Travel to USAFA via Denver (for summer seminar)

S

stella

5-Year Member
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Dec 2, 2012
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Our oldest is making her flight arrangements for summer seminar. She has to switch planes in Denver. She has the option of a 2+ hour lay-over or a 55min lay-over.

She wants the shorter time but I am wondering how big the Denver airport is and if you can hussle from one area to another with relative ease...or is it a huge airport that is harder to navigate (and where 55min might not be enought). Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Also wondering if it is a relatively safe airport (in general) where a teen would feel fine for a couple of hours if need be.

She is a traveler and fine with all of this, as is my husband. I am, sadly, the helicopter mom with this and more concerned. But, I am admitting my problem and trying to relay information rather than making choices for her. Sigh.


S

p.s. To other seminar participants, remember the registration fee is due via mail by 3/15. Ours mailed hers today!
 
I travel quite a bit for business, and have been through the Denver airport many times.
The 55 minute layover should be fine. Denver is fairly large, with trains that you can take between terminals, if necessary.

It's a safe airport, and actually has quite a bit in the way of places to eat, or shop. With 55 minutes though, she won't have much time for that.

She'll be fine. :smile:
 
With only 55 minutes, after deplaning she'll have about 35-40 minutes, and assuming they start boarding thirty minutes early that will be five to ten minutes to get to the next gate. Assuming its the same airline she will probably be in the same terminal and it wouldn't be too big of a deal. If she has a different airline out of KDEN then she'll have a fair chance of having to change terminals. You'd also be betting that there are no delays on the first leg that would squish the layover even more. If it was me, I personally would take the 2+ hour layover, just so that I'd know that I'd know I was getting on that plane short of a cancellation or serious delay. You have to make the call though, and I think you should do whatever makes your daughter more comfortable, be it not sitting in a strange airport or having the peace of mind that there will be no rush to get to the next flight.
 
My son had the same issue when he attended the baseball camp 2 years ago. He decided to take the 2 hour layover that way he wouldn't be rushed just incase flights were delayed. He was able to meet some of the other kids before getting to the Academy.
 
Dont change planes - get off

Land in Denver and then get on a bus. The ride to the Academy is about 40 – 45 Minutes. AND I would look into if the Academy has rides available from the Denver Airport.
 
Don said:
Land in Denver and then get on a bus. The ride to the Academy is about 40 – 45 Minutes. AND I would look into if the Academy has rides available from the Denver Airport.
Click to expand...

The distance between Denver International Airport DIA and USAFA is 75 miles and it will take between 1:15 and 2:00 (depending on traffic and whether you take I-225 or E-470, which is a toll road).

The Academy does NOT provide transportation from DIA (only from the Colorado Springs airport).

Fifty-five minutes is generally plenty of time at DIA. The underground trains run every few minutes and can take you from one end of the airport to the next in less than 10 minutes.

Insider
 
Depends who's driving

"The distance between Denver International Airport DIA and USAFA is 75 miles and it will take between 1:15 and 2:00 (depending on traffic and whether you take I-225 or E-470, which is a toll road)."

You are correct (between 1 and 2 hours). After 4 years now it seems that the car driven by a firsty can cover the ground much quicker. Sorry to hear about "no busses" for SS. I know they sent them for basic.
 
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