Found cheap flights by booking two one-way tickets on different airlines instead of a round trip - saved $140 but had a 4-hour layover in Chicago

Is saving money worth the hassle of piecing together your own itinerary, or do you guys think the risk of missing a connection (and losing that savings) makes it a bad idea?

3 comments

3 Comments

thomas_johnson3518d agoMost Upvoted

Done this a few times and it works out if you plan ahead. The key is giving yourself plenty of buffer time between flights, especially in a big airport like Chicago. Four hours sounds like a lot but it can disappear quick if weather hits or you get delayed. Just make sure you never book the second leg too tight, like under two hours, or you will be sweating it. Have you ever had a close call with a connection like that?

veraramirez18d ago

Had a four hour layover in Denver once and spent two of it just getting from Terminal A to B because the train was down and they made us walk through some underground tunnel. Missed my connection by ten minutes and ended up stuck overnight. @thomas_johnson35 is right about giving yourself time, but even then the airport can screw you over in ways you dont plan for. Now I always pack a change of clothes in my carryon just in case I get stuck somewhere. Learned that lesson the hard way.

garcia.miles18d ago

Oh man, I had a buddy who almost missed a connection in Dallas because he got stuck on one of those tram things between terminals when it just stopped working for like 20 minutes. He ended up sprinting through the airport and made it with maybe two minutes to spare before they closed the gate. Idk, I swear airports find new ways to test your patience every time you fly.