Changing Planes

[Reese]

We've flown with our kids several times but always on non-stop flights. We are trying to put together a last minute trip but they only flight at a resonible price I can find is one with a change over. It lands in Baltimore and we would only have a half hour to board our next flight. It would also be Southwest so we wouldn't have reserved seats so the next problem by the time we get there would we have seats scattered through the plane (we would have 7 of our kids travelling with us).
Also has anyone lost their luggage on change over?

 

[seashoreCM]

Even though a 30 minute changeover may be airline-legal (bookable) and people have succeeded doing it, it is not recommended for a family on vacation.

 

[crashbb]

Do you actually have to change planes? SW sometimes (often?) has flights that land at a middle airport, but people continuing on don't actually get off the plane. In that case, your 30 minutes is fine (heck, the shorter the better). Otherwise, I'd be very worried about taking that flight combination.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Southwest is pretty good about scheduling enough time between flights to make a connecting flight. Unless the first one is delayed by weather, and there have been some severe storms on the east coast lately.

Also, the Baltimore airport isn't as large as LAX, O'Hare, or Orlando for that matter, which makes it easier for you and your luggage to change planes quickly. Since you're changing from one Southwest flight to another, at least you won't have to race from one terminal to another. Often the gate you're looking for is right next to the one you're coming from instead of half a mile away.

With that many little kids are you willing to risk missing your connecting flight, or would you rather pay more $$$$ for peace of mind? But paying extra for that many people would put a serious dent in your vacation budget.

Now that I've made you even more worried than you were before, if it were just my DH and I, we'd go for it because we're laid back and flexible. But all those kids....

 

[ccgirl]

Southwest is pretty good about scheduling enough time between flights to make a connecting flight. Unless the first one is delayed by weather, and there have been some severe storms on the east coast lately.

Also, the Baltimore airport isn't as large as LAX, O'Hare, or Orlando for that matter, which makes it easier for you and your luggage to change planes quickly. Since you're changing from one Southwest flight to another, at least you won't have to race from one terminal to another. Often the gate you're looking for is right next to the one you're coming from instead of half a mile away.

With that many little kids are you willing to risk missing your connecting flight, or would you rather pay more $$$$ for peace of mind? But paying extra for that many people would put a serious dent in your vacation budget.

Now that I've made you even more worried than you were before, if it were just my DH and I, we'd go for it because we're laid back and flexible. But all those kids....

I agree with this. I am doing the same thing (even changing planes at BWI) for a business trip with just me. Figure I can just take a seat anywhere and don't need to sit next to my children. With only 3 minutes, you will already miss family boarding so you will be limited in what seats are available. When travelling with children I always just book the nonstop/direct flights. Have you looked at alternative carriers such as AirTran?

 

[Reese]

Thanks for the info. I thought it seemed like it would be very tight to make the switch. I've never flown Airtran, do you have assigned seat or is it open seating like Southwest?

 

[maxiesmom]

Thanks for the info. I thought it seemed like it would be very tight to make the switch. I've never flown Airtran, do you have assigned seat or is it open seating like Southwest?

You can pay ahead for an assigned seat, or let fate choose your seats for you.

As far as connecting flights go, I think it is unwise to try to change planes without at least an hour between flights. Having said that, I have been unwise before. We booked a flight connecting thru Atlanta with only a 47 minute layover. And thank goodness our first flight landed early, or we never would have made it. We pretty much dragged my then 7yr old niece thru the airport, and she was not a happy camper about it.

I don't think I would ever book a connecting flight with only 30 minutes to catch it. They start boarding at least 30 minutes before takeoff, so even if you are on time the plane will already be loading when you arrive to your gate.

 

[TamaraQT]

I know how changing planes can be intimidating. I am in the same situation. We have a party of 7 (5adults, 2kids). We fly out of Philadelphia to Washington DC. I understand this flight is only 55minutes long on a small commuter plane. That alone is a little scary to me!! What are those commuter planes about? Anyway, from Washington DC to MCO on the larger standard plane. I also only flew non-stop flights in the past. But unfortunately, budget required me to take connecting flights. The good news is, our layover time is an hour and 49 minutes which SHOULD give us plenty of time to connect to the next flight. Its thru the same airline so it shouldnt be far apart. I got the airfare for only $59 a person which was affordable. This changing plane thing is new to me too. I hope it all goes well.

My hubby said he is more concerned about the 55 minute flight on that small commuter plane than he is about changing planes. Is he just saying that to scare me or what?

