Stupid question, probably, but I cannot make a decision. Fly through STL or BNA?

[Minnesota!]

Two flights, leaving MSP within 30 minutes of each other, arriving in MCO within 5 minutes of each other. I have decision paralysis, however.

BNA (Nashville) gives me a 1.75 hour layover, STL (St Louis) 1.25. It would be around 8pm when we are there. Arriving at MCO at midnight.

Which would you take? Helllllp a girl out. Please!

 

[Mommb]

Either one of those should give you sufficient time to get from one gate to the other. If the costs and convenience are otherwise equal, you could take the longer layover as the deciding factor and choose BNA, just in case the first flight is delayed. I would rather spend an extra half hour at the gate than have to rush to catch a connecting flight. But if you hate just sitting around, it wouldn't be unreasonable to choose STL. It just depends on what would upset you more.

 

[AussieFan8]

Is it during winter? If so, I might be inclined to go through Nashville as St. Louis would be more likely to have inclement weather.

 

[Ross Kratter]

Fly direct on a different airline? Delta has many direct/nonstop flights daily between MSP and MCO.

 

[Minnesota!]

Fly direct on a different airline? Delta has many direct/nonstop flights daily between MSP and MCO.

I have a ton of SW miles to use, and there are no direct flights at this time of year, unfortunately

Either one of those should give you sufficient time to get from one gate to the other. If the costs and convenience are otherwise equal, you could take the longer layover as the deciding factor and choose BNA, just in case the first flight is delayed. I would rather spend an extra half hour at the gate than have to rush to catch a connecting flight. But if you hate just sitting around, it wouldn't be unreasonable to choose STL. It just depends on what would upset you more.

I tend to agree. My ONLY caveat is that we work until 2pm that day, so would not get to the airport until closer to 330. And one flight is at 530, one is at 6. So, the one with the longer layover has me stressing about not enough time for checking in and security (which can be super hit or miss at MSP. Some days I have walked right through, other days its been 1+ hour).

Is it during winter? If so, I might be inclined to go through Nashville as St. Louis would be more likely to have inclement weather.

Nope, fall. I appreciate the thought, though!

 

[SkyGuy]

I have a ton of SW miles to use, and there are no direct flights at this time of year, unfortunately



I tend to agree. My ONLY caveat is that we work until 2pm that day, so would not get to the airport until closer to 330. And one flight is at 530, one is at 6. So, the one with the longer layover has me stressing about not enough time for checking in and security (which can be super hit or miss at MSP. Some days I have walked right through, other days its been 1+ hour).




Nope, fall. I appreciate the thought, though!

Terminal 2 at STL only services SW (occasionally used for international arrivals at one of the far end gates when needed) and is rather compact, so even if you needed to walk from Gate 1 to Gate Gate 33, it’s not that far and there are moving sidewalks in the newer section where the higher gate numbers are. STL is my home airport, and we fly SW almost exclusively. It’s very easy to manage. I have been through Nashville a time or two when bad weather was expected in StL, and it’s not that difficult either. BNA has more food options if that makes a difference, although STL just got a Shake Shack.

 

[Minnesota!]

Terminal 2 at STL only services SW (occasionally used for international arrivals at one of the far end gates when needed) and is rather compact, so even if you needed to walk from Gate 1 to Gate Gate 33, it’s not that far and there are moving sidewalks in the newer section where the higher gate numbers are. STL is my home airport, and we fly SW almost exclusively. It’s very easy to manage. I have been through Nashville a time or two when bad weather was expected in StL, and it’s not that difficult either. BNA has more food options if that makes a difference, although STL just got a Shake Shack.

Thanks - we just flew through STL last time we were there and it wasn't BAD, it was just looooong and narrow. We had a nice breakfast, etc. My kid thought the moving sidewalks were amazing (we have them at Terminal 1 at MSP, but we usually fly from 2). I think my only true hangup is timing from getting out of work/getting to airport. Do I NEED that extra 35 minutes for the STL flight? Or will I want the extra 35 minutes in my layover? Blah. What 1st world problems to have, I guess!

 

[SkyGuy]

Thanks - we just flew through STL last time we were there and it wasn't BAD, it was just looooong and narrow. We had a nice breakfast, etc. My kid thought the moving sidewalks were amazing (we have them at Terminal 1 at MSP, but we usually fly from 2). I think my only true hangup is timing from getting out of work/getting to airport. Do I NEED that extra 35 minutes for the STL flight? Or will I want the extra 35 minutes in my layover? Blah. What 1st world problems to have, I guess!

Yeah, I used to live in Bloomington and loved the MSP airport. My daughter did her master’s at MN, so I was able to visit there several times more recently, and I still love the airport! Way more options than terminal 2 in STL!

 

[jimmymc]

Both are smaller airports and should be easy connections. If the start and end times are that close, I'd go BNA, just because I know the airport is pretty nice.

 

[Dug720]

Is it during winter? If so, I might be inclined to go through Nashville as St. Louis would be more likely to have inclement weather.

Or on the flip side, St. Louis probably has more equipment to handle winter weather than Nashville.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

Pick Nashville STL is my airport if rather be in Nashville for a layover at 8pm you may get food -STL who know maybe not Shake Shack ( which I love ) was horrible at the airport and everything was packed - very long waits for food - but later at night your lucky to find anything
Good Luck