SW out of BWI

[taychase1015]

I am new to flying Southwest. We will be taking the first flight at 6:15 am to MCO. I live in Chambersburg, PA and was thinking of renting a car and dropping off at the airport since our flight is so early.

How easy is it to drop off and get to the airport? Also, how is it to fly out of BWI on Southwest. Any tips for this airport.

Very nervous about the boarding procedure, but there is only my adult niece and I so I did not book EBCI. (We will be OK if we do not sit together for 2 1/2 hours.)

 

[GrnMtnMan]

I am new to flying Southwest. We will be taking the first flight at 6:15 am to MCO. I live in Chambersburg, PA and was thinking of renting a car and dropping off at the airport since our flight is so early.

How easy is it to drop off and get to the airport?

The rental car facility at BWI is a shuttle ride away. Not a long ride, but it adds a 10-20 minute step to the process.

Have you thought about doing a Park-Sleep-Fly deal at a nearby hotel? Many of the airport hotels will let you park for a week (+/- a few days, depending on the rate) and use their shuttle to get to/from the airport. With a 6:15 AM flight, I can't imagine what time you'd have to leave PA if you add-in returning a rental car (and refueling it at 4:30 in the morning).

 

[strat68]

Great place to fly Southwest. There are 2 TSA checkpoints for their terminals. Don't know much about rental cars since we live here. But the Park-Sleep-Fly idea is a good one.

Boarding is simple. Check the Southwest website for details. And, checking EXACTLY 24 hours before your flight to get better boarding positions.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Fly BWI to MCO all the time. Generally an easy airport to fly in/out of.
There is also an auxiliary parking lot that is $7 a day. Would that be cheaper than a rental? A shuttle will take you from the lot fight to the main terminal. Just did this last week. It's super easy. Let me know if you want the name of the lot we Used.

 

[spleuchan]

Fly BWI to MCO all the time. Generally an easy airport to fly in/out of.
There is also an auxiliary parking lot that is $7 a day. Would that be cheaper than a rental? A shuttle will take you from the lot fight to the main terminal. Just did this last week. It's super easy. Let me know if you want the name of the lot we Used.

Is there an advantage to using an off-property parking lot? The economy lot is only $8 a day. $1 a day doesn't really make a difference for me. Is there another reason to use a different parking lot?

 

[stitchlovestink]

Is there an advantage to using an off-property parking lot? The economy lot is only $8 a day. $1 a day doesn't really make a difference for me. Is there another reason to use a different parking lot?

The economy lot is what I was referring to...
Go online and there is a coupon for a cheaper price.

 

[rwdavis2]

Is there an advantage to using an off-property parking lot? The economy lot is only $8 a day. $1 a day doesn't really make a difference for me. Is there another reason to use a different parking lot?

Use the economy lot. It's closest of any of the long term parking lots.

 

[taychase1015]

Thank you everyone for your help.