Kind of a dumb Southwest question...

[Nermel9]

Hi everyone, I have a stupid SW question (actually, a couple!), and figured you guys would know the answers!

My DH and I are going to WDW from 9/30-10/8, leaving from Hartford, CT. The flight I was looking for to go down there, a nonstop first thing in the morning is $159, for ONE WAY! That's insane, I refuse to pay that much. I was going to wait for Jet Blue to open up their schedule, but I'm doubting they will be much cheaper.

There are later flights down to MCO later that day that have a stop in Baltimore, $79! My DH wants me to book that flight now, before it goes up, but I'm nervous about stopping! How does that work exactly?

We would arrive in Baltimore at 11:15, and the connecting flight leaves at 12:25. How does boarding work, is it the same, do they do it by groups? If I have Early Bird check in, does that still apply with the 2nd flight? Will there be people already on the plane and nowhere left to sit?

And what about bags...we don't have to pick them up, right, they automatically get transferred to the next plane?

Oh, one more thing-if I buy my flight now for 9/30, what happens when I buy my return flight for 10/8? Does it just get added to the first flight and become a round trip, or do I have 2 separate confirmation numbers?

Sorry for all the questions, I always fly nonstop flights, so the idea of stopping and changing planes is strange to me and I'm not sure how it really works...thank you in advance!

 

[cstorm65]

Hi everyone, I have a stupid SW question (actually, a couple!), and figured you guys would know the answers!

My DH and I are going to WDW from 9/30-10/8, leaving from Hartford, CT. The flight I was looking for to go down there, a nonstop first thing in the morning is $159, for ONE WAY! That's insane, I refuse to pay that much. I was going to wait for Jet Blue to open up their schedule, but I'm doubting they will be much cheaper.

There are later flights down to MCO later that day that have a stop in Baltimore, $79! My DH wants me to book that flight now, before it goes up, but I'm nervous about stopping! How does that work exactly?

We would arrive in Baltimore at 11:15, and the connecting flight leaves at 12:25. How does boarding work, is it the same, do they do it by groups? If I have Early Bird check in, does that still apply with the 2nd flight? Will there be people already on the plane and nowhere left to sit?

And what about bags...we don't have to pick them up, right, they automatically get transferred to the next plane?

Oh, one more thing-if I buy my flight now for 9/30, what happens when I buy my return flight for 10/8? Does it just get added to the first flight and become a round trip, or do I have 2 separate confirmation numbers?

Sorry for all the questions, I always fly nonstop flights, so the idea of stopping and changing planes is strange to me and I'm not sure how it really works...thank you in advance!

You shouldn't have any problems. We fly SW frequently. Yes, your bags will be transferred for you. You don't have to pick them up. You just get off with your carry on and walk to the next plane. Also, on the seating we purchased the early bird seating ($10 I think?) and you will be given the option to purchase it for each flight. We paid the $10 for both legs of that trip and it bumped us up to boarding group a. They usually start boarding abour 30 minutes before the time or less. You should have time to make it in 1 hour and 10 minutes.

I am not sure if their are two confirmation #'s or not. I don't remember on that one. Sorry. Southwest doesn't really deal in "round trips", but they will all be purchased together and the confirmation will be sent to you in the same e-mail and with the same passenger names.

Hope this helps. Have Fun!

 

[Nermel9]

Thanks, I feel a little better now!

You have to buy early bird for both flights though??? Hmmm...not sure I'd do it for the first flight then, since it's only an hour down to Baltimore, but I'd definitely do it for the second flight. I wonder how terrible my boarding position would be without it? I was kind of hoping if you bought it for the first flight, you would already have it for the second...something to think about.

 

[DebbieB]

If it's just you and your DH, no children, I would not worry about early bird. You will most likely be able to find 2 seats together checking in at 24 hours. You would be able to check-in for both flights at 24 hours, so you would be ahead of people whose trip starts in Baltimore. There could be people already on the plane but it's not going to be full.

 

[Nermel9]

If it's just you and your DH, no children, I would not worry about early bird. You will most likely be able to find 2 seats together checking in at 24 hours. You would be able to check-in for both flights at 24 hours, so you would be ahead of people whose trip starts in Baltimore. There could be people already on the plane but it's not going to be full.

