Looking at indirect flights for August 2020

[Crowdpleaser]

I'm doing my research so I'm ready to go. I'm an indirect novice. Which US airports are the better to connect through and which are the vast rabbit warrens you would rather avoid?

Many thanks!

[TheHughesCrew]

There's also been some good deals via Frankfurt with Lufthansa recently, which is fairly easy to navigate I believe...

[Crowdpleaser]

Originally Posted by TheHughesCrew

There's also been some good deals via Frankfurt with Lufthansa recently, which is fairly easy to navigate I believe...

See more...

Yep it's on my radar but my dates hadn't been released by lufthansa yet. Hopefully they might do another deal. But researching US airports at this time too.

[toonarmani]

We’ve had good experiences for:

Atlanta for Delta/Virgin
Philly for AA/BA

[sotagals]

I suppose you could say atlanta is a vast rabbit warren but it's easy to navigate. Like all other airports they'll have their good days and bad days.

The trick is go allow yourself plenty of time, especially outbound.

I avoid Heathrow transit if I can. We've found it can take more than 2 hours inbound and I hate that bus ride between terminals.

I don't think there's any US airport I would specifically avoid except maybe Chicago - just because it took so darn long to get there. I haven't done via Frankfurt for the same reason.

I like my local airport and transit thru' Amsterdam. But I know if I want a good price I have to consider any and all options.

[Disneyleo]

Where are you starting from?

We transferred through jfk on the return leg last year. Jfk is manic and huge, we had to change terminals, I was panicking a bit.

Not USA but Amsterdam is easy to transfer through.

[Peko]

OP - you haven't mentioned where your starting point will be, e.g. London area or an airport in another part of the UK. That could impact the advice.

In addition to those mentioned above, consider Dublin, which of course has the benefit of pre-clearance and arriving in (presumably) MCO as a domestic passenger.

European airports such as AMS and FRA (or even London, if you're coming from elsewhere in the UK) can be efficient, but you will still have to clear immigration and customs in MCO. With the US gateways, you will do that at the connection point. Of course, there is often a price/convenience trade-off to consider.

[Crowdpleaser]

Ahh yes that would help! London or Birmingham are both fine. We flew from Gatwick last time.

Thanks for all advice. I don't mind indirect anywhere really but I'm trying to swerve the ones people hated and said was enormous and 5 tram rides from each gate!

[alexisemma31]

I would definitely avoid Heathrow if you can, just a nightmare! JFK is huge and we've always had a delay out of there due to a long line of planes waiting to take off. If you can go via Dublin, do. Pre clearance saves loads of time at the other end!

[Goldia]

We've done indirect through New York (JFK), Washington Dulles (IAD), Miami and also Dublin. The benefit of going indirect is not having to do the immigration hall bit in Orlando. This is a plus as arriving as a domestic passenger is a nicer experience. Plus of course it's cheaper than a direct flight.

We have had some issues though...lost luggage on the return home trip via Miami, nearly missing the flight to Orlando via Dublin as there had been a delay at Gatwick, sitting in the plane for 2 hours waiting for clearance to take off at Washington as it couldn't take off due to storms in Orlando and all the flights to Orlando being grounded.

You would think given the issues we've had I would avoid indirect flights but we are doing it again next year as I booked with Lufthansa as it was such a good price.

I like indirect, but it's certainly not stress free. So just be prepared and give yourself enough time to change terminals etc at the connecting airport.