Indirect flights

Florida2012

If you can dream it, you can do it
Joined
Sep 4, 2011
Hi guys,

We've been to WDW a couple of times now and have always travelled direct (from Gatwick). However, as we live in Bedfordshire it's always been a bit of a trek around the M25, especially after an overnight flight coming back, so we're looking at flying indirect from Heathrow.

Has anyone travelled this way? Our biggest fear is missing out connecting flight and being stuck in Washington/Chicago, etc
 
I've done it twice via Atlanta, and if you can get your trip on the same ticket (rather than 2 completely separate flights) and allow at least 90mins between flights then it's relatively easy.
If it's all on the same ticket then the airline has to get you to your destination. We booked via Virgin which included internal flights with Delta.
The saving was huge for us so it was a no-brainer. Atlanta is possibly the easiest airport to fly into and out of if you're going indirect.
 
We've travelled indirect lots of times and have only encountered a problem once. I would recommend a minimum of 2 hours connection to be safe. We have saved lots of money doing this as we a restricted to school holidays. When we had a connection problem in Canada the airline provided us with a hotel overnight and put us on the first flight the following morning, we were also given $100 each for food and free taxis to and from the airport.
 
We're doing indirect via Atlanta on the way out this year. We land in Atlanta at 3 and our flight leaves for Orlando at 5. I've checked, and Delta flights to MCO also leave at 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 on the day we fly. So if we miss the 5pm flight I'm hoping we won't have too long to wait for the next one with availability.
I didn't fancy taking the risk on the return flight so we're coming home direct. It's still knocked £1,000 off the return flights for two adults and two children so it's made the holiday affordable as we're stuck to school holidays.
 


Fly to Dublin with Aer Lingus / BA then Leave Dublin ( Tuesdays , Thursdays , & Saturdays Direct to Orlando )

All flights to USA You go through Customs & Immigration before you leave Dublin.

Aer Lingus Dublin to Orlando ( MCO ) Flights leave at 2pm Approx & Arrive back in Dublin at 9.30 am
 
I've been indirect to MCO from MAN almost every trip to Florida I've been on bar maybe 2/3. It's so easy, been through Atlanta, JFK, Philadelphia to name a few mostly with Virgin, Delta or American. I've never missed a connecting flight, I'd say 2-2.5 hours is a good transfer time especially if you're unfamiliar with the process or in a larger group. Also the bonus is when you get to Orlando you don't have to go through customs there as it's already done with, really nice to just walk off the flight, grab luggage and go and enjoy the start of your holiday. I would say the queues in other airports for customs are shorter than Orlando but not necessarily the case from experience.
 
We've always gone direct until this Christmas when we flew via Atlanta and it was a breeze. We left three hours for the transfer which gave us ample time. Even though I booked separate flights I asked at check in and our luggage was checked through to final destination which made it easier. I'd have no hesitation in flying this way again. In fact we're going this way at Easter!
 


Thanks for the replies so far guys, I've got a couple more follow on questions

As we'll be flying internally, can we take advantage of the resort luggage service that they provide? (We will be staying at a Disney property)

When we arrive at (enter city) do we have to collect our bags and drag them to the next plane? Or do they as well??
 
Thanks for the replies so far guys, I've got a couple more follow on questions

As we'll be flying internally, can we take advantage of the resort luggage service that they provide? (We will be staying at a Disney property)

When we arrive at (enter city) do we have to collect our bags and drag them to the next plane? Or do they as well??

You can use the Magical Express no matter which airline you arrive on. The only requirement is that you are staying at a Disney property.

When we arrived in Atlanta we had to collect our bags at the luggage carousel and walk through customs. On the other side we handed them to airport staff and didn't see them till Orlando. On the way back we checked in at Orlando and didn't see the bags until Manchester. Our flights were on a separate booking but both check in desks tagged the bags to our final destination.
 
Cheers for the prompt reply. What I meant was the baggage delivery service, where they deliver the bags to your room so you don't have to lug them through the airport. But judging by what you're saying, I think no is the answer to that.

Does sound really easy though, thanks for your help
 
We have only flown direct once and have never had problems. Sometimes they will send your bags straight to the next plane so you don't have to worry about them but other times we've had to collect them on one baggage belt and bring them to another one.
 
we only fly indirect as we have no alternative...
it's really not difficult at all..
being a worrier, i always leave a minimum of 3 hours between flights and usually it's enough..
on the rare occasion there's a problem, the airline makes sure to get you onto a flight..
for example, DD and i missed our connecting flight at JFK once...
when we walked up to the ground agent to ask what to do, she said, "great, we've been waiting for you, come with us"..
they proceeded to put us and another two people on this huge bus all by ourselves and sent us to la guardia airport to catch the last plane out of new york to orlando...
they took care of everything....got us to the other airport...got us space on the plane out..
and our luggage eventually found us (the next day - it was delivered to our room as it had flown out of JFK on its own the next day)..

but that was probably the most extreme case for us and that was after flying indirect hundreds of times..
and again, the airline took care of everything..

just make sure both flights are on the same ticket (of course, this year, our flights are on separate tickets as we had no choice, but it's not the best option)...
 

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