SW 30 min to change planes at BWI possible???

[NHBelle]

Our return flight will be our first flight in a very long time where we have to change planes. I am getting so nervous about it. To top it all off the time in between is only 30 minutes. Are we going to make it? Is our luggage going to make it? The switch is at BWI (Baltimore, Washington) and I have never been there so I have no idea what to expect? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[disneynuts777]

Are you sure you have to changed planes? Or it a continuing flight from BWI?
I have been on SW flights that have stopped at other airports and picked up and dropped off people and continued on and I have been on SW flights where I did have to change planes. 30 minutes does not seem like a long enough time to switch planes and get your lugguge tranferred over. SW is amazing at moving those people and belongings but that time frame is a tight one.
I would have checked for you but I did not know the flight info. date and time.

 

[Brer Chump]

30 minutes at BWI should be OK. SW uses terminals A and B and you do not have to go through security to go between them. Also remember that airlines add extra time to their flights on the schedules so they do not get hit with a late arrival when a minor delay occurs. if all goes well, then you will arrive earlier than scheduled.

The last time I flew out of BWI on Southwest, all flights were delayed because of weather in the midwest. Our flight was delayed about 2 hours and after we boarded we waited another 30 minutes for 1 passenger who was connecting to our flight from another delayed incoming flight. This was on the last flight of the day to CLE.

 

[Lewisc]

Did you book this as one reservation? Airlines have a minimum legal connection time. SW wouldn't have booked this flight if they didn't think the connection is doable. My answer would be different if you booked each segment seperately.

30 minutes sounds more like a stop then a connecting flight. Why don't you post your flight information? Make sure you go to the bathroom in flight, try to sit near the front of the plane and proceed directly to the next gate.

Your luggage should be OK but worse case SW delivers your dirty laundry to your house the following day.

 

[diesel]

it sounds like your flight is a continuing flight where you would just stay on the plane while they load other passengers.

 

[justplaingoofy]

Hopefully you do not have to switch planes.... I would call the airline directly to inquire. Personally we do not book any flights that do not have 1 - 1 1/2 hr layover.

If you do have to change planes I hope you do not have any delays because the flight from bwi to mco should be boarding about :30min prior to departure.

 

[Lewisc]

Previous poster made a good point, an "A" BP won't mean much if the plane is already boarding the "C"s before you get to the gate.

 

[NHBelle]

I wish we didn't have to change planes but here is what our ticket says

Sun Dec 14 - flight #1009 Depart ORLANDO INTL (MCO) at 9:40 AM
Arrive in BALTIMORE-WASHNTN (BWI) at 11:45 AM
flight #3416 Change planes in BALTIMORE-WASHNTN (BWI) departing at 12:15 PM Arrive in MANCHESTER NH (MHT) at 1:30 PM

 

[justplaingoofy]

I wish we didn't have to change planes but here is what our ticket says

Sun Dec 14 - flight #1009 Depart ORLANDO INTL (MCO) at 9:40 AM
Arrive in BALTIMORE-WASHNTN (BWI) at 11:45 AM
flight #3416 Change planes in BALTIMORE-WASHNTN (BWI) departing at 12:15 PM Arrive in MANCHESTER NH (MHT) at 1:30 PM

Just checked your flights... if you miss your connection at BWI, it looks as if there are a couple of other flights hopefully they could put you on. Or you could call Southwest to see if they can put you on the non stop fl#3579 at 4:10p arriving in MHT at 7pm. Although there are earlier non stops they are showing unavailable. If you are going to do this, I would do it sooner than later

 

[Lewisc]

I'd rather have to rush to the gate rather then have hours to kill in the airport. SW will hold the connecting flight a few minutes, particularly if your flight has landed and is on the way to the gate. You could wind up being the last passengers to board. The FA will get passengers to move, so one parent can sit next to a young child but otherwise your family may get split up.

 

[justplaingoofy]

I'd rather have to rush to the gate rather then have hours to kill in the airport.

I'm not sure if you were replying to my post, if so maybe I was confusing.

I meant for them to call SouthWest to see about being scheduled on the later non stop flight. They could change M.E. so that they wouldn't have to wait around the airport. Sorry, I didn't write that I meant for them to take a later M.E.

