, he should have a paper print out of his BA e-ticket receipt for the AA agent.
Given the bit of logistical maneuvering here, I would allow an extra hour over a connection, so that I do not miss the AA bag drop deadline.
Given the bit of logistical maneuvering here, I would allow an extra hour over a connection, so that I do not miss the AA bag drop deadline.
Mar 18, 2019, 8:55 am
#9
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You can add some actual data to this discussion via this link:
https://awt.cbp.gov/
Be sure to look at the days of the week and time of your proposed arrival and you can get a sense of how long it will take to clear Immigration at JFK Terminal 7.
Cheers,
https://awt.cbp.gov/
Be sure to look at the days of the week and time of your proposed arrival and you can get a sense of how long it will take to clear Immigration at JFK Terminal 7.
Cheers,
Mar 18, 2019, 9:24 am
#10
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I have one later AA flight I can catch - its not a massive issue if I end up in NY for the night, just wanted some thoughts on what was a realistic connection time - based on the above I am going for 4 hour connection.
Many thanks for the observations
Many thanks for the observations
Mar 18, 2019, 9:41 am
#11
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AA is the only major carrier which offers protection across separate tickets so long as MCT is met as this is a OW-BA situation. BA will not, however, check OP's bags through and thus OP will need to take his bags to AA to check them in . If he has been a no show, he should have a paper print out of his BA e-ticket receipt for the AA agent.
Given the bit of logistical maneuvering here, I would allow an extra hour over a connection, so that I do not miss the AA bag drop deadline.
Given the bit of logistical maneuvering here, I would allow an extra hour over a connection, so that I do not miss the AA bag drop deadline.
Mar 18, 2019, 9:53 am
#12
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There is, however, a significant difference on tight connections as opposed to what OP proposes, which is not a connection. On a connection, BA will tag bags to the final destination and all OP need do is drop the bag post CBP. No standing around waiting for an agent to free up. In this situation, presuming that OP is ontime, he should be able to obtain a bag tag from AA post CBP, but AA may require him to go to check in. If OP has no showed, he will need to go to the AA counters in any event, to be rebooked.
Mar 18, 2019, 10:11 am
#13
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Slightly off topic but I can't believe the number of exclusions in the data set given the efforts made to ensure all travellers are eligible to fly, ESTA, etc
Mar 18, 2019, 10:25 am
#14
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There is, however, a significant difference on tight connections as opposed to what OP proposes, which is not a connection. On a connection, BA will tag bags to the final destination and all OP need do is drop the bag post CBP. No standing around waiting for an agent to free up. In this situation, presuming that OP is ontime, he should be able to obtain a bag tag from AA post CBP, but AA may require him to go to check in. If OP has no showed, he will need to go to the AA counters in any event, to be rebooked.