URGENT Entering the US - is 1h 25 min layover enough?

[novedsac 355]

That's going to be a tight connection. Keep in mind, the aircraft door usually closes 10 minutes prior to departure and they will not re-open the door for late arriving passengers. As long as everything is running on schedule and your dad knows what to expect, there's a good chance he can make it.

Some things your dad can do to maximize his chances:

1) have him familiarize himself with the connecting airport layout to minimize time trying to figure things out when he's in a hurry

2) request flight attendant on international flight call ahead, usually about 45 minutes prior to landing, to inquire departure gate identification for the departing flight. He should double check the departure gate when he re-checks his baggage after customs.

3) sit as close to the boarding door on the international flight as possible. Do whatever he can to get off the plane and in the immigration queue as soon as possible. Sometimes people will move aside and let someone pass if they kindly announce they have a tight connection.

4) checked baggage can delay things considerably. He will need to retrieve said baggage at baggage claim, proceed through customs and the re-check the baggage for his connecting flight. Being aware of the process ahead of time can minimize confusion and lost time.

5) use the lavatory on the international flight prior to landing so the 'call of nature' doesn't cause unnecessary delay

6) make sure the Delta people upon landing know he's on the move ... they won't delay the flight, but they may just keep those boarding doors open a few more minutes if they know he's hurrying down the corridor. Don't waste time pleading with non-Delta representatives as they won't be in a position to help.

7) DTW is a big airport, but the layout is clean and it is easy to get around, just long distances. Use the train and people movers.

[UPenn2019 2]

Okay, he knows some of this already, but I'll tell him about #2...and is the boarding door in the front of the plane?

[pandainamerica 6]

From what I understand, the OP's dad doesn't speak english well, has never been to DTW before, and isn't traveling with a chaperone who has.

In America, you should always plan for your flight to be late, and you should not expect Asian levels of efficiency in American airports.

I see Chinese people missing connections all the time in American airports, and if he doesn't speak english well, he's going to have a hard time rebooking his domestic leg. I recommend that you rebook his domestic connecting flight to give him more time.

[UPenn2019 2]

Rebooking is too expensive..I think he'll be fine...

Edited May 24, 2015 by UPenn2019

[TheJollyRajah 14]

It really depends if your flight is late, or on the weather, or if the airport is busy... one hour and 25 minutes should be adequate if everything goes according to plan, and the flight arrives on time. He just needs to focus on catching the flight and nothing else. I remember visiting the Philippines in March... I had a three and a half hour layover at the JFK airport in NY. During the flight I was watching the news and saw that the other NY airport had a jet slide off the runway. That freaked me out. I got to NY and it was a blizzard. The airtrains connecting the terminals were down for maintenance and I was stuck waiting for a train for almost the whole time. When I arrived at the terminal I had ten minutes to get in line. I was sprinting through the terminal. When I went to check in, I dropped my boarding pass somewhere along the way. I retraced my steps, found it on the floor in a busy crowd, and I made it at the very last second.

After that day, I learned that you can never have enough time.... so next time I buy a plane ticket, I may appreciate having a long layover..

[UPenn2019 2]

I could have bought the ticket with a 20 hour layover in Beijing (from another airport) and 7 more at Detroit....lol

Anyways, I told him to only go to the bathroom if he needs to AFTER he finds his gate and if he has time.

[pandainamerica 6]

I don't think I can rebook the 2nd flight without paying a lot more.

What airline(s) are the flights booked with? Are they both booked on one passenger name record (PNR) /itinerary? You should read this thread in flyertalk that seems almost identical to your situation. Novesac's post above is good advice, in addition:

My advice, seeing it's too late now to rebook his domestic flight:

1. If you can afford to, get his seat as close to the front of the plane as possible. If there's a premium economy seat left, I'd suggest you cough up the cash.
2. Write a message for him to give to the flight attendant saying that he has a tight connection, and for her to please confirm the gate number of the connecting flight.
3. Make sure he doesn't have anything in his luggage that has to be declared, especially food, tobacco or alcohol, or dirty shoes. Have him check all his shoes and make sure they are spotless. If customs pulls him aside to check his luggage, he's going to his connecting flight for sure.
4. I have no idea whether he needs go through security again, but make sure he knows about the TSA rules with the shoes, metal objects and liquids.
5. Make sure he knows how to call you. If he has a cellphone from china, have him get roaming enabled on his phone, and that your phone number is stored correctly in the international format, ie. +1555-555-5555. Also write a message saying that he's missed his connecting flight, and to please call your phone number.
6. Do some research on airport hotels, and print the name and address of the hotel you've researched (and the address and terminal for DTW) for the taxi driver should the worst happens.

[UPenn2019 2]

Hi. That is actually another thread I made ;D

I did all of that already, but I think he will be staying in the airport if he misses the flight.

[UPenn2019 2]

Funny thing. DTW -> EWR flight got delayed by 2.5 hours.

[novedsac 355]

Funny thing. DTW -> EWR flight got delayed by 2.5 hours.

But did he make his connection?

[UPenn2019 2]

Even if it weren't delayed, the plane would have departed at 7:40pm. He borrowed someone's cell and called me at 7pm and said he was waiting at the gate...So he was through in 50 minutes.

Edited May 29, 2015 by UPenn2019

[visaqueries 111]

Glad it worked out perfectly for you!

[YouAndMeForever 1,022]

Even if it weren't delayed, the plane would have departed at 7:40pm. He borrowed someone's cell and called me at 7pm and said he was waiting at the gate...So he was through in 50 minutes.

That's great to hear!

[UPenn2019 2]

Thanks. I am wondering though, we sent to the consulate a lot of personal photos and other documents, but I don't think we got them back.

[UPenn2019 2]

Also, when does my dad get his green card and SS card?