Quick Poll: Long Layover vs Multiple Stops

[kristenrice]

We (2 adults, no kids) are currently booked on itinerary #1. If the price is right, we may opt to switch to itinerary #2. These options are both on SWA so no change fees.

A few bits of other info...
...Our WDW reservation starts the day AFTER we arrive so we have a room at the airport Hyatt reserved for our arrival...
...We live within 15 minutes of our departing airport so travel time to the (smallish) airport is not a concern...
...We both have the day off of work so there is no schedule conflict there...
...The difference in total travel time is only 20 minutes (longer for Itinerary #2)

Itinerary #1

Depart Grand Rapids at 5:00pm and fly to Chicago-Midway, arriving at 5:00pm (1 hour flight + 1 hour time change = depart and arrive at the same time). The flight to Orlando does not depart until 7:50pm and arrives at 11:15pm.

Itinerary #2:

Depart Grand Rapids at 11:15am and goes to Baltimore, stopping with no plane change, and then continuing on to Atlanta, landing at 3:20pm. The flight to Orlando is at 4:35pm and lands at 6:00pm.

Please vote and throw me your thoughts. I have rarely flown anything but non-stop and I didn't have the smoothest experiences with layovers and plane changes. Unfortunately, SWA has no non-stop flights to Orlando in October this year so we are stuck with stops.

 

[sam_gordon]

Two stops for me. The deciding factor is arrival time. I'd rather get in at 6pm, collect luggage, have a decent dinner and get a good night's sleep. I'd even consider adding a night at WDW and go to DS. An 11:15pm arrival means getting to bed around 1am (collect luggage, check in to hotel, change clothes, etc).

 

[Sandi]

I'm with @sam_gordon on this one. Normally I would choose fewer connections, but getting to the final destination earlier is paramount.

 

[pigletto]

I disagree with above. Atlanta airport is a zoo, and even though your connection time is adequate (1 hr 15 minutes), anything going wrong with the first flight could cause you to scramble. I've run Atlanta airport before when we had a one hour connection that ended up being shorter and our connection seemed like it was in another city it was so far away. Never again.
Three hours allows me to grab dinner and be relaxed. I don't think getting there earlier matters when you're staying at the Hyatt in the airport and your WDW reservation doesn't start until the next day. Unless you are planning to rope drop a park that morning which you don't seem to be.
Layover gets my vote.

 

[kristenrice]

Two stops for me. The deciding factor is arrival time. I'd rather get in at 6pm, collect luggage, have a decent dinner and get a good night's sleep. I'd even consider adding a night at WDW and go to DS. An 11:15pm arrival means getting to bed around 1am (collect luggage, check in to hotel, change clothes, etc).

Actually, I am paranoid about losing checked baggage with a plane change so I am planning to just take my carry-on. We should be able to head straight up to the hotel as soon as we get off the plane.

I disagree with above. Atlanta airport is a zoo, and even though your connection time is adequate (1 hr 15 minutes), anything going wrong with the first flight could cause you to scramble. I've run Atlanta airport before when we had a one hour connection that ended up being shorter and our connection seemed like it was in another city it was so far away. Never again.
Three hours allows me to grab dinner and be relaxed. I don't think getting there earlier matters when you're staying at the Hyatt in the airport and your WDW reservation doesn't start until the next day. Unless you are planning to rope drop a park that morning which you don't seem to be.
Layover gets my vote.

No plans for a rope drop. In fact, our first business will be our lunch ADR at Sanaa at 11:30am. Since we are staying at AKV, I plan to be at the DME line by 9am.

 

[gillep]

I have had way too many things go wrong with connections to ever take more than one domestically. I have even had mechanical issues pop up on a connecting flight, when it wasn't even supposed to be a plane change, and I had to disembark and wait for a couple hours in that airport until it was resolved.

 

[Gracie09]

One connection. Too many things can go wrong with multiple connections.

Find a restaurant at the airport. Have dinner and a drink or two and board flight got number two

 

[dreiwhit]

When I used to fly for business, I would always try to plan a 2 to 3 hour layover instead of relying on multiple stops. I'm trying to allow for the unknowns, like weather delays or other flight delays. Plus, most bigger airports have turned into zoos, especially Atlanta, so I want to have plenty of time so that I don't have to hurry. I would also plan to eat lunch (or breakfast or dinner) during that time, as well as look in the airport bookstores.

 

[meowser]

More flights = more opportunity for delays and other travel problems.

If this is for summer, I try to avoid Atlanta in the summer - especially in the afternoon. I'd rather avoid any disruptions caused by afternoon thunderstorms.

 

[nacho113]

We (2 adults, no kids) are currently booked on itinerary #1. If the price is right, we may opt to switch to itinerary #2. These options are both on SWA so no change fees.

