Southwest 55 min lay over

[Jasperann]

I just booked our return flights for our trip in December through Southwest. It is a late night flight and will arrive at Atlanta at 950pm. Our connecting flight is at 1045pm on SW still. With it being that late at night is that going to be enough time to get to the next gate? I've read that the gates for SW are typically close to each other. But I'd hate to miss the flight home.

 

[writerguyfl]

Southwest uses about half of Concourse C at Atlanta International Airport (ATL). For reference, there are seven concourses at ATL. Using the "Measure Distance" tool on Bing Maps, it looks like the farthest you'd have to walk is about 1,100 feet (340 meters). For comparison, that's about the same distance as Main Street Train Station to Cinderella's Castle at Magic Kingdom.

As far as connections go, 55 minutes at a busy airport like ATL is reasonable. If your flight out of Orlando is on time or even 10-20 minutes late, you should be just fine.

 

[OKW Lover]

Connecting to another SW flight at ATL is very, very easy. Its a short walk to any of the other SW gates there. You will not have to change concourses. Just a simple walk from one gate to another.

 

[Jasperann]

Southwest uses about half of Concourse C at Atlanta International Airport (ATL). For reference, there are seven concourses at ATL. Using the "Measure Distance" tool on Bing Maps, it looks like the farthest you'd have to walk is about 1,100 feet (340 meters). For comparison, that's about the same distance as Main Street Train Station to Cinderella's Castle at Magic Kingdom.

As far as connections go, 55 minutes at a busy airport like ATL is reasonable. If your flight out of Orlando is on time or even 10-20 minutes late, you should be just fine.

That is not very far at all!! We are not worried about sitting next to each other, but planning on doing Early Bird Check in to be near the front on the first plane.

Connecting to another SW flight at ATL is very, very easy. Its a short walk to any of the other SW gates there. You will not have to change concourses. Just a simple walk from one gate to another.

Thank you!! I've been worried I've made a horrible mistake with the 55 min lay over option... it was just hard to pass up 3 more hours in Disney...lol

 

[Jimsig]

Airlines have a min connection time at each airport and won't let you book a flight that does not meet it and it can vary by airline at each airport That's why you might see a SW flight that lands at 1030a in ATL and even though their is a 1050a flight to your destination you are not able to book it. The connection time at ATL for SW COULD be say 35min, bit for Delta the min time might be say 65 min as they use multiple concourse. The last thing an airline want's is to have to rebook psgrs on later flights when it can be helped or worse yet like in your case have to not only rebook but pay for hotels when it's not a weather delay.

So if SW is allowing you to book it they figure normally you will make it.

 

[DizneyMommy]

But your first flight could be delayed. This happened to us on the way home from DC last year. We only had 45 minutes and then the flight crew didn’t show up to work of all things! They had a scheduling issue and had to wait for another crew - there was no pilot. We landed right as our connection was taxing away from the gate, and then had to wait 4 hours for the next flight home.

 

[scrapquitler]

I just booked our return flights for our trip in December through Southwest. It is a late night flight and will arrive at Atlanta at 950pm. Our connecting flight is at 1045pm on SW still. With it being that late at night is that going to be enough time to get to the next gate? I've read that the gates for SW are typically close to each other. But I'd hate to miss the flight home.

I wouldn't worry. If it's close and you have a connection, they will often hold the flight for you to get there if there's a problem because they KNOW you have the connection.

 

[Jasperann]

But your first flight could be delayed. This happened to us on the way home from DC last year. We only had 45 minutes and then the flight crew didn’t show up to work of all things! They had a scheduling issue and had to wait for another crew - there was no pilot. We landed right as our connection was taxing away from the gate, and then had to wait 4 hours for the next flight home.

We would be waiting till morning. Our flight lands at 9:50pm in ATL and the flight out is the last one out at 10:50pm to DTW

 

[DizneyMommy]

We would be waiting till morning. Our flight lands at 9:50pm in ATL and the flight out is the last one out at 10:50pm to DTW

That’s what would worry me! I’ve missed connections more than once, this last time sucked because it was with 3 very tired cranky kids.
And they do NOT hold your connecting flight unless a large portion of the plane is also connecting. I’ve never had a connection held for me

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Just remember they start boarding 30 minutes before your actual flight time. So depending on how long it takes you to get off your arriving flight you might have to hussle.

 

[Allison]

That’s what would worry me! I’ve missed connections more than once, this last time sucked because it was with 3 very tired cranky kids.
And they do NOT hold your connecting flight unless a large portion of the plane is also connecting. I’ve never had a connection held for me

I have had Southwest do it for me. There were 2 of us and they waited for us to get there and closed the door behind us. They knew we were on the way.

 

[Jasperann]

That’s what would worry me! I’ve missed connections more than once, this last time sucked because it was with 3 very tired cranky kids.
And they do NOT hold your connecting flight unless a large portion of the plane is also connecting. I’ve never had a connection held for me

I do think that a larger portion will be connecting. There is an earlier flight from MCO that connects to the same flight. But the lay over is 2 hours and 45 mins. I imagine since there are no direct flights on Southwest to DTW from MCO that a lot of people that want the perks of two bags would be also on that flight. I know the price for our flight went up over 80.00 in 3 hours after purchasing it. And the other one is up 50.00 from our purchase price. So I think we are just going to brave it out. Because +300.00 for an earlier flight is a little much for us. I could do a dessert party for that amount.

