Flying Southwest from Buffalo....eats & activities

[SandraC]

Hi All ~ I'm guessing SW doesn't feed you or have TV's on the airplane? Can we bring portable DVD players and a laptop that plays DVD's? Can we bring food on the plane? Maybe a sub purchased before entering the airport? What about drinks? I'll need water and a coffee on the plane! Blessings, Sandra

 

[iluveeyore]

hi there - we fly SW out of Buffalo every year - they serve you beverages (pop, juice, coffee, tea, water) and a snack (crackers, pretzels). We take our portable DVD player and I always have snacks in my carry on - used to take a bottle of water until the security issues. Have a great trip!

 

[Jestocost]

You can bring whatever food you want on the plane; even something you've purchased before arriving at the airport. The drinks they serve on SW will be small, so you may want to bring your own. The only issue there is that you can't take any drinks through security, so you'll have to purchase them in the airport AFTER you've gone through security.

DVD players and laptops are fine on the plane too. They have to be off during takeoff and for a little while after, then they'll have to be turned off again a bit before landing and stay off for the duration of the flight. The flight crew will make announcements about that. You will have to take a laptop (not a DVD player, though) out of your bags to be X-Rayed separately at security. Also, SW doesn't have any in-seat power ports on their planes so your laptop or DVD player will have to run on battery power exclusively.

 

[Tammy32]

You can bring whatever food you want on the plane; even something you've purchased before arriving at the airport. The drinks they serve on SW will be small, so you may want to bring your own. The only issue there is that you can't take any drinks through security, so you'll have to purchase them in the airport AFTER you've gone through security.

DVD players and laptops are fine on the plane too. They have to be off during takeoff and for a little while after, then they'll have to be turned off again a bit before landing and stay off for the duration of the flight. The flight crew will make announcements about that. You will have to take a laptop (not a DVD player, though) out of your bags to be X-Rayed separately at security. Also, SW doesn't have any in-seat power ports on their planes so your laptop or DVD player will have to run on battery power exclusively.

What do you mean by the beverages will be small on SWA? You can always ask for the whole can. The cans are the same as you get at any store. On long flight many Flight Attendants pass out whole cans. Also they won't turn you down if you ask for more to drank.

 

[Jestocost]

What do you mean by the beverages will be small on SWA? You can always ask for the whole can. The cans are the same as you get at any store. On long flight many Flight Attendants pass out whole cans. Also they won't turn you down if you ask for more to drank.

Um. I mean the beverages will be small? The standard is about an eight ounce cup with a healthy dose of ice. And, yes, I know you can ask for no ice.

You are correct in that you often will be able to get an entire can of your beverage if you ask and they even come through a second time offering refills of your "drank" on most longer flights. That said, there's no guarantee that they will give you the full can. In addition, if the flight is particularly bumpy there's a chance that there will be no beverage service or that they won't be able to come around for refills. Some people also have specific drink preferences that are not available on a given carrier.

Just trying to be helpful and provide information that may help the OP ensure that they have a sufficient quantity of their beverage of choice on the flight.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

Also, if they are flying on the N/S from BUF to MCO, it is a 2-1/2 hour flight, which is a lot shorter than it sounds.

By the time they did beverage service once and came around to pick up garbage, we were circling MCO.

I am going to grab a Pepsi at the airport Saturday. Coffee is too risky. Until I know if we are going to be bumpity bumping with turbulence, I am NOT going to purchase something hot!!!

 

[CarolA]

What do you mean by the beverages will be small on SWA? You can always ask for the whole can. The cans are the same as you get at any store. On long flight many Flight Attendants pass out whole cans. Also they won't turn you down if you ask for more to drank.

I have never been on a flight where they "offer you the whole can" And the way they serve basically you get about 4 oz. (Unless you remember to ask for the can at the time of service)

Sorry, but IMHO the drinks are SMALL!


That said, reading the OP's post I felt like we were gearing up for a three day travel adventure. It's two hours and we need multiple souces of entertainment and food?

 

[Jestocost]

In fact, now that I think about it. On the SW flights I've been on lately they don't even bring a drink cart around. You place your order, they fill the cups in the galley and bring them around on a tray. I'm pretty sure that this is to discourage people from asking for the whole can, FWIW.

 

[SandraC]

Can I buy a few bottles of water after going thru security and bring them on the plane? I will REALLY need my water! S

 

[gw_lit]

Yes, you can bring liquids purchased inside the secure area onto the plane.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

That said, reading the OP's post I felt like we were gearing up for a three day travel adventure. It's two hours and we need multiple souces of entertainment and food?

Carol.

I read it to my DH and he said this "Are the crossing the tundra or flying to Orlando? SHEESH."

Although as a former chronic overpacker, I sympathize. I have reformed, though, and we are down to 2 carryons for everyone, even with our cameras in 1 of the bags!

 

[Tammy32]

In fact, now that I think about it. On the SW flights I've been on lately they don't even bring a drink cart around. You place your order, they fill the cups in the galley and bring them around on a tray. I'm pretty sure that this is to discourage people from asking for the whole can, FWIW.

Southwest has never used a cart. They don't use one because the cart blocks the aisle and passengers can not get by. By using the tray method the aisle stay pretty clear and everyone can get around each other....including Flight Attendants. They serve cups because many people don't drink the whole can and end up just throwing it away. So that is a waste of money. On short flights this would happen more because there is less time to drink it. I have been a plenty of flights were they serve the whole can.