25 minute connection time?!

[branv]

That's it, SWA has officially lost its mind.

It's annoying enough that they cut their nonstop flights from Austin (or SA) to MCO to one a day (and that at a later time), and that now the non-direct flights are too often 6-7 hours rather than the 4.5 hrs of the past.

Okay, fine, money is tight; stinks, but we adjust.

But now I'm seeing that some of those daily flights are only allowing a TWENTY-FIVE minute connection between planes in Houston (marginally better, the 35 minute connection). Bonkers I tell you! I don't care if the stupid planes are next door to each other, talk about zero room for error. And what about all those people who paid for the Early Bird boarding. Sure, they get to take advantage on the leg from AUS (SA) to Houston, but what are the odds they'll arrive in time to line up with the A group for the longest portion of the flight?

I'm absolutely agog. I eagerly await to hear if anyone can offer the rational side of this.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Are there plane changes or just stops? If it's a stop with no plane change then the connection time is moot.

 

[seashoreCM]

Is there another connecting flight that leaves later?

The close connection time is for those folks who fly every week or twice a month and making the connection 4 times out of 5 is worth not having to lay over in Houston so long.

But for a once a year or once every three years trip you would want to choose flights so hopefully you will more surely make the connection.

 

[DebbieB]

I'm confused. In your second paragraph you are complaining the total travel time is too long, then you are complaining the connection is too short.

 

[ironz]

I must be missing it...I just looked (since I fly AUS-MCO fairly frequently) and there are 2 nonstops from Austin (and back), and 3 from San Antonio. And of the flights that connect through Houston, the shortest layover was 35 min, and some up to about 2 hours.

When are you flying? I just checked for in about a month from now, like I said, just out of curiosity.

And I do empathize with the idea that if you buy EBCI, you'd like a chance to use it, and a short connection (esp if you want a potty break) might put you in the B's if they start boarding early. Though often, SW doesn't board until 20-25 min. before departure.

 

[branv]

These were definitely plane changes, not just stops. Another interesting thing I noticed was that (at least in January) some of the ones with the tighter connections had less on-time success %'s on the first leg (while the second leg was great). Now that's scary!

I'm confused. In your second paragraph you are complaining the total travel time is too long, then you are complaining the connection is too short.

I apologize that my post wasn't clear enough, but I think if you reread it you'll see that I specifically cite that average flight lengths with stopovers were previously more often closer to 4.5 hours (with a more respectable 40-45 minute layover) , whereas now they have more at the 5.5-7 hours. When we're talking about an entire day's schedule, it's not as though the two extremes are mutually exclusive. You can have an overly abundant mix of both flights that are unrealistic with their connection times as well as flights that have had connection times (or number of stops) extended. And in this case, it's more prevalent than it's been in past schedules.

I must be missing it...I just looked (since I fly AUS-MCO fairly frequently) and there are 2 nonstops from Austin (and back), and 3 from San Antonio. And of the flights that connect through Houston, the shortest layover was 35 min, and some up to about 2 hours.

When are you flying? I just checked for in about a month from now, like I said, just out of curiosity.

Sorry, I should have specified that they started doing away with some of the nonstops after the released bookings for October and on. Everything was as usual before that. Specifically for schedules, I've been looking at Nov-Jan (non-holiday, weekdays).

 

[ironz]

Ooh, I looked at the fall/winter schedules. Definitely a change!

I must not have noticed when I booked for November because the afternoon nonstop is generally my flight of choice...
Hope they don't ditch the nonstops altogether...I would think they would keep at least one a day.
If I had to, I'd probably risk the tight connections, but would be prepared to not make a potty stop and have whatever snacks and stuff I need with me. But I travel alone...if I had little ones or my dear older mom with me--no way.

Have a great trip!

 

[SDSorority]

#1- I love SW. They are the best airline I have ever flown.
#2- That short of a connection time does raise some concern, but I'm sure you're not the only person making that same connection so that should work to your advantage I would hope!
#3- I would try to sit in the front of the plane so you can make a quick exit upon landing
#4- Ahead of time, I would try to figure out what gates at the connecting airports are Southwest so you know what direction you're going as soon as you step foot in the airport. Maybe see if there is a terminal map that gives the plane gate list. All Southwest gates are in the same area generally.
#5- Go to the bathroom on the plane ahead of time so you don't have to make any airport pit-stops
#6- Don't check a bag if you don't have to. I've gone to Dis without checking a bag and I was just fine

 

[jamstew]

The SW gates at Houston Hobby are very close to each other. Last time I had to change in Houston, I only had to move over two gates. The idea of that close a connection totally freaked me out, but I didn't have anything to worry about. I have a friend who does the connecting flights often, and she's never had a problem with 25-30 minute changes. SW wouldn't schedule flights that close together if there was an issue, and if one of their own planes is slightly late, I'm fairly certain they'd hold the connecting one--at least that's been my experience with them over the years.

 

[branv]

Thanks for all the info and reassurances! It is good to hear that Hobby is so close gate wise. I've only been through Houston Intercontinental, which somehow always has me connecting out of the furthest possible gate Though to be fair, that seems to always be the way it is with us no matter who we're flying on (DFW especially seems to have a grudge against me). I swear we don't smell, it's just bad gate karma.

I know in the past SWa has been a peach reliability wise. I've only had one delay longer than an hour, and that was due to heavy fog. And in fact, it's actually the only airline I've ever flown on that I've never had a delay due to mechanical issues (knock on wood, no jinx!) I'll just have to hope they can keep it up for our trip.

Though I'll still be sniffy about losing the extra nonstops

 

[Echo queen]

We are a AUS SW family as well. Next month we have the nonstop to MCO.

So far so good with SW I do not us EBCI, I love the 24 hr challenge I always get an A.

Best of luck.

 

[TiaMaria]

Those are seasonal flight changes. Kinda sucks - especially since people go to FL all year long. I'm sure the airline is basing that on past experience at that time of year.

Hobby is great, but if I'm not mistaken, there are a few SW gates that are not right in the same part of the terminal. I believe I have connected to SW flights at a different part of the terminal. Not far away, however, just had to walk up to the "food court" part of the hub and take a right or left - they were the first few gates.

Hopefully you won't have to do that, although a PP was correct, SW DOES hold flights if another with connecting passengers is in range.

If you have an I-Phone, SW has a great app which can tell you which gate you will be arriving and departing to/from. I fly STL-DFW-SAT or STL-HOU-SAT quite often and I usually check the gate info before I depart, and once again as soon as we land and are taxi-ing to the terminal, in case of changes.

Best of luck to you with your trip planning!

 

[jamstew]

Thanks for all the info and reassurances! It is good to hear that Hobby is so close gate wise. I've only been through Houston Intercontinental, which somehow always has me connecting out of the furthest possible gate Though to be fair, that seems to always be the way it is with us no matter who we're flying on (DFW especially seems to have a grudge against me). I swear we don't smell, it's just bad gate karma.

At Houston Intercontinental, I seem to always have to go to not only the furthest possible gate, but the furthest possible gate at the furthest possible terminal I've had a little better luck at DFW, but not much. I personally prefer the smaller airports--it just makes life easier.

 

[jamstew]

We are a AUS SW family as well. Next month we have the nonstop to MCO.

So far so good with SW I do not us EBCI, I love the 24 hr challenge I always get an A.

Best of luck.

I've been really happy with the non-stop availability out of Austin. I don't use EBCI either, and have never needed it.