More BWI/SWA questions....

[Luckymommyx2]

I'm down to the single digits and trying like mad to go over everything to make the trip as smooth as possible. I've never flown out of BWI or used SWA so I have a few questions that I don't think have been asked, at least not recently.

First, since we are flying out over Labor Day weekend and our flight is the first one out (8:05am), do you think 2 hours early is enough? I have a four and five year old but I don't want to count on pre-board. It looks like our flight is full too.

Our plan is to arrive by 6am, have hubby drive up to the curb side check in; have the sky cab check my hubby while I unload the car then have hubby park the car while checking the rest of us in then meet up somewhere inside. (This sound okay?)

Next, does anyone know what they offer in the way of compensation if they've overbooked and we would volunteer our seats? (Not sure if I would want to but if the price is right it's possible since we're just flying in a day early with nothing to do but r & r.)

Lastly, does anyone know how long the flight is from BWI to MCO? I don't know if the 8:05 - 10:10 is the actual flight time or just the gate to gate time. I've noticed most of the flights have been arriving withing an hour and forty-five minutes. Does this mean no snacks? I'm planning on taking something for the kids just in case.

Sorry this is so long but as you can tell I suffer from over-planners/mirco-management syndrome! Thanks!

 

[CarolA]

Your times are gate to gate. I have no idea how long the actual flight is.

SW will probably give you a "snack" It ranges from a nice little breakfast pack to just peanuts. I strongly recommend bringing food with kids.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Luckymommyx2
I'm down to the single digits and trying like mad to go over everything to make the trip as smooth as possible. I've never flown out of BWI or used SWA so I have a few questions that I don't think have been asked, at least not recently.

First, since we are flying out over Labor Day weekend and our flight is the first one out (8:05am), do you think 2 hours early is enough? I have a four and five year old but I don't want to count on pre-board. It looks like our flight is full too.

Our plan is to arrive by 6am, have hubby drive up to the curb side check in; have the sky cab check my hubby while I unload the car then have hubby park the car while checking the rest of us in then meet up somewhere inside. (This sound okay?)

Next, does anyone know what they offer in the way of compensation if they've overbooked and we would volunteer our seats? (Not sure if I would want to but if the price is right it's possible since we're just flying in a day early with nothing to do but r & r.)

Lastly, does anyone know how long the flight is from BWI to MCO? I don't know if the 8:05 - 10:10 is the actual flight time or just the gate to gate time. I've noticed most of the flights have been arriving withing an hour and forty-five minutes. Does this mean no snacks? I'm planning on taking something for the kids just in case.

Sorry this is so long but as you can tell I suffer from over-planners/mirco-management syndrome! Thanks!


Hi,
Regarding "bumping" this should answer your questions.

http://www.southwestair.com/travel_center/contract.html

If you have a 4 year old and the plane is not mostly families, then you will probably be able to preboard.

You will probably get peanuts and crackers and of course comp. beverages. Beer is 3.00 Wine is 3.00 and mixed drinks are 4.00.

Your plan for check in is exactly what we do (well Dee does unload the car. )and it works very very well. I do, however, wait for him outside the terminal (gotta have that last cigarette ). Just and FYI (and not an insult) don't forget to tip the skycap.

Suggested arrival times for all airports SWA serves is here. http://www.southwestair.com/travel_center/suggested_arrival.html

The flights for your time frame don't appear to be full, so, preboarding looks like it should be ok and probably not an option for bumping. The reason all the fares are coded unavailable is because it is less than two weeks out. If the fullness of the flight concerns you, give SWA a call and find out. 1-800-IFLYSWA.

Hope this answers most of your questions and I hope you have a fantastic trip. We will be there at the same time.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Thanks to both of you for the responses.

Gail...I think I got the whole curb-side check in routine from one of your posts! We've never used the sky cab before but read a lot about them on the boards, plus I remember the whole sky cab/tipping thread. (so no offense taken ) We'll take very good care of him or her.

I can't wait to try SWA but I have been a little concerned how busy the airport will be since it is Labor Day weekend. Just get me down there next week and I'll be happy. Wow, I can finally say next week!!!

Thanks again!

Have a good trip Gail

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Luckymommyx2
Thanks to both of you for the responses.

