Suggest connecting flights to any sane business traveler and you will likely get a grimace and a "no, thank you." The very idea of a connection conjures turbulent visions of late arrivals, frantic running between gates and lost luggage. Given the choice, most travelers prefer to reach their destinations as quickly as possible while minimizing any chance of disaster.
Sometimes a connection is unavoidable, but I have often booked connections when nonstop alternatives were plentiful. I had other benefits in mind.
Here are five good reasons to consider connecting even when a nonstop flight should get you there the quickest, most efficient way:
Lower fares: Connecting can save money. Airlines often command a premium price for nonstop travel. This is true for long haul, short hops, advance purchase and/or last-minute travel, though the most dramatic savings occur on full-fare tickets. In a random sample, I found lower fares for connections about half the time. (See charts below) Even when low-cost carriers now force everyone to offer lower prices on most nonstop routes, many airlines will cut costs further to get you to connect through their hub. Making a connection may tax the body but it eases the wallet.
Airline preference: If most of your accumulated miles are on Delta Airlines, for example, you might choose to connect on Delta in Atlanta, Cincinnati or Salt Lake City whenever possible to maximize your miles. Adding an extra flight or flying a more circuitous route can boost mileage accumulations rapidly.
You may also be willing to suffer a connection to enjoy the service on your preferred airline. Many of my Premier Executive colleagues will readily select a connection in Chicago or Denver on United Airlines in order to get into the coveted "Economy Plus" section with more legroom. And I will gladly connect in Detroit on Spirit or Atlanta on AirTran, because they offer cheap business class upgrades, rather than squeezing into a nonstop flight in coach on most other airlines.
Preferred airport location: In some cities with multiple airports, a connection may actually be quicker than a nonstop flight. For many destinations in the northern suburbs of Los Angeles, taking a connecting flight to Burbank Airport may be considerably quicker than a nonstop flight into congested Los Angeles International Airport – especially with the area's brutal traffic. Going east, a connecting flight into slot restricted Washington Reagan Airport may provide a quicker way to the District of Columbia than a nonstop flight to far outlying Dulles or Baltimore-Washington Airports.
City preference: As a former Chicago native, I often arrange a leisurely connection through the Windy City to visit with friends over coffee or a meal near the airport. I have also scheduled business meetings and presentations at airline lounges all over the world while awaiting a connection.
When I need new clothes, I save a trip to the mall with a connection through Pittsburgh, an airport with an extensive array of shops adjacent to every concourse. I have even taken sightseeing excursions during my layovers. Don't try this in a place like Tokyo's Narita Airport, where it takes three hours to get into the city due to the traffic and airport location.
Breaking up a long trip: If I know I will be crammed into a tiny airplane seat for a long flight, I might choose to connect – anywhere – just to break up the trip and stretch my legs. New or renovated airports boast a wide variety of eateries, a good thing now that airline food is a scarce commodity. Lappert's Ice Cream and Peet's Coffee outlets make San Francisco International Airport a great place to connect. And nationally acclaimed restaurants like Legal Seafoods are located in Boston Logan and Washington Reagan airports. Smokers may also rejuvenate during a connection…if they can get to a curbside or locate a smoking lounge.
Of course, you may curse my advice the next time your luggage is lost in Las Vegas or when you arrive at the gate in Dallas just in time to see your connecting flight pull away. But I still maintain there are good reasons to consider a connection every now and then. And you might find me enjoying a hearty filet mignon at Harry Caray's Restaurant at Chicago's Midway Airport with the money I saved on that connection.'
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||