Transfair times

Oh you mean transfer!! Without knowing Dulles, I would have thought anything under an hour was highly dodgy. Anybody know better/more?

Sorry about the spelling Dislexia gets in the way sometimes

It really depends on how long it takes to get through immigration. We flew from Heathrow to Philadelphia then had an hour to catch our connection to Jacksonville which we did with time to spare. The only time I went from Heathrow to Dulles (with an hour and a half to catch the connection) it was a nightmare! It took three hours to clear immigration, and security, then two hours waiting in line at 'customer care' to be re-booked to Jacksonville. There were no more flights that day so I spent a cold, uncomfortable night on a seat in Dulles airport until the following morning. If I were you, I would try to find a flight with a bit more time to play with. Good luck!

Always a direct flight for us .We NEVER transfer , when flying Stateside , too much hassle !

Yes, nonu , a direct flight is obviously preferable, but neither of our two daughters live near an international airport, so we have no choice but to transfer.

If you are having to go through US immigration all bets are off . I have stood "in line" for well over an hour waiting to have my iris scanned again, my fingerprints taken again etc while the staff move at a glacial pace.
They do this procedure even if you have just got off a plane for re-fuelling and are getting back onto the same seat without going "land side" at all.
They may make you then go through more security checks before boarding your Manchester flight - shoes off etc after another dose of queuing.
And there may be some distance between terminals or gates.
Based on my experiences of US immigration the answer is no chance that you would make this flight.
After my last experience of transiting in Sydney I conclude that if any form of immigration is involved in the transit (i.e. it is the first time you land in that country), then allow 3 hours.
The only exception would be if you could go through US immigration in your port of departure which can occasionally happen (e.g. in Shannon, Ireland !)

Right Bella , I understand now

The other problem is you have to go through baggage reclaim, if the flight has originated outside the USA, you then have to check it in again for your flight home.

Before 9/11 luggage was transferred automatically, as it still is for internal flights.

Don't trust any other countries (unless, possibly, Ireland but they might have changed that!)
You can tell the airports are owned by the public sector and not businesses like they are here can't you. Many of them shabby with no money spent on them for years. Any advance on LA as our nomination for the biggest pain? It is one of the strange things I notice in the states - despite their capitalistic fervour, far more things seem to be in the control of state and city ownership. Ferries, liquor stores (I can understand that one as a nice little state monopoly earner) in some states and our favourite airports including very nearly all the staff that work there.

Jess I think even with the Ireland pre-immigration thing, you still have to reclaim baggage when you land, even if transferring to another flight.

No advances on LA!

ATLANTA !!

Thanks Riverwalk for the info about baggage
think I better go back to thomas cook and pass this onto them

Olive can the agents not book you on a direct flight from Toronto, or does it make it too expensive?

Nonu I love Atlanta airport, although it seems HUGE!

ADDS £500 TO TRIP
Might go for extra night in washington

Slight correction on my part: you don't have to check-in your baggage after reclaiming, as you are still 'airside' but you do have to take it to some place or other, and it all takes time!

You don't have to check-in baggage again but you still have to go through security.

O'Hare is pretty horrible and I have never known a plane arrive or depart on time when using JFK.