Detailed help needed! Connecting flights involving San Francisco, Las Vegas.?
I've never done a connecting flight before, and this is a 21st Birthday trip so I really don't want it to be ruined by flight problems. I've read another yahoo answers question where everybody is saying 1 and a half hours is not enough time to do a connecting flight and i've panicked now because my return flight there is only about 45 minutes to get off the las vegas flight in chicago to catch my heathrow flight! I also want to know how the luggage works - i.e do you have to claim it at baggage arrivals in san francisco and then re-check it? Very worried! any help appreciated - my flight details are below: London (LHR) Depart 11:15 Terminal 1 to San Francisco (SFO) Arrive 14:20 Terminal I 5,352 mi (8,613 km) Duration: 11hr 5mn UA Flight: 955 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- San Francisco (SFO) Depart 16:09 Terminal 3 to Las Vegas (LAS) Arrive 17:53 Terminal 1 414 mi (666 km) Duration: 1hr 44mn UA Flight: 460 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sat 14-Nov-09 Las Vegas (LAS) Depart 14:45 Terminal 1 to Chicago (ORD) Arrive 20:20 Terminal 1 1,510 mi (2,430 km) Duration: 3hr 35mn UA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sat 14-Nov-09 Chicago (ORD) Depart 21:07 Terminal 1 to London (LHR) Arrive 11:05 +1 day Terminal 1 3,941 mi (6,342 km) Duration: 7hr 58mn UA Flight: 938
Air Travel - 5 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
I wouldn't be that much worried about your flight going to Vegas, even you have to change terminals I still I believe you can manage, just make sure you follow the signs and if can't find the spot ask quickly for help and by all means don't loose off with looking at some store or checking some interesting spots in SF Airport. Whilst for your trip back, hmmm, I think you should check with the agency you sold the ticket (if you bought it from an agency), if there as any chance you can change the ticket for a later flight to London (even if it's not direct) I would do it, 47 minutes seems almost impossible (nothing is impossible) but this is just almost :)) Wish you a safe journey and good luck. Cheers.
2 :
Your issue is with the timing of your flight from Las Vegas to Chicago, 45 mins is wait to short for transferring from a domestic to an international flight. Contact your booking agent, and see if they can get you on one of the two earlier flights out of LAS on 14/11/09 - either 11:26 AM LAS – 5:10 PM ORD (United 397) or 9:32 AM LAS – 3:19 PM ORD (United 396) At least in ORD, you will be able to get a drink and be able to relax before your final leg, instead of rushing and ultimately panicking. Flight 938, is the last flight on UA to LHR on that day, so getting into ORD earlier is your best option.
3 :
You check your luggage all the way to London. If you cannot change your flight, you will need to run fast. Since United accepted the booking, they think that you can make it but it will be tight. Especially since Chicago is notorious for all its weather delays.
4 :
I believe u don't have enough time in SF to get the LV flight. You have to do the immigration check/ baggage clearance at SF since it's the entry point to the USA. What if you have a big line(queue) in SF immigration? I don't know how far it is to T3 from T1. But I'm sure they are not very close. So it's better to get at least 2.5, 3 hours time for LV flight. Well some here says you don't have enough time for the returning flight (ORD-LHR) But from my experience you only go through the security clearance in LAS. (once i took the international flight from 10 mins after coming from another domestic flight) But it's better to check with United Airlines & make arrangements according to what they recommend. any way wishes for your b'day! & good luck.
5 :
I don't think this is unreasonable. When you arrive in SFO you could be delayed in immigration customs and security - claim your luggage here, go through customs and then recheck it. There is a special rechecking desk/area so this part is fairly quick. If you do miss your connection here then the airline will book you on the next flight. It's hard to predict what will happen. I once turned up in Washington DC from Heathrow and was through the whole process in 10 minutes but it can be much longer. For the change coming back the luggage should be checked through so you won't see it at ORD. I wouldn't expect another security check because you have already been checked into the US system in Las Vegas. If they give you a little card when you enter the US keep it and hand it back when you leave Chicago. The system has changed since I was last there but I think that you now have to check yourself out of the country on a computer terminal. 45 minutes isn't unreasonable but I would feel happier with more. If you do get stuck in Chicago go downtown to the lakeside - its much nicer than the area around the airport.
