Making a tight connection work in your favor

In practice the airline will try very hard to make sure you make that connection, so don't count on it. For example LH group airlines have special "connection managers" stationed a the hubs. These person's jobs are to be aware of passengers that are at risk of misconnecting, and do something about it. Things that are regularly done is:
- Holding flights, or at least keeping the door open till the connecting passenger is on board.
- Directly driving them to their next flight, with passport control done on the way.

Actually the main risk is that your luggage does not make it, but you do...

A few years ago on a trip home that originated in Nice, France, our flight on Lufthansa was delayed leaving Nice and we missed our connection in Frankfurt to SFO. After waiting over an hour in line, a Lufthansa agent booked us on a United flight out the next afternoon, escorted a group of us back thru immigration where the passport officer, not looking pleased (but do they ever), had the Lufthansa agent throwing up her hands while answering numerous questions and then we were put on a shuttle and taken to a huge block hotel in the industrial section of Frankfurt. Our meals were with a hundred others, a horrible buffet of airplane type food. I might add that the next day, three of us that had gone thru all this and booked on the same plane to SFO were pulled aside while we were waiting at the gate to board and our carryons unzipped and the contents checked by hand. I like adventures but not this kind so I won’t be purposely looking for short connection times with the intent of prolonging my stay.

I don't know that I agree with this. Perhaps I'd say that I think this is an overly rosy view.

You are right in that "right of care," i.e. food, drinks and lodging, are due if you miss a connection, but there is no guarantee that said food, drink or lodging will be anywhere desirable or convenient (e.g. if you miss a connection at CDG, I doubt you will be put up at a nice boutique hotel in the Marais vs. an anonymous off-airport hotel in Roissy).

Even if you're not in a rush, the replacement itinerary is also not guaranteed to be pleasant -- at peak times you could end up with extra stops, inconvenient middle-of-the-night arrival times, etc. Even if my cab home is paid for at 1am, I'd still rather arrive not in the dead of night!

I rarely fly within Europe, so I don't know how time reliable those flights are, timewise. I do know that trans-Atlantic flights can get delayed significantly. On 11 arrival in this century, I've been an hour late arriving in Europe on a flight from the US three times, but I would expect more on time arrivals for flights within Europe, particularly if the cities are fairly close. Of course the problem here is that if you leave late, it's hard to make up time on a short flight.

So I'd agree with your assumption that if you don't have to get back at a certain time, a short connection might not be a bad gamble. But, that is assuming that the airline does reliably cover your missed connection. I'd be interested to hear what other traveler's experiences have been. Did the airline cover it, or were you left on your own?

I was once on a United flight from Denver connecting in Detroit to a Lufthansa flight for Frankfurt. It was winter and they first de-iced the plane; that took an hour, which was the connection time in Detroit. When we got airborne, I mentioned it to the FA and she checked the manifest. There were 13 of us connecting to Lufthansa on the flight. United meet us at the gate with a van and took us to the International terminal where they were holding our connecting flight.

They did that for 13 of us; would they have done the same thing if it had been just me?

BTW, as I sat in the van going between terminals, I was glad that my carry-on bag, my only bag, was sitting on my lap. On the same flight were half a dozen business men going to Stuttgart. The were walking around the gate fat, dumb, and happy, hands-free, having checked all of their bags. I'm sure when they got to Stuttgart, they were still fat and dumb, but maybe not so happy if their bags had not made the now-extremely-short connection.

Plus, I don't understand why folks don't seem to take into consideration that the airlines can stick you in whatever seat they want.

Which I can tolerate for an hour-ish flight. But for the 10 hours back home? No thanks.

There're a lot of things on which I would be willing to take a risk when I was younger and single.

I don’t plan connections like this on purpose, but I did have an airline caused missed connection once in Iceland that actually ended up being a very nice extra day on my trip. I always assume something can happen no matter how long a connection is and plan accordingly. Joining a tour or a cruise? Build an extra day or two up front. Headed home? No “must dos” for the next day after return.

For me, the absolute last thing I want at the end of a trip is to get caught up in unpredictable circumstances and held up in Europe. I'm not going to put myself in a position that I would have a tight connection in the first place or depend on an airline to uncluster themselves. I also don't care about compensation.

I have a strict general rule that I do not fly within Europe, but that is because I prioritize trains and ferries. Instead, I always position myself at my final European city for a direct flight home to the US. If I have to make a connection, I would much rather do it in the US, like connecting IAD to RIC. This way I am already through immigration/customs and much closer to home. To each their own, but trying to play the system isn't a worthwhile game.

Being retired, I figure they will get me home (or there) so why agonize about it. My last trip, we got to the airport in Catania, flight delayed, then cancelled (Non-stop to JFK) and their reschedule was for two days later! No problem, Delta paid for hotel, transport, and meals for two days in Ortigia. Plus, per EU rules, we each picked up 600 euro in compensation. So an extra weekend in Sicily brought us about $2000 in compensation. Of course the cancellation was their fault, so your experience may vary.

Assumes the delay is for a covered compensable reason

Actually, what you are insinuating is basically incorrect, which is that sometimes you are not entitled to any compensation at all.

Remember, the scenario described is a single ticketed “tight connection”. No other scenarios are applicable to the discussion. For example, if you decide to leave the airport and not make it back in time for the connecting flight, well that’s another topic entirely.

To reiterate: At the very least the airline is obligated in terms of Right to care. This includes food, and accommodations, even in the event of extraordinary circumstances, whatever those happen to be. At the next level, when the airline is at fault, is when monetary compensation kicks in.

All of this is very well documented.

I guess I am in the minority but I often choose tight connections. Every time that I have chosen a tight connection, I’ve made my flight and so has my checked luggage. I do try to choose airports that are efficient for my connections. For example, I’m fine with a short connection in Zurich or Munich but I avoid any connections in CDG. When I have a choice of connecting airports, I choose the city I would prefer to be stuck in.

I hate sitting in airports for hours waiting for a connecting flight so I am perfectly fine to accept the risk that I might miss my flight. I’ve also traveled enough (both business and personal travel) that I don’t get too stressed by flight cancellations or delays. I know some people get really flustered by IRROPs so I understand why some people prefer lengthy connection times.

So this above is part of the appeal. Knowing that whatever happens with the flight you can just “go with the flow”. Much better than getting all stressed out over it, and as already stated it’s a win-win situation.

OP, you’re right the airline is to provide you with food, accommodation and get you on a flight to your destination. The reason for our missed connection was thunderstorms in the Frankfurt area and Lufthansa did what they were suppose to. Was it a delightful extra day…..anything but.

What has been your experience doing this?

What's great is everyone does what works for them. I am a go with the flow guy and have lots of flexibility. I also often choose longer layovers because those flights are significantly cheaper when I buy them.

Plus, I don't understand why folks don't seem to take into consideration that the airlines can stick you in whatever seat they want. Which I can tolerate for an hour-ish flight. But for the 10 hours back home? No thanks.

Yes to this. I have had flights canceled and missed connections. And ended up in a middle seat in the back of the plane. Or with an unpleasant extra connection.

The worst was when our packed Delta flight from Tokyo got canceled after 2 hours on the runaway. Next day flight was sold out. And other itinerary options involved connections. I got “lucky” as I called Delta while plane was being towed back to gate and they found me a seat on ANA departing 3 hours later. That ended up being a middle seat in the back of economy (vs my Comfort plus aisle).

I had to get home as I had a small child and work.