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Layover Times in Minneapolis

Layover Times in Minneapolis

Just a Guy
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 78

Just a Guy
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 78

Layover Times in Minneapolis
11/25/2017 at 10:31 AM

We are trying to book a flight online to Cancun for this winter. There are great prices right now so we want to take advantage of this.

The flight we are looking at has a couple of options. One is leaving Winnipeg and having a layover of 1-1/2 hour in Minneapolis before going on to Cancun. The other option is about a 5 hour layover in Minneapolis.

Is the first option enough time to change planes? Is there any other steps involved other than changing planes? We are taking our 13 year old and 3 year old twins and have never done a layover in the States since 9-11.

Any advice would be great.
Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

MSP
11/25/2017 at 10:37 AM

What airline(s)?
HankTank
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 48

HankTank
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 48

MSP
11/25/2017 at 10:39 AM

1.5 hours is tons of time unless your departing flight gets delayed for some reason.

If you are on the same airline you won't have to do anything except find the gate for the second leg, the bags get transferred for you.
Fishin Guy
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6897

Fishin Guy
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6897

???
11/25/2017 at 11:49 AM

What airline you flying? Westjet was direct for us.
Bluebell
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1232

Bluebell
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1232

...
11/25/2017 at 11:58 AM

1.5 hours is lots of time. You just need to walk to the next gate. You will be behind security etc. We usually grab a bite to eat on the walk, or find the gate first then grab something to eat.
Just a Guy
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 78

Just a Guy
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 78

Delta
11/25/2017 at 12:22 PM

The airline is Delta for both the flight to Minneapolis and to Cancun, so I am assuming that it will be in and out from the same terminal.

My concern was that I understand we will go through customs in Winnipeg to enter the US but wasn't sure about if we had to do anything when leaving the US.

We had thought of using Westjet but they can't come close to the fights with Delta right now.
summergal
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1554

summergal
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1554

...
11/25/2017 at 12:34 PM

1.5 hours is fine even if you have to get to another terminal. I have had many layovers in Minneapolis before and have never had issues there. 5 hours with little kids would suck.
bigmoe
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2181

bigmoe
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2181

.
11/25/2017 at 12:37 PM

I’d take the longer layover for peace of mind. Any delay in your initial flight and you’re screwed. It’s worth it to take a direct flight if it’s not much more so you can avoid hassles like lost connections and lost luggage.
traveller
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9145

traveller
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9145

:)
11/26/2017 at 5:55 PM

as you are landing in the USA from another country you will need to go through US customs,(you wouldn't if you left from minot) it isnt hard tho, you follow the signs and easy peasy, you do need to get your luggage to reenter so that will take a bit

minniapolis is a large large airport (one of the largest) because its a hub for many many other destinations, they do have shuttles and moving sidewalks to speed things up which help, I would phone delta and see what they recommend but im think an 1 1/2 should be enough but not a lot extra, with you kids it would suck to wait the 5 hrs but also suck to miss a flight, hard call for sure especially since you dont know that airport
TheScotsman
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 373

TheScotsman
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 373

Traveller. you are wrong.
11/26/2017 at 7:42 PM

Flying to the US, EVERYONE clears US Customs at YWG. It has always been that way.

I have been flying to the US, from Winnipeg for decades, always clear US Customs in Winnipeg.

1 2/2 hours is plenty of time.
Oryx
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5628

Oryx
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5628

Waste of time
11/26/2017 at 8:30 PM

to take the 5 hour layover. That's just time you could be spending at your final destination.
You will, as stated above, clear customs on your depart from YWG (Wpg). When you land IN Cancun you will have to fill out your declaration (usually done on the plane), before you are allowed entry into Mexico.
elkcip
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 122

elkcip
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 122

when
11/26/2017 at 8:55 PM

You land in Minneapolis you will have to go through customs as you are entering another country. I would take the 5 hours as it may be long with young kids but 1.5 may not be enough with young kids and missing the flight could cost a lot of money if the airline wants to charge you. Being winter you never know when the weather could affect a take off or landing ....
crunchy1885
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 821

crunchy1885
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 821

well
11/26/2017 at 9:39 PM

We went to a hot destination a couple years ago and due to a plane problem we were 2 hours late getting into Toronto. Luckily we had a 3 hour layover so we still made it. I’d only pick the 1.5 hour one if you were leaving early in the morning and knew there were other flights going to cancun later that day in case yours doesn’t make it

Delta is a great airline! Free wifi/texting on the planes!
crunchy1885
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 821

crunchy1885
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 821

Jeff
11/26/2017 at 9:41 PM

Jeff you actually clear in Winnipeg and then enter a secure area for US departing flights only. So you’re technically on international “land” before you even leave Winnipeg!

traveller
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9145

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 9145

11/27/2017 at 12:33 AM

TheScotsman said "Flying to the US, EVERYONE clears US Customs at YWG. It has always been that way.

