Making a flight connection

expatriate says on Jun 2, 2007, 11:54:

Things do go wrong. On an American Airlines flight from Cali to Miami, then on to San Francisco, my friend's bags were delayed in Miami for over two hours, and he missed his flight and had to take a later one.

You will need to get your bags in Houston, and take them through customs, then check them in again for your flight home.

If you are young, skilled, and intelligent, you might want to seriously consider leaving the US now, while you still can.

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Miguel_Clavo says on Jun 2, 2007, 11:58:

I have only arrived in Houston twice from Colombia, with about the same amount of time inbetween flights....and all went very smooth.....for me at least, it was a pleasure to go through Houston versus Miami as i normally have to......and nothing was stolen from my luggage by TSA or the baggage handlers, which happened twice through Miami......Customs/Immigration was also smoother and easier....


Just my opinion...

Miguel_Clavo =)..aka, DragonSlayer..2-0..Colombia es pasión!

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

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Portena says on Jun 2, 2007, 13:20:

Good to know Thanks again.

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Portena says on Jun 2, 2007, 13:24:

I usually just take carry on to avoid luggage hassles so I was a bit concerned about the time it might take to retrieve luggage and go through customs. Sounds like all will go fine under most circumstances.

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Miguel_Clavo says on Jun 2, 2007, 13:28:

My trips included max checkin luggage....i normally dont book flights with less than 2 hours between international and domestic.....never had a problem, but some close calls....but not in Houston...

Just my opinion...

Miguel_Clavo =)..aka, DragonSlayer..2-0..Colombia es pasión!

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

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Man Tequila says on Jun 2, 2007, 14:27:

I've been to South America via Houston twice. It's not bad.

You do have to clear customs, which can involve long lines in the afternoon. You have to pick up your baggage and wait in another line for scanning where they may rummage through your stuff. You then drop off the bags before going to your gate, which is often located in a different terminal. There is a small train that connects the terminals which comes every two or three minutes.

My first connection I had about ninety minutes at around 4pm. Lines were longish but made the connection easily. Second time I had about fifty minutes since the first flight was delayed. There were no lines at 10am and again made the connection easily.

Houston seems to do a good job of handling luggage. It is an okay airport. A waiter at Pappadeaux's Cajun Kitchen short-changed me ten bucks. This surprised me, as this is the only time I have ever been intentionally short-changed in Canada or America, although I only visit the US two or three times a year. I was compelled to complain, so I would caution against this place.

Short story, probably not a problem.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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Portena says on Jun 2, 2007, 15:18:

I'll be sure to avoid the Cajun Kitchen Recommendations for good food at the airport that won't involve a lot of waiting? Seems like always it's overpriced...

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houstongal says on Jun 2, 2007, 15:31:

IAH I live in Houston, thus often arrive at IAH on international flights. Clearing immigration is usually a piece of cake with lots of immigration officers and people directing you to a lane (unless you're a foreigner...then it seems like the lines are quite long). But if a number of international flights arrive at the same time it can be a bit of a zoo. Your luggage sometimes takes a while to arrive, but those Continental flights from Colombia aren't 747's so it shouldn't be too bad.

Customs is also usually pretty quick. If you're lucky there will be 3 or more customs officers working. Arriving from Colombia was the only time I was asked to x-ray my luggage in customs. The guy in front of me and I brought coffee (and stated it on the customs form) and we had to get our luggage x-rayed. But that only detained us a few minutes.

Overall, Houston is probably one of the best international airports to arrive in. You should be able to get through immigration, customs, and check your luggage for your domestic flight in the hour and forty minutes you have to make your connection.

"It is now official: there's no place on earth where you will not find a Peruvian band." David Sedaris

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Portena says on Jun 2, 2007, 17:09:

Thanks Houston gal! Now I'm really glad I picked IAH over Miami for my connections. I was in Miami once about 10 years ago and it was definitely a zoo!

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podborski says on Jun 2, 2007, 17:50:

I'd only be worried if you have booked the flights yourself on 2 different airlines.

If so, and you miss the second flight (say due to a delay, it happens), you MIGHT be screwed, meaning you might have to buy a new ticket.

It happened to me coming from Bogotá to Toronto via caracas. I had more than 24 hours to connect, knowing the bad reputation of aeropostale, and still missed my flight. Aeropostale said it was not their problem, even though the delay was due to mechanical failure of the plane, not weather.

But if you've booked on the same airline, no worries at all.

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Portena says on Jun 2, 2007, 18:45:

Podborski - what miserable situation to find yourself in! Yes, I've booked on the same airline.

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gringoloid says on Jun 2, 2007, 20:06:

I'm heading TO colombia this saturday through houston; anybody have any tips/traps for that trip....

