This United Airlines schedule seems unreasonable (layovers too short?)
It is turning out to be a complex trip, but I'm trying to find a flight from Santiago to Osaka in October.
I found the following relatively direct, pretty cheap flight, all bookable under United:
What I am utterly confused about are the connection times:
- 1h 20m International (Santiago-Houston) -> Domestic (Houston-S.Fran.)
- 1h 40m Domestic (Houston-S.Fran.) -> International (S.Fran.-Osaka)
- 55m Domestic (S.Fran.-Houston) -> International (Houston-Santiago)
It seems these are completely unreasonable and yet the screenshot above is from the United website. I was under the impression that United would not be allowed to offer such a booking if the transfer were not feasible. Perhaps then it comes down to what "feasible" means in this context.
Hence my questions are:
- Are the connections above feasible (with checked luggage, EU citizen)? Like 50% probability of making all of them? 10%? 80%?
- How can United offer these connections if they are as risky as I think they are?
(The main reason I'm asking is because if it were feasible, it would be a very tempting option given my constraints and the distance and cost involved. But obviously those times look exceptionally short.)
Best Answer
Of course it depends on the airport and the time of day, but 45 minutes is typically enough to deplane an international flight, go through immigration and customs, and board a national flight. So this offer is perfectly reasonable.
Pictures about "This United Airlines schedule seems unreasonable (layovers too short?)"
What happens if layover is too short?
If you missed your connecting flight due to a short layover, the airline will book you on the next flight free of charge as long as the connecting flight is part of the same ticket.Why do airlines schedule short layovers?
All this boils down to shorter transits. This is good for passengers, as they quickly arrive at their destination. However airlines are running on a tight margin - because they are on the hook for costs if a connection is delayed, missed and passengers are stranded.Is a 57 minute layover too short?
In most cases, a 30-minute layover for domestic flights and an hour for international flights is considered a minimum, or short, layover.Is a 48 minute layover too short?
As a rule of thumb, on domestic routes, you need a minimum of 45 minutes between flights. That's because you don't have to go through security, customs, and immigration.DON'T LET THIS RUIN YOUR TRIP! | *Tips for short connecting flights*
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Images: George Milton, Josh Sorenson, Charlotte May, Pavel Danilyuk