International flight ? - layovers

[m15]

I'm visiting a friend in Nairobi in June. I haven't yet booked the flight because we needed to narrow down the dates, etc.

A couple of questions because I've never flown international before. Most of the flights I'm seeing go into Frankfurt. A couple into Ethiopia and a couple into Amsterdam. A lot of the layovers are less than 2 hours in these places. Is that reasonable? That seems like it would be hard to make for an international flight, but I truly don't know. I'd appreciate any insight for those of you that regularly do long haul flights like this.

On the way there, I will be flying alone and with her (and her dog) on the way back. She will only fly Lufthansa with her dog back to the US, but I don't have to fly that on the way there. Is it better for me to book a round trip or do two separate flights?

Finally should I plan on booking by like the end of this month or wait it out? Prices are about $1800 coach right now.

[rupertpenny]

I would probably go ahead and book a round-trip ticket on Lufthansa. I could be wrong, but I don't THINK you will need to go through customs in Frankfurt either way as you will not be entering Germany/the EU/Schengen Area. The same would be true for a flight through Amsterdam, but it seems like Schiphol has been kind of a shit show recently and I haven't heard similar things about Frankfurt. I have absolutely no clue what the customs or immigration situation might be in Ethiopia

It is possible that booking two one-way flights might be cheaper, but it seems unlikely. It will also be easier all around if everything is on one itinerary.

[texasharleygirl]

My brother and sister in law just got back from Africa. They flew from Houston to Doha and had about an 8 hr layover in which they stayed at the Oryx hotel. Left early morning (think 130 am) and flew to Nairobi. They were on Qatar Airways.

[sdlaura]

I would search on kayak and it will show you options for both ways on Lufthansa and also some multi-airline itineraries if those are priced better. Less than 2 hours seems a bit tight, but Frankfurt is a nice/efficient airport.

[mrsslocombe]

Two hours is tight, there's a good chance that your checked luggage might not make the second flight (has happened to me flying through Heathrow but...Heathrow is also a shit show). Also depends on what US airport you are leaving from-if you are flying out of JFK I would assume you will board on time but have a late takeoff.

I have also missed a connection in Frankfurt (thanks to sitting on the tarmac at JFK) but there was another flight just an hour later.

But Lufthansa gave us both a meal/drink voucher since we missed the connection. I was stunned.

[jinkies]

I had a 2 hr 15 minutes layover in Frankfurt this past summer. I had to go through security because the second leg was a domestic flight within Germany (Frankfurt to Berlin).

I had plenty of time.

ETA: Actually I guess it was just passport control that I went through, not security. Either way, there was a line but it moved quickly, and they were pulling people to the front if they had a tight connection. 

[wanderingback]

You’ll just have to compare prices to see if round trip vs two separate 1-way tickets is better.

As far as timing to book, I think that these days it’s really hard to "time it right" to get a great great deal.
It’s been above 10 years since I regularly flew to Africa, (omg time flies) but not regularly to Kenya and $1800 seems possibly a tad high, but reasonable. I don’t think you’ll get much much cheaper.

[neonpink]

I’d compare to see which is more cost effective for you. I’ve had layovers on both airports and if you have a longer one they are nice places to be. Good restaurants etc.


I do recommend flying the same airline/partner on each leg of the trip. My flight was delayed out on my outbound and I missed my second flight In Amsterdam by 30 minutes. Delta rebooked me and had my name on a card to talk to someone when I landed in Amsterdam.

Personally, I’ve had a great experience on Lufthansa and will happily fly them again. I upgraded on my way out and the chair has a little foot rest and the service was great. I had a layover in Frankfurt and enjoyed the airport and had time to leave and walk the city for a bit. They also have showers if you need them.

[fryjack2]

We fly internationally at least twice a year and we only travel with carry on and even then, 2 hours makes me nervous.

If you are checking a bag, and may have to claim it in between flights, I would book something with more
Time in between flights.

All it takes is a 20 minutes delay for the first flight and then a security or customs line to be closed for a normal connection to be missed.

Air travel is a disaster these days. I know you can’t do so for a flight to Africa, but we have started flying direct out of NyC if a direct flight isn’t available from Boston. So much easier to remove a flight from the equation.

[m15]

Thanks to everyone for the info! Last year, I could have booked round trip for $800, but I knew there were fewer people flying then. I think I may try to book two one ways to give myself more time to get there. I've noticed there aren't a lot of flights into Nairobi, so I'd hate to miss a connection and then be stuck in a random country for a while. I'll have a little more control of I don't have to stick with Lufthansa on the way there.

