Questions on early SW flights and flying time.

[Minniekins]

Just have a couple questions. We are flying to Orlando from Chicago Midway on an early Thu morning, May 21st. We leave at 7:05 and flight is 2 hrs 30 min. I already think that's really early, lol, but I'm thinking of switching to the 6 a.m. flight that is 2 hrs 45 min. I was thinking that would get us there an hour earlier, but actually the flight we have lands at 10:35, the earlier one leaves an hour and five min earlier but only gets there at 9:45. Not that much difference, but the earlier flight is 15 min longer, both are nonstop. Why would the earlier flight be that much longer and not the same length of time to get there?

Also, just wondering, would there be any other benefits or drawbacks to switching to the 6 a.m. flight? Is there much difference in flying then at 6 or 7 a.m., or in getting through the airport, or when you need to be at the airport? Are they less crowded so you could get there around 5 to fly out at 6? It would give us an extra hour on the front end of the day, as we wanna try to get back to our room by 8, which will be super hard for us as we are definitely nights owls, not rope droppers, lol, but gotta be ready for the 24 hr MK day! We usually go more like 9 a.m., so either time is gonna be omg early! Thanks for any thoughts!

Oh, I also noticed that the earlier flight had 175 seats(plane is a Boeing 737-800) vs 143 seats(plane is a 737-700), the earlier one has 100% on time vs 75% on time for the 7 a.m. one, if any of those details make any difference. Maybe I'm just overthinking too much, lol...

 

[goofy4tink]

In all actuality, you'll probably be in better shape if you take the 7:00 flight. If you take the 6:00 flight, you'll need to be at the airport by 4:30, which means getting up really early! 7:00 is bad enough. I've pretty much stopped booking early morning flights.....I just don't get a decent night's sleep prior to flying if I have to get up earlier than 5am.
We're doing the 24 hr event as well. Thursday is going to be as easy a day as we can make it.

 

[Yellowjj]

Both flights will be about the same time, flying wise. Southwest has the schedules padded. The reason the 6am flight is blocked for 15 minutes more is because 6:00am is the start of the first bank of flights at both Midway and O'hare. Thus the flight is giving an additional few minutes to account for small delays due to atc/airspace constraints.

The 737-800 has one more inch of pitch per row, so if your tall you may want to choose the earlier flight.

 

[Minniekins]

In all actuality, you'll probably be in better shape if you take the 7:00 flight. If you take the 6:00 flight, you'll need to be at the airport by 4:30, which means getting up really early! 7:00 is bad enough. I've pretty much stopped booking early morning flights.....I just don't get a decent night's sleep prior to flying if I have to get up earlier than 5am.
We're doing the 24 hr event as well. Thursday is going to be as easy a day as we can make it.

Well, there is that, for sure, and something I'm keeping in mind. It's at the top of the 'con' list, lol. My plan is to get to bed very early evening, even by 6, on Wed night after work. Will have to have packed in the days before and be all set. We are doing a mid afternoon lunch at primetime, couple rides at Dhs(tsm, gmr, singalong), and then head back, maybe grab a snack at pop's food court, and then in bed by 8:30! It will take a lot of will power and sticking to the plan of in the bed by then! That's why I thought maybe an hour earlier might help. But, your 'too early' reasoning is definitely in my thinking. Guess DD24 and I will really discuss if we can do this, lol! Thanks, goofy4tink!

Both flights will be about the same time, flying wise. Southwest has the schedules padded. The reason the 6am flight is blocked for 15 minutes more is because 6:00am is the start of the first bank of flights at both Midway and O'hare. Thus the flight is giving an additional few minutes to account for small delays due to atc/airspace constraints.

The 737-800 has one more inch of pitch per row, so if your tall you may want to choose the earlier flight.

Oh, wow, that's interesting info to hear, I didn't realize they did that. Hmm, well, unfortunately I'm height challenged the opposite way - only tall to maybe a two year old, lol! Thank you, Yellowjj!

