Southwest Question

[Ohiodislover]

I fly SW several times per year. However I always have non-stop flights so this has never been an issue.

How do you line up for the 2nd leg of the flight. I know you can purchase the early bird check-in, however we only have 25 minutes between the 2 flights. Chances are, they will already be boarding while we are getting to the next gate, so I think this would be pointless.

It will be me, and my 2 DDs. Sometimes they get clingy on flights, and insist on sitting together. OTOH, after 8 days of vacation, we may need the welcomed break from one another

Thanks for any info

 

[Singledad]

are you switching planes? or is it just a stop-over?

 

[Ohiodislover]

are you switching planes? or is it just a stop-over?

Oops, not clear----Switching planes.

 

[DMRick]

When you get the boarding pass for the first part of your flight, since you are switching planes, the boarding pass for the second flight will also come up on the computer..so you will know where your spot is. If they are already boarding and are past your number, you just walk up to the front and tell the person collecting the boarding passes that you just got off another flight, and they'll let you be next.

 

[Singledad]

.. someone answered better than me before I posted.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I would recommend that on your first flight that you sit close to the front of the plane. Since you have only 25 minutes to catch your next flight every minute counts.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

You can inquire at that gate for your connection but they may be busy helping customers so you can check the depart screens.

As stated by a PP when you go to the gate if they have already called you boarding section you can go ahead and board the plane.

in the past when switching planes you check in at the gate. when you exit the 1st plane you ask (or sometimes they anticipate and tell you) where your connection gate is at. then you head directly over there and check in!

then again, i've not flown anything but non-stop in years, so don't know how they do seating priority when you are coming from a connection.

anyone else know?

 

[Ohiodislover]

I would recommend that on your first flight that you sit close to the front of the plane. Since you have only 25 minutes to catch your next flight every minute counts.

Good Point

This is why I usually only fly nonstop. The flights were so high, and I was trying to save a bit.

 

[duffy]

We have a flight next month with a 25-minute connection. I plan to add Early Bird Check In to the first leg, from Salt Lake City to Midway, so that we can get seats as close to the front as possible. That way, we have a better chance of sitting as close to the front as possible.

We want to get off the plane in Midway as quickly as possible so we can get to the gate for the second leg of the trip as soon as possible.

There's 3 of us, my husband and I and our 15-year old. We don't need to sit together so much as we need to be close to the front on that first half, to get off FAST. I'll probably buy the Early Bird for 2 of us, either me or my husband, and our daughter. Hopefully, they can get a window and an aisle seat and save the middle seat for the 3rd in our group.

Forgot to add: once we get to the gate for the second leg, I don't really care where we sit, as long as we get there in time!!

 

[Singledad]

We have a flight next month with a 25-minute connection. I plan to add Early Bird Check In to the first leg, from Salt Lake City to Midway,....

at least it is Midway! Smaller airport, most of SW is in the same little corner. and even if you *had* to randomly run across the whole airport, you still would make it.

 

[duffy]

Thanks for the reassurance.

 

[tanker]

at least it is Midway! Smaller airport, most of SW is in the same little corner. and even if you *had* to randomly run across the whole airport, you still would make it.

While Midway airport is small Midway is tied with Las Vegas as the largest Southwest airport with over 200 flights a day so the terminals cover a large area. Southwest has 2 terminals (A & B) that share the same security, so you don't have to reclear security to go from one terminal to the other. If you have to go from Gate A-19 to Gate B-17 it could take 20 minutes.

 

[poohbear2]

I have the same situation for flights next week. I am changing planes in Baltimore and I am worried about making the connection. When Ibooked I didn't realize the connection time was only 25 minutes. I am more concerned for my elderly mom. I looked to see what this past weeks gates where and the plane lands at gate A3 and the other flight leaves from B12. I am not too familiar with BWI but I am thinking the gates are far apart. UGG.

