11:00 flight out of FLL, how big of a gamble

[bryanjaync]

Our choices of flights out of FLL post-cruise on November 4 are 11:00 am or 2:25 pm. Hate to sit around the airports, so how big of a gamble is getting to the airport / security to make the 11am flight. Is carrying all of our own luggage of the ship an option and takes it make it quicker ?

[RedmondCruiser]

If all goes well 11am may work out. It is a bit close though. I've been on cruises that have come in late and I have been on a cruise where disembarcation did not start until 10AM - and that was without explanation. I'd play it safe and opt for the 2PM flight.

[fridayeyes]

I agree with Redmond. 11 am is cutting it too close unless you have the kind of ticket that will let you go stand-by on the 2 pm w/o fees.

 

Think of it this way - which will put more of a damper on your vacation memories - 2 hrs waiting for your flight (in which you could have a nice lunch somewhere), or missing your flight and the ensuing worry/costs/chaos?

 

Cheers,

 

Friday

[Randyk47]

I'm a bit of a worrywart and I'd probably not book a 11 AM flight. Last cruise into Ft Lauderdale we would have made an 11 AM but just barely as we got to the airport at 10:00 AM and disembarkation was early and near on to perfect that day. The cruise before that we'd not had made it....our transportation from the cruise terminal to the airport blew a tire and it took an hour to get it fixed.....and we'd not have made an 11 AM flight. We're staying an extra day following our upcoming cruise to go to the King Tut exhibit so it's not an issue this time around.

[lougee1043]

heres my take

you need to be off the ship by 9

you need 15 minutes to get to the airport

you need 15 minutes to check your luggage at curb side

you need 30 min to clear security

you need to be there 1 hour early

your flight leaves at 11am

 

take the later flight and relax getting off the ship and dont be pressured

[jhannah]

We made a noon flight with time to spare once ... but 11:00 would have been out of the question that day. Lots of ships in FLL. Took an hour to get through security. Plus, any one person/cabin can hold up clearing immigration and thus delay disembarkation for everyone. I agree with those who say don't end your cruise with a nail-biter. Go for the later flight.

[gizmo]

Bryanjannc,

 

You have to decide for yourself if it is worth it. Some people would never take the chance and others would.

 

Consider everything that could make you miss the flight.

• The ship docks late.
  
• Someone does not pay their bill and holds up the entire ship.
  
• Someone does not report to immigration.
  
• There is a mob scene at the airport. Two mega ships got in early and security is a nightmare.

If you miss your flight what can happen? Can you except it?

• You manage to get on the next flight out.
  
• The airline can't get you out until very late in the day.
  
• The airline can't put you on a flight until the next day. (you may have already checked your luggage)

If you carry off your luggage, you will have a much better shot at making it since you will be first off the ship.

 

Many times I have been sitting in the airport around 10:00 or so. On the other hand there are many others that didn't arrive untill 11:00.

 

Think about it. Good Luck !:)

[bepsf]

Wanna ruin that relaxed feeling you get from your vacation?

Wanna make yourself and those around you miserable?

Got an extra $1000/pp to spend?

 

Go ahead and book the earlier flight...

[Onbec]

Besides those of us who have used Ft. Lauderdale airport know there is soooooo much to do at the airport,:)

Like -

line up at the ticket counter,

line up for baggage check

line up for the washroom

line up for the one restaurant

line up for - well you get the picture.

Dick

[trvlcarib]

I had the same question only from Seattle. I told my wife, If it were FLL I wouldn't ever ask the question because, we have sailed out of FLL 14 times. I have been to the airport everytime NLT 9:15. DON'T worry, 11:00am is fine. Every time I had a 12 or later flight due to airlines I always said see.. we could have made an 11am flight if they had one. Go and enjoy!

[kryos]

Our choices of flights out of FLL post-cruise on November 4 are 11:00 am or 2:25 pm. Hate to sit around the airports, so how big of a gamble is getting to the airport / security to make the 11am flight. Is carrying all of our own luggage of the ship an option and takes it make it quicker ?

If you can accept the risk of missing your flight, I say go with the 11:00 a.m. flight.

 

Florida has disembarcation down to a science. It's a pretty safe bet you'll be at the airport in plenty of time there. Also, be sure to tell the front desk that you have an early flight so that they can get you off the ship in the first groups.

 

Personally, I think you'll be fine.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[kryos]

Wanna ruin that relaxed feeling you get from your vacation?

Wanna make yourself and those around you miserable?

Got an extra $1000/pp to spend?

 

Go ahead and book the earlier flight...

Do they charge you the full price of a ticket?

 

I thought if you missed a flight or wanted to change to another flight on the same day, the change fee was minimal ... like $25 to $50 bucks? It's only when you change flights to different days that the cost greatly increases.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[Balliett]

Just back from a hotel stay, not a cruise. But from our hotel balcony we could see all of the cruise ships, every day. While there were only two or three on weekdays, on Saturday and Sunday there were 6 or 7. My previous experience cruising from FLL is that the security lines at the airport, when 6 or 7 cruises end, can be an hour long. Also, there can be a scrum for cabs at the pier when multiple cruises dock. So my advice is, since Nov 4 is a Saturday, take the afternoon flight.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Weekends are terrible at Ft lauderdale's airport - lots of ships in - lots of people flying.

