irishdame

Hello,
I'm flying from Pittsburgh to Amsterdam via EWR and I have a question or 2 about connections. If a gate number is something like 103B, is that in Terminal C? Also, will I have to go thru security again if my departure gate for the international flight is say, C 73? How much time should I give to make this connection?

Thanks for your help!

rkkwan

Those are all in Terminal C. All Continental flights, including CO Express ones, come in Terminal C, with the exception of Atlanta, Washington, Chicago and Dallas.

No security check between C gates unless you came in from an international flight.

PIT-EWR are on the COEX regional jets, which always use the center pier of Terminal C (Gates 101-115); while your flight to AMS can leave from either "wing" of Terminal C.

In the worse case scenario, like if you need to walk from one end of one pier to the end of another, it'll take about 15 minutes. If it's 103B to 73, then it's ~3 minutes.

http://www.continental.com/travel/airport/maps/ewr.asp

If you take the 2:15 PIT-EWR, it'll arrive ~3:40. Plenty of time to catch the earlier EWR-AMS that departs 5:15. The later EWR-AMS flights leaves 6:45, but the next PIT flight is 4:50-6:25, and that's not enough time.

irishdame

Thanks rkkwan!

Funny you mention the 2:15 from PIT because every day for the last 2 weeks that flight has been late getting into EWR by more than an hour!
I think I may schedule PIT-EWR at 2:15 and EWR-AMS at 6:45, this gives me plenty of time for a delay out of PIT and the long haul is on a newer CO jet, Boeing 767-400ER.

rkkwan

I'd book the earlier flight on the 762.

First, even if the first flight leaves PIT an hour late, chances are you can still make the connection.

Second, if you did miss it, they'll put you on the later flight. There's also a KLM flight at 6:30 they can put you on.

Third, CO's 762s are very new, delivered '00 and '01. [The 764s are delivered between '00-'02.] The seats and entertainment systems are identical, but shorter cabin and therefore fewer total passengers than the 764. I can't think of one single reason why a CO 764 should be preferred over a CO 762.

irishdame

Thanks again rkkwan!

You make a good point about having a "fall back" flight if PIT-EWR is delayed and I didn't know about the KLM flight! Thanks also for the info on the the differences in aircraft, that helps a bunch.

irishdame

I found a reason why a 764 might be preferred. The seats are wider by just under an inch!

rkkwan

I think that's a typo on seatguru. Continental.com list both as 32" pitch, 17.9" width. Since these planes have the same cabin width and the seats are identical, ordered the same time, etc... Hard to imagine how the 764 can have an extra inch of width on each seat.

The seats on the 777 are also the same, but width 31" pitch.

irishdame

Ok ok, ya got me! Not that 9/10 of an inch makes much difference anyway. Thanks again for your help, you're quite the expert flyer. Now if only the fare will go down so I can finally book it!

irishdame

Dear rkkwan,
Let me pick your brain again, if I may?

Based on a tip about 1800flyeurope.com from a poster on the Fodors Europe board I priced my flight and came up with a $76 lower fare than the CO one I'd been watching.
This site does not tell me the specific airline but I've figured out it's USAir. The flight is PIT-PHL-AMS (1:10 connection time). I think that USAir's aircraft leaves something to be desired and I fear missing connections as I MUST leave USA on Sept. 6. What do you think?
Thanks again for your time and paitence answering my questions!

rkkwan

Argh... Too bad you're going to AMS. Some of USAirways' European routes are now on the new A330, with very advanced AVOD (Audio/Video on demand) entertainmnent on each seat, and good pitch. But AMS apparently isn't one of them.

I have flown into PHL, but have not connected through there. I think your outbound 1:10 connection is fine. But please read all the threads about coming back through PHL, and understand that at times it's better to walk out of the international arrivals terminal, and then walk to the main domestic check-in part and reclear security there.

The security checkpoint for international arrivals going back to the main terminal is a disaster, and nothing has been done to fix that.

irishdame

Aggrrr is right! I decided to eschew the USAir flights and continue my search. It's not worth $76 to miss connections and risk not leaving USA on the day I have to and then have a hassle getting back into US on the return.

Now if only those CO flights would go down I'd be a happy girl!

Thanks again rkkwan for your help!

irishdame

Hello,
I've still been watching the PIT-EWR-AMS 9/6/05 flights and the price has fluctuated anywhere from $.05 and $6.00 in the last 3 weeks. Some seats have sold but there is still plenty of seats open. In your experience, would it be prudent to keep watching and hope the fare goes down, perhaps when it gets to be under 60 days from the departure date or to snatch it up now?

Thanks!

rkkwan

I'm seeing CO fares around $724. If that's you're finding, I think that's a decent fare for early September travel. Highly unlikely it'll go much further down. [Other airlines are charging $800+, including NW/KLM.]

I will book it if your dates are firm.

irishdame

Thanks rkkwan. Lowest fare I'm seeing is $761, PIT-EWR-AMS and AMS-EWR-TPA. 9/6-9/13. $724 where? I'll jump on it!

irishdame

Ohh you thought R/T from PIT..sorry, I was not clear on the multi-city thing. Sorry!

rkkwan

Still, fair price. I'd book it.

irishdame

Booked it last night rkkwan, thanks for your assistance, you've been a ton of help!