A few bits of other info...
...Our WDW reservation starts the day AFTER we arrive so we have a room at the airport Hyatt reserved for our arrival...
...We live within 15 minutes of our departing airport so travel time to the (smallish) airport is not a concern...
...We both have the day off of work so there is no schedule conflict there...
...The difference in total travel time is only 20 minutes (longer for Itinerary #2)

Itinerary #1

Depart Grand Rapids at 5:00pm and fly to Chicago-Midway, arriving at 5:00pm (1 hour flight + 1 hour time change = depart and arrive at the same time). The flight to Orlando does not depart until 7:50pm and arrives at 11:15pm.

Itinerary #2:

Depart Grand Rapids at 11:15am and goes to Baltimore, stopping with no plane change, and then continuing on to Atlanta, landing at 3:20pm. The flight to Orlando is at 4:35pm and lands at 6:00pm.

Please vote and throw me your thoughts. I have rarely flown anything but non-stop and I didn't have the smoothest experiences with layovers and plane changes. Unfortunately, SWA has no non-stop flights to Orlando in October this year so we are stuck with stops.

WOW, tough choice.
Personally the less stops the better and a 3 hour layover gives you a built in cushion in case of flight delays etc, but arriving at 11:15PM...YUCK!

An hour layover in Atlanta could be a tight squeeze and doesn't leave any room for error on your incoming connecting flights (and you have 2 legs of the flight where you could get delayed). On the plus side, arriving at supper time is a much nicer way to start the vacation.

I don't envy your choice here.

My vote is for the 1 stop and the late arrival, less chance of a missed connection.

Coming in from Canada, we always look at our travel day as a write-off anyway.
We usually get a 5AM or 6AM flight with a 2-4 hour layover in Toronto, arriving MCO mid afternoon and then we are toast from having to get up at 2AM to get to the airport. So our day is usually an early supper and early bed to get caught up on the lost sleep from the day.

OR we get an early afternoon flight (with 2-3 hour layover) and then end up in MCO at 10-11PM but we are not dead tired because we woke up at a normal time.

 

[ToddyLu]

I voted for #1 because of ATL...nope an hour just isn't good there...ever.

 

[Spencer Wright]

One caution if you are not aware is that Atlanta is massive!! I believe it is now one of the world's busiest by passenger traffic. Due to a late flight, to make my connection I ran from terminal A to terminal C and got there but was almost sick from the run. I'm a regular runner and that took 20 intense minutes.

It was my first time to the Caribbean so I was not gonna miss my connection!!

This was with running shoes on and no children or luggage or anything.

 

[sam_gordon]

All those worrying about Atlanta, keep in mind the OP is flying SW which only utilizes a single concourse (and maybe even a part of one).

 

[Kaytie]

Option 1. The fewer take-offs and landings, the better.

 

[kristenrice]

I'm glad the majority vote is for the plan that we already have booked. The price on Option #2 has not dropped into an "acceptable" range yet. I am booked on points, but my friend paid cash. We are only willing to change if it will cost less than $30. The biggest advantage (other than the price) is that once we land, we can get straight to bed and not have any additional sitting around to do. I also like the fact that there will be fewer take offs and landings since I have some chronic sinus issues that can be aggravated by the pressure changes.

There are two reasons that we'd want to change and both involve a lot of sitting around. First, we'd be "sitting around" at home all day, watching the clock, waiting until it is time to leave for the airport. Then, we'd land in Chicago and be sitting around for another 2.5 hours...waiting! With option #2, we'd get up in the morning, head to the airport, and start the trip. Our layover would be long enough for a snack grab and a potty break. Once we land, we'd have time to enjoy all that the Hyatt has to offer...the viewing deck, maybe the pool, and a drink or two in the lounge. It would also allow us to get to sleep at an earlier hour, allowing us to get up earlier in the morning, thus arriving at WDW earlier.

I'm still going to keep an eye on that earlier flight. We initially paid about $150 and it's up to $211 right now. I saw it as low as $158 but I don't know if it will go down at this point. The flight we are booked on dropped to $123 so I got my points refunded, but my friend didn't bother getting a credit since she has no plans to fly before the credit expired.

 

[Day-Day]

SWA in Atlanta should have all the gates nearby.

Arriving after 11pm is a pain but staying at the airport Hyatt makes this not so bad. I pick option #1 with fewer flights.

 

[Lvdisfan]

Every connection you make relies on the connecting flight to be close to on time. We have often been delayed on non-stops because the plane we were getting on hadn't arrived from a previous flight, or the flight crew hadn't arrived from another flight. Every connection increases the chances of delays exponentially. (and avoid Atlanta airport like the plague unless your flight originates there)

 

[Farro]

Option 1. The fewer take-offs and landings, the better.

I was just going to say this!

I hate taking off. I fly non-stop whenever I can. Sadly it's not possible for all destinations (especially the islands) so I will only do one stop.

First option OP! And Midway is much nicer to kill time in than it used to be.

 

[Minnesota!]

I don't mind long layovers at decent airports (did 3.5 hours at STL a few days ago - that place BLOWS!), but the deciding factor here was an earlier arrival. I would do that one.