First time flyer with questions.
 

On Sept. 7th I'm flying from Omaha (flight # 6858 US Airways) to Chicago and then getting on Flight 7293 US Airways heading to Cleveland. My problem is the 47 minutes I have to change flights. Is that enough time?? And that's if my flights are on time.

Anyone have any tips on how to make this a smooth transition? I think I can print my tickets from home, is that true, does that speed things up?

I appreciate any help I can get.

Thank you.

Good morning and welcome to FlyerTalk.. I'm based in Omaha.... At least you've got an easy airport to fly out of! :)

Be aware that 6858 and 7293 are operated by United and United Express, respectively.. In the OMA airport USAir and United are both at the B terminal, so you're good on that account. Definitely go ahead and print your boarding passes out online.

47 minutes should be enough time to connect in ORD. They will announce the gate you are coming into as you land, and then there will be an agent that meets your flight. Certainly don't dawdle, but you should be okay.. Also, they "fudge" the flight time between OMA and ORD, it's not really that long.. Assuming you're on time, you'll have more time to make your connection.

Thank you! I'm getting a little nervous as this is my first time flying in over 25 years.

Don't be nervous! Well, it's okay to be nervous but I am sure you'll be fine. Good luck, let me know how it goes! :)

While your helping, I can carry on one bag plus my laptop case right? I measured my bags and they both fall under the carry on regulations.

Any other tips? I have some meds to take with me and I should be able to put all this in a plastic baggy right?

I can use all the help I can get :D

Sure thing, I don't know if you're male or female (not that it matters) but I carry a rolling suitcase and laptop purse. I keep my medicine inside my tote at all times (you don't even need to take them out unless they are liquid). Just make sure your liquids are in the ziploc (hair spray, shampoos, etc).. Also be sure that if you have a full sized laptop you need to take that out of your bag and place that in to the bins. Also you will need to remove your shoes.

Other tip- you don't need a full two hours in OMA, especially since you're flying out at 1:42 p.m. Since you're doing carry on only... You probably only need an hour and half at the most.

More or less, they rarely do announce connecting flights anymore, and there will NOT be an agent to meet for any connecting pax, that only exist for international flight.

47 min is really tight as OMA-ORD arrvie in B gate, whereas ORD-CLE departs at the far end of F. (B is in T1 and F is in T2, and no shuttles other than walk) It is a very long walk. When OP get off in ORD, OP should really run fast to the gate, as any flights require pax to get to the gate at least 10 min before departure, GA has every right to close the door 10 min early for on time departure.

Sorry, meant to say they would announce they gate OP would arrive in then OP could look up in general locational.. But you're right, it will be tight! Ive done it in less, though.

great now I'm nervous again. Running real fast isn't a problem if you know where your running too.

Do I have to get my bags and everything checked again when I get to O'hare?

Your bags will be checked all the way to CLE. 47 minutes in ORD is doable, even having to walk to the F gates. Don't dilly dally though.

my bags will be carry on.

I'd feel a lot less nervous if you were taking the first flight in the morning. But you're arriving at ORD after 3 PM. Afternoon heat gives rise to thermals and thunderstorms, and that's a very busy time in a very busy airport. Good luck - I'd come out of the plane running.

Toy4Two, be aware that sometimes even carryon bags will not fit in the overheads of some aircraft. What happens then is something called "gatechecking". You'll be given a yellow tag with an elastic band to attach to your bag. At the end of the jetway, just before you enter the aircraft, you'll leave your bag. Someone will pick it up and put in in the cargo hold. On arrival, you'll retrieve your bag either on the apron outside the aircraft or in the jetway. Be aware, also, that airline staff at the gate can be negligent about telling passengers about gate checking. So, if you see other passengers with yellow tags on their carryons and a bowl of the tags sitting up on the ground crews station at the gate, go get one for yourself. If they don't gate check, no harm done.

In my experience, 47 minutes is enough to get from terminal to terminal at O'Hare. As others have said, though, don't dawdle. Take solace in the fact that bad weather delays everything, so if you're late ariving, you're outgoing flight will likely be late, too.

If worse comes to worst and you miss the connection, the fastest way to deal with the problem is to call the airline on your phone. Do that while you're trying to find one of their customer service positions.

Finally, since you haven't flown for 25 years, know that it ain't what it used to be. Think Greyhound.

(Forgot this: Someone may or may not be right outside your arrival gate with info about your connection. Just check the monitors that display arrival and departure time and gate info. There may be monitors at your gate. There will certainly be monitors at various locations up and down the corridor. Check the departing flights to see if your connection is on time and what gate it is using. Don't assume that the gate on your boarding pass won't change. I once had three gate changes at O'Hare.)

When I travel through a new airport, I like to look at the airport map before my trip. (I usually travel with kids, and I need to know the exact locations of bathrooms and food vendors.)

Why don't you print out the ORD maps from this link, study it and keep it with you? http://flychicago.com/PassengerInfor...rportMaps.aspx