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.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

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.

Sadly, no. This is it. This is the latest. In fact, this was the only flight and only airline offering something this late out of Columbus. As it is, we will have to connect in Atlanta and will be landing in Houston just after midnight if all is on time. Before booking, I also checked Cincy, Pitt, etc. and this was the only option. Home is also too far to rent a car and make it back in time by road travel.

I am hoping the rental car return process will be speedy. I'm using Alamo and just rented from them in Phoenix a few weeks ago. It was fast, but Phoenix is also a major airport and sometimes these things are more streamlined at hubs like that vs. something smaller. It also doesn't look like a long distance between the return facility and the main terminal in Columbus, so maybe that will work in our favor. Delta is supposedly 45 minutes before the flight for checked bags, so we will be cutting it close. If they offer any kind of curbside bag check, even with an extra charge, I will likely seriously consider that. I know we've seen that at several airports of late. The alternative is dropping DD off at departures before returning the car and letting her check the bag, go through security and get to the gate on her own. I'd have to return the car and meet her on the other side of security...and if I don't make it, she should still be home on time. She's 17, so it's not like I'm sending a young child out into this mess.

I warned her that if the slightest thing is off with any of this, there is a good chance we will be bumped to the next day and she's going to be taking all of her finals. Her grades are great but I know exemption plotting has been part of her strategy as she's pushing to keep climbing in class rank. Exiting the event early is also not an option since this is a college prospect event and it's a really bad look to step out before the official ending. The only possible way around this if we both miss the flight is if I take her to the doctor that Monday. Not that I want her sick, but she has been nursing some sniffles and she may just have to have added sinus pressure from flying with a possible sinus infection so I can get her a doctor's note. That would be an excused absence that won't count against her finals. No, it's not the route I want to go but it may be my only option.

Yup...I have been on their site as well as playing with the Google Maps aerials and the preferred route as of right now to see where we're going to need to go. Of course, doing it live is a different story since I may get disoriented with all of the little twists and turns.

I appreciate your suggestions and insights.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

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.

Thank you! We're flying Delta, so this at least tells me I need to go left. That's what it looked like from the satellite image, but this is now confirmation. I was also thinking about dropping off my daughter. It seems like the best plan to ensure the bag gets checked and at least she makes it. I have Monday as a vacation day for me at work, so I have a safety net in place for myself if I get stuck. It also sounds like things run pretty quickly if those are the times your daughter experienced with peak Thanksgiving weekend travel. Whew! Thanks again!

 

[TiggerTrigger]

A coworker also recommended having DD do all of the bag check/TSA stuff on her own when we fly to OH on Saturday so she gets some live experience doing this on her own in case she winds up in this scenario flying back on Sunday. Same goes for navigating Atlanta for the connection. Obviously, every airport is different and can be different on any given day, but it'll empower her to navigate and problem solve in case there are issues.

 

[Micca]

Isn't that the airport where they have to circle three times before landing?

 

[gmi3804]

It’s 5PM now, and the drive time from Athens, OH, to the car rental center right now is 1:17. You have almost three hours before the flight and it’s a small airport. I don’t see a problem with timing.

 

[sam_gordon]

Most people would probably advise against this, but I would prepay the gas for the rental (I think there's an option for them to just charge for the needed gallons, not the whole tank).

Otherwise you'll need to stop and fill up and that will add 10 minutes.

Having your DD check the bags is a good plan, I wouldn't push her to go through security unless the line is long. She can wait for you at the entrance to TSA, and if you're longer getting back from returning the car, then go herself.

Having her do all the check in and airport navigation on your trip there is a great plan, even if you didn't have a tight connection.