I'm sure I'd be fine without early bird, but I worry! I like being in the A group for boarding, if for some reason I couldn't sit with my DH, I'd freak out, I'm a nervous flier! I'll probably just deal with the extra expense and buy early bird for both flights. I can add it any time before my flight, right? Like, if I buy tickets today, I don't have to purchase early bird right now, do I?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Like, if I buy tickets today, I don't have to purchase early bird right now, do I?

No, but the sooner you buy, the higher your priority on the check-in list.

 

[DMRick]

We didn't have to buy it for both, when we stopped at Baltimore. We were in the front of the line for both..it was considered one flight. There were already some people on the plane, maybe 6 or so, so we couldn't take those seats, obviously.

When you buy your trip home, that will have a different confirmation number and not be connected with the flight down at all. You will need to pay for the early check in for that flight.

 

[Brer Chump]

You should probably purchase the $79 fare now and if the nonstop drops in price you can cancel the layover flight and use the $79 per person credit for the non-stop flight. This way the worst case scenario would be the $79 layover, which isn't too shabby.

 

[Mixie]

Is it a stopover with no plane change or a connection flight with a plane change?

No plane change just means the flight stops, some people get off, others get on but if you are continuing you remain on the plane (you can move around after the people getting off are gone - even switch seats).

Plane change means you get all your carry on stuff and head over to another gate and get loaded onto that plane. With only an hour stopover, this would be more risky. If your first flight is delayed in any way you may miss that connecting flight.

 

[Nermel9]

Thank you everyone, for the help!

I decided to just go ahead and buy the $79 flight for now, and like Brer Chump suggested, I'm gonna hope the nonstop goes down in price a little over the next 7 and a half months so I can change flights!

Mixie, there is a plane change, which I'm a little concerned about, but it seems like Southwest is pretty good with being on time, so hopefully I won't have to worry about a flight delay! Whenever I fly with them, we always seem to leave on time and arrive early, so hopefully that trend will continue! Are you familiar with Southwest, are they often delayed?

I also did end up buying the Early Bird check in, and only paid $20 for the 2 of us. I guess it will cover both flights, from Hartford and Baltimore, so that's good, one less thing to worry about!

I hope there are some better fares for the flight home!

 

[disneyag]

Baltimore airport isn't that huge; you won't have any problem connecting. The EBCI is purchased per one way trip, not per segment. So, that is why you and DH were charged $20. On the way to MCO, SWA charges you only ONE early bird purchase, even though, technically, you were on 2 flights.

 

[Mixie]

Mixie, there is a plane change, which I'm a little concerned about, but it seems like Southwest is pretty good with being on time, so hopefully I won't have to worry about a flight delay! Whenever I fly with them, we always seem to leave on time and arrive early, so hopefully that trend will continue! Are you familiar with Southwest, are they often delayed?

If I can fly on southwest, I do. They are by far the best airline. I agree their on time record is great, but even they cannot control the weather. Those are the sorts of delays I worry about the most and try to fly non-stop or direct if non-stop isnt avail.

Frankly, I'll willingly pay more for non-stop on SW. I hate spending vacation time sitting around airports, worrying about changing planes or missing flights. But that's just me.

 

[DMRick]

Even if they are late, as long as it's not horribly long, the second SW plane will wait...they know you are coming from a connection. They even asked everyone to stay seated and to let those with the close connection off first once. I love SW! We've done Baltimore many times, and it's not a biggy getting to the next flight. SW is seldom delayed, although it seems when we are somewhere and waiting for SW to arrive to take us away, when it is coming from PA, it seems to be always late.

Thank you everyone, for the help!

I decided to just go ahead and buy the $79 flight for now, and like Brer Chump suggested, I'm gonna hope the nonstop goes down in price a little over the next 7 and a half months so I can change flights!

Mixie, there is a plane change, which I'm a little concerned about, but it seems like Southwest is pretty good with being on time, so hopefully I won't have to worry about a flight delay! Whenever I fly with them, we always seem to leave on time and arrive early, so hopefully that trend will continue! Are you familiar with Southwest, are they often delayed?

I also did end up buying the Early Bird check in, and only paid $20 for the 2 of us. I guess it will cover both flights, from Hartford and Baltimore, so that's good, one less thing to worry about!

I hope there are some better fares for the flight home!

