BWI. 50 Minutes Layover.

[LadyBeBop]

I’m sure this is a long enough layover. But will we have problems?

We are flying from Cincinnati to Fort Lauderdale with a 50 minute layover at BWI. There are six of us, ages ranging from 9 to 77. With our luck, the two flights will be in separate concourses.

My mother-in-law doesn’t think she’ll have problems. And if the gates are close, she won’t. However, what if the gates are far apart?

We can probably get a flight into BWI earlier, but we’d have about a six hour layover.

Like I said, we’d probabl make it. But I’m a worrywart.

 

[NeedMoreMickey]

Pull up their website for a map of the airport, it’s not that big compared to Orlando. If you think there will be a problem say something to gate attendant before you get on the plane and BWI can have a wheelchair waiting for your mother in-law. We always fly out of BWI and if we are leaving from A11 we still walk over to B for our morning coffee

 

[LadyBeBop]

Pull up their website for a map of the airport, it’s not that big compared to Orlando. If you think there will be a problem say something to gate attendant before you get on the plane and BWI can have a wheelchair waiting for your mother in-law. We always fly out of BWI and if we are leaving from A11 we still walk over to B for our morning coffee

Thanks for the reply. Before I posted, I pulled up a map. I freaked out a little when I saw that Southwest flies out of three concourses.

Last trip (just my husband and me) we had an hour layover in Detroit. And a good hike from one concourse to another. BWI isn’t that big?

 

[writerguyfl]

Using the Measure Distance tool on Google Maps, I checked the distance between what should be the furthest two gates used by Southwest in Baltimore.

Source/Link to Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Baltimore/Washington+International+Thurgood+Marshall+Airport/@39.1790403,-76.6722818,16.83z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x89b7e2fcbbc2e00b:0x150cfa971740!8m2!3d39.1774042!4d-76.6683922

That distance (2676 ft) is roughly 0.5 miles. It's certainly a long way. If you're not sure how far 0.5 miles is, that's roughly the distance from the Epcot entrance through Future World to the Norway Pavilion.

Source/Link to Google Maps (this one in color!): https://www.google.com/maps/place/E...d2dd2bdb83e854!8m2!3d28.3782982!4d-81.5483299

One factor to also consider is what would happen if you missed your flight from BWI to Fort Lauderdale. Both airports are important cities for Southwest. Picking a random day in March, I see a total of 9 nonstop flight from BWI to FLL. You should look and see how many of those flights happen after your current flight is due to arrive. If there are 2 or 3 more, that gives you more options for still getting to FLL if you get delayed.

Lastly, this may be obvious, but don't forget that you can split up once you arrive at BWI. If you're arriving flight is delayed, you can send one person to the connecting gate to let them know you're still coming. Chances are, the gate agents will already know you're status. Still, it can't hurt to have someone there who can politely ask them to hold the door for a few minutes while the rest of you traverse the airport.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Could we find out the arrival and departure gates at before we leave Cincinnati? That we, we could request assistance if necessary.

 

[maciec]

50 minutes is plenty of time for a layover at BWI. The airport is very easy to navigate

 

[FCDub]

Could we find out the arrival and departure gates at before we leave Cincinnati? That we, we could request assistance if necessary.

Flightaware can give you this info.

 

[Fangorn]

Could we find out the arrival and departure gates at before we leave Cincinnati? That we, we could request assistance if necessary.

Chances are excellent that the SW app will give you that info prior to your first flight. Southwest normally uses the same gates for the same flights every day, so you can typically assume the gates will be the same as the day before. About the only reason it might not show, or be different is due to some unexpected chaos at the airport itself - a problem that takes a gate out of commission or major delays with multiple aircraft that result in too many planes arriving at the same time for the number of gates available.

I fly SW from the West Coast, and non-stop flights to the East Coast aren't even possible from my airport (PDX), so I'm always having to change planes (unless I can snag a rare, 1-stop, no plane change flight). Not knowing, before I leave PDX, both my arrival and departure gates at the transfer airport, is very, very rare.

Steve

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Just keep in mind SWA starts boarding their flights 30 minutes before the schedule take off time. So that gives you 20 minutes to get to the gate. Allow about 10 minutes to get off of your arriving flight depending on where you are seated. So it could mean a very fast walk to the next gate. I have flown into BWI on SWA many times and had to speed walk to the next gate in another concourse.

 

[writerguyfl]

FCDub's suggestion of checking out FlightAware is a good one. If you register (it's free), you can view up to 4 months of historical data. You can check to see which gates are generally used for your arriving and departing flights. It's a bit of busy work, as you must view each flight separately. But, it might be worth it if it lowers your anxiety level regarding your connection.

As Fangorn notes, airlines tend to use the same gates every day for the flights. Yet, at a busy hub like BWI, that can change a little. For example, I looked up about 7 days worth of data for Southwest Flight 2101. That flight is scheduled to depart BWI at 3:40pm and arrive at FLL at 6:25pm. Most of the time, it departs from gate B14 or B15.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Thanks for the responses.

I'm five days away. I checked on FlightAware for recent activity. Looks like both of my flights are Saturday only flights.