 

[sam_gordon]

What you don't say is if anyone in your party has any mobility issues (walker, cane, wheelchair, stroller, etc). That could affect how long it takes to make a connection.

I also don't put a lot of stock in "the airline says it's a legal connection, so it must be fine".

Personally, I would have no problem with a 55 minute connection in Atlanta with Delta, so SW would be a breeze. But everyone is different.

 

[writerguyfl]

The connection time at ATL for SW COULD be say 35min, bit for Delta the min time might be say 65 min as they use multiple concourse.

Believe it or not, the minimum connection time for Delta at ATL is 35 minutes. That's for Domestic to Domestic connections. The exception is if you are arriving on a widebody (Airbus 330, Boeing 777), the minimum connection time is 50 minutes. Those widebody planes aren't too common for domestic flights. Although, I believe routes like Honolulu to Atlanta use them.

All of the big airlines have hub operations running like well-oiled machines. The Airport Operations teams plan flights so that the most popular combinations are grouped in the same terminals.

That said, minimum connection times aren't the same as sensible connection times. But, it makes sense for airlines like Delta to allow the shortest connections possible because their core customers (business travelers who usually avoid checking bags) want it that way.

 

[motherof5]

Didn't topic, hope no one minds me asking but does it seem like SW has less direct flights then in the past? I booked yesterday for my Nov trip and only had 3 options to choose, really early in the am, midday (more expensive) and really late. Arrive home at 11:40!

 

[motherof5]

I love southwest and it being reasonable flights, just wish I had more travel options from MA to Orlando.

 

[Jimsig]

Believe it or not, the minimum connection time for Delta at ATL is 35 minutes. That's for Domestic to Domestic connections. The exception is if you are arriving on a widebody (Airbus 330, Boeing 777), the minimum connection time is 50 minutes. Those widebody planes aren't too common for domestic flights. Although, I believe routes like Honolulu to Atlanta use them.

All of the big airlines have hub operations running like well-oiled machines. The Airport Operations teams plan flights so that the most popular combinations are grouped in the same terminals.

That said, minimum connection times aren't the same as sensible connection times. But, it makes sense for airlines like Delta to allow the shortest connections possible because their core customers (business travelers who usually avoid checking bags) want it that way.

WOW! I can't believe it's that short there for Delta. I would have guessed 45 min. It's been years since I flew Delta so I couldn't remember how my connection times were, but usually when I did connect it was from there I was heading to/from BOS-Gainesville FLA so I was going from/to a big plane to a regional jet/prop job and always had to change terminals it seemed. But like I said they don't want to have to go through the hassle of re-booking a lot of passengers, so they must be doing something right.

 

[keishashadow]

We’ve connected from MCO a handful of times when booking a last minute trip and that’s all that waS affordable.

Wouldn’t want to do it on last flight out with less than an hour layover. We’ve missed our connection twice, were rescheduled on next (last) flight out.

Especially, in the summer months, storms delay departure often for evening flights from MCO.

As for buying EBIC, the plane may already have passengers on it who will move up to front of plane. Check the schedule, probably can figure out where that flight is originating from looking at options into your home airport.

Good luck OP

 

[kristenrice]

We’ve connected from MCO a handful of times when booking a last minute trip and that’s all that waS affordable.

Wouldn’t want to do it on last flight out with less than an hour layover. We’ve missed our connection twice, were rescheduled on next (last) flight out.

Especially, in the summer months, storms delay departure often for evening flights from MCO.

As for buying EBIC, the plane may already have passengers on it who will move up to front of plane. Check the schedule, probably can figure out where that flight is originating from looking at options into your home airport.

Good luck OP

I have a question about the benefit of buying EBCI with a short connection...

If you are getting on a plane that is already half-full, I understand that it would be in your best interest to have the earliest boarding position as possible since your seat selection will already be limited. In that case, it makes sense to buy EBCI. On the other hand, if there is the possibility that you are going to be hustling to make your connection and may not make it to line up in time to board with the A-group, or maybe not even the early B group, would it be better just to save the money and check in at T-24? I'm just curious...my layover is 2 hours in Chicago...I don't have to hustle.

 

[keishashadow]

I have a question about the benefit of buying EBCI with a short connection...

If you are getting on a plane that is already half-full, I understand that it would be in your best interest to have the earliest boarding position as possible since your seat selection will already be limited. In that case, it makes sense to buy EBCI. On the other hand, if there is the possibility that you are going to be hustling to make your connection and may not make it to line up in time to board with the A-group, or maybe not even the early B group, would it be better just to save the money and check in at T-24? I'm just curious...my layover is 2 hours in Chicago...I don't have to hustle.

couldn’t say as it really depends on how full flight is which varies on season/day/even time of day as well as that particular market.

Only have connected thru MDW once. Was delayed 8+ hours due to weather, happy we eventually did get to Seattle and fight wasn’t cancelled outright!

If you have kids and want to sit by them, then I’d buy EBIC and hope for the best. Otherwise, i’d Head for back of plane, never an issue for us to find 2 seats together as long as we check in T-24.