 

[tanker]

I have the same situation for flights next week. I am changing planes in Baltimore and I am worried about making the connection. When Ibooked I didn't realize the connection time was only 25 minutes. I am more concerned for my elderly mom. I looked to see what this past weeks gates where and the plane lands at gate A3 and the other flight leaves from B12. I am not too familiar with BWI but I am thinking the gates are far apart. UGG.

Gate A3 in BWI is close to where the A & B Terminals are joined, while B12 is about 1/2 way down the B Terminal. That being said it is about a 10-15 minute walk. Since your Mom is elderly you may want to look into having a Skycap with a wheel chair to bring you and your Mom between gates.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

When Ibooked I didn't realize the connection time was only 25 minutes. I am more concerned for my elderly mom.

That is a tight connection for someone who cannot walk very fast, especially considering that the connecting flight will be likely be boarding even before you land. Also, even if your first flight lands on time, the 25 minutes is deceiving, because you will need time to get off the flight, which could take 10 minutes or more, depending on how fast people move and how long it takes to get to the gate after landing. I would be seriously looking at a flight with a longer connection time or non-stop (if available).

I am not too familiar with BWI but I am thinking the gates are far apart. UGG.

All airport websites include maps. You might want to check out BWI's.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

as someone with walking problems and at BWI, i would look at getting longer time on ground. could take all most all time to get to other gate and if i remember right i do not think they are taken off first might have to wait until last. will need chair to get other gate. if your plane is late can be a major problem. i would not want less than an hour between legs of trip. could be a medical problem or other problem that delays unloading. BWI is not a small airport.

 

[poohbear2]

That is a tight connection for someone who cannot walk very fast, especially considering that the connecting flight will be likely be boarding even before you land. Also, even if your first flight lands on time, the 25 minutes is deceiving, because you will need time to get off the flight, which could take 10 minutes or more, depending on how fast people move and how long it takes to get to the gate after landing. I would be seriously looking at a flight with a longer connection time or non-stop (if available).

Oh great. I have no choice since our flight is next Saturday. I am hoping SW holds the flight if we are late. I wonder why SW makes these flight choices if the connection time is so sketchy?

 

[andijean]

Ugh! Now you all have me worried. My connections only leave 25 mins into BWI also. I figured that SWA made the flights, so they must know what they are doing. Why do the schedule it, if it is difficult to make connection. The other flights had very long layovers. Most of the flights available for our trip had short layovers. So, am I also going to have to worry about getting a seat together for the connecting? Does anyone have any experience with these tight layovers with Southwest? Did you make the connection?

 

[DMRick]

We've never missed it. I've seen the steward hold the last seats for a family that was coming from another flight, more than once, so they can sit together and on our last flights they offered a free drink to anyone who would move until a family with a young child could sit together. In fact they said they weren't leaving until it happened. That may not be every time, but they do know who is still stupposed to get on the plane from a connection, and they try their best to keep kids with parents.

Ugh! Now you all have me worried. My connections only leave 25 mins into BWI also. I figured that SWA made the flights, so they must know what they are doing. Why do the schedule it, if it is difficult to make connection. The other flights had very long layovers. Most of the flights available for our trip had short layovers. So, am I also going to have to worry about getting a seat together for the connecting? Does anyone have any experience with these tight layovers with Southwest? Did you make the connection?

 

[duffy]

Ugh! Now you all have me worried. My connections only leave 25 mins into BWI also. I figured that SWA made the flights, so they must know what they are doing. Why do the schedule it, if it is difficult to make connection. The other flights had very long layovers. Most of the flights available for our trip had short layovers. So, am I also going to have to worry about getting a seat together for the connecting? Does anyone have any experience with these tight layovers with Southwest? Did you make the connection?

Find out as soon as you can, probably with a phone app, what gate you'll have to go to to get the second flight.

Then study the layout of the airport. That way, you'll know where to go once you're off the plane, without wasting time trying to figure out where the "A" concourse is, for instance. You'll know that you have to, for example, get off the plane, go down to the end of the walkway and make a hard right, and that the next gate will be the 4th on the left.