In September I will be flying from Rome and have to make a connection to Burlington, VT. I expect to arrive at PHL at an "A" gate and my connection is expected to be at a "C" gate. My wife has some mobility problems so I would like to make the walking path as short and accurate as possible. And I am not familiar with international arrivals at PHL. As I understand the procedure at PHL, I deplane and proceed to the baggage carousels, claim our bags and proceed to customs/immigration. After that I must check my bags, go through security and get to a "C" gate. Could someone out there give me clues so I can find my way through the maze with the least false moves and minimize the walking. Thanks!
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23343 posts
A few years ago when we connected through Phil both ways there were mobility carts. I don't know how you call them but they will drive you between gates and gate areas. Probably request through your airline.
Posted by
PA
2752 posts
PHL is unfortunately our home airport. They do not handle the immigration line well, and this can easily cost you 30-60 minutes mid-afternoon when bulk of the trans-Atlantic flights arrive. Customs, after you get your bags, should be an easy walk-through. The immigration and customs halls are off terminal A, you can look at the airport map to see the distance to then get checked in for Terminal C. The main concourse is essentially a long W->E spine, A at W end, with each terminal from A to F coming off sequentially south at a right angle. I hope you have adequate time between flights, as you also will be forced to be rescreened by TSA. ASk for help if need be.
Is there any chance this is not final and you could rebook through, e.g. JFK? I ask because PHL is not well connected with BTV and missing the flight, even at the airline's fault, can not easily be corrected (son just graduated from UVM, I had looked at some of this prior)
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Dick,
I already had the PHL airport map but I would have preferred more detail. The PHL Guide was much better for me. Thanks!
Frank,
Thanks for the suggestion for the mobility carts. Right now I think my wife can make it OK. Your suggestions a good fallback plan. Thanks!
Jeff,
As I responded to Frank, judging from the airport map, my wife should be OK. Thanks for the details of the process!
Larry,
Looking at the map and what others have told me, I think we are going to be OK. We have a long connect time. I have been monitoring the flights we plan to take on and off since February and we would have made the connection every time assuming 2 hours is a valid MCT. Thanks for your input!
it looks like I get off my flight at a "A" gate. We go through immigration, get our bags, go through customs, drop off or bags for our connecting flight, go through the TSA security check, back to the "A
Posted by
PA
2752 posts
telasher -2 hours should be enough, just be prepared for not having a lot of extra time, and the passport line will be very frustrating - if you can get them to wheel her you will beat that line! There are also some decent moving walkways along the way. But 1 question - you said originally you connect out at Terminal C, now you say back to "A". I can't see you remaining in Terminal A for the Burlington flight, Terminal A is used for the big long haul boys, not the smaller US flights. But "C" is a lot closer than "F" to A!
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Larry,
I was reading the map and not thinking the bigger picture. It shows a walkway from the customs hall to the east end of "A". From there we would proceed to "C".
My actual layover is 6.5 hrs. if everything is on time. So other than a hurricane, a very late arrival from Rome, etc. we should be OK as far as time goes. Time to stop and rest as needed and a good meal.
Also, I am going to preview the situation when we fly to Rome. I'll request assistance then if it appears to be a problem. We have a 3.5 hrs. layover then.
Thanks for your help.
Posted by
PA
2752 posts
6.5 hours, boredom becomes the problem.Not enough time to take train into town and do anything, not with the mobility issue. If you are delayed that long on your incoming flight at this end then the outbound will also be likely be delayed by the same circumstances.