advice on JFK layover for Virgin Atlantic

Posted by Kaye (Folsom, California, USA) on 01/17/17 01:36 AM

Hello everyone,

Looking at purchasing a ticket at a good price for SFO to JFK and then on to Europe. However, my JFK layover is slightly less than an hour (50 minutes). Both legs of the trip are on Virgin Atlantic and luggage should be checked through (at least going). But worried if I will need to change from a domestic to an international terminal at JFK. From what I have been able to find online, looks like Virgin is only out of Terminal four. Any New Yorkers or frequent flyers through JFK able to confirm or deny this for me??

Thanks,
kaye

Posted by Mike

Boston

01/17/17 01:07 PM

1816 posts

Perhaps you'd have better luck with the info and forums at ifly.com

Posted by TC

Atlanta

01/17/17 03:31 PM

5290 posts

Personally I wouldn't try it. If all goes well and the stars align just right you might be ok. But if not, ???? I'd rather spend a little extra money and make a connection almost anywhere other than JFK.

Posted by Valerie

Pacific Northwest

01/17/17 03:58 PM

2698 posts

I would never book a tight layover like that - probably not at any airport. I hope to never be that person running madly through the airport. If you figure that most flights start boarding 45 minutes before takeoff, you might not even be off your first flight before your second on is boarding.

I will say this, though. My daughter flew from DC to SEA on Virgin in August, with a 45 minute layover at SFO. I was really unhappy with the plan but she was adding herself onto a trip with friends who had already booked this routing. They did make the connection as Virgin had the gates right next to each other.

But, still, you're starting out an exciting trip to Europe - live yourself a little more wiggle room than that. You have very cheap flight options out of Oakland on Norwegian. Have you looked at those?

Posted by Frank II

Freedonia

01/17/17 07:01 PM

16600 posts

A few items...

Your flight from SFO to JFK is not on Virgin Atlantic as they do not operate domestic flights in the U.S. The flight is either a Virgin Atlantic codeshare or on Virgin America which is a completely different airline. (It is associated with Virgin Atlantic but was recently bought by Alaskan Air.) It should say who operates the flight.

That being said, I would never allow just 50 minutes to change planes ar JFK. Virgin Atlantic does operate out of Terminal four but you will have to find out the operating airline for your flight to find out which terminal it operates from.