Southwest connecting flight with kids, please advise

[cheryterese]

The best rate I've found from Buffalo is $99. Unfortunately, it's a connecting so we'd have to change planes with the kids in Baltimore - 3 kids, 2 strollers, 3 car seats and a carry on each. When I check in the day before, would I get a boarding pass for each flight or just for the first leg? I want to be sure we can stay together (or at least one parent with one child and the other with two kids) on both legs. We'd only have a half hour for the connection. Thanks.

 

[Big Willie]

You receive Boarding Passes for both legs when you check-in. I fly through Bmore monthly and normally the tight connection is no problem. However, I'm not traveling with "3 kids, 2 strollers and 3 car seats". GOOD LUCK!

 

[crashbb]

How long is your layover?

Although you will get both sets of boarding passes, if the second plane is already boarding when you get there, you may be among the last to board.

ETA - sorry, I missed the fact that it was half an hour. Definitely cutting it close as (even if your first flight is on time), you'll definitely be boarding after it starts. So, even if you have all A boarding passes, you are unlikely to board with the As (and may miss family boarding). Making the flight isn't the issue so much (though, if your first flight is delayed it could be a problem), but getting seats together may be more difficult.

I like the advice about getting rid of some of the carseats.

 

[tjmw2727]

Yes you will get both boarding passes at T24!

If you get A boardng passes you can board with the A group otherwise you qualify for family boarding after the A group and before the B group.

Just a suggestion but your 6 and 4yo's should be fine in the aircraft seats without a carseat. Once my kids reached 4 they were fine with the seatbelt and actually much more comfortable.

Since your already outnumberd kids vs parents plus carryon items and such I would check the older children's carseats through if your renting a car or leave them home if your using DME.

 

[rwdavis2]

Yes you will get both boarding passes at T24!

If you get A boardng passes you can board with the A group otherwise you qualify for family boarding after the A group and before the B group.

Just a suggestion but your 6 and 4yo's should be fine in the aircraft seats without a carseat. Once my kids reached 4 they were fine with the seatbelt and actually much more comfortable.

Since your already outnumberd kids vs parents plus carryon items and such I would check the older children's carseats through if your renting a car or leave them home if your using DME.

I agree, check the car seats. 30 minutes is a very tight connection. It could take you 10+ minutes just to get off the first plane if you are sitting in the back and SW usually starts boarding about 30 minutes before take off. Good luck.
BD

 

[maxiesmom]

If you haven't yet purchased the tickets, my advice is DON"T!!!!

Half an hour is not hardly any time at all to get from one plane to the next. You will have to cross your fingers, and hope your first flight isn't delayed. And hope you are lucky enough to get seats towards the front of the plane. Sometimes it takes much longer than 10 minutes to get off of an airplane. If you are trapped in the back behind some slowpokes, you could be in trouble.

Especially traveling with little ones, I think a very short connection is a bad idea. You will have no time at all for a potty stop. And you will have to pretty much drag your kids thru the airport to get from one gate to the next. You may get lucky and have gates close to each other, but there is no way of knowing that for sure ahead of time.

I know the cheap flight sounds tempting, but I think it is a really bad idea.

 

[maxiesmom]

I have another concern, or maybe question is the better word for it. How does a family deal with 3 car seats when they have only 2 adults? I thought all car seats had to go in the seat next to the window.

OP--That would be another problem, placing your car seats on the plane if you are late to board. You would almost certainlly have to ask people to move so you can put your car seats by the window. I'm thinking that wouldn't win you many friends. Or be a comfortable thing to have to do, to have to boot someone out of their chosen window seat.

 

[crashbb]

I have another concern, or maybe question is the better word for it. How does a family deal with 3 car seats when they have only 2 adults? I thought all car seats had to go in the seat next to the window.

I'd have to look it up again, but I *think* that you are okay putting one in the window seat and one in the middle seat.

 

[nkereina]

Yes you will get boarding passes for both legs. I also fly out of Buffalo and changed in Baltimore on my trip to Orlando last April. My layover was about a half an hour and the gate I had to be at was right next to where we landed so we had ample time. I don't know if that's always the case, but I know in larger airports many of the larger airlines have their own terminals so all the planes are in the same general vicinity. If a half an hour layover was cutting it too close, the airlines would not allow it. They are not in the business of having unhappy customers and creating problems (although it may seem like it at times!). They also need to allot time to switch the baggage and evidently this is enough time for them. In the event your plane is late and the other flight is already boarding, I bet you'd be willing to find a nice person or people to switch with you so your kids can stay with you. The flight attendants will help with this also.

 

[BaysMom]

is there a reason you are taking 3 carseats? Do you plan to drive while down there?? They aren't needed on the plane, nor DME, nor travelling by bus between resorts.

 

[maxiesmom]

Yes you will get boarding passes for both legs. I also fly out of Buffalo and changed in Baltimore on my trip to Orlando last April. My layover was about a half an hour and the gate I had to be at was right next to where we landed so we had ample time. I don't know if that's always the case, but I know in larger airports many of the larger airlines have their own terminals so all the planes are in the same general vicinity. If a half an hour layover was cutting it too close, the airlines would not allow it. They are not in the business of having unhappy customers and creating problems (although it may seem like it at times!). They also need to allot time to switch the baggage and evidently this is enough time for them. In the event your plane is late and the other flight is already boarding, I bet you'd be willing to find a nice person or people to switch with you so your kids can stay with you. The flight attendants will help with this also.

Even though 30 minutes may be an acceptable connecting to the airlines, most people will tell you it is not a good idea! Too many variables involved that can make you late to the next flight. The airlines really don't care if you are put on a later flight. Once you have paid for your ticket, you are accepting them getting your from point A to B and that is pretty much it.

I have to say too that twice now when we have had very short connection times, or bags haven't made it home on the same plane. 30 minutes connecting just isn't a good idea, no matter what the airlines allow.

 

[cheryterese]

is there a reason you are taking 3 carseats? Do you plan to drive while down there?? They aren't needed on the plane, nor DME, nor travelling by bus between resorts.

Yes - we are staying offsite and renting a minivan.

 

[mom2brooke76]

No way would I try this with my one child (who is only 6, but flies about 12 times a year and knows the drill), let alone 3! You have to realize that part of that 30 minute connection will involve you being stuck on the plane waiting for them to open the door, get your bags, undo your car seats, wait behind people, etc, and that can take at least 5 minutes, and that's if you're lucky! And kids that age will most likely need to potty. Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[jillianml]

We flew last year with a layover in baltimore and it was an easy airport to get around in.However what I didnt plan on was that my child would be airsick!Granted we flew through some storms and it was a wavy ride felt like we were on a boat!Lesson learned and we fly out tomorrow and are doing direct flights it may cost a little more but I will save money in the end because I wont have to spend money at the layover airport!Good luck to you with whatever you decide to do and remember to remind your self if things dont go well.Who cares we are at Disney!!

 

[cheryterese]

We've decided against it. Thanks DIS friends for bringing me to my senses!