However, do flight numbers change? I checked history on my flight from BWI to FLL. My flight number is WN49. Saturday (and previous Saturdays), that was a flight from BWI to MSY (New Orleans).

There were Saturday flights with a different flight number that flew from BWI to FLL at the same time, flying out of Concourse A. The previous flights to MSY flew out of Concourse B. My flight from CVG is flying into Concourse A.

The previous flights from CVG to BWI had the same flight number and flew into Concourse A.

I guess it's too early to tell, but I'm assuming my flight from CVG to BWI will fly into Concourse A. Knowing that most flights from BWI to FLL at the same time flew out of Concourse A, should we be OK? Or since previous Flight WN49 flew out of Concourse B, should we be ready to book it?

 

[kydisneyfans]

I'd sit as close to the front of the first flight to get off quicker. From experience, flights from Cincinnati to east coast cities usually don't take as long as westbound flights due to wind, we have landed 30-60 minutes early. One cannot bank on that extra time though.

 

[Kerrijo]

I think you'll be OK on this one, but as others have mentioned, sit at the front of the plane, be ready to go, and split up if necessary to let the gate attendants know you're coming. If you have concerns about anyone being slow, you could request assistance in advance, but they may not always be ready when you are. Good luck!

 

[maciec]

You should be ok as far as your flight number staying the same. I have only had 1 time where my gates have changed, but never my flight number. As far as your concourse is concerned I would say you'll either fly out of A or B. We have never flown Southwest from C. A and B are close to each other. If you have 50 minutes from the time the land until the time you depart you have PLENTY of time to get from A to B should that be the case.

If you are flying in and out of 2 different concourses ask for a cart to transport your MIL prior to getting off of the plane so the flight attendants have time to radio/call ahead.

 

[writerguyfl]

However, do flight numbers change? I checked history on my flight from BWI to FLL. My flight number is WN49. Saturday (and previous Saturdays), that was a flight from BWI to MSY (New Orleans).

Flight numbers don't always remain the same, particularly weekdays versus weekends. There are some operational reasons for this quirk of the system. But, it does make tracking things more difficult.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Thanks, y’all. Hopefully, they’ll keep with both flights in Concourse A. My MIL really doesn’t need a cart. She’d say I probably need a cart more than her.

And she’s probably right.

I wish we weren’t on two separate reservations. Somehow, my MIL got separated out of our reservation since she’s a senior. I’ll check in on two computers at exactly the 24 hour mark and hope for all As. I’ll check us five in a split second before DMIL. If we end up with As and MIL with Bs, then DH and I will just get two seats up front, then once MIL gets on, I’ll let her have my seat and move farther back.

FlightAware should have the gates by Saturday morning, right? Assuming no last minute changes.

 

[pattyw]

We've had tight connections at BWI. From gates that are far!! Try to sit as close to the front as you can on the first flight. Check the app so you can see what gate you'll land at and the one you take off from. Walk quickly- you'll be fine. Southwest will know you are there- they are good at waiting for those connecting.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Ok, I just checked FlightAware.

And the news isn’t good.

We arrive from CVG to BWI at Gate B8.

And leave BWI to FLL from A10.

Checked the map, and it seems the two gates are at its furthest points.

It also seems my 4:25 flight out of CVG has turned into a 4:40 flight that arrives at 6:00. My flight out of BWI was supposed to leave at 6:40, but per FlightAware, it turned into a 6:50 flight. Still a 50 minute layover, but might it be only 40 minutes? And yes, I know we start boarding 30 minutes ahead of time.

Fortunately, we’re boarding in the As, so we can get seats relatively close to th front. I don’t really think we will need assistance. But I’m still freaking out.

Talk me off the ledge.

 

[maxiesmom]

My dad is the same age as your mother in law. If she is mobile in her every day life, she should be just fine walking from gate to gate. Looking at a detailed map, it seems you are going from the mid point of the B concourse to the end of the A concourse. So they are not as far apart as they could be.

Sitting as close to the front as possible on the first aircraft is a great idea. Make sure everyone knows their mission is to get from that plane to the next. No stopping for any reason until you get to the next gate. I think you will be fine, BWI is not that large and pretty simple to navigate.

 

[SirDuff]

Ok, I just checked FlightAware.

And the news isn’t good.

We arrive from CVG to BWI at Gate B8.

And leave BWI to FLL from A10.

Checked the map, and it seems the two gates are at its furthest points.

It also seems my 4:25 flight out of CVG has turned into a 4:40 flight that arrives at 6:00. My flight out of BWI was supposed to leave at 6:40, but per FlightAware, it turned into a 6:50 flight. Still a 50 minute layover, but might it be only 40 minutes? And yes, I know we start boarding 30 minutes ahead of time.

Fortunately, we’re boarding in the As, so we can get seats relatively close to th front. I don’t really think we will need assistance. But I’m still freaking out.

Talk me off the ledge.

I *think* that Flightaware shows TAKE OFF time, whereas SW quotes you the time the plane leaves the gate (or is supposed to leave the gate). But I may be remembering incorrectly.