John Glenn Columbus Airport

[TiggerTrigger]

Anyone have any experience flying out of here? I usually like to allow plenty of time for flights (especially in unfamiliar places), but I'm in a situation this Sunday where I've got no choice but to be pressed for time. I have something in Athens, OH that's scheduled to end at 4:30pm and a 7:58pm flight departure out of Columbus. Right now, it's saying the drive is about 1 hour and 10-19 minutes to the rental car center at the airport, but it's probably going to be closer to 4:45-5 when we hit the road due to some post event musts and we must check a bag due to TSA requirements for DD's sports equipment. I originally thought we'd fly back on Monday but DD doesn't want to miss any more school so she can still qualify to exempt some of her finals. The event also was originally scheduled to end at 4, but they added 30 minutes on the confirm I received today. Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. TIA

 

[fla4fun]

Anyone have any experience flying out of here? I usually like to allow plenty of time for flights (especially in unfamiliar places), but I'm in a situation this Sunday where I've got no choice but to be pressed for time. I have something in Athens, OH that's scheduled to end at 4:30pm and a 7:58pm flight departure out of Columbus. Right now, it's saying the drive is about 1 hour and 10-19 minutes to the rental car center at the airport, but it's probably going to be closer to 4:45-5 when we hit the road due to some post event musts and we must check a bag due to TSA requirements for DD's sports equipment. I originally thought we'd fly back on Monday but DD doesn't want to miss any more school so she can still qualify to exempt some of her finals. The event also was originally scheduled to end at 4, but they added 30 minutes on the confirm I received today. Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. TIA

First, is there any way to change to a later flight or are you on the last flight of the day?

If not, it’s going to be a tight connection. I used to live in a suburb of Columbus and visit family in Athens. Route 33 is going to be your best bet. There are no interstate highways between the two cities and nothing much in the way of an alternate route if there is a problem on the road. If you are leaving Athens at 5:00, and have to turn in a rental car, you would be doing well to make the drive and finish that by 6:30. The earlier you can get on the road, the better. How late will your airline allow you to check in luggage?

I know you mentioned some post event musts, but it may come down to either participating in those or making your flight so she can meet the exam exemption deadline. I would be discussing that with her now because the odds are good that she will need to make that choice, especially if the event itself runs later than expected.

As far as the airport, it’s usually not bad to get through, but I understand that there is some construction going on to upgrade the terminal that could cause issues moving around the airport. I would visit the airport website and familiarize yourself with where you need to go to return the car, check in the baggage, and where your gate is located.

 

[Mommb]

My daughter had a 9 pm flight out of Columbus on Southwest this past Sunday, and was through security in under 15 minutes.

The construction of a new terminal building is causing changes to the lanes around the airport, but the signs are good. The inside of the airport is unaffected. Once you enter the airport, there are 3 terminals, each with its own security checkpoint. The terminal to the right is mostly Southwest, the terminal to the left is mostly Delta, and the middle (and longest) terminal is for other airlines. Even the farthest gates are less than 10 minutes from the security checkpoint.

If you're arriving at the airport later than 6:30, you may want to drop off your daughter to check luggage, then return the rental car, just to be safe. I have picked people up from the rental area but never dropped off a car and then gone into the airport, so I'm not sure how long that would take.