Wondering how crowded the security area is that early, and is the plane, either time I guess, likely to be packed with lots of people, probably lots for business maybe? Seems early to get a whole family together and ready to fly!
Other than the very early hour, is there any other reason that would lead you to not move to the earlier 6 a.m. time? Price is the same, and I wouldn't lose my EBCI I don't think, it would just transfer.[

 

[macraven]

i've been taking the SW 5:40 am flights out of mke the past year and preferred it.
no traffic to the airport and first flight out.
now SW has done away with that flight recently and the first flight out is now 7:30 am that i am booked on.

i always figure to do the earliest flight out as the airports are less crowded and it takes less time to travel from home to the airport.

for me going from cst to est, i'm ready for bed early on the first day i arrive in orlando.

 

[goofy4tink]

If getting up an hour earlier isn't going to bother you, then go for it. Why not. Sounds like that's what you want to do....just looking for any possible big reasons not to!!!
I fly out of either Providence or Boston usually. Boston is a pretty busy airport....Providence (TF Green) is getting more so. I find that if I'm on the road by 5:30am, I'm not hitting traffic. It's those flights that leave at 10 that are an issue.....commuter traffic into Boston starts at 6:30 and peaks by 7!!! Flights prior to 9am usually don't mean much traffic.

 

[lustergirl]

Well my SW flight leaves Buffalo at 5:30am so I will be at the airport around 4am. I probably won't sleep much the night before anyways, too excited about my trip. I like to take the earliest flight so I can get to the parks earlier and enjoy the day.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Another reason for taking the first flight out -- they tend to leave on time. As the day progresses, the planes are used several times, and if one flight is late, then the next flight on that plane will be delayed. It's a domino effect.

Two of my SWA flights this past month were both delayed, but the pilots managed to make up for lost time, especially the flight back to Phoenix. The crew was based in Phx and anxious to get home.

Most (if not all) airlines pad their flight time so they can land half an hour later than anticipated, but still arrive "on time." And when they arrive at their anticipated time, they're actually "early," but no one complains about that.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Just have a couple questions. We are flying to Orlando from Chicago Midway on an early Thu morning, May 21st. We leave at 7:05 and flight is 2 hrs 30 min. I already think that's really early, lol, but I'm thinking of switching to the 6 a.m. flight that is 2 hrs 45 min. I was thinking that would get us there an hour earlier, but actually the flight we have lands at 10:35, the earlier one leaves an hour and five min earlier but only gets there at 9:45. Not that much difference, but the earlier flight is 15 min longer, both are nonstop. Why would the earlier flight be that much longer and not the same length of time to get there?

Also, just wondering, would there be any other benefits or drawbacks to switching to the 6 a.m. flight? Is there much difference in flying then at 6 or 7 a.m., or in getting through the airport, or when you need to be at the airport? Are they less crowded so you could get there around 5 to fly out at 6? It would give us an extra hour on the front end of the day, as we wanna try to get back to our room by 8, which will be super hard for us as we are definitely nights owls, not rope droppers, lol, but gotta be ready for the 24 hr MK day! We usually go more like 9 a.m., so either time is gonna be omg early! Thanks for any thoughts!

Oh, I also noticed that the earlier flight had 175 seats(plane is a Boeing 737-800) vs 143 seats(plane is a 737-700), the earlier one has 100% on time vs 75% on time for the 7 a.m. one, if any of those details make any difference. Maybe I'm just overthinking too much, lol...

We take the 6am flight out of Midway all the time. The nice thing about that flight is that the plane sits there overnight so it is always ready to board on time. The other benefit to that early flight is that the airport isn't crowded and the TSA lines are relatively short that early in the morning. And an extra benefit is that since the flight originates at Midway, there aren't already passengers on board from a connecting flight taking up the best seats.

 

[Minniekins]

i've been taking the SW 5:40 am flights out of mke the past year and preferred it. no traffic to the airport and first flight out.
now SW has done away with that flight recently and the first flight out is now 7:30 am that i am booked on.

i always figure to do the earliest flight out as the airports are less crowded and it takes less time to travel from home to the airport.

for me going from cst to est, i'm ready for bed early on the first day i arrive in orlando.

Thanks, macraven, less crowded is good!

