I should've paid the extra for the direct flight.
December 28, 2009 8:59 PM Subscribe
Help me with my flight connecting through Newark next week. So many details after the cut.
I've read this question, which was helpful but I still have more questions. Details - Next Monday, I am flying from Toronto to Newark, then connecting to a flight to Hong Kong, all on Continental. I believe, that at Newark I will have to pick up my checked bag and recheck it, as well as go through security again. (I clear US customs in Toronto.)
The problem is that the connection time is 1 hr 11min. As far as I can tell, this is a very popular flight (Flight 2923 and Flight 99) YYZ-EWR-HKG so presumably in normal circumstances the time is sufficient. However because of the security delays I am worried about both legs of the flight.
To complicate matters, since the flight into Newark is from Canada, no cabin baggage is allowed. Purses and laptops seem to be exceptions.
I'm so stressed about this. Can anyone enlighten me about the following?
Will I have to change terminals?
Will I have to check/recheck my suitcase?
Regarding the new restrictions> Can I bring a small purse AND a laptop bag? Would I be better off bringing ONE bigger laptop bag that could hold my pursey stuff?
Any other tips about Newark or Continental would be greatly appreciated. (FYI - I am accustomed to long-haul flights etc. just stressed about this particular situation at this time. I also have relatives in Jersey, so I hope I will not be calling them to pick me up if it all goes to ratshit.)
I've read this question, which was helpful but I still have more questions. Details - Next Monday, I am flying from Toronto to Newark, then connecting to a flight to Hong Kong, all on Continental. I believe, that at Newark I will have to pick up my checked bag and recheck it, as well as go through security again. (I clear US customs in Toronto.)
The problem is that the connection time is 1 hr 11min. As far as I can tell, this is a very popular flight (Flight 2923 and Flight 99) YYZ-EWR-HKG so presumably in normal circumstances the time is sufficient. However because of the security delays I am worried about both legs of the flight.
To complicate matters, since the flight into Newark is from Canada, no cabin baggage is allowed. Purses and laptops seem to be exceptions.
I'm so stressed about this. Can anyone enlighten me about the following?
Will I have to change terminals?
Will I have to check/recheck my suitcase?
Regarding the new restrictions> Can I bring a small purse AND a laptop bag? Would I be better off bringing ONE bigger laptop bag that could hold my pursey stuff?
Any other tips about Newark or Continental would be greatly appreciated. (FYI - I am accustomed to long-haul flights etc. just stressed about this particular situation at this time. I also have relatives in Jersey, so I hope I will not be calling them to pick me up if it all goes to ratshit.)
I just looked it up in the OAG, and I can tell you that you arrive EWR in Terminal A and depart from Terminal C, so yes this requires a change in terminals. According to their website, AirTran is the way to move between the terminals. I believe the airline will take care of transferring your screened baggage from one flight to another, but I can't speak to the security issues. I think, as long as you don't dawdle, you should make your connection just fine. Enjoy your trip!
posted by katemcd at 9:19 PM on December 28, 2009
posted by katemcd at 9:19 PM on December 28, 2009
Okay, I looked at Continental's site, and I was wrong when I said they would transfer the bags for you. You will probably need to claim and recheck your baggage. This is going to be tight, but is doable. Interestingly enough, the OAG usually has accurate terminal information, but it looks like it's possible you may arrive and depart from Terminal C, which would be awesome. So, I have basically been of no help to you. This might be worth a call to Continental to see what they say. Just have a book to read while you're on hold.
posted by katemcd at 9:46 PM on December 28, 2009
posted by katemcd at 9:46 PM on December 28, 2009
Most Canada to US flights do something called preclearance, so you'll go through all immigration and customs for the US in Canada. You won't have to recheck bags.
If you look at the question you cited above, you'll see that Continental makes Terminal A to C transfers relatively easy with a shuttle bus.
Transfers and immigration won't be a problem. If everything is on time, you will make the second flight rather easily.
posted by j1950 at 10:13 PM on December 28, 2009
If you look at the question you cited above, you'll see that Continental makes Terminal A to C transfers relatively easy with a shuttle bus.
Transfers and immigration won't be a problem. If everything is on time, you will make the second flight rather easily.
posted by j1950 at 10:13 PM on December 28, 2009
FYI, there have been conflicting reports about the duration of the no carry-on ban from Transport Canada. Several people have stated that the ban will be lifted this week. You should double check later this week. Otherwise, I don't have much helpful information. You might want to post this inquiry on the Continental FlyerTalk board where there should be many people familiar the details of the EWR operation.
posted by Lame_username at 9:57 AM on December 29, 2009
posted by Lame_username at 9:57 AM on December 29, 2009
Response by poster: Thanks, all. Smack-fu - that site is great! Lame_username, I'll try your link. There is so much conflicting info out there! And yes, perhaps the no carry-on ban will be/has already been lifted. So confusing.
posted by typewriter at 8:32 PM on December 29, 2009
posted by typewriter at 8:32 PM on December 29, 2009
Response by poster: Oh crap. Flight to Newark cancelled today, but looks like the Hong Kong flight went as scheduled.
posted by typewriter at 8:40 PM on December 29, 2009
posted by typewriter at 8:40 PM on December 29, 2009
Response by poster: Well, in the end, I got to the airport verrrrrrrry early and begged my way onto an earlier flight. Even though it was an earlier flight, due to security delays, it left the same time as the original flight. I arrived in Newark, to fairly tight security as it was the day after a lockdown incident. However, I was able to make my flight in time. We held at the gate for several missing connecting flights that were late, including my own original flight. They did not make it and the plane took off. All went pretty well except a loud grinding sound coming from the floor of the cabin while we were somewhere over Siberia. The sound continued whirring at higher and higher pitches and was accompanied with the floor in the area *heating* up. Passengers were moved from that area as the flight attendants spoke to the cockpit. People started putting on their coats. I put my passport in my bra, put on my shoes and waited. The sound was very loud, making conversation impossible so we could not even discuss what was happening. Eventually, we learned it was a malfunction with the airconditioning. It took over an hour and half for them to fix it/turn it off.
Also, the food was inedible.
*sigh*
posted by typewriter at 9:41 AM on January 9, 2010
Also, the food was inedible.
*sigh*
posted by typewriter at 9:41 AM on January 9, 2010
Response by poster: More follow-up for posterity:
Baggage was checked through to HKG on the way there. On the way back, baggage has to be picked up, and dropped off again. Annoying, but not too bad.
On the way back to Toronto, my flight was delayed 4 hours in Newark.
I'll try to avoid this flight in the future, even though it was cheap.
posted by typewriter at 7:15 AM on July 10, 2010
Baggage was checked through to HKG on the way there. On the way back, baggage has to be picked up, and dropped off again. Annoying, but not too bad.
On the way back to Toronto, my flight was delayed 4 hours in Newark.
I'll try to avoid this flight in the future, even though it was cheap.
posted by typewriter at 7:15 AM on July 10, 2010
Response by poster: And oh my goodness, the food really was terrible. Bring granola bars.
posted by typewriter at 7:18 AM on July 10, 2010
posted by typewriter at 7:18 AM on July 10, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Honestly, with delays this bad, it's up to Continental whether you make this connection. They only run that non-stop flight to Hong Kong once a day, and it's a big plane, so they will delay it if possible because they don't like to run half-empty, those passengers won't go away, and there's no good way to reroute them.
posted by smackfu at 9:19 PM on December 28, 2009