Southwest -- NonStop Vs Plane Change?

[VillainFavs]

Third week of August trip from Providence. Wasn't able to book right away and fares have been CRAZY lately. Was just able to get a really good price for the trip down--not my ideal time, but it's okay. But flights coming back are still over $200 per person for the non-stops. With four of us, that's not happening. Even trying to be a little flexible and looking at morning/night, a day ahead or back. Nothing.

So I went ahead and booked a flight that has one stop in Baltimore. There's about a 2-hour gap with a change of planes. How bad is this going to be? I did do EBCI. Will that count on both flights? I booked it now so I should have a fairly early number, right? Will I get pretty much the same one for both parts?

My hope is that the return flights fall back down at some point and I can re-book to something better. But I was afraid of not getting anything at all at a reasonable price so took something as sort of a backup at this point. We've never done anything other than non-stop.

Please assure me it's not going to be horrible!

 

[Jestocost]

While I prefer non-stops and we don't usually see big savings with connecting flights out of our airport, if it saves you a meaningful amount of money then I think it's a good option. Changing planes is a bit of a hassle but with a two-hour connection you should have plenty of time even if your initial flight is delayed.

Your EBCI will apply to both legs of the flight and, in fact, you will be checked in for your second flight 36 hours ahead of your original flight, giving you a leg up on those who are starting their travels at BWI. Of course BWI is a big connection point for SWA so there likely will be some people continuing on the flight you are boarding there and others who are connecting from elsewhere and will have been checked in based on their original flight time like you will be.

Overall, you have a good chance of getting decent boarding numbers for your BWI-PVD flight and the connection should be fine.

 

[VillainFavs]

I was able to get $108 for the connecting flight or it was going to be $217 for the direct. And that's times 4 people. I know in reality it comes down to only $400 but the principle of it being TWICE as much! And I've never paid more than $150 each way--usually more in the $120 or so range. Going over $200 is just a sticker shock for me!

 

[rwdavis2]

You will have no problems in Baltimore unless the arrival is very, very late. The Southwest terminals are right next to each other. I would guess your connecting plane to PVD originates at BWI to you should be fine there as well.

 

[kristenrice]

On a related note, how bad is a 70-minute connection at MDW on a Friday night? I believe it is a 7:20pm arrival and an 8:30pm departure...last flight of the night to Orlando. This is in October if that makes a difference.

Also, I will be doing a flight "change" with a flight I've already purchased EBCI for. Will my "place in line" be determined by when I originally purchased EBCI or when I changed to the new flight?

 

[Jestocost]

On a related note, how bad is a 70-minute connection at MDW on a Friday night? I believe it is a 7:20pm arrival and an 8:30pm departure...last flight of the night to Orlando. This is in October if that makes a difference.

Also, I will be doing a flight "change" with a flight I've already purchased EBCI for. Will my "place in line" be determined by when I originally purchased EBCI or when I changed to the new flight?

I'd do that change at MDW without much concern if there were no other options and I was travelling alone or with a group that would not present any problems with moving quickly. At MDW you can have quite a haul from one gate or another if you're not lucky. It's still doable with small kids or whatever under most circumstances, but it may be somewhat stressful. I really prefer a 1.5-2 hour connection but will do as little as an hour (or even 45 minutes) if there are no other options or the only other choices are 4+ hour layovers.

I think the answer about your EBCI question is somewhat murky.

 

[kristenrice]

I'd do that change at MDW without much concern if there were no other options and I was travelling alone or with a group that would not present any problems with moving quickly. At MDW you can have quite a haul from one gate or another if you're not lucky. It's still doable with small kids or whatever under most circumstances, but it may be somewhat stressful. I really prefer a 1.5-2 hour connection but will do as little as an hour (or even 45 minutes) if there are no other options or the only other choices are 4+ hour layovers.

I think the answer about your EBCI question is somewhat murky.

Thanks...that gives me reassurance. The kids are 13 and 11 so they can manage by themselves.

 

[Roxyfire]

I'd do that change at MDW without much concern if there were no other options and I was travelling alone or with a group that would not present any problems with moving quickly. At MDW you can have quite a haul from one gate or another if you're not lucky. It's still doable with small kids or whatever under most circumstances, but it may be somewhat stressful. I really prefer a 1.5-2 hour connection but will do as little as an hour (or even 45 minutes) if there are no other options or the only other choices are 4+ hour layovers.

I think the answer about your EBCI question is somewhat murky.

Heh the problem with MDW is usually the security line. On a connecting flight you should be pretty ok. It's not nearly as big or busy as ORD.

 

[JessM]

A stop in BIW on SW is no big deal. I frequently fly SW from Portland, ME so I always have a connection. BIW is easy to navigate, especially with 2 hours between flights. They have a decent food court and a few good restaurants to chose from.