If getting up an hour earlier isn't going to bother you, then go for it. Why not. Sounds like that's what you want to do....just looking for any possible big reasons not to!!!
I fly out of either Providence or Boston usually. Boston is a pretty busy airport....Providence (TF Green) is getting more so. I find that if I'm on the road by 5:30am, I'm not hitting traffic. It's those flights that leave at 10 that are an issue.....commuter traffic into Boston starts at 6:30 and peaks by 7!!! Flights prior to 9am usually don't mean much traffic.

Well, goofy4tink, I won't say it won't bother me, that's probably my biggest reason I'm hesitating, lol! But, what's a hour earlier? Of course, when that alarm goes off, then I'll be like, wait! one more hour! lol. But, you're right I think that's what we want to do. I talked to DD24 about it today and she's on board, lol, which I wasn't sure she would be. And, yep looking for any other big reasons it wouldn't be a good idea, lol, you got it! I'll hope to sleep on the plane, but DD24 always wakes me up cause I start snoring a little, lol, argh! I'm about an hour, an hour and 15 mins out so with good traffic that should be an hour for sure. Thanks!

Well my SW flight leaves Buffalo at 5:30am so I will be at the airport around 4am. I probably won't sleep much the night before anyways, too excited about my trip. I like to take the earliest flight so I can get to the parks earlier and enjoy the day.

Thanks, lustergirl, that's what I'm hoping - that we'll get just a little more park time, or at least we won't be so rushed!

Another reason for taking the first flight out -- they tend to leave on time. As the day progresses, the planes are used several times, and if one flight is late, then the next flight on that plane will be delayed. It's a domino effect.

Two of my SWA flights this past month were both delayed, but the pilots managed to make up for lost time, especially the flight back to Phoenix. The crew was based in Phx and anxious to get home.

Most (if not all) airlines pad their flight time so they can land half an hour later than anticipated, but still arrive "on time." And when they arrive at their anticipated time, they're actually "early," but no one complains about that.

Thanks, jdb in AZ! Yeah, that's a good reason, being first we might be a bit early, like at 9:30 so that'd be great!

We take the 6am flight out of Midway all the time. The nice thing about that flight is that the plane sits there overnight so it is always ready to board on time. The other benefit to that early flight is that the airport isn't crowded and the TSA lines are relatively short that early in the morning. And an extra benefit is that since the flight originates at Midway, there aren't already passengers on board from a connecting flight taking up the best seats.

Thank you, Wood Nymph, good to hear from someone who flies out of the same airport! Hmm, interesting and so true, those are great points! We should be on our way in no time!

So, DD24 was saying she thinks would could leave from Dekalb exit on I 88 and get there about 5. If it takes about an hour at that time, we could leave at 4 and get there at 5. Not sure, but isn't that cutting things a bit close? I'm just wondering if we shouldn't just leave at 3:30, maybe 3:45, to be sure we are there by 5. Also, if you remember maybe, is that gate usually way way down the hallway, or a closer gate (for a change, lol)? Is that flight usually pretty full?

 

[Wood Nymph]

If we get to the Midway parking lot by 4:40am, then we are usually checked in and through security by 5am. The plane starts to load around 5:25am. It usually closes its doors and pulls out on time. The flight is always full. There are always some children on the flight but during the school year it is not a lot.

 

[goofy4tink]

Don't cut it too close though. It seems that it's those times that you have everything planned to the minute, is when 'something' happens. It could be an accident on the highway...yes, even at that time of morning. Or a parking issue. Just plan for an addtl 30 mins or so....if you're early, terrific. But that's sooooo much better than sitting on the highway, held up, watching the time tick away!!! Been there, done that..it isn't much fun.

 

[hsmamato2]

IDK I like to leave early on trips...since I am usually a bit anxious about details and can't sleep well anyway....I'd go with the earlier flight....I always pick an early one if I can..(my next flight I'm taking leaves at 5:30 a.m.) I like having the day to do things when I arrive somewhere....

 

[Minniekins]

If we get to the Midway parking lot by 4:40am, then we are usually checked in and through security by 5am. The plane starts to load around 5:25am. It usually closes its doors and pulls out on time. The flight is always full. There are always some children on the flight but during the school year it is not a lot.

Okay, that's sounds great! Thanks for the info on loading times, didn't think it was that early but I guess i don't usually pay that close attention. Always gull, huh? I thought maybe so early it wouldn't be. Do you recall, when you usually get to Orlando? Like 9:30? Thanks for your help!

