How do layovers work?

[englishteacha]

We've never had to deal with a layover on our own, and I'm wondering how it works with luggage and such. We have a 2 hour layover in Baltimore on our return flight home. Do we need to pick up our luggage or will it be moved to our next flight? I have a friend who lives in Baltimore and she mentioned she'd like to meet us in the airport (we haven't seen her for 2 years), but we'd obviously have to leave the "secure" area to meet her. Will we have time to do this and go back through security to get on the plane home? We haven't flown much so I'm not sure how things work.

Thanks!

 

[DebbieB]

The luggage will be automatically transferred to the next plane. I'd make sure you have enough time to go back through security if you are going to meet her. I would ask a TSA officer what the current wait time is before you leave the secure area. Keep in mind your next flight will board 30 minutes before departure time. If you are on Southwest, you will have to get in the A/B/C lines.

 

[CleveRocks]

We've never had to deal with a layover on our own, and I'm wondering how it works with luggage and such. We have a 2 hour layover in Baltimore on our return flight home. Do we need to pick up our luggage or will it be moved to our next flight? I have a friend who lives in Baltimore and she mentioned she'd like to meet us in the airport (we haven't seen her for 2 years), but we'd obviously have to leave the "secure" area to meet her. Will we have time to do this and go back through security to get on the plane home? We haven't flown much so I'm not sure how things work.

Thanks!

Whenever you check luggage with your airline, it is checked through to your final destination ... you won't see it and won't have any responsibility for it until you see it on the baggage claim carousel of your home airport.

Planes begin boarding 30 minutes before take-off. If your flight into BWI is on-time, it may still take you 10 minutes 'til your off the plane. So now you have at most 1 hour 20 minutes of usable time. If there's a bar/restaurant you can hang around in, great. You certainly won't have time to leave the airport. When you walk out of the secure area, glance at the in-bound security lines to gauge how long it will take you to get back in later.

 

[Hopefully]

My personal experience is that BWI has had some of the longest security lines I have encountered anywhere. You need to be sure that you have enough time to go through security and then walk back to your gate to be there at least 30 minutes prior to your flight time.
I think you may be cutting it close.

 

[MEK]

BWI is newly remodeled. It has very nice waiting areas and food court areas. If you don't have time to leave to meet your friend, you will, at least, have a nice area to eat in or wait in.

I fly in/out of BWI several times a year. I have never encountered long security lines, flight delays, or late departures. I actually prefer flying from BWI over PHL (my home airport) because it is smaller and more efficient (IMO). SWA is a major carrier at BWI.