 

[Nermel9]

If I can fly on southwest, I do. They are by far the best airline. I agree their on time record is great, but even they cannot control the weather. Those are the sorts of delays I worry about the most and try to fly non-stop or direct if non-stop isnt avail.

Frankly, I'll willingly pay more for non-stop on SW. I hate spending vacation time sitting around airports, worrying about changing planes or missing flights. But that's just me.

You're making me nervous, LOL!

Hopefully, the weather will cooperate in late September, I suppose the only thing I'd have to worry about is a freak hurricane, right?

Normally, I'd pay more for a non-stop too, but it's over twice what I'm paying for the flight that stops in Baltimore. I'm just going to keep an eye on the price of that flight and if it drops, I'll switch!

Even if they are late, as long as it's not horribly long, the second SW plane will wait...they know you are coming from a connection. They even asked everyone to stay seated and to let those with the close connection off first once. I love SW! We've done Baltimore many times, and it's not a biggy getting to the next flight. SW is seldom delayed, although it seems when we are somewhere and waiting for SW to arrive to take us away, when it is coming from PA, it seems to be always late.

Thanks! Since you've been to the Baltimore airport, do you know how long it takes to get off the first plane and walk over to the second? Are they close, or do you have to run through the airport? I've only been on one flight, where I've had a layover, and the layover was in Dallas, and I seriously had to get off the first plane, run to the other side of the airport, and get on the second, with barely just enough time! It's not anything like that, is it!

 

[WDWisTheBest]

Since you've been to the Baltimore airport, do you know how long it takes to get off the first plane and walk over to the second? Are they close, or do you have to run through the airport?

Southwest uses Concourse A and B, which adjoin. Less than 50 minute changes are possible.

 

[Rpsemont]

I decided to just go ahead and buy the $79 flight for now, and like Brer Chump suggested, I'm gonna hope the nonstop goes down in price a little over the next 7 and a half months so I can change flights!

Good choice! The $79 is a good fare BDL - MCO.
Definitely keep checking. Keep in mind that an $89 Non stop costs about the same as a $79 connecting flight. The special ariport fees add about $10 per segement.

For our flights this coming March, I originally booked at $109 for a MOnday mid day flight. DH really wanted to leave SUnday night, but those were $159. The Monday flights went down to $94 - I got a credit but was still flying out Monday. THEN One one day about a month ago (approx two month before departure date) not only were the MOnday flights $79, but so was the Sunday night! You don't need to cancel - just use travel tools and change flight reservtion. You'll end up with a credit to use at a future time. Keep in mind though, the credit is only good for TRAVEL within one year of the ORIGINAL purchase date. SO, if you purchased your flights Feb 12, 2011 aqnd you end up with a credit, you have to use for a flight taken before Feb 12, 2012.

Even with the two terminals that SWA has in Baltimore, transfers are pretty easy.

 

[DMRick]

It's $5 per segment, $10 round trip.

Good choice! The $79 is a good fare BDL - MCO.
Definitely keep checking. Keep in mind that an $89 Non stop costs about the same as a $79 connecting flight. The special ariport fees add about $10 per segement.

 

[Rpsemont]

It's $5 per segment, $10 round trip.

there can be other fees that affect it.
From SWA website:
Federal segment fee of $3.70 that will be imposed on each flight segment. Flight segment is defined as a takeoff and a landing.
Government-imposed September 11th Security Fee of up to $5 one-way, $10 roundtrip.
Airport assessed Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs) of up to $18.

For 3/13 bdl-mco - a nonstop flight for $199 ends up costing 209.70
For a one stop flight with plane change the same $199 is 220.40

 

[DMRick]

That is true, there is the $3.70. It's hard to tell thought what you will save, because the airport Assess fee may be up to $18..but sometimes it's lower, and I haven't figured that out at all..sometimes the same trip we take has lower taxes and fees than our previous trip, even if the actual flight is the same.

there can be other fees that affect it.
From SWA website:
Federal segment fee of $3.70 that will be imposed on each flight segment. Flight segment is defined as a takeoff and a landing.
Government-imposed September 11th Security Fee of up to $5 one-way, $10 roundtrip.
Airport assessed Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs) of up to $18.

For 3/13 bdl-mco - a nonstop flight for $199 ends up costing 209.70
For a one stop flight with plane change the same $199 is 220.40