How to Tell Where Flight Originates

[JayhawkFans]

I NEED to get our airfare booked soon for our flights in January. My options are Allegiant into Sanford or Southwest into MCO. We don't have to worry about the Airtran hassle with this flight as all portions are provided by Southwest. Allegiant would be non-stop but Southwest has a layover in Houston.

The first leg from our hometown will be very simple to sit together with EBCI as we have a very very small airport. I'm concerned about the flight from Houston to Orlando though. It would be a late Saturday evening flight in January. Is it possible to tell before booking whether or not the flight would start out "empty" or if we would be joining an already pretty full plane that just made a "stop" in Houston to pick up passengers and didn't actually deplane everybody.

Hope that makes sense ...

 

[Thumper_Man]

Unfortunately there is no way to tell if the flight you are getting is a new originating flight, or if its a stop for a current flight. The only information SWA provides is the flight numbers and where you would change flights.

With EBCI, you would actually get checked-in early for both portions of your trip to MCO.

You mentioned flying out of Houston. I'm guessing that would be Houston (Hobby). I don't think SWA airlines flies out of IAH. Hobby is an easy airport to navigate and I've noticed not nearly as busy as IAH. At least for the 2 times I've had to change flights there.

 

[sam_gordon]

There is a chance the flight numbers might be the same. So if you know the flight number from Hobby -> MCO, search that flight number on SW and see if they have another listing from ??? -> Hobby. That's no guarantee that it's NOT a connecting flight, but you can confirm if it IS.

 

[Thumper_Man]

There is a chance the flight numbers might be the same. So if you know the flight number from Hobby -> MCO, search that flight number on SW and see if they have another listing from ??? -> Hobby. That's no guarantee that it's NOT a connecting flight, but you can confirm if it IS.

You are correct in that the flight numbers will be the same. Unfortunately there is no way to research just the flight number on SW. Believe me, I've tried. If you know of way, I would be happy if you would teach me how. This is what I believe the OP is hoping for as well. If it is a connecting flight or stop, you would have to know what city the flight originated from to Hobby.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Try looking here

http://flightaware.com/

It will tell you where the aircraft is coming from but it won't tell you how many passengers will remain on board for the flight to MCO.

 

[NotUrsula]

Yep, FlightAware is the best tool in most cases. The simplest way to search the flight is to just Google it: what you do is enter the search as "WN ###", inputting the flight number. (WN is Southwest's FAA call sign.) The first result on your search page for FlightAware will bring you right to a log of the flight routing and the on-time performance.

For example, WN 231 (which might be the one you are thinking of), originates in Oakland, CA at 12:20 pm, continues to San Diego, then to Houston Hobby, and then to Orlando, terminating the route there at about 11 pm.

 

[sam_gordon]

Got a better way (maybe). Go to Hobby's webpage http://fly2houston.com/, under 'Flight Search' set:
Arrivals
Hobby
Southwest
Leave Cities & and Flight blank.

Then you can search for flight numbers.

OR, do the search for departures to Orlando. Find out what gate your flight is assigned to (for today), then go back to the arrivals and see what SW flight is arriving to that gate.

For example, SW has three flights from Hobby to MCO today...
Flight 718 departs 7:50am Gate 46
Flight 1103 departs 10:10am Gate 46
Flight 826 departs 3:30pm Gate 45

SW has no arrivals to gate 46 until 8:10 so 718 originates at Hobby
Flight 1103 arrives at Gate 46 at 9:30. That's a continuation
Flight 826 (SW & AT) arrives at Gate 45 at 255. That's a continuation

These are are today's schedule. You can do this for whatever day you're traveling. (ie: if you travel on a Saturday, do this search ON a Saturday).

Again, things can change and this isn't a guarantee, but the flight numbers and gates match for two flights, so that's a pretty good indication there will be some people staying on the plane.