The final episode in this three-part series invited the readers to direct the text. Here are the five air travel questions answered re: connections and seats. If you’re not planning to fly anywhere and don’t know anyone who could use the information, you might enjoy reading the adventures.
Q1: I’m going to India. Any tips related to connecting flights?
A: My main tip is to be sure you have more than one phone number if someone will meet you at your final destination. When we flew from Paris to Mumbai (Bombay), we learned Indian airlines are so used to folks missing connecting flights that they’ve adopted a rather unique and cordial alternative to a long wait in the uncomfortable airport seats. I can only speak to the treatment afforded those traveling in Economy Class, even so, I found the completely free additional adventure delightful.
When it became apparent that our connecting flight wouldn’t be arriving, the waiting staff member handed us a sheet of instructions. First, the staff-only bus drove us to the employee cafeteria to eat, then to a hotel where we could rest. Though we’d only be in the room about seven hours, we gave thanks for the opportunity to shower and stretch out. Our journey had begun in Africa, connecting with the India-bound flight in Paris, and took many hours in the plane to land in Mumbai.
Early the next morning, the bus returned us to the airline’s cafeteria for breakfast before riding back to the airport. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast, though the buffet offered fare for the other two meals if breakfast didn’t interest the diner.
Q2: If I must clear customs on my return to the States, and then re-check my bags for the domestic connection, how much time should I expect the process to take?
A: Never allow less than one hour for your connection, though your travel agent may try to convince you otherwise. You’ll need to go through passport check before reclaiming your luggage. Because of increased security, these lines can be even longer for folks holding American passports than foreigners.
If you’re thinking it’ll be better to enter America through a less-familiar airport because fewer airlines will land at the same time, you are not taking one major factor into consideration.
Years ago, we got a great deal on a Continental flight from Geneva to Spokane, connecting flight in Denver. I rejoiced, thinking How many international flights can there be through Denver? All but one of ours have been either East or West Coast entry points.
The flight landed right on time. Things took a turn for the worse after that. Unfortunately, too many international flights landed on time that day.
My Swiss colleague breezed through passport check but not ol’ American me. The controller took one look at my Algerian visa stamp and pulled me out for questioning. Lots of questioning.
He wasn’t interested in my explanation that the trip hadn’t happened. He could see for himself if he would just scan my passport pages for the entry stamp. He refused, expressing his personal doubts that I even was a missionary.
As he fanned through the pages of the bulging passport, my mission photo ID dropped out. I picked it off the floor, giving thanks that I’d inadvertently stuffed it in there. I had proof.
Joining my colleague, who had already retrieved our baggage, we made our way to the customs area. The airport had only one station, manned by a harried employee. Seeing her frantic attempt to handle the hundreds of international passengers who’d come in on four flights at the same time, my heart went out to her.
Finally, a second station opened, but few passengers made their connecting flight that day, including us.
Cell phones make alerting your airport pick-up folks a lot easier today than in those days long ago. If you give them your flight numbers, the internet tracking will let them know, even if you can’t get a signal.
The airport in Denver has changed significantly and likely employs more customs agents now. My itinerary works better to use West Coast entry points, so I’ve not tried Denver again.
Tip: Hope for the best but plan for Murphy to take over. Be prepared for an unexpected change.
Q3: If I reserve a specific seat when I book the flight in April, can I be sure I have that seat when I fly in July?
A: Yes, in principle. However, stuff happens, right?
A couple of years ago, we locked in our seats two months before the flight. However, when we checked in, we discovered the seats had not been retained by the airline. The reason had to do with a change in the aircraft that would make the flight. Because I’m blind, they changed the computer-generated new seat assignment so my seat would be next to my colleague’s.
A change in the specific aircraft is more likely during peak travel months—summer and holidays. The plane you book in April may not be the model that will fly you to your July destination.
Tip: Check online a couple of weeks before your flight. If the aircraft has been changed, you’ll see that your seats aren’t the same—or may not be recorded at all. You can choose them then.
Q4: I brought up the seat map for my flight, but all of the seats on the sides of the plane are blocked out. Am I really too late to sit anywhere but the middle section?
A: Not at all. There are a lot of reasons for blocking those seats early-on, but the main thing for you to know is that it’s a temporary situation. The closer it is to your date, the more seats become available to you.
Just choose a seat. Then, check back periodically to see if the seat you want is available. If you do the day before online check-in, all of the seats still available will be open. You can change to one of those at that time.
We’ve often had preferred seats blocked with early bookings, but always had the opportunity to change them before flying.
Q5: Should I have any concerns about connecting flights if my travel is only within the States?
A: The procedures are much simpler because you don’t have issues with customs. Though you won’t have a passport check at the connecting point, always keep your boarding pass and photo identification within easy reach.
Here are a few considerations for domestic travel:
- Weather: Last year, when deciding between a Phoenix or Denver connection, we considered only the available dining possibilities. We’d leave our lodging in Sacramento early that morning, travel to the connecting choices around noon-ish and board the flight to Spokane by mid-to-late-afternoon. We’d arrive after suppertime, so we wanted to be able to have a sandwich or salad during the transit time.
