How much time do I need to allow for transit in a US airport (Minneapolis)?
I am flying from Los Angeles to Bangalore. I have a flight option from LAX to Minneapolis and from there to Paris. I have only 45 minutes at Minneapolis before my next flight. Is this too risky a schedule? I am not an American, so I guess I would need to cross emigration too?
Best Answer
Don't do it.
Firstly, I doubt it's on the same airline. I can't think of any airlines that fly LAX-MSP, and MSP-CDG. I'm guessing you're on Delta for the first leg, and Air France for the second - very possibly with one of those flights being a code-share so it appears to be on the same airline - but it's not.
Delta and Air France do use the same terminal, although it can still be a bit of a hike between gates depending on which concourse the Delta flight lands in. Even if everything is on time, the Air France flight will be boarding 5 minutes before you're due to land. Add in the 10-15 minutes it might take them to get the plane to the gate and for you to get off and you're already cutting it fine - and that's if everything is on time.
But the most important thing to consider here isn't really how likely you are to make the connection, it's what the impact is if you miss it. MSP-CDG is a once a day flight. If you miss it, you're probably waiting 24 hours until the next one - presuming it has seats available. To me, that's far to big a risk to even consider such a tight connection.
Pictures about "How much time do I need to allow for transit in a US airport (Minneapolis)?"
How long of a layover do I need in Minneapolis?
If you're connecting from an international flight to a domestic flight in Minneapolis, plan for a two hour layover if you don't have to change terminals. If you do have to change terminals, three hours is best since you never know how long it's going to take to get through the customs and immigration process.How long is considered in transit?
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Pad Your Schedule for Airport Connections That's why many travelers deliberately pad their schedules by booking a longer layover than the minimum at a connecting hub. Consider allowing at least 60 to 90 minutes for a U.S. domestic connection, and at least two hours for an international connection.How long should airport layovers be?
Changing Gates For peace of mind, particularly when connecting in a large city, try to schedule a layover of at least 60 minutes. If you have gate-checked items or are traveling with someone with special needs, extend your connection time to 90 minutes if possible.Do I Need A Transit Visa If My Plane Has A Stop In The US?
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