Gail...I think I got the whole curb-side check in routine from one of your posts! We've never used the sky cab before but read a lot about them on the boards, plus I remember the whole sky cab/tipping thread. (so no offense taken ) We'll take very good care of him or her.

I can't wait to try SWA but I have been a little concerned how busy the airport will be since it is Labor Day weekend. Just get me down there next week and I'll be happy. Wow, I can finally say next week!!!

Thanks again!

Have a good trip Gail

I am sure you will take very good care of the skycap ( I mostly throw the tip thing in cause a lot of people don't realize that it is the proper thing to do and the skycaps live on tips.). We are leaving Sunday and from what I can tell my flight is not very full.
You have to figure folks with kids are back cause the kids are in school or getting ready, makes for a WONDERFUL time to travel. Most of the jambs will be at the other end. Lucky us!!!!
When are you leaving?
You have a GREAT trip and let me know if I can help further.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

We're leaving around 5am on Saturday morning then lounging at the Hyatt in MCO until the Disney cruise Sunday morning. I like going a day early just in case there is a travel delay of some sort, plus we're all fresh and ready to go the next day.

I didn't know when most of the schools start so I figure it will be really crowded or empty. I homeschool so we can be really flexible with our travel times. I feel confident with my little ones because our flight is a cake walk compared to the 13 hrs on a plane from Russia! Last year people commented that they didn't even know they were there until we unloading at the gate. I'm just a proud mama of my little troopers. They are so excited for their first cruise and being with Mickey and his friends is the cherry on top. I'm just so happy to be in the single digits!!

Have a wonderful and safe trip! (Funny to think we could pass each other in the airport and never even know it!)

 

[kramer_clan]

I take that 8:00 flight out of BWI all the time. Actually hubby and I are taking it later in September.

BWI is one of the best airports to fly out of. They are doing a lot of construction now on a new terminal, but most of the road work is completed. I just flew to Providence and back earlier in August.

I think that trying to get to the airport at 6am is what you want to do. The lines going through security during that time of morning are not long. They are mostly Southwest flights anyway. They have changed Southwest to a different terminal which messed me up a little on my flight to PVD.

You will do fine and you will be able to pre-board. Have fun and don't worry.

BTW, this flight is usually on time and you will be getting your luggage at MCO at around 10:20 to 10:30am.


Vicki

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Luckymommyx2
We're leaving around 5am on Saturday morning then lounging at the Hyatt in MCO until the Disney cruise Sunday morning. I like going a day early just in case there is a travel delay of some sort, plus we're all fresh and ready to go the next day.

I didn't know when most of the schools start so I figure it will be really crowded or empty. I homeschool so we can be really flexible with our travel times. I feel confident with my little ones because our flight is a cake walk compared to the 13 hrs on a plane from Russia! Last year people commented that they didn't even know they were there until we unloading at the gate. I'm just a proud mama of my little troopers. They are so excited for their first cruise and being with Mickey and his friends is the cherry on top. I'm just so happy to be in the single digits!!

Have a wonderful and safe trip! (Funny to think we could pass each other in the airport and never even know it!)

Thank you. I am leaving from Hartford on Sunday, so, we won't pass in the airport. It would have been nice to say hi however.

Have fun on the cruise!!!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Vicki...can you recommend which parking garage will be best to use? We'll be gone from Saturday until Thursday. Since we're using Gail's plan of getting dropped off while hubby goes and parks the car I don't want to be waiting for hubby for very long. We don't mind the $7 or $9 per day garages. I think there is a $13 which may be pushing it a bit. I think they recently added or changed the garages around according to the website. It's hard to calculate how far they are from the terminal and if you have to wait long for the shuttles. Thanks for the reassurance!

 

[kramer_clan]

It is quite easy to find the garages. You will notice the exits on the way in. They did just add satellite parking that is the farthest away from the terminals. I don't know the cost, since I usually just get dropped off (I only live 20 minutes from airport). It is done like all other airports, there is a loop around the airport. Your husband will just have to go around the loop and park in the appropriate garage. The shuttles seem to run often. I always see one or two at the terminal when I am getting dropped off or picked up. If you have any questions, I would just ask while he is dropping you off.

