[JenRo]

Hi all,
I'm so sorry if this has been discussed previously (I don't know how to research the posts).

We are FINALLY pink (after a 40 day wait for an Amatitlan BC)

Anyway, do people think a 2 1/2 hour layover time in Houston will be enough time to get baby stamped "approved"???!! The only other option is a 5 hour layover which I am NOT inclined to do, unless people think it will be pushing it to make my connection with a 2 1/2 hour layover.

Thank you to everyone so much and wishing everyone a very speedy process!!

Jen R.

DOB: 10/9/06

PGN out: 3/1/07

Embassy Appt: 5/4/07

[eleanor99]

Yeah on PINK! We once got through there in 1 HOUR if you can believe it! It really just depends on the lines....but I think 2.5 should be just fine for you. If you missed your flight, could you go standby on the next one? Good luck and CONGRATS!

[joepegcamp]

Personally, I would go for the 5-hour layover for a couple of reasons:

1. If your flight is delayed at all -- either out of Guatemala City or on the tarmac in Houston -- you could miss your connecting flight entirely. In most cases, that means you're flying standby on the next available flight (if the flights are full, of course).

2. It depends on how many babies are coming through immigration the same time you are. If there's a long line, 2.5 hours won't cut it -- or it will be close.

We timed the process on the way back from our visit trip. We timed how long it took to deboard the plane, collect our luggage, wait in the customs line, recheck our luggage and get to our next gate. It took us 90 minutes with us moving as fast as we could. And that's without the baby.

We decided that we're booking at least a four hour layover on our pick up trip. That will give us time to get through customs and immigration, feed and change our son and feed and change ourselves.

Most people hate long layovers. I'm not one of them. I've traveled a lot for business and every time I had a short layover, my entire travel schedule got screwed up. The airlines are not equipped to handle a planeload of people trying to rebook their flights. The flights are much too full and priority always goes to the frequent flyers. Personally, I'd rather wheel my son up and down the terminal in a stroller than stand in line for hours while the agent tries to rebook us.

And not to scare you, but on one trip I wound up staying the night in Pittsburgh because US Airways had no seats available. Of course, they paid for the room and the meals, but it was a giant headache.

[joepegcamp]

And I forgot --

CONGRATULATIONS on pink! May you have a happy life together.

[Gatos]

It took us about 1 hour and 15 minutes to get through immigration. 2 should be enough. You could roll the dice, take the 2 hour layover, and make that other flight if you can't get through in time.

Also, CONGRATS ON YOUR PINK!

[SchnauzerMom]

No advice on immigration, but I wanted to congratulate you on PINK!!! I know you had a long wait for BC and it must have been very tough.

[guategranny]

CONGRATULATIONS ON GETTING PINK! IT MUST HAVE BEEN SOOO HARD TO WAIT FOR SO LONG. HAVE A WONDERFUL PICKUP TRIP!

[Jecca]

YEAH JEN!! I'm so happy you finally have pink. It's about dang time!

Regarding Houston Immigration - When we brought Drew home we had a one hour layover. I was sweating bullets hoping we'd make our connection in time, and we did - by the skin of our teeth.

When we bring Sophie home next week, we'll have a 2.5 hour layover, and I think we'll be fine. Worst thing that happens is that we miss it and have to be put on the next flight. I'd rather gamble, though, than plan on an excruciatingly long layover.

Good luck!

[JenRo]

Thanks everyone!

Jess, BIG congrats to your upcoming appt! HOW EXCITING!!! You will be there with Tara--wonderful!!

Heather--we will see you in Guate, right? You have Kate's Embassy appt. on the 7th, right?

See, I was off the Boards but little birds fill me in on everything!

So happy for you all!!!!

[Jecca]

Well, glad to see you're back now, Jen!

[JustBarbara]

Hi Jen - sorry no idea if you're single or married, going solo or with DH. I would think the 2.5 hours would be sufficient. If you are traveling with DH or family member or friend what I would do is one of you go directly to hand in your package of paperwork with baby (keep the baby ) while the other waits for your luggage. Back in August I went through Atlanta with 2.5 hour layover - another single mom was bringing her DD home - she inadvertantly went right to give them her package and passports and then went to wait for her luggage ... she was the first one out of there and had no probs with her flight. Of course - if we all did this ... but just saying if your flight is delayed and you need to try this it might work.

Good luck - and congrats on your pink - Barbara

[BobMiami]

Hi. I don't know about Houston, but I do know about Miami. I was travelling single on the pick up trip. I also didn't have a connecting flight. From the time my plane landed until I was in a cab coming home, it was 4 hours. The lines were excruciating.

The BCIS people (at least in Miami) were not terribly interested. The line to pick up my luggage was long.

I confess that I would go with Joepeg and take the longer layover. You will KNOW that you are on that flight. If you get through earlier, you can see if you can get on the earlier flight.

Before my little man came home, I did a lot of business travelling. I would far, far more prefer a leisurly dinner at a restaurant in the airport or walking up and down and people watching than sweating, and dragging luggage and trying to change a child with my teeth while running to the gate.

Just my thoughts. Good luck and God bless you.
Bob

[cmfayz]

We're flying home on 5/3 and our layover in Houston is 2 hrs. 20 minutes. I'm not worried. There's no way I'd schedule a flight with a 5 hour layover. I'd rather take my chances. But you have to decide your comfort level.

[Wonk]

We could have made it in 2 1/2 hrs - we found that the whole process took us about 1 1/2 hrs from Customs to Immigration to getting our luggage to TSA to being out of the International area of the terminal (people forget to plan for the hike from the International Area to their domestic gate). We were in Immigration for about 20 min.

[CashCrew]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!! We are flying through Houston as well and we have a 2.5hr layover coming home. We were told it would be enough time...praying it is!