 

[VillainFavs]

A stop in BIW on SW is no big deal. I frequently fly SW from Portland, ME so I always have a connection. BIW is easy to navigate, especially with 2 hours between flights. They have a decent food court and a few good restaurants to chose from.

That's kind of what I was hoping. It would be right at lunch time. So grab a bite, make the connection, not a big deal. I really dislike the idea of making a 3-hour flight into 5 hours, but trying to make the best of it! Or maybe I'll end up just sucking it up and paying the higher price!

 

[quagmire0]

MDW, as far as bigger airports go, is fairly small. I don't think you'd have any issues traversing that in over an hour. A two hour connection anywhere should be plenty of time. Places you worry about would be a major hub like Atlanta. I had one layover there where they were boarding the last people as I ran up.

 

[DVC-Don]

Changes in Baltimore are easy for me. There is a wine bar there!

 

[auger]

Been thru Baltimore before with our young grandkids in tow. No problems at all. We actually like routing thru there.
The only connecting flight we ever had issues with was because there was not enough layover time to account for a delay in the first flight.
They had to hold the connecting flight, and our first flight was only about 15-20 minutes late.
We lost our boarding positions, because everyone else had already boarded.

 

[staceyj2]

I was able to get $108 for the connecting flight or it was going to be $217 for the direct. And that's times 4 people. I know in reality it comes down to only $400 but the principle of it being TWICE as much! And I've never paid more than $150 each way--usually more in the $120 or so range. Going over $200 is just a sticker shock for me!

I was in the same boat for May but flying from Kansas City. I finally booked flights that were around $280 RT (most I had ever paid previously was $200). I was going to have to make a quick plane change in St. Louis on outbound and return. I ended up re-booking for flights into Tampa (just posted about this in another thread) when I found flights for $180 that were non-stop. I am finding out from posters on the other thread that as long as I avoid heavy traffic times, the drive shouldn't be too bad.

 

[Minnesota!]

On a related note, how bad is a 70-minute connection at MDW on a Friday night? I believe it is a 7:20pm arrival and an 8:30pm departure...last flight of the night to Orlando. This is in October if that makes a difference.

Also, I will be doing a flight "change" with a flight I've already purchased EBCI for. Will my "place in line" be determined by when I originally purchased EBCI or when I changed to the new flight?

I like MDW - keep hoping that for my June flight, the one that goes through MDW lowers in price and I will switch to it. I am very familiar with that airport and am comfortable with it.

Currently we are flying through STL....under an hour connection...anyone foresee any huge issues? It was there, BWI, or ATL (which..NO!).

 

[Jestocost]

I like MDW - keep hoping that for my June flight, the one that goes through MDW lowers in price and I will switch to it. I am very familiar with that airport and am comfortable with it.

Currently we are flying through STL....under an hour connection...anyone foresee any huge issues? It was there, BWI, or ATL (which..NO!).

All of the SWA gates in STL are within eye shot of each other (with the exception of a couple that were recently opened) with no more than a 5-10 minute walk between them, so I would not anticipate any issues.

 

[keishashadow]

Third week of August trip from Providence. Wasn't able to book right away and fares have been CRAZY lately. Was just able to get a really good price for the trip down--not my ideal time, but it's okay. But flights coming back are still over $200 per person for the non-stops. With four of us, that's not happening. Even trying to be a little flexible and looking at morning/night, a day ahead or back. Nothing.

So I went ahead and booked a flight that has one stop in Baltimore. There's about a 2-hour gap with a change of planes. How bad is this going to be? I did do EBCI. Will that count on both flights? I booked it now so I should have a fairly early number, right? Will I get pretty much the same one for both parts?

My hope is that the return flights fall back down at some point and I can re-book to something better. But I was afraid of not getting anything at all at a reasonable price so took something as sort of a backup at this point. We've never done anything other than non-stop.

Please assure me it's not going to be horrible!

other than international flights & connecting to SWA (have to walk the entire terminal - yuck), BWI is easy to navigate.

MDW doesn't like us, every time we connect there have experienced a long delay. Once on a flight with no change wherein we were picking up other travelers.

when booking a connecting flight I do try select an airport (even ATL lol) that isn't the last flight out of the day & that has other connections that will be arriving at my final destination jik...at least an option to rebook and get home same day.

 

[quagmire0]

Changes in Baltimore are easy for me. There is a wine bar there!

See, to me, that would make it HARDER (to make it to my next flight).

 

[Minnesota!]

All of the SWA gates in STL are within eye shot of each other (with the exception of a couple that were recently opened) with no more than a 5-10 minute walk between them, so I would not anticipate any issues.

Yeah! I looked at the terminal map and it kind of looked straight forward, but it's hard to say until you have ever been there. I will be solo-ing it with my kids, so I think that just adds a little worry... one of them will, without a doubt, decide that is the day to get stomach issues.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I was able to get $108 for the connecting flight or it was going to be $217 for the direct. ......

You are confusing a direct flight (which is what you have), with a nonstop flight.