airline flights from Greater Pitt -- ugh (Pittsburgh, Denver: floor, airport)

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

1. Book the flight as though you were booking it for yourself and don't worry about something as silly as Chicago or Philly. They are both busy airports and it won't make that big of a difference. Directions in an airport of those sizes will be similar enough. Goodness Hopes, your child is 20. Just book the best flight and let him go. I would rather go in and out of Chicago myself. It is a more interesting experience than Philly. The airports are in different directions, so I certainly would pick the more logical choice. I always hate flying backwards to go forward! Pick the flight that has the best travel time.

I'd be asking here even if I were planning this trip for myself. As I've said, all of my flights have been direct except for Atlanta once because I always pay extra for direct flights. Now that Pittsburgh doesn't have many direct flights, I'm here to pick your brains.

Originally Posted by h_curtis

Why don't you just ask him what he wants to do? He is 20. Just show him the flights and let him pick.

I plan to do that when it's time to book the flight. I just want to be able to answer his questions when he asks.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by UKyank

If you do, make sure to book a connecting flight through LHR, then every connection he has to make at any airport anywhere will seem like a breeze

LMAO! Good plan!

[greg42]

Wish I'd seen this earlier. It mostly got started while I was on the road to work.

Hopes, he'll be fine. Now I flew unaccompanied minor a few times, so my flights at age 21 and thereabouts alone were not my first alone, plus I flew with my parents a few times, etc. But you're being overprotective a bit. That's okay, normal, but a connecting flight to get to Seattle, for a 20-year-old who has in fact flown before (even if not for a while) is hardly a reason to drive to Cleveland let alone all the way to Philly!

Book on United, through Chicago-O'Hare. Connecting on United in O'Hare, despite O'Hare being a very busy place, is pretty easy. I've done it several times. The longest distance is if you have to walk through the underground tunnel. I've never been outside security in O'Hare.

Maybe it's easy for me to say because I've been familiar with flying for a long time, but really, he'll be fine. As you said, he's an intelligent kid. He can read the screens in the airport, find the right gate for the next flight and so on. No big deal. Plus in these days of cell phones you'll be able to say in touch easily during the layover. If there's a problem with the connection, he can get extra assistance by calling you if necessary.

It's been a long time since Pittsburgh has had a direct flight to Seattle, by the way. That's not a very recent development.

PS It hasn't been called Greater Pitt since 1992.

[okaydorothy]

He will be fine. I am sure you will write everything down for him and he can follow it as he is very smart.

Now if he was transferring in LHR or Dublin, i would be worried!!

BTW ' my first trip on a plane was when i was 20 and emigrating to Canada!!

[Tinare]

Hi Hopes,

The first time I flew EVER was a flight by myself at 20 to London with a transfer at JFK. I was also in college and pretty financially independent for a while. I'm sure as a parent it's hard not to worry, but I'm sure your son will be fine. It sounds like he's a bright guy whose been living on his own a bit, so I'd bet he'll navigate the airports okay. As others have said, just make sure there's enough time between the connections. The airline will also often have a person stationed at the gate to direct folks to their gates for connections as well.

[greg42]

Originally Posted by okaydorothy

Now if he was transferring in LHR or Dublin, i would be worried!!

Nah, I flew to LHR alone when I was 22. No big deal, although to be fair I did not transfer but simply disembarked there, and embarked upon my flight home there. The latter was trying enough I'll say, true (just took a lot longer to check in than I anticipated). I think the big issue with LHR is often you are switching airlines, which then means you are attempting to change between what can be widely separated terminals....

[Hopes]

Okay. He'll be fine. You are all right.

I know I'm being nuts, but it's better I'm nuts on here than when talking to him, right?

I do a good job of keeping all the crazy over protective mommy thoughts to myself.

Thanks to everyone for your posts!

[PITairport]

Originally Posted by Hopes

There are so few direct flights from Pittsburgh now!

I'm sending a young adult on a plane alone for the first time.

Which airports would be easiest for a transfer? Philadelphia PHL or Chicago OHR?

Or would it be better to just drive to Philadelphia or DC for a direct flight?

Money isn't an issue. I just want to the first flight alone to be as effortless as possible.

Definitely take ORD over PHL. Your options at ORD would be American and United. Transferring on AA at ORD is a breeze, its all in one terminal, including codeshare partner Alaska Airlines which also goes to SEA. United can be a bit more of a challenge if arriving from PIT on a United Express flight, as the connection to mainline United (for the SEA flight) can be a longer walk as its often in a separate terminal. No need to re-clear security however. This however can be avoided by booking a flight from PIT on United that is a mainline flight. This ensures a same terminal connection.

Another advantage of Using ORD vs PHL is the volume of flights to SEA from ORD. If there is a delay or cancellation, chances of being successfully re-booked are greater.

ORD doesn't nearly have the delays they did a few years ago.

Southwest through Midway is another option. No need to go east to head west.

[Hopes]

The most unsettling airport experience I've ever had was returning to the states from the Dominican Republic immediately after 9/11.

There were all these guys standing around holding automatic machine guns, some in uniform, some not.

I'm not just talkng here and there. They were everywhere. And they were lined up surrounding the passenger line.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by PITairport

Definitely take ORD over PHL. Your options at ORD would be American and United. Transferring on AA at ORD is a breeze, its all in one terminal, including codeshare partner Alaska Airlines which also goes to SEA. United can be a bit more of a challenge if arriving from PIT on a United Express flight, as the connection to mainline United (for the SEA flight) can be a longer walk as its often in a separate terminal. No need to re-clear security however. This however can be avoided by booking a flight from PIT on United that is a mainline flight. This ensures a same terminal connection.

Another advantage of Using ORD vs PHL is the volume of flights to SEA from ORD. If there is a delay or cancellation, chances of being successfully re-booked are greater.

It sounds like the concensus is O'Hara. Thanks for the tips on how to avoid switching terminals. More flights to SEA is a big plus too.