I'm planning a trip from STL to Geneva (GVA) in a few weeks. There aren't a lot of great option for travel out of STL, but that's a different story.

There are a few ways to get to GVA:

Delta to JFK, SwissAir to GVA
Continental to EWR to GVA
AA/BA to ORD to LHR to GVA (LHR connection is T4 to T4)

Now, normally the fewer connections the better. BUT I've done the EWR connection, and it doesn't work well from here.

From STL, missing my EWR flight or getting stranded on the way back is significantly probable. There aren't all that many flights between STL and EWR. Last time I did this trip, I almost missed the flight going to EWR and was almost stranded in Newark for a couple of days on the return trip.

On the other hand, ORD is no picnic and I hear that LHR is miserable. But I'm tempted to do it. The ORD part doesn't worry me, as there are tons of flights and lots of other ways to get to my part of downstate IL from ORD and lots of local friends and relatives in Chicago. I'm used to ORD--the devil I know.

So, I'm asking you expert flyers: Given my aversion to EWR (YMMV), is it reasonable to book the ORD=>LHR=>GVA flight if I give myself reasonable connection times at ORD and LHR? My lack of knowledge of LHR compels me to ask the question.

(There's also the JFK option, but the STL to JFK connections are just as scarce as the STL to EWR options. At times, STL feels like the airport for a much smaller city!)

Thanks for any help or insights!

Don't you have any options to fly from STL to a hub in the US and from there to either ZRH, VIE or MUC to connect to GVA? FRA is "ok" to but I would prefere one of the mentioned airports... Just don't do CDG, AMS and...

... avoid LHR under all circumstances, especially if you plan to go in the summer, it will be a total mess.

Thanks! The input is greatly appreciated. ZRH, VIE, or MUC make it too expensive. A couple of hundred either way is OK, but nearly triple the price isn't fair to the organization that is paying.

There is a connection through Dulles => FRA, and another through Raleigh Durham and then LGW. But other than that, the affordable options are JFK, EWR, or LHR. Is LHR *that* bad for a T4 to T4 transfer? I'm asking with the understanding that the answer could be "yes" because of airport or flight delays. Thanks.

NO. I don't know what terrible things happened to you at EWR but it will only be worse at LHR. Summer storms, labor problems, lost and stolen baggage, massive crowds, ATC delays... avoid LHR at any cost.

The EWR transfer would be better, and the JFK transfer on DL/Swiss would be a little better than that (though both airports are delay-prone).

Better STILL: MEM-AMS-GVA on NW/KL. I don't know why the above poster suggested you avoid AMS, it's the smoothest transfer point in Europe.

Thanks! That's good advice. The aversion people have to LHR tells me to avoid it.

AMS looks like a pretty good option--maybe I will try it rather than EWR.

I don't know this route or schedules. However, I usually set aside my likes and dislikes of airports in favor of the following two principles:

1. No tight connections. I'd rather have 3-4 hours to connect at JFK or LHR than 55 minutes at a cute small airport.

2. When possible, no change of airline. This is better for smoother baggage transfer.

I'd suggest putting aside your dislike of EWR and looking at all options objectively. Good luck.

Hi there,

I would agree. I took a quick look on ITA, and there are a number of flights from STL to EWR and EWR to STL. Just plan for a 2.5 - 3 hour layover, and there will be no problem.

However, given possible weather issues, I would recommend AMS over EWR. The New York area can get some bad rainstorms in June, and that really causes air traffic havock.

Overall, I'm based in Geneva, and lately, I've been using AMS and EWR as my preferred connection points (anything over CDG for the time being).

Cheers,

GenevaFlyer

LHR is not THAT bad. I do it all the time and although it has gotten noticeably worse in the last few years (especially now with the one-bag rule), it is certainly not the life-threatening experience that some would have you believe.

With that in mind, I will give the following pieces of advice on transiting LHR:

(1) Give yourself no less than three hours to connect--even for a T4-T4 transfer. You will have to go through security, the lines for which can be positively shocking, even for an airside transfer. If you are traveling in J, it is faster since you can skip much of the line, but if you are in C you are really going to wait a long time. At LHR, you will also run the risk of delays in reaching the terminal in the first place--especially in summer, there is a high probability that when you land, there will not be a gate available for your aircraft. Be prepared to sit on the plane for up to 45 minutes after you touch down.

If the TA is trying to give you a shorter connection time than three hours, resist firmly. BA may have frequent flights to GVA, so if you have the luck to be able to get through security faster, you can jump on an earlier one if there's a seat. But don't book yourself onto it ahead of time.

(2) The same liquids rules apply as in the US for carry-ons, and the UK has the added thrill of the one bag limit. If you can possibly manage to avoid carrying lots of toiletries (not too hard, if you are going to stay in a good hotel), and if you can possibly manage to get all your stuff in one regulation-size carry-on (do-able if you have a short trip or are a very good packer), it will be worth your while. If you have to check bags, try to keep it to one bag--less for them to lose, as LHR can be a baggage black hole. (BA is notorious for losing things and then having the world's worst tracking system after they do so.) However, they did surprise me two weeks ago by managing to transfer my suitcase all the way from DUB-LHR-PHL with no problem.

Do you have any airline loyalty? If not, that's so un-FT!

Thanks to all who answered. Wow. Helpful site. I'll have to come back more often.

Yeah, I guess I ought to get over my dislike of EWR. But it sounds like LHR is best avoided if possible.

AMS looks like a very good option, and I'm booking it. A little research on AMS connections tells me that it might be pretty decent and interesting, as airport connections go. Knock on wood.

Agree. AMS is a beautiful transit airport. I would try to get a few hours to enjoy the airport. Amsterdam is also one of the few cities where you can actually make a city run and back to the airpport in a few hours. If you are in no particular rush, book a relaxed connection and enjoy the airport/city.