ok so i just landed at salt lake city international airport and honestly i needed to get this out cause its like a whole thing when youre just trying to get to your final destination but you got a layover here and you know airports are always a bit of a mystery sometimes even when youve been to a million of them but this one, its newish and shiny and actually kinda pretty but connecting flights here can be a little tricky if you dont know what to expect and im just here to basically share my thoughts and maybe help someone else not have a panic attack like i almost did just figuring things out.
so my flight got in a little late and that always just throws a wrench in everything but honestly slc is pretty efficient considering its a hub for delta and you see like a million delta planes everywhere but the main concourse is really long and youre gonna do a lot of walking so wear comfy shoes seriously dont wear those cute but torture shoes cause you will regret it and your feet will hate you by the end of it and the moving walkways are your friend use them.
The connection game plan
alright so this is the real deal this is what i literally just went through and what i think you need to think about if youre connecting here at slc especially if its tight or you have bags or anything weird.
Do you have enough time?
this is the big one right everyone worries about this and honestly you should cause a short layover here can be a nightmare especially if your first flight is delayed like mine was but generally if youre doing domestic to domestic and its on the same airline or partner airlines and your bags are checked through you probly need at least 45 minutes to an hour but thats cutting it super close like im talking running and sweating and praying and hoping your gate isnt literally at the other end of the airport which it often feels like it is but id say an hour and a half to two hours is definately more comfortable and gives you time to like grab a coffee or pee or just breathe which is important and for international arrivals and then connecting domestic oh boy youll need a lot more time like at least two to three hours cause youre gonna have to deal with customs and then security again which is always a joy.
the baggage hassle can really throw a spanner in the works and its basically where most people get tripped up or lose time so heres what i figured out and what ive heard:
- if youre on a domestic flight connecting to another domestic flight and its all booked on one ticket your bags are usually checked all the way through to your final destination so you dont have to worry about them at slc which is a massive relief and honestly the best case scenario but always double check with the agent when you check in your bag just to be super sure you know how airlines are.
- but if youre arriving on an international flight even if your final destination is domestic you are literally going to have to claim your bags at slc because you have to go through customs here and then once you clear customs you will re-check your bags at a special re-check counter right after customs usually like a few steps away from the customs exit and then you have to go back through security its basically a whole adventure.
- carry-ons are obviously with you the whole time so thats one less thing to stress about but remember youre walking a lot so dont overpack your carry-on cause youll be lugging it around and its not fun trying to run with a giant roller bag.
and then theres security which is another big hurdle and it depends on your situation again:
- if its domestic to domestic and you stay airside meaning you dont exit the secure area of the airport you generally will not have to clear security again and most connections at slc work this way which is great and saves a lot of time and hassle.
- but if you arrive on an international flight and youre connecting to a domestic flight then yes you absolutely have to clear security all over again after youve claimed your bags and cleared customs like i mentioned before and this can take a while so factor that into your connection time and if you have tsa precheck or global entry its a lifesaver here it really speeds things up cause those lines are usually much shorter.
- if for some reason you exit the secure area like maybe to meet someone or youre just having a really long layover and decide to go outside for some fresh air or whatever then yes you will have to go through security again when you come back in so try to avoid doing that if youre on a tight connection.
overall slc is a pretty good airport its clean and there are places to eat and charge your phone and honestly the views of the mountains are pretty cool if you get a window seat or look out but just be prepared for the walk and know your bag situation and security situation ahead of time and it should be fine but ive seen people literally sprinting through these halls so dont be one of them unless you absolutely have to be.
so yeah thats my little rant and guide for connecting flights at slc hopefully it helps someone avoid some stress cause traveling is stressful enough without having to figure out airport logistics on the fly literally.