 

Even if you are among the first off the ship, you could have a rough time at the airport. We have arrived on weekends and have seen the LONG lines for security.

 

Take the 2 o'clock flight.

[jhannah]

I thought if you missed a flight or wanted to change to another flight on the same day, the change fee was minimal ... like $25 to $50 bucks?

The airline for which I used to work charged $25 as a move-up fee. For instance, if you had a flight booked at 7:00 p.m. and came in at 11:00 a.m. to catch an earlier flight, that would be the charge if a seat could be confirmed.

 

If you missed a flight and/or wanted to change in any other way, the change fee is $100 PLUS any difference in cost between the flight segment you booked and the currently available price. The cost can balloon quickly. Only if you have a full fare, no restriction ticket can you change without penalty.

[LHC]

DD and I spent way to long in the FLL airport on return, believe we had a 3 pm out. Had to sit with out bags in the floor until 2 hours prior to our flight before they would take our bags (did not see the pay storage units until we went to get Lunch)! I would go for the 11 am...that would have been perfect in our case.

LHC

[bepsf]

Do they charge you the full price of a ticket?

 

I thought if you missed a flight or wanted to change to another flight on the same day, the change fee was minimal ... like $25 to $50 bucks? It's only when you change flights to different days that the cost greatly increases.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

 

Gambling is understanding that the worst case scenario can happen sometimes...

[caviargal]

I would do it and have just such a flight booked for next month.

 

Yes, there could be delays getting off but I am willing to risk it so as not to have to sit around for 4 hours.

 

I have a car coming to pick me up at the ship so no taxi is required. And I will get early debark due to my suite.

 

I do not gamble at the casino but I will take a shot at this.

[songanddance]

Our choices of flights out of FLL post-cruise on November 4 are 11:00 am or 2:25 pm. Hate to sit around the airports, so how big of a gamble is getting to the airport / security to make the 11am flight. Is carrying all of our own luggage of the ship an option and takes it make it quicker ?

 

Would not even consider the 11:00 am flight unless you want to end your relaxing cruise by getting a full measure of stress. recently, disembarked in San Pedro, CA. Original schedule was for 8:00 am arrival and disembark shortly thereafter. However, Osama Raised his ugly head and the entire LA region went into high security mode. This ship was required to come in by 6:30 am and we did not begin leaving the ship until 11:00 am due to extra tight immigration checks. This can happen in FLA also or anywhere. Not to mention a hundred other reasons why early disembarkation is delayed.

 

Pick the PM flight and keep in the relaxed mood of your cruise.

[cruisecache&squash]

We had a 2:30 flight but didn't arrive at the FLL airport from the ship until almost 11:30. There were no delays or anything regarding disembarkation, either. By the time we found our bags in the terminal, boarded the bus, got to the airport, checked our bags, went through security and grabbed a bite to eat (boy, airport pizza sure is a letdown after a week of HAL food!), there wasn't too much time left before the plane pulled in. I think I killed about a half hour in the gift shops, too.

 

Waiting is dull, but I'd rather do that and bring a book or magazine with me then stress out about making the flight at all. That's just me though. I tend to get easily freaked out! :D

[Robrph]

We got a 11AM flight coming home from San Francisco last May. We were on Celebrity and got white tickets for first off. We arrived at the airport with lots of time to spare- no problem that time. But I don't know if we would have been that lucky in Ft. Lauderdale or Miami.

[nevis92]

I thought we'd have plenty of time for our upcoming Westerdam cruise but now wonder if I should be worried.

 

We arrive Sunday morning in Ft. Lauderdale and have a 12:50 pm flight out of MIAMI. :confused:

[iv18-Diane]

Last April, I was off ship, and sitting in Lobby of Airport hotel by 8am off the Zuiderdam. This year I need to go home the day of the cruise, being Easter Sunday, only flight options were 11:15 am, or 7pm. 7, would get me home way to late. If there was a 2pm available, i would take it. There were a few inbetween, but with connections. I hate connections. I wasn't thrilled with the 11;15am flight, but I booked it anyway, based on last year. Make sure to ask for early Flight Debarkation. I was off with the 1st group last year. My guess is they saw the 9am flight the day after the cruise, and thought it was the day of.

 

Diane G

[kryos]

The airline for which I used to work charged $25 as a move-up fee. For instance, if you had a flight booked at 7:00 p.m. and came in at 11:00 a.m. to catch an earlier flight, that would be the charge if a seat could be confirmed.

 

If you missed a flight and/or wanted to change in any other way, the change fee is $100 PLUS any difference in cost between the flight segment you booked and the currently available price. The cost can balloon quickly. Only if you have a full fare, no restriction ticket can you change without penalty.

Oh, okay. I did the "move up" fee and that's why it was only $25 for me. I had a connecting flight out of Miami at like 2:00 p.m. Got to the airport at like 10:00. They got me confirmed on an 11:00 a.m. direct flight and charged me a very reasonable $25 for the change. Guess it would have been a lot more then had I missed an earlier flight.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[Bodger]

Nine times out of ten there would be no problem. It is just the one time that concerns me.

 

The good news is if you have a wireless (802.11b) computer FLL offers free wireless internet. Last year we were delayed and I was able to use my pocket PC to catch up on office e-mail. If I had only realized how long we would be there I would not have packed my AC adapter in my suitcase.

 

Bodger