1 hour connection in DCA-pay to have closer seats?

[SwanVT2]

Flying into DCA on American and have one hour to get to connecting flight to BTV. We are currently row 26. Should we pay extra 15.00 per person (3 of us) to move closer to front of plane? We do not have checked items at gate. Thank you!

 

[_19disnA]

I would. If you are near the back of the plane you will likely be one of the last to exit. People getting their luggage from the overhead bins can take a long time. There always seems to be at least a few people who act like this is their first time on an airplane and put their luggage in a bin BEHIND where they are sitting not realizing they won't have easy access to retrieve it when they land. If cutting it close on a connection, I would prefer they are seated somewhere behind me.

 

[OKW Lover]

Flying into DCA on American and have one hour to get to connecting flight to BTV. We are currently row 26. Should we pay extra 15.00 per person (3 of us) to move closer to front of plane? We do not have checked items at gate. Thank you!

DCA is a pretty compact terminal. I'd say that 1 hour is more than enough time to go from one gate to another on American.

 

[Bravefan]

Unless the flight is very late, you will be fine. DCA is not large at all. If the gate is even on the other side of the terminal, should take no more than 10 minutes normal walking. DCA is my home airport

 

[sam_gordon]

Here's the terminal map:

I flew Delta in November, and the walk between B21 and the long "hall" was probably 5 minutes at max. So I'd say even if you're going from E57 to C32, it's probably about a 15-20 minute walk. Add 10 minutes getting off the plane and you might miss the very beginning of boarding, but should be just fine with an hour.

 

[Jml813]

I wouldn't bother. They know when other flights are delayed and if it's close, they'll usually hold the plane. Agree with others. Easy to get from terminal to terminal at that airport.

 

[sam_gordon]

I wouldn't bother. They know when other flights are delayed and if it's close, they'll usually hold the plane. Agree with others. Easy to get from terminal to terminal at that airport.

Do NOT count on the bolded. I flew American from MCO in October. Flight out of MCO was WAY late. Most people were going to miss their connections or it was going to be close. The FA told us they will not hold the plane unless there are at least 5 travelers making the same connection. On our flight (I think ~130-150 people), there was not a single connection with five coming from our plane.

 

[emilyann704]

I would tell the flight attendant during the flight that you have a tight connection. I was once on a plane that was delayed and there were a couple people who had a very tight international connection. The flight attendants made an an announcement when the plane landed that unless you were going on Flight xxxx to stay seated so they could get off first and make their connection.

 

[FCDub]

I would tell the flight attendant during the flight that you have a tight connection. I was once on a plane that was delayed and there were a couple people who had a very tight international connection. The flight attendants made an an announcement when the plane landed that unless you were going on Flight xxxx to stay seated so they could get off first and make their connection.

That’s a delayed flight though. If you voluntarily book a shorter layover and then decide you don’t want to risk it, I don’t see why everyone else on the plane should be beholden to your anxieties.

 

[Threehearts]

I would change your seats. If you mean that you have one hour PLUS additional time when boarding starts, you might be okay but it can take long time to get off from the back of the plane. It would be money well spent for peace of mind to get preferred seats. DCA is my home airport and I cannot recall a time where they held the departure up for missing passengers.

 

[MrKnight]

Given you have a tight connection, I would either pay for closer seats if its only 15 bucks each OR you may be able to request a seat change free of charge at check-in or via a gate agent at the gate.. While DCA is indeed easy to navigate, NOTE that there is also no guarantee that there wont' be unplanned delays upon arrival, especially during peak times, on NUMEROUS occasions I have sat in planes on the tarmac at DCA waiting for gate assignment and have witnessed other passengers with connections visibly distressed and barely missing their connections.. Just something to keep in mind..

 

[gottalovepluto]

Do NOT count on the bolded. I flew American from MCO in October. Flight out of MCO was WAY late. Most people were going to miss their connections or it was going to be close. The FA told us they will not hold the plane unless there are at least 5 travelers making the same connection. On our flight (I think ~130-150 people), there was not a single connection with five coming from our plane.

I was on a Delta flight in SLC by the door and as I saw the FA closing the door, another came up and said they thought they were waiting for those connecting passengers. First one said corporate just said even though they know the 11(!) passengers are in the terminal on the way the plane was to depart. Next flight was 6 hours later and we weren’t even behind schedule. You just never know what the equation is for holding a plane.

 

[gottalovepluto]

OP, is it something you would be stressed about? If it is I would pay the cash for the peace of mind. Travel days have enough other stressors.