I have about 30 min to connect to an international flight. Will i make it?

Question

My travel agent has gotten me an itinery for leaving San antonio at 8:25 and landing in Detroit at 12:24. My connecting flight to Japan leaves at 1:05pm. Am I realistically going to make it?
Last year I went to Japan but via Dallas airport and i did not have to go through customs or anything. Just run to the terminal.
I worry about this.

Answer 1

Thirty minutes is a legal connection, but International flights close 30 minutes before departure because of additional paperwork that has to be done. You need to find a new travel agent or start booking travel for yourself. You honestly should fire that one because 30 minutes is NOT enough time to connect. At the 30 minute mark before departure on an Interanational flight all passengers must be on board the aircraft. Since you are connecting in Detroit, Im assuming you are flying on Northwest. This is per their website at http://www.nwa.com

"International Flights: Passengers must be checked in at least 60 minutes and on-board at least 30 minutes before scheduled departure time for flights to/from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and all other International flights."

There are no earlier flights from SAT (San Antonio) on Northwest that are non-stop. However, depending on your ticket, the travel agent could book you on an earlier flight leaving just after 6am, connecting in Memphis and arrive an hour earlier and have enough time to make that connection. OR call your inept travel agent who obviously does not know the rules for travel and have them make the changes and absorb the difference in fare for booking you an illegal connection.

Going out, you wont go through customs or immigration, its always at the point of entry. But still...30 minutes from one gate to another, even though its on the same concourse is still cutting it close, you'll most likely lose your seat since they will release all unclaimed seats at 30-45 minutes before departure. Anyone not shown onboard the aircraft at the 30 minute before departure point is subject to cancellation of their seat and possibly their reservation. Cut offs are in place for a reason and if your inbound flight delays even one minute, you will absolutely miss your connection if they close the gate for any "runners" at the legal cut off. IF yje flights are slotted as they are right now, you have to go from A18 to A40. Most flights have the same gates every day, but there are last minute changes if the previous flight is delayed etc. Below is the map of the Terminal in DTW.

So, legally you will not make your flight. Realistically, I doubt that either. So...Id start raising a big stink with the travel agent first thing in the morning. I also assume you are going to Osaka based on the departure time, and of course that is the only flight to OSA daily. I did, however see on nwa.com that they were selling a 33 minute connection with the inbound flight being a codeshare on another airline, but they even know thats not realistic because a slight delay and those passengers are up a creek.

Ok, sorry for this being so long, but in short, you have the potential for disaster with that one. Always allow atleast an hour or more for International connections because if the inbound flight delays any, you will miss the only flight out to that city for that day. Any GOOD travel agent would know this.

Answer 2

I dont some people have read your post correctly unfortunatly...
If you have booked this travel with the same airline and the luggage will go straight through onto your next flight and you dont need to collect it and check in agaiin and also within the minumum connecting time then there dhouldnt be a problem UNLESS your flight is delayed then it is beyond your control.

Since security has caused delays in departure I believe in the US then this may be the underlying factor of your journey.

I would however get you locator number from you ticket or give the airline your flight details and clarify that its OK to do this journey.

What I would reccommend, if there is an earlier flight with the same airline going San Antonio - Detriot, then turn up for check in and see if you can get on this flight or best of all change your reservation for this flight.

One problem you might find is that you can get to Japan on time but your luggage might not!

Call your airline now and see what they say...

Good luck and safe journey!

Answer 3

You're going to Osaka, right? You might make it because the train that runs along the gates at the NW terminal in DTW is very fast. Problem is NWA may not let you check in this itinerary at SAT, and the 8:25am is the first flight of the day to DTW. You could take an earlier NW flight that makes a connection somewhere else like Houston and get to DTW way earlier. I would stick with NW for the whole itinerary.

Answer 4

You should be ok regarding terminal transfer as Iberia and Veuling both use Terminal 4, as for customs, I've never had a problem with customs in Spain (UK National) you might want to check if you actually need to go through customs, depending on if there is a flight transfer desk.

Answer 5

Hi delita_hy... !
Thanks for asking.
Look, I´m not too a hell of a traveller, but from my experience (esp. in the U.S.) I´ve learned that this seems very unrealistic. Try always to be generous with your time, esp. on vacation and flights, because

1) We don´t wanna hurry
2) There may happen unforeseen things, controls, schedule changes a.s.f.
3) We don´t wanna be stressed to start off a nice japanese vacation.

My tip : Take at least 1 hour or a little more, what difference makes that time if anyway you fly that far ?

I wish you a beautiful stay and experience in Japan.
And : Get your plane, buddy !

Best wishes from Xalapa (México)
Christian. (german)

Answer 6

You gotta be nuts, who made this arraingments, not a travel agent right? How about if there'a a flight delay? That's one big connection to miss since i imagine there are not many more right away. Good luck, hope you have nice legs!

Answer 7

hmmmm, if it is all on one airline, you can request for a near front seat and have a good chance of getting it.
\
If on two airlines, request a near front seat and show the 1st airline your ticket to try to get the check in clerk to feel sorry and give you that seat.

NO FRONT SEAT, NO JAPAN!!!

Answer 8

Unless you're already at the gate, you're not going to make it buddy. Sorry...

Answer 9

seriously- ask the airline

Answer 10

you had better run fast to get there.