Don't cut it too close though. It seems that it's those times that you have everything planned to the minute, is when 'something' happens. It could be an accident on the highway...yes, even at that time of morning. Or a parking issue. Just plan for an addtl 30 mins or so....if you're early, terrific. But that's sooooo much better than sitting on the highway, held up, watching the time tick away!!! Been there, done that..it isn't much fun.

Yes, goofy4tink, you are right! That's exactly what I was saying to DD24, exactly, lol! Some people are getting out to work then, and there's still plenty of traffic even if it's not super busy yet. I figure if we leave at like 3:30 we should be able to be there by around 4:30. Thanks for all your thoughts, very helpful!

 

[Minniekins]

Okay, so I just went and did it, switched us to the early flight at 6 a.m.! Omg, that's so early, I'm tired already! Lol, thanks all, for helping me to decide and do it! More Disney fun for us!

 

[Wood Nymph]

Do you recall, when you usually get to Orlando? Like 9:30? Thanks for your help!

The plane usually lands around 9:30am. We always take the Magical Express and usually get to the resort by 11am, sometimes earlier.

 

[macraven]

once you start doing the early, first flight out, you'll love it.
no traffic on the way to the airport.
sw counter check in goes quick for your luggage.
a few places open for coffee, food.
one hour getting up earlier will be a piece of cake.

i mean, who really sleeps well the night before a flight out to orlando.....?

and you'll be at the motherland early and all checked in when the parks still at the morning hours.

 

[Minniekins]

The plane usually lands around 9:30am. We always take the Magical Express and usually get to the resort by 11am, sometimes earlier.

Oh, excellent, that's so good to hear - hopefully we'll be as lucky! I'm so glad we went ahead and switched. It's only an hour earlier but i feel like we picked up a bunch of time, lol!
Btw, I see in your sig that you are going for a trip today! Getting ready for the airport soon, if you are going early again, lol! Have an awesome trip and enjoy the BC! We'll be going there on Dec 3rd to BCV.

once you start doing the early, first flight out, you'll love it.
no traffic on the way to the airport.
sw counter check in goes quick for your luggage.
a few places open for coffee, food.
one hour getting up earlier will be a piece of cake.

i mean, who really sleeps well the night before a flight out to orlando.....?

and you'll be at the motherland early and all checked in when the parks still at the morning hours.

Hmm, well maybe, lol! Over the years we've moved from evening to afternoon and then morning. I thinK 8 is the earliest we've done before. You're right, I don't sleep too well the night before but that's cause I can hardly get to sleep with too much to do to get ready, no matter how I try to plan to be ready earlier. That's what i"m worried about this time. I really need to be ready a couple days ahead with work on the Tue night then work day on wed till 4. Hoping to try to get to bed by 6 or 7. Hopefully you are right about the piece of cake, lol! I only get up early two days a week, lol. I hate that feeling when your stomach is upset cause you didn't get enough sleep. I'm surprised DD24 is good with this, her attitude is usually that we shouldn't leave before 9 or 10, but probably cause it's a short trip. We are both excited so hopefully we get the early arrival we are hoping for!

Now I'm hoping that Pop may have a room ready for us at that time, that would be the best of luck instead of having to wait till we are back from the park.

 

[kydisneyfans]

I would have changed for the sole purpose of having the larger plane. We were on one of the newer ones on a SW flight from Vegas and the space difference is very noticeable. Sometimes the very first flights out are relatively empty. We had a SW flight from Midway on a Sunday morning where there were only 6 people beside my family and the crew on board.

 

[Minniekins]

I would have changed for the sole purpose of having the larger plane. We were on one of the newer ones on a SW flight from Vegas and the space difference is very noticeable. Sometimes the very first flights out are relatively empty. We had a SW flight from Midway on a Sunday morning where there were only 6 people beside my family and the crew on board.

Well, that will definitely be nice to have a more roomy plane! I didn't realize it was newer and that mich bigger. I hate when they are so small and you feel so crammed in and claustrophobic! And it'd be great if it had less people flying on the flight. Thanks for the heads up!