[Waytob]

From Nairobi and regularly travel the international legs. Some quick thoughts:

1) Round trip most likely will be much cheaper than two x 1 way
2) Travelled Lufthansa quite alot, Frankfurt relatively easy to navigate. Had one incident last Christmas with all the delays due to the storm and Lufthansa was not very helpful - missed the connecting which meant a whole day's delay into Nbi, and they were not accommodating on hotel or other comp - if booking, be super aware of fare conditions etc
3) Addis a good airport - recently modernized, but means a very long flight from US and Ethiopian not the best of airlines for long haul on economy. Very limited lounge and food options there as well (ok for such a short layover but just FYI)
4) I use skyscanner alot for price check, but TBH flights are very pricey at present (Kenya at peak summer) - prices do go down in March slightly - but June - September is our high season due to the migration


Hope above helps

[wise_rita]

There is a chance that her dog will be restricted to certain flights/times.

My dog flew at the end of 2021 on Lufthansa from the USA to Europe. H was booked on the very same flight as the dog, but a week or two prior they changed the booking of the dog for some reason. H got to the destination like 12 hours ahead of dog, because dog stayed overnight at Lufthansa's [amazing] animal boarding facility in Frankfurt.

So both of you just be aware in case she HAS to be on the same flight as dog.

Side note: I'm jealous you've got someone to visit in Nairobi! Safari is awesome And I've never been but I know Americans love the Giraffe Manor.

[m15]

Jan 26, 2023 4:23:32 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

There is a chance that her dog will be restricted to certain flights/times.

My dog flew at the end of 2021 on Lufthansa from the USA to Europe. H was booked on the very same flight as the dog, but a week or two prior they changed the booking of the dog for some reason. H got to the destination like 12 hours ahead of dog, because dog stayed overnight at Lufthansa's [amazing] animal boarding facility in Frankfurt.

So both of you just be aware in case she HAS to be on the same flight as dog.

Side note: I'm jealous you've got someone to visit in Nairobi! Safari is awesome And I've never been but I know Americans love the Giraffe Manor.

I am so excited! I was supposed to go last year, but she had to fly back to the US early for some family stuff. She was there on a two year contract, so this is my last chance to go. The giraffe manor is definitely on my list!She had good luck getting her dog there,so I hope the way home is slick.

[inakomisly]

In terms of layovers, anything under 2 hours for an international flight can be a bit tight, but it really depends on the airport and the airline. If it's a major airport and you're flying with a reputable airline, they should be able to accommodate the timing without any issues. Just make sure to double-check with the airline to see if they can guarantee a timely connection. Lastly, if you're interested in exploring other travel options, you might want to check out a simple Guide to Miami Private Jet Charter. This could be a alternative if you're looking for a more luxurious and personalized travel experience. But again, it really depends on your budget and travel preferences.

[basilosaurus]

Mar 16, 2023 11:15:40 GMT -5 inakomisly said:

In terms of layovers, anything under 2 hours for an international flight can be a bit tight, but it really depends on the airport and the airline.

Exactly this. Usually you only have to go through a secondary screening for transfers which is fast. However, I've had to do the whole immigration and baggage claim because it was an external bus to another terminal where I had to check in again and go through passport control. That makes the difference between 5 minutes and 2hrs.

I can tell you from very recent personal experience that they will walk through lines to pull out soon departing flights, and that if there's massive delays in lines they'll wait for checked in passengers. But for a first time international traveler that would probably stress you too much.

I do not have recent experience in Frankfurt to know their transit situation.

Doha is a fairly easy airport. It can get wildly busy around midnight, though. They do have internal rent by the 2 hour block (I think?) rooms if you have a longer layover and want to rest, change, freshen, etc.

Is etihad an option? They have a fantastic long layover program where they'll pay for hotel. I got 2 nights because I arrived and departed at night. I just read on the private beach all day. It was probably the most relaxing 40-50ish hr (incl layover) trip I've had. For a first time international traveler i imagine that would be invaluable.

[basilosaurus]

Jan 26, 2023 4:23:32 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

There is a chance that her dog will be restricted to certain flights/times.

When I moved my dog to and from Japan the restrictions were based on estimated temp at departure and destination, for both hit and cold.

My final destination was Phoenix in October so I chose first flight of the day to land around 8. You can book anything, but it's a decision they make as close to departure as possible.