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houstongal says on Jun 2, 2007, 21:31:

Gringoloid Nope, I don't know of any tips or traps for your trip to Colombia. I assume you're flying on Continental? The international terminal (E) is my favorite to fly out of because it's fairly new. If you're connecting from another Continental flight (versus a Continental Express flight), you'll most likely just have to walk from terminal C (if you're lucky, you may land in E). If you want Tex-Mex, there is a Pappasitos in terminal E's food court (along with a Panda Express an Italian restaurant and a Le Petit Bistro) and a Pappadeaux in the other end if you're in the mood to sit down for some cajun food. Have a great trip!

"It is now official: there's no place on earth where you will not find a Peruvian band." David Sedaris

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houstongal says on Jun 2, 2007, 21:41:

IAH Food - FAST If you're in terminal E, head to the food court. You'll find chinese, Tex-Mex, italian (pizza), sandwiches, and a Starbucks. I've eaten at the Pappasitos for my last Tex-Mex before heading out of town, but I prefer Panda Express.

If your flight is out of terminal C (most of the domestic flights are in C), there is a food court as well with Wendy's, BBQ, Popeye's, etc. If you are flying Continental, they are the last airline that offers food on their domestic flights (depending on time of day and length of flight) and pillows and blankets. I don't work for Continental, but I fly them a lot.

"It is now official: there's no place on earth where you will not find a Peruvian band." David Sedaris

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podborski says on Jun 2, 2007, 21:42:

I did that houston bogotá flight on Continental it was great. Only tip I have is the same for just about any flight anywhere now, bring your own food! And buy it outside the airport.

(Unless you are flying business class of course, but I doubt I'll ever fly that way again *sigh*)

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podborski says on Jun 2, 2007, 21:56:

there was a near riot in the caracas airport Portena as they would not tell anyone anything, so people could not arrange their rides/hotels in Miami.

I spent an interesting night in the airport there (too dangerous to leave it apparently) watching the film that some young american guys had shot of a kitesurfing contest their website had sponsored. They plugged their cool sony video camera (I gotta get one of those) into the big screen in the airport lounge and we all watched the kitesurfing, and more importantly, a bikini contest, until the airport security came and tried to shut it down. The crowd was so angry they intimidated the security guards into backing down.

My big question is, why do airports always have seats that are impossible to sleep on? They KNOW people are going to get stuck there, yet they insist on putting armrests between every rock hard seat.

Do not fly Aeropostale unless the $200 you save is worth a day or two of travel time.

rant off.

p.s. venezuelan girls seem to be as beautiful and friendly as colombian girls, but when in competition with young filmakers/kitesurfers I lose, but just barely.

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gringoloid says on Jun 2, 2007, 22:21:

thx, houston gal...... i think this will be the best trip as i usually go through Miami and that is the worst. I wind up having to stay in that Miami hotel in the airport because I just can't deal with sitting in a chair all night.

I used a Copa flight from Los Angeles at 1am in the morning, but i felt terrible when i got to Bogota at 1 the next afternoon.

I still have a lot of miles left with AA, so after those are gone I'll try Mexicana next.

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Portena says on Jun 3, 2007, 10:16:

Another question... On my way to Bogota I arrive on an Express jet. Is this arrival gate likely to be close or far from the baggage claim and the International terminal? Just trying to get a sense of how long it might take me to get to terminal E and if I'm going to need to be hopping on a shuttle train.

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Man Tequila says on Jun 3, 2007, 10:32:

Your arrival and departure gates will likely be in different terminals. There might be three to five minutes of walking between the arrival gate and the big room where you clear customs, the big room and luggage pickup, and luggage pickup and the smaller room where you wait to have them scan your bags and rummage through your backpack. After that you go upstairs, wait two minutes for a shuttle, take two or three minutes to ride to terminal C and another three minutes to walk to your departure gate. So twenty minutes of walking, five minutes for your luggage, most of your time will be waiting in line in the big and small rooms.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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Portena says on Jun 3, 2007, 11:19:

Noted : ) Thanks, MT

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houstongal says on Jun 3, 2007, 15:40:

Continental Express Portena,
If you arrive on an Express JET en route to Bogota, you should be OK. The jets usually arrive at a gate in terminal C (I just took one to St Louis a couple of weeks ago). If it's not a jet they shuttle you out to the plane from a different terminal.

Your bags should be checked through to Bogota if you're flying on Continental. And you can easily walk to terminal E (it just seems like you're walking forever though).