 

[famouschinesec]

I would go for it. Sunday morning is not a busy flying time. Except for weather, flights should be on time. If you physically miss the connection, there are more flights to MHT. If your luggage misses the connection, they'll deliver it. Might not to it on the way to MCO, but would do it on the way home.

 

[DisneyWalker44]

SW transfers at BWI are pretty simple, I wouldn't worry about it. SW - like most airlines I suppose - has very organized lists of all transferring bags and passengers. They bag handlers know before they even get to your plane how many transferring bags are coming off and where they are going. They handlers at your 2nd flight know how many bags are coming in from other plans, and will delay things a bit while waiting for bags. Same thing with people - they will know they are short so many passengers transferring from Orlando and will wait for you unless your first flight is seriously delayed. And you probably won't be the only ones from your Orlando flight making the same transfer.

Quick story - I recently had a very short transfer time in Charlotte with a huge distance between flights. All the way from the farthest point of one terminal to the farthest point in another terminal. We ran like OJ (remember when that's what he was known for?) and barely made it to our plane in time. Then sat in our seats for 20 minutes, as the plane was delayed waiting for transferring passengers.

 

[CarrieR]

Legal SW connection time in BWI is 25 minutes.

We had a connection of about 30 minutes through BNA (Nashville) a month or so ago. I hardly ever check luggage, but had to this time around -- and I was so impressed, not only did we make the connection, the luggage did, too. The gates were literally across from each other, and boarding for the later flight had just started. (We had crappy BPs, though, so it didn't matter!)

And yes, as a PP said, if there is a minor delay that is in the airlines' control (ie, NOT your party stopping to use the restroom,) they will hold the connecting flight for you. If it's a major delay, they can put you on the next connecting flight, providing there's space. You could also try sending one member of your party on ahead to the gate to tell them you're coming -- not sure if that would work, but might be worthwhile if you're a party with two parents and small children, or similar.

As far as calling SW goes -- since it's a legal connection time, it's doubtful that they would change it as a courtesy. For a fee, yes, if there's availability. It's certainly worth a try if the later flight is something you'd prefer, but I wouldn't be surprised if they're not willing to do it.

Only major suggestion would be to sit near the front of the plane on your originating flight out of MCO. I would also try to make sure your carryon was a backpack or similar, so that you can strap it on and run if need be, instead of hassling with a rolling bag, etc. (I've had to run with rolling bags many a time and it's not fun! LOL!) If your luggage doesn't make it, they'll deliver it to your home later that night.

Honestly -- I wouldn't sweat it. The airline booked it, as a legal connection, so one way or another, they'll manage to get you (and your stuff) home. You're flying early enough in the day that they have plenty of time to do it. I would just relax and enjoy the fact that you don't have to drive it, LOL!

 

[MrMarv]

That 30-minute connection time for Southwest is pretty standard at most of their locations and hubs such as BWI.

Since all the airlines have been padding the length of their flights to compensate for the higher-than-necessary number of flights out there, I wouldn't be surprised (and neither should you) if your flight from MCO to BWI arrives earlier than scheduled.

 

[Rpsemont]

The other thing you may want to do, is because this is a sunday only SW schedule - this sunday go on line and check the flight status of those flights. Doing so will give you the gate numbers in BWI that you will fly into and out of. While there is no GUARANTEE that you will have same gate numbers, frequently they are the same. that way you can look at a map of BWI and see the relation between the two. On your travel day, you can probably do the same thing, or ask the SWA gate agent what gate you will land at BWI and what gate you're scheduled to go out of. AGAIN, this is not full proof, and gates can change at the drop of a hat, but usually they announce if there's a gate change. Also, if you think your time is even going to be less than 30 minutes (if you were to be delayed) you can ask the Flight attendant about the gate proximities. Sometimes they're happy to find that out and set your mind at ease.

Good luck!

 

[dis_guy]

You should be fine but if unsure about where to go, ask the first SW rep you see rather than try to find it alone.

We had a very short connection in Denver on UA last time. We came in at one end of the terminal and had to go all the way to the other end where the regional jets dock. We made it and they were expecting us. No problem really.