Nervous about changing planes.. help pleasee.

[loxie]

Ok, so Im visting family & have a plane change in Milk... I've never changed planes before so I dont really know what to do or how it works, & I'll be be myself so I've very nervous. I only have 30 mins.. How does this work? I just get off my original plane & find the new flight & the new airport? Do i have to do all the security checks again? Will I have to have a seperate boarding pass?.. & If I have checked luggage it SHOULD just show up in my ending destination right?....

 

[Brandis]

Is this 30min from when your plane lands until the second plane starts?

I don't think you can make that, unless both planes are docked right next to each other.

At which airport do you have to change planes?

Usually, when you check in you get boarding passes for both flights (unless you have booked the 2 flights with separate non-partner airlines, then you would have to check in again once you get out of the first flight.

Also, if both flights are with the same company, your luggage should be checked through to your end destination. But here also, 30 min. might be to short for the luggage to make it to the other plane. You might consider only taking cabin luggage.

As for going through security again, I think this depends upon the airport.

All of the above applies to domestic flights only, if you fly international, it will be an entirely different story again And then I wouldn't book any flights less than 2hours apart.

 

[goofy4tink]

I am going to assume that both flights are with the same airline. With that in mind, this is how I would do it. I had to make a change in Atlanta in March and I figured it was going to take forever, but even though my flights were in different areas, it took just 15 mins to do it.
So...when you get to your first gate, just ask the gate attendent where the gate for the new flight is located in relation to where the current flight is landing. Many times, flight attendents will ask for those making connections to hop off the plane first. You shouldn't need to go through any security again. Your checked bags will get where they need to go..stop worrying about that. When you get off the first flight, if you didn't get the info you needed before the flight, ask again at the gate when you get off. They will be able to direct you to the next gate.

 

[loxie]

Ok, thanks everyone... Im soo nervous... I really dont know why but I am. So I'll just ask for the new gate & hopefully I wont get lost...haha Yes, both flights are with the same airline.. Im flying out of philly, then stopping in Wisconsin, then leaving there & going To Omaha ..I get into WI at 4:35, & the new plane leaves @ 5:05..

 

[Costino1]

Just pray the plane isn't late...but remember a time change too....It might seem like a 30 minute overlay but it could really be a 1.5 hr overlay depending on the time zone.

 

[Brandis]

Arrival times are always shown in local time...

 

[librarygal]

Are you traveling on Midwest Airlines? We thought we had a 30 minute layover in Milwaukee also and discovered that the flight numbers were the same for the two segments. We never left the plane.

 

[TheWog]

Yes, first verify the times and make sure the time change is being accounted for. As mentioned, it might be an hour and a half vs. a half hour. Also, as mentioned, when getting off the plane ask that gate agent where you need to be and for directions. It might be right there or it might be a bit of a walk. That is the best way to do it if you are uncertain. You might even go on the Milwaukee website and get yourself familiar with the layout of the terminal. You will not need to go through security again unless you make a mistake and leave the secure area. Good luck.

 

[skiingfast]

I would say possible. But in Milwaukee the airport isn't laid out great. I would highly consider how many gates there are that the airline you are flying uses. You can usually find this out about the airline on the airline's site or the airport site. Going from one concourse to another can be a long walk.

Also let the flight attendent know where you are going on your connection and ask how to get there at the airport when you arrive. They may be able to assist you at reaching your next plane in a number of ways.

 

[azdizzymom]

If you want an honest opinion I would not chance a layover that short. We fly yearly and had a horrible experience on our trip which ended on Saturday. Originally with Delta we had a 1 hour layover in Minneapolis which I thought was fine. Delta changed times on flights (yes I could have changed 2nd leg of trip but then it would have been 4 hours in airport so we left at 45 minutes).

Saturday morning we are set to leave and our plane is late getting in due to headwinds. We FINALLY leave almost 45 minutes late, but we now have tailwinds and can land on time according to flight attendants and pilot. Great...we make up time and land maybe 5 minutes late. Still not nervous at all...UNTIL we hear we have to WAIT for a gate. We wait and wait and wait about 15 minutes (here we are now talking 20 minutes of our 45 minute layover). So we are in row 24... of course it takes FOREVER to open the doors as we are getting nervous now. Of course all those who require early boarding have no issue hopping into the aisle and getting off the plane (this is a peeve of mine ... when my kids were small and we pre-boarded we waited till all off to get off since it took longer). I don't understand why people pre-board and then have no issues almost running off the plane at destination. So we wait and wait and wait to get off. This is almost another 10 minutes. We knew our gate was close thanks to flight attendant who walked around with info for connections on flight. We take our carryons and run as fast as we can to gate. Arrive at gate area and find it empty and hear gate agent doing final boarding call for our party and a couple others before seats given to standbys.

Honestly I would never book anything with under an hour. You don't know weather, you don't know of mechanical delays, you don't know how soon you will get off the plane depending on where you are sitting, how slow people get off, etc. If you are not experienced in changing planes there is no way I would even try it! I am sure others will not agree BUT this is my opinion based on my recent experiences. The only positive was OUR BAGS MADE IT TO FINAL DESTINATION ON TIME! That is another concern with a close connection...will bags make it. This is reality and next time I will change connection time if airline changes flight time and we have less than 1 hour. Prefer nonstop but that isn't always cheapest.

 

[budbeerlady]

Here is an airport map.... http://www.mitchellairport.com/terminal.html

IF your flight leaves on time, has no issues and a gate is open you will be fine. IF not then it might not be pretty. I have run thru Minn/St. Paul to watch my plane leave when I had over an hour layover but if the flight is late when you leave for the 1st leg there isnt much you can do. They will get you there but maybe carry the option to Omaha on your person in case you miss your flight. Then you can push your options.

 

[crashbb]

Do you actually have to change planes? Or are you just dropping off passengers and collecting new ones, but staying on the same plane?

If you give some of your flight information, someone here may be able to figure that out for you.

 

[hilarios]

Milwaukee isn't that big of an airport and I think it would be fairly easy going from one end to another. You prob aren't the only people changing planes either.

 

[azdizzymom]

Milwaukee isn't that big of an airport and I think it would be fairly easy going from one end to another. You prob aren't the only people changing planes either.

In all honesty it could be a super small airport BUT the issues are if the plane is late getting in and how fast the person can get off the plane as to whether the connection can be made. It all depends on how weather is that day, how crowded plane is (and they all are full nowdays), how fast people get off, etc.

Yes, a larger airport will be harder, but even a small one will make no difference if the plane is late and if the people are slow getting off, etc.

 

[loxie]

Are you traveling on Midwest Airlines? We thought we had a 30 minute layover in Milwaukee also and discovered that the flight numbers were the same for the two segments. We never left the plane.

YES, I am using them..how did u find out how you didnt actually have to leave the plane?..
Im the only one flying, i cant change my times, well I can but it will cost too much & everything from philly to Omaha had a stop there wasnt any nonstop.

 

[SnackyStacky]

YES, I am using them..how did u find out how you didnt actually have to leave the plane?..
Im the only one flying, i cant change my times, well I can but it will cost too much & everything from philly to Omaha had a stop there wasnt any nonstop.

Just give the airline a call and ask if a plane change is required. They should be able to tell you.