And you reverse everything when you fly home (assuming that you're on another Express jet). Your itinerary should tell you whether it's a jet or not. I'm not a big fan of those little jets. It's uncomfortable, you have to check bags at the gate if they won't fit in the overhead bin (you'll get them back when you arrive). I try to avoid them, but I notice that it's usually cheaper to fly on those Express flights versus the regular Continental planes. Let me know if you have any more questions. As I said, I regularly fly international flights out of and into IAH and it beats Atlanta, Detroit and Washington DC. Hopefully you won't have other airlines arriving in IAH at the same time as your Bogota flight. Safe travels!

"It is now official: there's no place on earth where you will not find a Peruvian band." David Sedaris

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Portena says on Jun 3, 2007, 16:12:

I appreciate the info, Houstongal So after I get off the express jet in Houston to head to Bogota I don't have to pick up my luggage and check it in on the international flight - I can just go to the international terminal?? That would be great!

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houstongal says on Jun 3, 2007, 18:47:

That's right Portena You only have to recheck your bags when you arrive in Houston FROM Bogota. It's like that in all the international airports in the US. Just in case US Customs wants to take a closer look at your bags they require you to pick up your bags and take it through Customs then drop them off to be checked to your final destination.

"It is now official: there's no place on earth where you will not find a Peruvian band." David Sedaris

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Man Tequila says on Jun 3, 2007, 20:44:

Your baggage from Houston to Bogota has needed to clear US customs at some point. In Canada, flights from Toronto and Vancouver have US customs in the Canadian airport. If your original flight is in the US, I doubt that you'd have to clear customs on the arrival, but this might not apply if the original flight is from outside North America -- I don't know.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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Man Tequila says on Jun 3, 2007, 20:45:

And be wary of Pappadeaux. I'd avoid it.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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Portena says on Jun 3, 2007, 21:12:

I think I'll stick with my power bar and a cappucino from Starbucks. Heard it's better to eat light to avoid altitude sickness. Think that's just an old wive's tale MT?

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goin_south says on Jun 3, 2007, 23:03:

Man Tequila, .... Pappadeaux's??? Are you talking about in the airport?
Surely.
Because if you go to Westheimer, you will only find the Best dishes, cajun seafood.
But, I can understand in the airport,
it could lack.

Voy para del Sur

Why Colombianitas? Personally... I just don't like pink areolar tissue.

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Man Tequila says on Jun 3, 2007, 23:11:

I don't think eating affects altitude sickness for most people, but I can see if you get stomach aches, have bad acid reflux or a hiatus hernia, or get nauseous from anxiety regarding flights it is probably a good idea.

I love good Cajun food. Pappadeux's in the airport was okay, nothing special, but I honestly cannot recall any other time in Canada or the US when I was short-changed. Pissed me off.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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goin_south says on Jun 3, 2007, 23:30:

come on, now; you know darned well... that was probably 'an individual thing'.
And, not per establishment.

Voy para del Sur

Why Colombianitas? Personally... I just don't like pink areolar tissue.

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Man Tequila says on Jun 4, 2007, 00:01:

I do know that darned well but I will not eat there again. I made the mistake of paying cash with an American fifty. Giving papaya in the US while on the way to Colombia. So it's really my fault ;)

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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lpdiver says on Jun 4, 2007, 02:59:

yah good old Continental. It took them three days to get me from Houston to Medellin. Darn near missed my own wedding.

t

"cook some rice!"

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goin_south says on Jun 4, 2007, 22:14:

Oh, no! Let me check my itinerary; wheeeeh; I think I'm going the (dreaded) NO/Charlotte/Miami/Bogota connection, all in about 9 hours. wish me luck!

Voy para del Sur

Why Colombianitas? Personally... I just don't like pink areolar tissue.

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houstongal says on Jun 5, 2007, 18:59:

Horrendous itinerary GS - That's a horrendous itinerary! Too many connections to potentially miss and too many opportunities for the airlines to lose your luggage. Good luck and pray for clear skies and strong tailwinds.

"It is now official: there's no place on earth where you will not find a Peruvian band." David Sedaris

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goin_south says on Jun 5, 2007, 21:53:

the only word in that warning that catches my attention, houstongal, is...'tail' :))
(It'll be anxiously awaiting me)

Voy para del Sur

Why Colombianitas? Personally... I just don't like pink areolar tissue.

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goin_south says on Jun 5, 2007, 21:58:

And, the good news is that I was wrong again; Leaving the USA in the mid day
and arrive Bogota VERY...EARLY...Evening.
6 Hours/1 stop.
Me gusta mucho.

Voy para del Sur

Why Colombianitas? Personally... I just don't like pink areolar tissue.

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houstongal says on Jun 6, 2007, 18:36:

Ahhhh...much better! GS - Now 6 hours and 1 stop is more civilized! I still hope you get a good tail.......wind. ;-)

"It is now official: there's no place on earth where you will not find a Peruvian band." David Sedaris

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