I signed up for the Rick Steves Basque Country 9 day tour in Sept 2024.. It starts in Bayonne France and ends in Bilbao. Many recommend flying into Paris and taking the train to Bayonne a 4 hr train ride. Also Im looking at other alternatives from SFO to Madrid or Barcelona. My problem: a 1:55 layover at LHR ( which also notes often delayed 30min) enroute to Charkes De Gaulle.
And returning from Barcelona to SFO there is a 55 min layover in Madrid.( it doesnt say plane change) .Another flight from Madrid to SFO- there is a 1:50 layover in Philadelphia ( which would include customs??) before proceeding to SFO. .These layover times seem too short ? What do others think? Should I look for longer layovers or pay more for non stop! Thanks in advance for your replay.
Posted by
USA
60 posts
Hi, lawrenceyano,
I can only share my family's experience in LHR. We flew from Dallas to London with a 1:30 layover before our flight to Oslo. We had to change terminals (via a Heathrow bus--very long wait for the bus!). By the time we got through security--which we had to go through again despite never having left a secure area--we literally had to RUN through the terminal to get to our gate, and it was quite a distance! (Only one of us is 20, and I'm his mother.) Thankfully, the plane doors were still open, so we caught our flight...but we had checked luggage, and the luggage DID NOT make it to Oslo with us. (BA delivered it about 36 hours later.)
If you are a smarter traveler than we were and don't check bags, I think you might be okay--especially if you are fit and can run down concourses easily. It depends on your comfort level, and the weather, and the buses, and...
Haven't been through Philadelphia in a while, but 1:50 seems like you are cutting it close since you have to clear customs at port of entry.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6713 posts
Too short for me. I'd look for longer layovers.
Posted by
Seattle area
49 posts
I can't speak to your return flights or the international connections, but I can tell you what I did enroute to the Basque tour. I was already in Spain, and took a short flight from Madrid to San Sebastian. That airport is east of San Sebastian and close to the French border. From the airport to Bayonne you can take local trains, buses or a taxi. The taxi was pretty reasonable and avoids some connections that take you back to the city of San Sebastian before going to Bayonne.
Posted by
Chicago
8165 posts
It sounds too short for you; but some seasoned travelers that don't need to absolutely be some where by a certain time like the cheaper fare and playing the game of "what kind of compensation can I get if I miss the connection when it is the airlines fault."
Posted by
OP
10 posts
Thanks everyone, especially for everyones quick replies. Yes these layovers sound great but yes are way too short! Im not one for running thru airports or playing games for extra cash with my flights . I will look more into flying into San Sebastian and not take the 1:50 hr Philadelphia layover! Thanks!