Hotels FAQ

Question:

> Isnt there some kind of minimum layover on intercontinental flights? I’m > flying  HEL-LAX-FAT in July and I have 3hrs at Heathrow and another > 3hrs20mins at LAX. > Same thing when I come back. > J

Minimum connection times are determined by the logistics of the airport, not whether it’s an intercontinental flight.  Minimum connection times from domestic to domestic in the U.S. are generally 15 minutes to 30 minutes.  So with your itinerary, you’ll need to clear Customs at LAX. 3 hrs. 20 mins. is more than adequate time.  So what exactly is your concern?

Response:

There are published international connecting time foe each airline. Personally, you want to make sure the layover is long enough to avoid customs and ATC problems. Michael – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Isnt there some kind of minimum layover on intercontinental flights? I’m > flying  HEL-LAX-FAT in July and I have 3hrs at Heathrow and another > 3hrs20mins at LAX. > Same thing when I come back. > J

Response:

I think they meant international as opposed to intercontinental. Then you have intg’l ATC and customs delays. Michael – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Isnt there some kind of minimum layover on intercontinental flights? I’m > flying  HEL-LAX-FAT in July and I have 3hrs at Heathrow and another > 3hrs20mins at LAX. > Same thing when I come back. > J > Minimum connection times are determined by the logistics of the airport, > not whether it’s an intercontinental flight.  Minimum connection times > from domestic to domestic in the U.S. are generally 15 minutes to 30 > minutes.  So with your itinerary, you’ll need to clear Customs at LAX. 3 > hrs. 20 mins. is more than adequate time.  So what exactly is your > concern?

Response:

No concern, just trying to point out that it doesnt sound that long layover…. J

Response:

It’s sort of amusing. When they first opened that thing (gee, must be 10 years ago by now), they didn’t have that voice saying "The moving walkway is now ending, please look down," over and over again.  Problem was, people would listen to the music, look at the pretty flashing lights, and get borderline hypnotized, resulting in a lot of accidents at the end of the walkways. James – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >You could take a ride around on the O’Hare VAL. >Or ride the United terminal moving sidewalk (in the tunnel) until "Rhapsody in >Blue" drives you nuts. ;-0 >-Erik

Response:

Isnt there some kind of minimum layover on intercontinental flights? I’m flying  HEL-LAX-FAT in July and I have 3hrs at Heathrow and another 3hrs20mins at LAX. Same thing when I come back. J

Response:

> > I just found out I have a 3:15 min layover in O’Hare on an upcoming trip. > I’ve been there several times, but with short layovers, so I’ve just sat in > the waiting area.  Is there anything interesting to do there, or should I > just bring a good book?

Just because you have a 3hr 15min scheduled layover, that doesn’t mean it won’t be longer.  Your next flight could be delayed, so factor that into your plans.  Depending on your tastes, try to plan something constructive like take some work to do, write letters, do research into the quality of Amstel Light beer/Macdonalds/various coffees etc or read that book you were thinking of doing.  I was there for 4 hours last week (supposedly a 40 minute layover) and did some of all the above.  It worked for me. I was not bored. Ivan Skivar – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> You could check out the ORD store, which specializes in interesting > aviation goodies like books, models, trinkets, and clothing.  It is > located in the shopping arcade more or less under the Hilton airport > hotel.  It is on the same level as the CTA station – the basement of the > hotel. > At least it will be something different than sitting in uncomfortable > airport seats, and will help pass the time.

Response:

>I just found out I have a 3:15 min layover in O’Hare on an upcoming trip. >I’ve been there several times, but with short layovers, so I’ve just sat in >the waiting area.  Is there anything interesting to do there, or should I >just bring a good book? >Dewen Tarn

        There is a small exhibit on the history of Media, or something like that,         I believe, somewhere in between term 2 and/or 3. SOrry, I cant remember. There is         a continuous program there with some seats, I have killed a few minutes there.         You could also go to the fitness center at the Hilton, do some lifting and/or         treadmill work if you are into that.

Response:

When I have a longer-than-usual layover in O’Hare, I like to go to the very end of the "L" concourse (Delta) and sit there and watch planes land. Usually both runways from that direction are operational, and the sightings are pretty fun. Plus, the International terminal is across the tarmac from "L" and you get to see all kinds of large int’l aircraft taxiing by. Other than that, I’ve never really found a hell of a lot that amuses me in O’Hare. By the way, just curious, how is it that you have such a relatively long layover? Where are you going to/from? -Tristan

Response:

> I just found out I have a 3:15 min layover in O’Hare on an upcoming trip. > I’ve been there several times, but with short layovers, so I’ve just sat in > the waiting area.  Is there anything interesting to do there, or should I > just bring a good book?

You could check out the ORD store, which specializes in interesting aviation goodies like books, models, trinkets, and clothing.  It is located in the shopping arcade more or less under the Hilton airport hotel.  It is on the same level as the CTA station – the basement of the hotel. At least it will be something different than sitting in uncomfortable airport seats, and will help pass the time.

Response:

You could take a ride around on the O’Hare VAL. Or ride the United terminal moving sidewalk (in the tunnel) until "Rhapsody in Blue" drives you nuts. ;-0 -Erik

Response:

I just found out I have a 3:15 min layover in O’Hare on an upcoming trip. I’ve been there several times, but with short layovers, so I’ve just sat in the waiting area.  Is there anything interesting to do there, or should I just bring a good book? Dewen Tarn

Response:

It is too bad that you do not have another hour or two.  O’Hare airport has the train station downstairs.  The train can take you downtown in 30 minutes or so.  I’m not sure you have enough time to do that, though. I think the only thing you have time for is to visit the Fannie May candy store in the airport.   Pete – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I just found out I have a 3:15 min layover in O’Hare on an upcoming trip. > I’ve been there several times, but with short layovers, so I’ve just sat in > the waiting area.  Is there anything interesting to do there, or should I > just bring a good book?

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