I have been flying to the US, from Winnipeg for decades, always clear US Customs in Winnipeg.

1 2/2 hours is plenty of time. "

it seems you are right that winnipeg is on the pre-clearance list now but it has not always been that way,last time i flew winnipeg to minniapolis you needed to land and clear customs at your first us stop (that was a while ago tho) if you are pre-cleared at winnipeg i would agree 1 1/2 hours layover is enough

Just a Guy
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 78

Just a Guy
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 78

What we ended up doing....
11/27/2017 at 7:59 AM

Tried to book the flight for the days we wanted to get away. Already paid for the resort as I found a flight that would work and had it already to go. The Delta site required you to select seats before you pay and when I went to do that, the leg between Winnipeg and Minneapolis only had the Emergency row available. Good for adults but not allowed for kids effectively making no seats available.

I put a call into Delta and a wonderful lady, who was familiar with Minneapolis got us n a flight with a 1h and 15 min layover and said we would have plenty of time. She freed up some seats for us and we are now going.

While she was booking us, the price went up $40 per ticket but she honored the lower price.

Now hopefully us and our luggage make it there in one piece.

Thanks to all that replied.

Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 15663

Flight

11/27/2017 at 9:23 AM

Just a Guy said "Tried to book the flight for the days we wanted to get away. Already paid for the resort as I found a flight that would work and had it already to go. The Delta site required you to select seats before you pay and when I went to do that, the leg between Winnipeg and Minneapolis only had the Emergency row available. Good for adults but not allowed for kids effectively making no seats available.

I put a call into Delta and a wonderful lady, who was familiar with Minneapolis got us n a flight with a 1h and 15 min layover and said we would have plenty of time. She freed up some seats for us and we are now going.

While she was booking us, the price went up $40 per ticket but she honored the lower price.

Now hopefully us and our luggage make it there in one piece.

Thanks to all that replied. "

Great to hear that they took care of you! I think you've made the right decision... our kiddo was three in Feb when we connected through MSP and our 3 1/2 hour layover was a lot of time to burn! Those little feeder jets that the US airlines use to get you into their airports across the border can sometimes be a little tight for carry-on space but it can be worth it for the deals and is really a short haul to Minny.

One thing you'll probably enjoy if you do end up with a few minutes to kill is the good-sized kids play area they have at MSP. You can see where it is on the map at https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/airports-and-aircraft/airports/minneapolis-st-paul.html

You might've already given this some thought, but if you get the sense that it'll be tricky navigating the airport and your connection with three year olds in tow consider bringing and gate-checking stroller(s). Just verify that you won't be charged for it (we weren't by Delta with a 3 year old). Very handy to have the stroller sitting right there for you once you get off the plan to pop kiddo in and make a dash for it.

Enjoy!

Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Return flight
11/27/2017 at 9:46 AM

Also one more thing that it might be worth keeping in mind, not sure if anyone else has experiences of their own to add. On more than one occasion on our return flight connect through Minneapolis we've run into a situation where the airline had overbooked the last little flight to Winnipeg and needed volunteers to accept a different flight in order to get their weight down. In exchange for accepting the inconvenience you get a voucher to use for a future flight. Not ideal for everyone since some people will have to get home at a specific time for various reasons but not the worst thing in the world to setup your trip to allow for a little flexibility at the end just in case the chance is there!

Blue_Guru
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 381

Blue_Guru

Joined: Sep 2014

Posts: 381

It's probably enough time.

11/28/2017 at 8:40 PM

Just a Guy said "We are trying to book a flight online to Cancun for this winter. There are great prices right now so we want to take advantage of this.

The flight we are looking at has a couple of options. One is leaving Winnipeg and having a layover of 1-1/2 hour in Minneapolis before going on to Cancun. The other option is about a 5 hour layover in Minneapolis.

Is the first option enough time to change planes? Is there any other steps involved other than changing planes? We are taking our 13 year old and 3 year old twins and have never done a layover in the States since 9-11.

Any advice would be great. "

I never connect East in the winter, but it seems reasonable.

One warning: make sure it's all on one ticket.

Otherwise, if there's a delay on the first leg, you're out of luck.