BS: Advice on internal flights in the USA

Subject: BS: Advice on internal flights in the USA
From: GUEST,toobusybee
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 09:29 AM

Hi I'm flying to Houston on Good Friday and I need to get to Fort Worth (couldn't get a cheap deal to Fort Worth) can anyone advise on how much time I might need on clearing immigration at Houston so I can book flight to Love Field?

Thanks

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on internal flights in the USA
From: Jasmine
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 09:43 AM

I haven't been through immigration at Houston, but going through it at Atlanta and Chicago recently, I'd probably want to have a couple of hours between flights. Immigration shouldn't ever take more than 30 minutes or so, but better to have a bit of cushion in case there are other delays or Customs is backed up.

It actually might be worth considering driving it (if you're already planning on a rental car) rather than flying it. The drive from Houston to Fort Worth would be around 4-5 hours, while a two-hour flight gap + the bag claim time at Love and then the hour-plus drive from Love (through downtown Dallas traffic, which depending on the time of day could stretch it into two hours) would probably get you there reasonably near the same time.

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on internal flights in the USA
From: GUEST,Toobusybee
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 09:47 AM

Thanks. Unfortunately I don't drive. We did consider either my sister or my niece driving to Houston to pick me up, but I don't really want them to have to do the drive twice.

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on internal flights in the USA
From: Jasmine
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 09:55 AM

Did you look into Amtrak (train) at all? I don't know what their schedules are between Houston and Fort Worth (or if they even still have a train that runs that route - our train service leaves a whole lot to be desired), but it might be another option. The bus I wouldn't even consider - yes, it'll get you there, but it's rarely an enjoyable trip.

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on internal flights in the USA
From: GUEST,Toobusybee
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 10:04 AM

Never thought about the trai, I'll check it out, could be interesting!

Toobusybee

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on internal flights in the USA
From: Midchuck
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 10:20 AM

Riding the Dog is another option you should at least check.

(Translation: Take the bus. Biggest bus line in US is Greyhound.)

Peter.

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on internal flights in the USA
From: Scoville
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 10:36 AM

If you still end up flying, aim for lots of time (more than 30 minutes). I've never been through immigration there--I live in Houston so I don't need to--but Bush is a large, busy, airport (not sure about Hobby but I assume it is also busy) and Good Friday is likely to be even busier.

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on internal flights in the USA
From: M.Ted
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 10:49 AM

It's almost three hundred miles--six hours minimum, on the bus, which could stretch to nine or ten if you have to change busses. A couple hour layover in the airport would be a minor inconvenience in comparison(and you can eat and shop)

However, if you want local color, you can't beat the bus. Texas is probably where The Blues began, and the road from Houston to Ft. Worth was well travelled by the likes of Blind Lemon Jefferson and Leadbelly--the trains are few and far between--years ago, I gave an old blues musician a ride from the bus station to a festival site--he said, "We sings about the train, but we travel on the bus."

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on internal flights in the USA
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 11:31 AM

Thanks for the suggestions. The bus appeals because of the tradition factor - make my big brother dead jealous!; however, don't really fancy such a long journey. I had factored about four hours between arriving from the UK and taking the internal flight - don't want to be rushed in changing flights, however, don't want to be roaming round airport for hours

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on internal flights in the USA
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 01:59 PM

Flew into Houston once from overseas long ago, got hung up for at least an hour, my ride left before I got out. I'm sure things have changed since then.

Why not try to email or phone somebody at the airport, they might be able to connect you to someone in the customs area, or even a ticket agent who is familiar with what kind of layover time should be allowed for.

start here

As for the advice on rail or bus, yes those are fascinating ways to travel, but isn't it going to be a $30 cab ride to get to a scurfy bus station downtown from the airport? Or have they recently developed some intermodal centers to connect between air and ground?

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on internal flights in the USA
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 02:27 PM

The train would be a lot of fun, preferable to the bus, imo, but in looking at amtrak.com it seems you would have to take the train from Houston to Amarillo, then Ft. Worth and it would take oodles of time, getting into Amarilla at 3am and not leaving for Ft. Worth until 7am that following morning. Our train service leaves MUCH to be desired.

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on internal flights in the USA
From: Bert
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 05:59 PM

When I flew into Houston frm England, yonks ago, it took over four hours to get through customs.

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on internal flights in the USA
From: artbrooks
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 08:22 PM

I called the Customs office at the Houston airport. They said it could be anything from a half-hour to two hours, depending entirely on the number of passengers who have to go through at any one time. It sounds to me like you'd better allow yourself at least three hours, and four hours would be safer, from arrival there to departure to Ft. Worth. Its not a bad airport to waste time in if you end up with excess.

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on internal flights in the USA
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 09:06 PM

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Subject: RE: BS: Advice on internal flights in the USA
From: GUEST,toobusybee
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 07:19 AM

Thanks again for all your suggestions, it's the time factor that I'm most worried about, so I reckon I;ll allow c5 hours between landing and catching the internal flight - I might get to know more about this airport than I'd like. Had a strange dream last night that I came through immigration very quickly (in the same time it took at Dallas before 9/11) but then I was held up by a 'helpful' immigration officer who offered to take me to my flight - in my dream I'm still waiting!

Toobusybee

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on internal flights in the USA
From: Wesley S
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 09:20 AM

If you can catch a flight from Houston to the Dallas/Ft Worth airport you'll be a lot closer to Ft Worth than the Love Field airport which is in Dallas. Assuming the price difference isn't too bad. Southwest Airlines might be the cheapest flight.

While you're in Ft Worth make sure your relatives take you to our museums - the Kimbell shouldn't be missed. I live just north of Ft Worth now - what do you plan to be doing while you're here? What are your interests?

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on internal flights in the USA
From: GUEST,Toobusybee
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 12:22 PM

just to say thanks for all your helpful suggestions. Have now booked flight.

To Wesley - I like music, history, drinking anything that doesn't involve too much work - (I found booking the internal flight v hard work!) I think my family have got a number of things set up including my birthday celebrations.

Thanks again

Toobusybee