55 Minute Layover...

[vicky33006]

Hi everyone!

So flights for our upcoming flight were insane. I tried to find the best deal I could and I ended up booking through SWA for a flight leaving from BDL and landing in BWI for a 55 minute layover. Now...after I booked I'm worried we won't have enough time. Since we are flying SWA I'm also worried about getting caught without seats if we miss our check-in time. We bought EBCI so I wouldn't have to worry that the kids might have to sit along...but now I'm stressing.

So...anyone have any experience here? Is 55 minutes enough at BWI? We had a layover there last year, but it was over two hours so we had plenty of time...

 

[jdb in AZ]

Unless your first flight is an hour late, you should be fine. BWI is a relatively small airport.

For what it's worth, SWA (and other airlines) add an extra 15 mins to their flight time so if they leave ten mins late, they can still claim a five-min early arrival. So if all goes well, you may have over an hour layover.

 

[bookwormde]

BWI is relatively small and Southwest does a very good job of making sure people make SW to SW connections. I have seen them walk a group of passengers form one flight to the next when the plane is waiting.

 

[rwdavis2]

you should be Ok unless the first flight is very late. Southwest flights in BWI are laid out in 2 terminals that are next to each other. Go the the airport's web site and take a look.

I would not hesitate on that length of a layover at BWI. Try to snag seats up front even if you don't all sit together just in case the plane's running a little late. Also, just to be prepared, the day you leave check which gates those flights are leaving so you know where to go at BWI.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

......... Also, just to be prepared, the day you leave check which gates those flights are leaving so you know where to go at BWI.

Keep in mind that gate changes happen all the time. Check the departures board when you get off your first flight.

 

[rwdavis2]

Keep in mind that gate changes happen all the time. Check the departures board when you get off your first flight.

Good advice.

 

[Gracie09]

Are you planning on gate checking a stroller or anything? I would try to avoid that so you can just stand up and go.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

sit close to front of plane as it can take 15 minutes or more to exit from rea of plane if a full flight. you will not be able to get off first just because of a short layover time. as pp said do not have anything gate checked. since next flight will be boarding your ABC number will not help you. you may not be able to sit together as plane will already be full as you get to gate esp if you are flying with kids. early boarding will not help you as you will have missed that boarding.

 

[bumbershoot]

How old are the kids? I only see one 7 year old in your sig; if they are 7 and up, maybe talk with them ahead of time about what can be done if you're not sitting right next to them? Really talk it through, build up their bravery ahead of time?

DS and I were apart on a United flight and it went just fine. We knew we wouldn't be together well ahead of time, I talked things through with him, and it was good. We did end up closer than our seating assignments put us, thanks to the lovely people sitting nearby, but we were still not next to each other.

 

[vicky33006]

you should be Ok unless the first flight is very late. Southwest flights in BWI are laid out in 2 terminals that are next to each other. Go the the airport's web site and take a look.

I would not hesitate on that length of a layover at BWI. Try to snag seats up front even if you don't all sit together just in case the plane's running a little late. Also, just to be prepared, the day you leave check which gates those flights are leaving so you know where to go at BWI.

Thanks for the advice on sitting up front. We will try to sit as close as possible. I don't care if we are split up by twos, I just can't have DS alone.

Keep in mind that gate changes happen all the time. Check the departures board when you get off your first flight.

Thanks! Being someone who hasn't flown all that much, this is super helpful!

Are you planning on gate checking a stroller or anything? I would try to avoid that so you can just stand up and go.

No we aren't gate checking anything at all, so hopefully that should help.

sit close to front of plane as it can take 15 minutes or more to exit from rea of plane if a full flight. you will not be able to get off first just because of a short layover time. as pp said do not have anything gate checked. since next flight will be boarding your ABC number will not help you. you may not be able to sit together as plane will already be full as you get to gate esp if you are flying with kids. early boarding will not help you as you will have missed that boarding.

Eek...This is scaring me a bit. So you're thinking there is no way we will be there when they begin boarding? On our flights in March, I remember they started boarding about twenty minutes to half hour before the scheduled take-off. I was really hoping not to miss the boarding. I know people might already be on the plane, but if I can't sit with DS....well this might not be an option. I don't know what I would do. I know that's the risk you take with SWA, but I couldn't believe the prices on flights...and I did at least pay for EBCI...

How old are the kids? I only see one 7 year old in your sig; if they are 7 and up, maybe talk with them ahead of time about what can be done if you're not sitting right next to them? Really talk it through, build up their bravery ahead of time?

DS and I were apart on a United flight and it went just fine. We knew we wouldn't be together well ahead of time, I talked things through with him, and it was good. We did end up closer than our seating assignments put us, thanks to the lovely people sitting nearby, but we were still not next to each other.

I only have one DS. He is 7. My cousin is also coming on this trip, and I would think he'll be OK as he is 11, but being that he's only ever flown once in his life, I would bet he would rather be with his mom. My DS is not a good flyer. For a child who has probably never caused a disturbance in a public place in his life..our last flight was..well a surprise. DS says flying hurts his ears badly. He cried through two of our flights last time. This time I had really wanted to avoid flying all together since it was clearly super traumatizing to him with his ears, but when I researched taking a train that was over 24 hours...and didn't look comfortable in any way. We will go armed with gum and stuff, and I know DS will do his best to keep quiet even if it really hurts, but it will break my heart to be away from him on a flight if he's in pain. If I could find a solution to the painful ears he would be 100% fine like your DS though as long as we talked about it beforehand.

 

[Gracie09]

Just remember if you get to the second gate and they are already boarding, you can get on any time after your appointed order. So if they are boarding family or b and you are a you can board

 

[Alesia]

If I could find a solution to the painful ears he would be 100% fine like your DS though as long as we talked about it beforehand.

Give him a decongestant before the flight and buy him some earplanes.

 

[keishashadow]

OP going by ur ticker/avatar it appears u are up north, connecting in BWI in January. Weather may be an issue, connecting flight or not for everyone flying, it's the luck of the draw.

jmho if you're on the earliest flight out of your home airport & there are connections after the 55 minute one available for your day of travel, it could work in your favor jik

We've only flown thru SWA @ BWI on international flights where AT enters on the complete opposite side of terminal which resulted in a long, brisk walk hauling luggage to make our connection.

good luck, here's to good January weather

 

[jayhawk74]

If you sit at the very back of a SWA plane in can take up to 15 minutes to get off. by sitting at the from you will be off within 5 minutes. At BWI it may take up to 20 minutes to go from the end of the B Concourse to the end of the A Concourse. So the worst case scenario is that you sit at the back of the flight from BDL and the gates are furthest apart at BWI you will still arrive at the gate 20 minutes before departure.

 

[N365PA]

55 minutes is plenty at BWI.