gate numbers

[sunflowerfields]

We are flying soon for the first time ever. I thought that as soon as we received our travel documents I would be able to tell at what gates our planes would be at, so I would know how far we have to walk/ride a tram? to get to the second plane. We will get off the first plane at such and such a gate and then get on the next plane at such and such a gate. Is there a way to know what gates now or when do we find that out? I would just like to know so I could try to figure out how we will get it done if they are far apart. We have 40 min. to get on the second plane. I might be missing it, but I don't see any gate numbers on our papers.

I have received lots of encouragemnet and help here already. Just didn't ask this before because I thought there would be gate numbers in the paper work. Thank You.

 

[Tinknalli]

Gate information is usually on your boarding passes which can be printed out 24 hours in advance for many airlines.

 

[Alesia]

Gate information is usually on your boarding passes which can be printed out 24 hours in advance for many airlines.

You still need to check the board when you arrive, though. The gate number can change.

 

[Jimsig]

Even though it may say on your bording pass, check again when you get to the airport and again when you land at the second airport. Gate assignments are subject to change. I have had gate changes numerous times when making a connecting flight. I have also had changes from the time I printed out my boarding pass until I got to the airport.

 

[mystic95]

On my past flights.... I have gone to the airlines website and type in the flight number for the current day and for the past week to see the arrival and departure gates... So it would give me some kind of an idea of where the gates are and how long the walk could be... It's not an "exact" process... But an estimate... Hope this helps

 

[DebbieB]

Do you have a smart phone? When I have a connection, the first thing I do when the plane lands is turn on my phone to see what my connecting gate # is. And then check it when I pass the monitors inside the airport. What airport are you connecting at?

 

[Jestocost]

Gate numbers can and will change up until flight time. In general you will not get any gate assignment until the date of travel and those assignments can change while you are at the airport. This is less likely at smaller airports where any given airline has only a few gates, of course, but at very busy airports changes up until the flight time are fairly common.

 

[sunflowerfields]

thanks for all the replies. We will follow everyone's advice for sure. I think our granddaughter (who is coming with us) has a smartphone. I know she has some app's on her phone for Disney wait times etc., so hopefully she can help us. We are flying from KC to Atlanta and then changing planes. The plane is Airtran so I think (we were told) the change will all be in one terminal. But with Airtran and SW going together, we have also been told everything might not be in the same terminal.

I don't have a problem at all with asking for help at the airport if I have too, but sure feel better with all the information I can find out ahead of time.

I appreciate everybodys help so much!

 

[jsilvers]

tWe are flying from KC to Atlanta and then changing planes. The plane is Airtran so I think (we were told) the change will all be in one terminal.

Whoever told you that is misinformed. AirTran for many years has used gates in both Concourse C and Concourse D in Atlanta (and the Southwest merger hasn't changed that). See http://www.airtran.com/cities/atlantaga.aspx.

 

[delilah]

I think it depends partly on how big the airport is. The one time we flew Airtran into Atlanta, and change planes, by coincidence, the gate for the second flight was just next to the gate for the first flight.

On the other hand, last week, I flew to SNA from IND (I know, not to Florida, but is an example). Because my first flight had a 5 hour layover in DEN, the gate for my connection wasn't even yet on the board when I arrived in DEN. When it finally was posted, the gate changed three times in the time I was waiting. The final gate, by coincidence, when it finally boarded, was actually the gate next to the one that I originally arrived at. But, I had trekked all over the airport to keep up with the gate changes. The same thing has happened at ORD.

Also, on the return flight, the final gate changed, due to a delay of the incoming flight, to a different gate actually after the original flight time had passed. This was because the airline actually decided to use a different plane for our flight, because the other flight was so delayed.

When I flew into DFW, once again to go the SNA, the airport was so large, and the connection so tight, that we barely made the connection. (That was the last time for DFW for us).

In my experience, the airline may not know or assign the final gate for departure until soon before the plane is leaving.

 

[dudspizza]

Here is what I do:

1. I track my flights daily as my trip approaches to see what gates the flights are typically landing at and taking off from. Many airports use the same general gate area for each airline. This gives me an idea of how far I may have to walk. An example would be my connecting flight in Denver next month. My flights have all been coming in on high end of the B terminal and taking off from that same area. At least I am getting a visual in my head of how far I have to walk. I also study online terminal maps to have an idea of where I'm going.

*If your airline has a text message service, sign up for that so that you get an alert message with gate info and also if it changes.

2. The gate will be listed on your boarding pass, BUT DON'T count on that being the same when you land.

3. Many airlines announce connecting gate info as you land, BUT DON'T count of that either.

4. Get off the aircraft and immediately check the departures board for the current gate assignment.

5. Head to you connecting gate first, then use the restroom if you have time.

Gate assignments can and will change quite often.

 

[sam_gordon]

In my experience, the airline may not know or assign the final gate for departure until soon before the plane is leaving.

I would hope they would know before boarding begins.

 

[dudspizza]

I would hope they would know before boarding begins.

LOL

I am flying into Reno next month and the gate assignment for arrival into Reno almost always states "HOLD". So in that case, when the aircraft takes off, they have no clue what gate it will be. They probably find out as they land.

 

[DebbieB]

It sometimes changes even after the plane lands. Sometimes the plane currently at the gate runs into a problem and they have to give your plane a new gate. It seems like anytime my plane is lucky to arrive early, we lose the extra time by sitting waiting for a plane to get out of our gate or waiting for a new gate assignment.

 

[njmom47]

You still need to check the board when you arrive, though. The gate number can change.

This!
This happened to me when I flew to Fl a couple of years ago (by myself, thank goodness!). I went to the original gate only to find I had to go to a completely different part of the airport!
Just look for the TV screens (they're usually everywhere)...there are usually 2 different sets, one for Departures and one for Arrivals. They are usually alphabetical by destination (or departure) city. It will also tell you if it's on time!