Changing Planes?

[kmmum]

Hi there

I was thinking about booking some flights that have a change over in Baltimore.. its with SW and its only a 30min layover.. Has anyone had any experience with this type of flight? Is that enought time to get off the plane and get on the next one?

Thanks.. Sarah

 

[corster]

I don't have any experience with connecting in BWI, however with a 30 minute connection, if your plane is late getting in to BWI, rest assured, you're not going to make the flight.

Southwest is a reasonable airline customer-service wise in the event of a missed connection, but unless the fare is significantly lower than the alternatives, i'd err on the side of caution and take a flight with a longer/no connection.

Southwest also has some flights which stop, but don't involve a change of planes. If this happens to be one of those, i'd take it. Don't think it is though.

 

[tgropp]

At Christmas time, my wife and myself flew nonstop out of Detroit (8:30 a.m.)and arrived in Orlando at 10:00 a.m. My nephew and his family flew U.S. Air, left Detroit at 10:30 a.m., with a stopover in Charlotte with a 30 minute layover . They had computer problems on the plane and never arrived in Orlando until 8 at night, and ended up missing most of the MVMCP.

In February we flew to San Juan with a 1 hour layover in Atlanta. When we got to San Juan, my wife had no luggage. They were inspecting it in Atlanta and it missed our flight. I am sometimes a little leary about connecting flights but if the price is right....go for it.

 

[jtdl]

I don't think I would chance it with only a 30 minute layover - even if there were no delays at all and you could make it off the plane and to the next gate in time, I'd be leary of that being enough time for them to get your luggage off the first plane and onto the next.

I've be on a few connecting flights the last couple of years - seems more of them are going that way now, less direct flights to be had - and have made sure I have at least a 2 hour layover. I've not had any problems with luggage getting delayed or lost or missed connections.

 

[mtmbyck]

Not worth the stress in my opinion. In the winter I do not do stopovers at all for fear of weather issues. Otherwise, I do it if it is the same airline on the connection and not connecting out of JFK or Chicago (too big and busy).

 

[Ted in Halifax]

I have done a 30 minute layover in BWI ... Yes, I was concerned, but it worked out great. Beats having 3 hours in EWR .... I would do it again ... what you will find is that the gate you arrive at is near the departure gate. Both SW and AT do a short layover in BWI.

Ted

 

[Diegosmom]

Few questions...

Are both legs of this trip Southwest?

Is it the last flight of the day?

It you answer yes then no go for it.

Oh and if it isnt a super busy time of the year.

I have had short lay overs and I have also had 1 hour lay overs but first flight was delayed making it a short lay over and often times they will hold the next flight. Especially if there are a number of people that are getting on that plane.

As long as you dont miss your connection because it is your fault...ie you go to the bathroom, go shopping, get something to eat and forget to board then southwest will get you on the next flight. So you might as well chance it if not you get on the next flight.

 

[scrappinginontario]

My family of 4 flew to MCO from BUF with SW in November of last year. We had the 30 min stopover at BWI and had no troubles at all. I was on the flights with my parents and 20 month old DD so gate switch involved waiting for the stoller, putting my daughter into it, changing gates and even a potty stop. Still ample time and we made it to the 2nd gate before they even began to line up.

Hope this helps. I had the exact same concern as you so contacted SW prior to booking the flight and they confirmed that under normal circumstances the gate change was doable.

 

[safarihatguy]

We did the 30 minute layover with SW last year. We were a bit late getting in but they waited for us so no problem there.

The problem we did have was finding seats on the 2nd flight. SW doesn't reserve seats so with 2 kids it was impossible to find anything together when we got on the flight. One of my daughters had to sit by herself. If you have young children I would go for a longer layover.

Jon