Flight time changes-SWA

[firegurl]

I don't fly often, maybe once a year and I haven't flown an airline other than Airtran or Southwest in 10 years. We booked our flights for our November trip in early June. At that time, our time of departure was 7am. We live about 45 minutes from the airport, add in my 2 hour minimum to be at the airport and we are leaving our house no later than 4:15. It's early but it's Disney and it gives us another full day there. Now twice in the last 2 weeks our flight time has changed. It went from 7am to 6:50, now it's 6:40. I have never experienced that before. Should I plan on my flight being at 6:40 or is there a chance it will go back to 7am. I know it's only 20 minutes but at that time of the morning, it's a lot. I have pretty much decided against getting a hotel near the airport the night before, it's just not something that works for our family so we will be driving in the morning. Does anyone have experience with SW changing flgihts times? From what I have read, this is a pretty new thing for them.

 

[DebbieB]

I don't fly often, maybe once a year and I haven't flown an airline other than Airtran or Southwest in 10 years. We booked our flights for our November trip in early June. At that time, our time of departure was 7am. We live about 45 minutes from the airport, add in my 2 hour minimum to be at the airport and we are leaving our house no later than 4:15. It's early but it's Disney and it gives us another full day there. Now twice in the last 2 weeks our flight time has changed. It went from 7am to 6:50, now it's 6:40. I have never experienced that before. Should I plan on my flight being at 6:40 or is there a chance it will go back to 7am. I know it's only 20 minutes but at that time of the morning, it's a lot. I have pretty much decided against getting a hotel near the airport the night before, it's just not something that works for our family so we will be driving in the morning. Does anyone have experience with SW changing flgihts times? From what I have read, this is a pretty new thing for them.

I heard they are trying to improve their ontime arrival ratings. So making a flight earlier makes it more likely they will arrive on time. So I think it's unlikely they will push it back to 7:00am.

What airport is it? Do you really need 2 hours?

 

[firegurl]

I heard they are trying to improve their ontime arrival ratings. So making a flight earlier makes it more likely they will arrive on time. So I think it's unlikely they will push it back to 7:00am.

What airport is it? Do you really need 2 hours?

That makes perfect sense except my arrival time is also adjusting. I am now scheduled to land 20 minutes earlier than I was originally so bumping up my departure time to make the arrival time correct wouldn't work in this case.
We fly out of BWI so in my experience, 2 hours is needed. I like to arrive at the airport 2 hours early. Then we park in long term parking, take the bus over to the airport to check in, check our luggage. Factor in boarding beginning 1/2 hour before take off and we really only have about 40 minutes or so of waiting. We also plan on eating breakfast at the airport.

 

[DebbieB]

By leaving earlier they may have less time waiting on the runway or clearances from air traffic control. If the first flight of the day is late, it backs up the entire day for that plane.

I guess your choices are to get up 20 minutes earlier or switch to a later flight.