Which connecting airports are great or to be avoided?

Depending on your airline, I avoid JFK. I tend to fly American Air and it’s codeshares like British Air and Iberia and on those my experience has been that you need to change terminals from domestic to international. Which at JFK means leaving security, taking a train, and waiting on another security line. No thank you.

If I have to make a connection on a trip to Europe, I will almost always pick my connection in Europe as you have more alternatives to get to your final destination should you be delayed for any reason. I especially try to avoid a connection in a US airport on my return IF I have a checked bag as the need to having to pick up and recheck a bag I already checked is something I will never get used to.

I find Amsterdam to be the easiest airport to connect through.

Ditto to everything Jay said. Although we've sometimes had to connect through U.S. ports for best price/itinerary, we'd rather avoid it, and Schiphol (Amsterdam) is a really nice, very efficient airport.

If you have to connect through a US airport, I’d echo what someone said in your other thread to consider LAX. Dallas has proven pretty reliable in the past for domestic connections too but I’m not sure what international flight options theY offer.

There’s always going to be some risk with connecting flights and I don’t think you’re ever going to get a “no risk” airport. Delta is Air France’s partner and there should be lots of options through Atlanta because of this. We’ve done that a few times with no issue.

Amsterdam is a great airport, but so is Dublin. We try to avoid Heathrow but sometimes it is impossible. Frankfurt is another big hub and if you connect through there, be prepared for a long walk.

It's kind of a balancing act. I like Salt Lake City but they don't have a lot of flight options so if something goes wrong you might not have a backup. Atlanta isn't my fave but Delta has lots of connecting flights thru there so I have more flexibility.

I also intensely dislike Kennedy. The train which connects terminals lets you out in a parking lot instead of inside the terminal. Security is more of a hassle. When you deplane, the walk to immigration is longer than at Atlanta. I dislike Kennedy so much that I'd rather fly Premium Economy out of Atlanta than Business out of New York.

Agree about connecting in Europe having distinct advantages - although I would think twice about Heathrow and CDG (but thats your final destination so no problem there). In the US I'd think Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles would be good from Phoenix. Although if its winter I'd stay away from Dallas, its a far cry from say Chicago or New York but they do have winter weather issues on occasion.

As far as connecting at an airport across the pond, looks like you are limited to London or Frankfurt from Phoenix. Cheapest in summer is on Condor through Frankfurt, but they only fly a couple days a week.

British Airlines used to fly to London (as I recall Gatwick) nonstop from Phoenix. I flew out of San Diego. We stopped in Phoenix to pick up passengers then straight to London from there. I don't know if they're still running that route? It might be a really good option. From there connecting around Europe is easy and usually cheap. If you give yourself a little lag time in London, you won't have to worry about making a connection while you're jet lagged.

Since you are in the West, I'd consider SLC as a hub. Delta has non-stop service from SLC to CDG and it's a terrific flight. The airport is big enough to' have services but small enough to navigate fairly easily. DON'T accept a routing that only allows you 30 minutes or so between planes - I hate that one! I've done it but for an international flight it's just too stressful. I'm sure you've got more flights out of Phoenix to SLC than my teeny airport.

I avoid any on the East Coast. Before Delta started the non-stop service to Paris I used to change in Minneapolis which is not bad. That airport is huge so you really have to move after you deplane. I'll never transit thru JFK and will try not to go thru Atlanta.

I especially try to avoid a connection in a US airport on my return IF I have a checked bag as the need to having to pick up and recheck a bag I already checked is something I will never get used to.

Alas, a necessary and never-to-be-avoided condition for those of us who live in non-hub cities !!! (Tulsa for me)

I fly through Atlanta a lot — it’s big but the way the tram connects the terminals makes it very efficient. I have been avoiding ORD for the last year and a half.

I’m sure Philadelphia is a fine city, but I do hate the airport. And the food there is expensive even by east coast airport standards. Makes me want to never try a real cheesesteak.

Meanwhile last time I flew through Chicago, I scheduled it on purpose to be able to eat at Tortas Frontera!!! And then the &@“;]+}*%+ issues with the AirTrain meant that I had no chance to do so!! 😭😭

I feel your pain Kim, missing Tortas Fronteras.

Before IND had its direct flight, Boston was our favorite. It was the shortest flight time for the second leg, my husband’s favorite barber was in the public side of T1, a guy originally from Naples, and there’s a Legal Seafood in the terminal with our international flight. Go Boston!

The people who live in Boston are so lucky — their flights to Europe are so short!!!

That is funny that you all went through there often enough for your husband to develop a relationship with a barber!!

I refuse to fly through ORD until the people mover is back in operation. . .

What a surprise it’s been delayed yet again

https://www.flychicago.com/ohare/ServicesAmenities/services/Pages/ATS.aspx