to think 1 hour is long enough to change flights?

[thefudgeling]

am I being crazy to think I can do this with an 18 mo? They wouldn't sell the flights if it wasn't possible, right?

With same airline, delays can happen and you can miss the flight - but the airline has to sort out you - with a different connecting airline, there is no obligation to help

Also, it is not often that they will keep a plane waiting for a delayed passenger - in 20 years of significant flying, I have only ever seen this happen once for a travel group of 20 which kept a plane of 200 waiting for 3 hours. Most airports are just too busy with limited slots to sit around and wait for a single passenger..

Plus there is still security when you are in transit between planes - they queues are not as bad as the main security but they are still there and can slow you down - you still need passport checks and the whole bag scan..

I would say that it can be done if all flights are on time, internal distances are small and interim checks are done quickly - but do you want to take the risk? Is there no other option in terms of connections?

We did this when flying to Memphis via Chicago. We made the connection (they had fast track queues for connecting passengers) but out luggage did not!

thank you everyone for the advice. What would I do without MN?

That is a better idea. Frankfurt airport is huge, and you might have to change terminals (via Skytrain).

Give yourself time to have a coffee (and brezels are great for 18mo babies, they love them!)

What would you do without MN? Probably miss your flight.

Frankfurt is definitely one to take the extra time for, especially as its only another hour, not five, to wait.

Yes Frankfurt is big, I've had a long walk getting the red-eye in from Canada and getting a local connection... Although having done the same route several times I think I got lost. The shame. If it's long haul a toddler may well appreciate the chance to RUN.

Actually Frankfurt flying Lufthansa/ star alliance and you'd probably be ok. They're good about making sure you're reunited with buggy when you get off the plane. Fast track queues through security for tight connections, sensible airport layout, they have a skytrain which whizzes you between sections. Completely doable unlike most of the major hubs.

Oh yes, if you have an option for 2-hour connection, definitely take that one.

2 hours is a sensible amount of time- you could even let the toddler walk a bit :)

I've managed a 70min transfer across Paris CDG with toddler in tow- strap him/her down and be ready to deboard the seccond you can. (it was a booked connection, though)

Netguru, I've managed a 1 hour transfer in Houston, USA before, but that was on my own and carry-on only.

The luggage that is the issue transiting through the states. It all has to clear TSA. If you make it the luggage may not - and you can't always check it through to final destination.

I've twice waited over 90 minutes to clear immigration (Miami and Dallas). You can argue for a speed through with a short connection time but airports like Miami that I mentioned have international and domestic at different ends of the airport with fresh security to go through between.

ok well this might sound a little strange but its true, reference connecting flights.if you are going west to east ie the UK to Turkey you will see the flight time is shorter, than going east to west, Turkey to UK. and this is very simple its either a tail wind of head wind, lets say you have a 1 hour connection, and you plane is delayed bye 30 minutes, the captain of the plane can make this up very easy going west to east, but very difficult going east to west. 90% of the time the tail wind is west to east.