CLE-OGG: Layover at ORD or SFO or LAX?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 2
CLE-OGG: Layover at ORD or SFO or LAX?
Traveling to Maui from Cleveland on Thanksgiving day on united (with a 3 yo, has been ok with 4 hrs flights previously). Flight award options are
1. CLE-ORD-OGG, 1 hr 23 min layover, the 8 hr flight on dreamliner
2. CLE-SFO-OGG, 5 hr layover
3. CLE-LAX-OGG, 5 hr layover
Which would you choose? Was leaning toward ORD for dreamliner and shorter travel time, but not sure about the shorter layover and lack of alternate flight options if delayed. Also, unsure if breaking up the trip will be better for the toddler. We do have united club passes/priority pass for lounge access on layover. All thoughts appreciated!
1. CLE-ORD-OGG, 1 hr 23 min layover, the 8 hr flight on dreamliner
2. CLE-SFO-OGG, 5 hr layover
3. CLE-LAX-OGG, 5 hr layover
Which would you choose? Was leaning toward ORD for dreamliner and shorter travel time, but not sure about the shorter layover and lack of alternate flight options if delayed. Also, unsure if breaking up the trip will be better for the toddler. We do have united club passes/priority pass for lounge access on layover. All thoughts appreciated!
#3
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recent discussion, Which flights would you take, OGG-EWR w kids? - FlyerTalk Forums
#4
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
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Posts: 9,005
Traveling to Maui from Cleveland on Thanksgiving day on united (with a 3 yo, has been ok with 4 hrs flights previously). Flight award options are
1. CLE-ORD-OGG, 1 hr 23 min layover, the 8 hr flight on dreamliner
2. CLE-SFO-OGG, 5 hr layover
3. CLE-LAX-OGG, 5 hr layover
Which would you choose? Was leaning toward ORD for dreamliner and shorter travel time, but not sure about the shorter layover and lack of alternate flight options if delayed. Also, unsure if breaking up the trip will be better for the toddler. We do have united club passes/priority pass for lounge access on layover. All thoughts appreciated!
1. CLE-ORD-OGG, 1 hr 23 min layover, the 8 hr flight on dreamliner
2. CLE-SFO-OGG, 5 hr layover
3. CLE-LAX-OGG, 5 hr layover
Which would you choose? Was leaning toward ORD for dreamliner and shorter travel time, but not sure about the shorter layover and lack of alternate flight options if delayed. Also, unsure if breaking up the trip will be better for the toddler. We do have united club passes/priority pass for lounge access on layover. All thoughts appreciated!
#5
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: CLE
Programs: UA GS+LT UC, AA EXP+LT PLT, Fairmont LT PLT, Marriott PLT, Hilton DIA, Hyatt Glob, Avis CHM
Posts: 4,671
Traveling to Maui from Cleveland on Thanksgiving day on united (with a 3 yo, has been ok with 4 hrs flights previously). Flight award options are
1. CLE-ORD-OGG, 1 hr 23 min layover, the 8 hr flight on dreamliner
2. CLE-SFO-OGG, 5 hr layover
3. CLE-LAX-OGG, 5 hr layover
Which would you choose? Was leaning toward ORD for dreamliner and shorter travel time, but not sure about the shorter layover and lack of alternate flight options if delayed. Also, unsure if breaking up the trip will be better for the toddler. We do have united club passes/priority pass for lounge access on layover. All thoughts appreciated!
1. CLE-ORD-OGG, 1 hr 23 min layover, the 8 hr flight on dreamliner
2. CLE-SFO-OGG, 5 hr layover
3. CLE-LAX-OGG, 5 hr layover
Which would you choose? Was leaning toward ORD for dreamliner and shorter travel time, but not sure about the shorter layover and lack of alternate flight options if delayed. Also, unsure if breaking up the trip will be better for the toddler. We do have united club passes/priority pass for lounge access on layover. All thoughts appreciated!
#6
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
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#8
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: NYC
Programs: AS 75K, DL Platinum
Posts: 631
Does your child like planes, or merely tolerate them? A friend of mine’s kid recently got at least an hour of entertainment out of being able to adjust the dimmable windows on the 787 with a button.
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,571
Agreed, but with the caveat that I would have all food options with me and not plan to rely on any concessions in ORD. There likely won't be time for much of anything. The longer options would be better for stopping for a meal, but five hours is just too long.
#11
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Latin America and USA
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold
Posts: 456
Given the choice to avoid transiting through ORD during the winter, I'd do so at all costs. SFO and LAX are much less likely to face weather delays. Given the three options presented, SFO and LAX are safer bets from a 'arriving according to schedule' perspective.
#12
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: ORD / PHX
Programs: UA LT 1K 3MM (former 12 yr GS), Bonvoy Amb/LT Plat
Posts: 1,340
Agree with the majority of the posters above. ORD a no-brainer for multiple reasons. Plane type (long haul), short flight first, etc.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
Given those options, ORD is definitely the right choice.
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 2
Thank you. I think will go with ORD as many recommend. We could try to see if the earlier flight from CLE-ORD can be an option too, atm its not showing up as a saver award flight option but perhaps later.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 11, 2021 at 7:56 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
#15
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Latin America and USA
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold
Posts: 456
It's not that bad. For several years I regularly have flown through ORD multiple times every winter. The worst delay experience was having an RJ with its landing gear stuck down for the scheduled 2.5h flight time, which turned it into a 3.5h flight and nearly scuttled my 40m connection.
Given those options, ORD is definitely the right choice.
Given those options, ORD is definitely the right choice.