We’d only been in Phoenix for a connection once. Not a pleasant memory. We’d fast-walked the entire one hour available through to our connecting departure area. Talk about a serious thirst! We found no fast-food places–only two small, extremely expensive places to purchase anything to eat or drink. Of course, dozens of other passengers had already lined up to order lunch.
In the end, we opted for taking granola bars in our carry-on and booked the connection through Phoenix. Good thing we did. A snowstorm in Colorado grounded all flights in Denver. No connecting flights that day.
We had the same Phoenix arrival gate but a different departure area altogether. The walk was long but loaded with about any kind of fast food, or more organic dining one might find appetizing along the way.
If you’re on a tight schedule, you might do better to schedule your March connection routed through Phoenix than Denver, or any State where early spring snow may see your connection canceled.
- Unexpected distance to connecting gate. Flying Southwest inside America works great under most circumstances. The connections are often located near one another. In Portland, they’re all in the same area, which is also close to a number of places to enjoy lunch between flights.
The long distance between Southwest’s connecting flight in Phoenix took us by surprise. Subsequent Phoenix connections over the years provided equally brisk stretching of the legs to make the connections.
Traveling one leg of the journey on a Boeing 737 that connects with a fixed-wing, puddle-jumper to get you to your final destination may involve a sprint to the finish. Larger planes fit against the jetway attached to the terminal but smaller planes don’t. You’ll need to board from the tarmac after descending a flight or two of airport metal stairs.
- Sickness: If turbulence is tossing you about as you cling to the thin armrests of the commuter plane built for twelve passengers, the sickness issue may be yours. I had in mind the sickness of another passenger. An in-flight medical emergency causes unexpected landings en route. If you schedule your connection too close, you’ll likely miss it.
- Technical aircraft problems. A great deal on a set of connecting flights tempted my good sense into choosing another commuter Murphy reigned supreme for the entire day.
The original plane didn’t show. Two hours later, we boarded the twenty-one passenger plane. (I’d expected one of the airline’s larger planes, but okay, I handed my computer backpack to the guy who stowed it in the storage area below the cockpit.)
We sat on the tarmac in the sweltering heat of that locked and ready to go cabin for two, grueling hours. The left engine continued to drip oil, regardless of what the mechanics tried to do.
Finally, they freed us from the aircraft. We descended the steps and walked back across the tarmac to wait for another plane.
Already four hours later than the original departure time, the agent at the gate counter handed us a food voucher to go get lunch. The amount didn’t match the cheapest of airport options. My colleague and I pooled our vouchers and shared a sandwich, taking two straws to share the drink.
Two hours later, we boarded another small plane from the airline’s fleet. Everyone cheered to be airborne.
An hour into the flight, a sudden, steep drop in altitude evoked the opposite emotion. For some reason, the captain had to lower the plane to just before the oxygen masks would drop. He did a great job of flying just over the treetops, keeping those masks in their secure compartment above our heads.
Grateful for a safe landing, I had no idea I’d had the easy leg of the journey behind me that day.
After about an hour and a half, the door to the metal stairway opened, and we clunked our way down to the tarmac. After handing our carry-ons to be loaded into the nosecone storage bay, we ascended a few steps into the cabin. Talk about elbow to elbow seating!
Take-off reminded me of some sci-fi airborne massage of parts I’d rather not have shaking. The incredible roar and sputter of the engines shook the plane; not to mention the turbulence tossed us like a cork in the Atlantic.
After about an hour filled with silent but fervent prayer, I relaxed at the sound of the noisy engines smoothing to a steady roar. My seat still vibrated, and pockets of dips and lifts punctuated the entire flight. I found that landing a sweet relief.
Since this experience, I’ve not flown on any small commuter planes but only Southwest’s lovely, big Boeing 737s.
In the interest of full-disclosure, I did miss a connecting flight when the Southwest plane experienced a mid-flight rip in the fuselage overhead. We landed at the nearest airport, and another plane took us to the final destination instead of making the connecting flight. Again, having the phone number of the friend about to head for the airport, saved us both the frustration of the change in plans.
Afterthought
Coming to the end of this three-part series on air travel, I realized I may have left out one important tip for those of you scheduling your summer and fall travel plans into and through Europe.
There are some phenomenal fares offered by Ryanair. Many friends have taken advantage of the savings with little to no glitches in the trip. Some report other-than-ideal happenings.
When booking flights, consider the following:
- On-Time departure. Though it’s improving, the delay can be four or five hours.
- Cancellations. Flights are sometimes canceled while you’re waiting to depart.
- Gate location. Check-in may be in the usual area for airline counters, but the departure gates can be quite a long hike. Get there early and in shape, wink.
Ryanair is the adventurer’s delight. Cheap fares and great destinations. Just be prepared to hold your plans lightly, and you’ll have a wonderful time.
Conclusion
I hope you’ve found this series helpful, or at least entertaining. International travel can be lots of fun, especially if you can go with the flow and enjoy the unexpected changes sure to drop into your plans.
The purpose in sharing my experiences is to better prepare newbie travelers of what wrench might fall into the works. I’ve not seen it all, but hopefully, reading my stories might reduce your surprises.
Feel free to offer tips for other readers in the comments below. If you have another question, go ahead and ask.
