TH310

So, UA changed our July LAX-EWR-FCO flight which resulted in an illegal connection time, so I need to choose a new flight (rather than allow them to choose it for me). I know there are all kinds of other possibilities out there, but I need to fly on UA and my husband would like us to arrive in Rome/FCO in the early morning. We are in Business (P) and I want to have a lie-flat seat for the international portion.

Basically it comes down to connecting through either IAD or EWR and whether to fly the domestic portion in a 757 vs a 737. Can you tell me which of these choices is best in terms of being able to make the connection, airport, and aircraft?

What is the likelihood of UA changing the aircraft? The EWR/IAD>FCO portions appear to all be on the 767-400ER (although when I was looking at this previously, the IAD>FCO was on a 767-300). Choice are as follows:

1. UA1136/UA42 Depart LAX 7:45 am. LAX-IAD-FCO 757-300/767-400ER (1 hour 38 minute connect time)

2. UA/1429/UA42 Depart LAX 8:45 am. LAX-IAD-FCO 737-800/767-400ER (has a 45 minute connection time, but then I can sleep in another hour. Is this a reasonable domestic-to-intl connect time at this airport?)

3. UA 1266/UA52 Depart LAX 7:20 am. LAX-EWR-FCO 737-900/767-400ER (has a 1 hour 28 minute connect time)

Thanks!!

burlax

Doesn't IAD have better OTP / fewer WX issues?

aacharya

I don't like the 753s, personally, and I like the 738/739 DirecTV (let's hope you don't have a Koito plane). If this was a weekend, I'd pick the shorter connection. If on a heavier travel day, I'd pick the first or third flight.

LA2CDG

I would do option 3, 757-300 are the worst planes for cross country.
737-900 will have DirecTV and a nice ride. 88 minute connections will work fine for Newark.

astroflyer

Forget the 45 minute connection time. If you're delayed, then you miss the only flight to FCO that day. For international flights that have low frequency, I always recommend a little padding unless you're willing to risk losing a day. I also like EWR as there are showers at the United club, which I enjoy before an overseas flight.

Can't promise anything on equipment subs. Sorry.

Kacee

+1

JDS747

Another +1 for this one!

I too would go with option 3 via EWR if it was me. Then you potentially have two backup flights via IAD if something goes wrong with the flight to EWR.

mherdeg

Thinking outside the box, have you considered trying to get UA to put you on a transatlantic flight from the west coast? Like LAX-FRA-FCO, LAX-LHR-FCO, LAX-SFO-FRA-FCO, LAX-SFO-LHR-FCO?

This is a little wacky because of the suggestion that it put you on LH or BA(!) metal but it might be worth asking for, particularly if you like upper decks. Depending on the schedules, it might actually get you in sooner than a transcon + transatlantic flight.

docbert

How strict are you on arriving early in the morning?

Personally I hate breaking west coast -> Europe flights with a stop on the east coast, especially when in business. If it were me, I'd be doing LAX-SFO-FRA-FCO (last leg on LH)

Yes, it's an extra stop, but it gives you a much longer period in a lie-flat seat, and much better timing to actually get a good nights sleep. Arrival into FCO is 12:30pm, or 2pm if you want a longer connection in FRA.

IAH-OIL-TRASH

Seats 1A and 1B in the 753 are the best seats between the two, coast to coast, if you're not dependent on UA's entertainment options (read: iPad). Also, I personally would much rather be on the 764 than the sardine can 763.

aacharya

?? There is no option the OP posted on a 763.

endrond

+1 on avoiding the 45 minute connection time. I'm not the type of person who insists on getting to the airport early, but for domestic to international my ideal connection time is 2 hours, due to the extreme hassle caused by misconnects.

Also, I agree with those who recommend trying LAX-Europe-FCO.

For option 1 vs option 3....I personally prefer the 757s over the 73X's, because my neighbor's TV tends to irritate me. (I really don't like TV in public places).

TH310

Thanks--I tried to change to LH earlier and UA would not go for it. I wanted to fly on LH's 747-8i. Our business class ticket is pretty deeply discounted (purchased through Amex) so they wanted an additional charge (I think it was about $400 per ticket). Asked for a supervisor and they said that since they had several alternatives within 2 hours of my original flight they would not put us on a codeshare. I did not ask about the UA route going through SFO, which would be on a 747-400. That would only have the short leg from FRA to FCO on LH. I'm thinking UA might do that, but would probably still want some additional payment. BA is completely out as I need the premiere qualifying miles and UA won't do it anyway.

Appreciate everyone's input. I'm going to mull it over (now deciding between asking for the SFO routing or sticking with EWR). Based on the feedback, I think I would now like to try the 737 if we do a cross country flight first. Have spent a lot of time on 757's recently and am intrigued by the direct TV on the 737--my seat partner will be my husband so that's okay :-). Especially appreciate the feedback on my connection time being too short.

uastarflyer

I would personally try for the SFO-FRA and get seats upstairs on the UA 747.

If you are jonesing to fly a 737, fly Southwest. Need direct TV? Stay home.

Seriously, 10-12 uninterrupted hours in INT'L C beats a narrow body domestic F for 5 hours and Intl C for 7.

If the SFO-FRA doesn't pan out then settle for as long a layover on the East coast you can get.

USFdonWill

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When are you planning to travel?

Currently, both flights are 763s. exEWR is a 76E (reconfigured ghetto bird/2-cabin) and exIAD is a 67I (3-cabin).

I would go with exIAD as exEWR seems to have more delays.