Time to change planes

You will have to go through passport control and customs in Paris, so I would be a little nervous about having such a short time. On the otherhand, if these flights are all on the same itinerary they would have to put you on another flight if you miss the plane.

My French son (former exchange student) arrived from Paris yesterday, he flew from Paris to San Francisco, then on a small twin engine turbo prop from SFO to Sacramento. His suitcase is so big I asked how many bodies he had in there! Obviously that bag was checked. He also had a school bag sized backpack that he was able to keep with him. You might want to keep your laptop in a smaller bag in case you have to check the back pack.

That's a lot of stops when you can fly Newark-Milan Malpensa nonstop on United Airlines. It's an 8 hr. 5 minute flight, and the Winter fares (thru 3/27/2014) are about $827 (inexpensive.)

You didn't say what the airfare was on your planned itinerary, but is the savings that great on a two stop flight?

Thank you for the replies. The one hour between flights does not appear to be sufficient to me. However, that is a moot point as I just found the airline (CCM, who was new to me) website and they say they have a 8 kg limit for carry on baggage for that airplane. No way!

My flight is in May and if I could have gotten the United direct flight for $827 I would not be asking this question (The United flight in May is over $1000). The fare in question was $730. However I just found a one stop $827 flight on SAS with a change of planes in Copenhagen. Wonder if I can take a 24 hour layover?

I just tried on Lufthansa from Newark to Milan, May 5 to 25 and got $676.32 CAD return.

Sorry, but to me $400 for two people is sufficient to make some changes. I do not consider a 1 stop flight to be so bad. The 2 stop flight did turn out to be, after investigation, bad. The $400 will get us another day in Italy. With a limited budget I can either take the more expensive flight or extend my trip one day. I will take the extra day in Italy. I for one had to work hard for the limited amount of money I am retired on. I want to get "value" for my $. If I can get to the same place, without having to jump through hoops, for a couple of hundred $ less I will. At home that $400 will buy us food for one month.

Peter,

I will double check Lufthansa again. The flight is code shared with United and previously when I checked the United flight was cheaper. Same plane, so why???

Peter, I just went to the Lufthansa website and the flights are good for the days I want. Wonder why these flights did not show up when I searched on Kayak?

We were in Copenhagen a few years ago, and thought it was a great town if you decide to do the 24 hour layover there. It can be pricey though, so it could eat up some of your airfare savings.

Whatever you decide, have a wonderful trip - it sounds fantastic!

I'm with you Bob, I will gladly change planes to save $400. I would rather spend that money to extend or have a better experience on my trip. For those who would rather spend their money to fly non-stop, to each their own.

The great travel experience begins when you do something exactly the way YOU want to do it.

Answering questions helps. Forcefully editorializing personal alternatives doesn't.

"The great travel experience begins when you do something exactly the way YOU want to do it."

I agree with Ed. Everyone is different. What is important to some is not important to others. I know people who will drive for two hours (more with traffic) to fly out of San Francisco, in order to take a direct flight. The direct flight is important to them, and paying for fuel and bridge tolls doesn't deter them from making that choice. It works for them. For me, I would rather fly out of the airport that is 20 minutes from home, where I can park for free (husband works there and can park in the employee lot) even though it means we will have to change planes. I take advantage of that by stretching my legs, using a regular sized bathroom and maybe eating real food. That works for me. Whose way is better? I say there is no right answer, there is just personal preference. For some, dining out is a big part of their trip enjoyment. Others don't care about that. Personal preference. It's when people are condescending towards others because they don't have the same preferences that it becomes irritating to me.

Andrea's last sentence said it all in my opinion. Just another thought for original poster, have you also selected Allentown or Harrisburg airports? Haven't flown out of Harrisburg for years but just used Allentown for a trip to Florida and the parking, airport was great. It would probably include a stop but worth checking just in case. Good luck.

I have previously used both the Allentown and Harrisburg airports. You have free parking so that skews your choices. We will be using an airport "limo" service as we will be gone 4 weeks and the cost of parking for that length of time more than covers the cost of the "limo". Besides, I am not sure I would want to leave my car in a parking lot for that period of time.

Finally pulled the trigger. Got an airline fare with a savings of $400 per ticket. It is 1 stop on the way to Italy and non stop on the way home. Wish it were reversed but I will take it. I was lucky, a half hour after I took this fare it was no longer available. The extra money will get us 2 more days in Italy than we originally planned.

Congratulations! Like you, I prefer to turn money into time. The exception is to pay for Economy Comfort seating so I am less grouchy and tired when I arrive in Europe.

Two extra days in Italy? Priceless.

Zoe,

Agree with you! I already have purchased Economy Plus seating. There are some things it is worth spending a little more to get.

Looking for a friend in June, there is a JFK-MXP round-trip on Emirates for $968. May might be less.

No way will I go through JFK!

I now have my tickets. One stop on the way to Italy and non-stop on the way home. Wish it were reversed but at a $400 per ticket savings you take what you can get. Oh, the price was only $600 round trip.

Small, commuter-size aircraft have smaller luggage compartments in the cabin. Typically bags that might fit in a 747 bin are left on a luggage trolly at the door to the plane to be stored in the belly, then retrieved when de-planing. So carrying the laptop aboard separately seems wise.

The airline is United but the deal was gone 30 minutes after I got that fare.