 

[ccgirl]

Thanks for the info. I thought it seemed like it would be very tight to make the switch. I've never flown Airtran, do you have assigned seat or is it open seating like Southwest?

I never did until 6 months ago and LOVE them now. I paid a whopping $6 to choose seats my family could all sit together with. LOVE THAT! No...I hope I can board before people so I can have a better chance of finding something together. They do charge for checked bags but even with seat and baggage fees they were still cheaper than SW. Now, I have flown with SW since then but I just loved having the assigned seats with AirTran. Give them a look see and see how their airfares are.

Good luck.

 

[ChisJo]

If your change over is only a half hour window, and you have 7 kids, that would be TIGHT. you have to wonder where plane #1 in landing in the terminal compared to plane #2. What if your flight is delayed? What if you get stuck on the tarmack? What if you can't disembark right away?

We live in a city where direct flights are almost non-existent, so we have to change flights almost 99% of the time. We had a 45 min changeover in Chicago and we were on the opposite side of the airport from our second flight. With our carryons, my hubby and me RAN, and I mean full out ran, to the other end of the airport and they were just closing the gates when we showed up. We had zero delays in our initial flight either.

I would say that would be tight...and with 7 kids to boot, I don't think I would do it.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Looking at the ages of your kids, there is no way you will make a 30 minute connection, even if the gates were right next to each other.

If I were flying with so many young children, I would chose an airline where I could get preassigned seats, especially if I had to change planes. Boarding at the last minute with so many kids on SWA trying to find seats together would be a nightmare.

Thirty minutes is plenty of time for the airline to transfer your luggage.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

depending on where you sit on plane it could take half of your transfer time to get off first plane. not much time then left to get to next plane. you will not be allowed off plane before everyone else. with kids i would want at least an hour to change planes.

 

[starlionblue]

Having flown to nine different countries on three continents, I have this to say: never trust the airline with your luggage. Book as few connection flights as possible. The airlines always lose my luggage every third or fourth time I fly. Longest time I had to wait was three days. Ugh.

 

[crashbb]

Having flown to nine different countries on three continents, I have this to say: never trust the airline with your luggage. Book as few connection flights as possible. The airlines always lose my luggage every third or fourth time I fly. Longest time I had to wait was three days. Ugh.

Wow, you have bad luck. I've flown to well over nine different countries (more like 30 or so) on 6 continents (the Antarctic is still on my list) and I've never had my luggage lost* or even delayed.

*To be fair, if the longest wait was three days, no airline has ever lost your luggage either. Lost luggage is luggage that you never get back - you've had delayed luggage.

 

[MaleficentRN]

It can take half an hour just to get off a plane sometimes.BWI is huge.You may have to go to the very end to the terminal. I've had to run through there with two kids and it was a huge hassle. Another hassle is not having reserved seating. With that many kids I'd get it. Do you really want to sweat where all your kids are while trying to board with 100 other people?

 

[Bobcats2003]

I know how changing planes can be intimidating. I am in the same situation. We have a party of 7 (5adults, 2kids). We fly out of Philadelphia to Washington DC. I understand this flight is only 55minutes long on a small commuter plane. That alone is a little scary to me!! What are those commuter planes about? Anyway, from Washington DC to MCO on the larger standard plane. I also only flew non-stop flights in the past. But unfortunately, budget required me to take connecting flights. The good news is, our layover time is an hour and 49 minutes which SHOULD give us plenty of time to connect to the next flight. Its thru the same airline so it shouldnt be far apart. I got the airfare for only $59 a person which was affordable. This changing plane thing is new to me too. I hope it all goes well.

My hubby said he is more concerned about the 55 minute flight on that small commuter plane than he is about changing planes. Is he just saying that to scare me or what?

What information in your booking tells you if it's a smaller commuter plane?? This is my first time flying SW. I'm changing planes at BWI in June and now I'm worried I may be on a smaller plane too.

 

[ccgirl]

What information in your booking tells you if it's a smaller commuter plane?? This is my first time flying SW. I'm changing planes at BWI in June and now I'm worried I may be on a smaller plane too.

To the best of my knowledge, SW only uses one size plane. The Boeing 737.

 

[tanker]

What information in your booking tells you if it's a smaller commuter plane?? This is my first time flying SW. I'm changing planes at BWI in June and now I'm worried I may be on a smaller plane too.

Southwest has no commuter affiliation and they only operate the 737. The 737-500 has 122 seats while the 737-300 and the 737-700 have 137 seats.