Have fun.

Vicki

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Thanks!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Luckymommyx2
Vicki...can you recommend which parking garage will be best to use? We'll be gone from Saturday until Thursday. Since we're using Gail's plan of getting dropped off while hubby goes and parks the car I don't want to be waiting for hubby for very long. We don't mind the $7 or $9 per day garages. I think there is a $13 which may be pushing it a bit. I think they recently added or changed the garages around according to the website. It's hard to calculate how far they are from the terminal and if you have to wait long for the shuttles. Thanks for the reassurance!

In looking at the BWI site, it appears that the Long Term Parking runs "closely scheduled shuttles". If that is anything like Hartford (actually BWI is probably run better) the busses run constantly. If he uses that lot I would imagine you will not be waiting very long for him. http://www.bwiairport.com/3drctprk/in_pi.shtml
I rarely wait more than 20 mins. for Dee to return, again this is Hartford, not nearly as large as BWI, but, not nearly as well run as BWI.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Thanks Gail! My DH is a little nervous about the parking because we usually fly out of Philly and his relatives just drop us off. He wants all of us to just go park and take the shuttle, THEN check in but I want to stick to your plan. I think it would be a headache to be lugging kids and luggage on shuttles, especially if we don't need to. I'm just trying to reassure him that he can find somewhere close to park and get a shuttle easily. We were going to try to drive by the airport and do the loop past the garages but the traffic last weekend was incredible and we turned around. We may try again this weekend. Thanks!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Luckymommyx2
Thanks Gail! My DH is a little nervous about the parking because we usually fly out of Philly and his relatives just drop us off. He wants all of us to just go park and take the shuttle, THEN check in but I want to stick to your plan. I think it would be a headache to be lugging kids and luggage on shuttles, especially if we don't need to. I'm just trying to reassure him that he can find somewhere close to park and get a shuttle easily. We were going to try to drive by the airport and do the loop past the garages but the traffic last weekend was incredible and we turned around. We may try again this weekend. Thanks!

You are correct, doing the shuttle with luggage and children would be a BIG headache, not the way to start a trip.

 

[CarolynNC]

Just wanted to add info regarding my SWA experience with a sold out flight. We flew out of RDU in July and our flight was sold out. SWA announced (about 3 times - they weren't getting any volunteers) they would compensate anyone volunteering to be bumped. They offered $200, trip voucher, and a flight out to Tampa later that night. I couldn't convince my son and his friend to jump on it. The roller coasters were calling their names and they figured they'd loose half a day park time. Of course they were hoping for a bump on the way home but didn't get it!

Carolyn

 

[dcfromva]

Originally posted by Luckymommyx2
Thanks Gail! My DH is a little nervous about the parking because we usually fly out of Philly and his relatives just drop us off. He wants all of us to just go park and take the shuttle, THEN check in but I want to stick to your plan. I think it would be a headache to be lugging kids and luggage on shuttles, especially if we don't need to. I'm just trying to reassure him that he can find somewhere close to park and get a shuttle easily. We were going to try to drive by the airport and do the loop past the garages but the traffic last weekend was incredible and we turned around. We may try again this weekend. Thanks!

Luckymommyx2,
I am keeping my fingers crossed for you. I hope that since your flight is first thing in the morning that you won't see the crowds we normally do at BWI. The problem is if you do encounter a crowd for the skycap line (this is the normal situation when we check in at BWI), your DH will not be allowed to wait to show his ID until you can check your bags in. We have taken two flights our of BWI this summer--the first one this summer was a Saturday morning in June--the skycap line was literally a block long. The second time was a Sunday afternoon in July, it took us 20mins to get through the line (inside at the ticket counter was much worse). The traffic was really backed up just getting up to the drop off point at the terminal.

As far as the parking garage at BWI--the daily rates are $30.00 a day--all the other parking options involve taking a shuttle. We generally use preflight parking. They will come around to your parking space and collect you and then drop you back off at your vehicle. They currently have a coupon on their web site ($2.00 off daily parking with the 7th day free), here is a link for you:
Link to Preflight Parking

Here is a link to the BWI web site for more parking options

Have a wonderful vacation!

-DC