SW - What Happens When You Change Planes?

[cbsnyber1]

I've never had to change planes before when flying Southwest, but it looks like we'll have to our next trip. My question: if you get, say A25, for the first leg, do you keep it when changing to the second plane? Or do you get new position?

And how does early bird check in figure into this?

 

[LWQuestie]

If the flight was booked as a connection, then you'll be checked into all legs when the initial check in is done, whether manually or via EBCI.

You'll likely get a higher boarding number on the second leg than on the first, because connecting passengers check in to the connection before other non-connecting passengers.

 

[cbsnyber1]

If the flight was booked as a connection, then you'll be checked into all legs when the initial check in is done, whether manually or via EBCI.

You'll likely get a higher boarding number on the second leg than on the first, because connecting passengers check in to the connection before other non-connecting passengers.

Thanks for that info. We now are considering BWI to MCO because of the large number of non stop flights they have. I'm beginning to wonder if SW isn't trying to drive people to use Airtran out of Pitts. They have way more flights than does SW.

Our problem is we committed to using SW after my DW and I both got the Chase Visa with the 50,000 points offer. We now have enough points between us to take our entire group of nine using points (based on flying from PIT @ $95 each way), so one way or the other SW it is.

 

[LWQuestie]

I'm beginning to wonder if SW isn't trying to drive people to use Airtran out of Pitts. They have way more flights than does SW.

I'd guess that the AirTran flights will leave as Southwest consolidates AirTran into their operations.

Our problem is we committed to using SW after my DW and I both got the Chase Visa with the 50,000 points offer. We now have enough points between us to take our entire group of nine using points (based on flying from PIT @ $95 each way), so one way or the other SW it is.

Hopefully, you can find a flight schedule that works for your group from PIT.

 

[DebbieB]

Thanks for that info. We now are considering BWI to MCO because of the large number of non stop flights they have. I'm beginning to wonder if SW isn't trying to drive people to use Airtran out of Pitts. They have way more flights than does SW.

Our problem is we committed to using SW after my DW and I both got the Chase Visa with the 50,000 points offer. We now have enough points between us to take our entire group of nine using points (based on flying from PIT @ $95 each way), so one way or the other SW it is.

That was a great deal. I was able to get 3 tickets PIT-MCO for April with the 50,000 points and still have some left over. I couldn't get a $95 flight for our PIT-MCO flight, I think it was $149 so it took more points. The return I got is $95.

I'm happy there are still 4 or 5 non-stops to MCO between the 2, there are not many non-stops to other cities from PIT anymore. As a business traveler, connections have become a way of life. They probably are using the Southwest planes elsewhere, that's why they moved some flights to AirTran.

 

[gigi1313]

If the flight was booked as a connection, then you'll be checked into all legs when the initial check in is done, whether manually or via EBCI.

You'll likely get a higher boarding number on the second leg than on the first, because connecting passengers check in to the connection before other non-connecting passengers.

I concur with the firt half of this, but disagree with the second... For the second flight you are likely o get a lower number because you can check in 24hours prior to your first departure, therefore getting the jump on those starting in Baltimore.

 

[sam_gordon]

Depending on your connection time, it might not matter what boarding number you get. Let's say you end up with A20 for the second flight... great assignment right? But depending on what time your first flight arrives, maybe you get to the connecting flight after boarding has started. Granted, you'll be able to walk right on the plane, but it could be in the middle of the B's or C's.

Again, this is assuming a tight connection (or delayed first flight).

 

[encinc]

Depending on your connection time, it might not matter what boarding number you get. Let's say you end up with A20 for the second flight... great assignment right? But depending on what time your first flight arrives, maybe you get to the connecting flight after boarding has started. Granted, you'll be able to walk right on the plane, but it could be in the middle of the B's or C's.

Again, this is assuming a tight connection (or delayed first flight).

Yup. That's definitely something to consider. Happened to us last night in PHX on our way to SAN. Our first flight arrived right on time. We were sitting in the back half of our first flight, and there were some very slow people ahead of us getting off the plane. We'd been told in BUF that our connection was delayed over an hour, so we thought we had lots of time.

Got to the gate only to discover that they'd put on another plane and we were leaving on time after all. We had A30's boarding passes. Ended up getting on in the middle of the B's because the A's had already boarded. It turned out OK for a short flight, but would have been annoying if our second flight had been the longer one. We were happy to arrive in SAN on time though, and are looking forward to a fun day in Legoland today.

 

[cbsnyber1]

That was a great deal. I was able to get 3 tickets PIT-MCO for April with the 50,000 points and still have some left over. I couldn't get a $95 flight for our PIT-MCO flight, I think it was $149 so it took more points. The return I got is $95.

I'm happy there are still 4 or 5 non-stops to MCO between the 2, there are not many non-stops to other cities from PIT anymore. As a business traveler, connections have become a way of life. They probably are using the Southwest planes elsewhere, that's why they moved some flights to AirTran.

The non-stop is exactly why we love SW out of Pitts - til this last schedule release. Only one non-stop down (6:00 AM) and one back (7:30 PM). Not exactly favorable times. I don't have much hope for the next schedule update that they will add back any of the non-stops they removed, since the schedule will go from Sept. 28 to Nov 2 - basically the month of October. I was hoping they would go through November and cover Thanksgiving, no luck.

Maybe my sense of geography is off: we live 2 hours east of Pitts, about three west of BWI, and BWI is about 100 miles closer to MCO than is Pitts, yet the fares from BWI are $26 higher each way right now, for all ten flights down and eight back. It just seems odd I can fly cheaper from Pitts than from BWI.

 

[vacationclub]

Yup. That's definitely something to consider. Happened to us last night in PHX on our way to SAN. Our first flight arrived right on time. We were sitting in the back half of our first flight, and there were some very slow people ahead of us getting off the plane. We'd been told in BUF that our connection was delayed over an hour, so we thought we had lots of time.

Got to the gate only to discover that they'd put on another plane and we were leaving on time after all. We had A30's boarding passes. Ended up getting on in the middle of the B's because the A's had already boarded. It turned out OK for a short flight, but would have been annoying if our second flight had been the longer one. We were happy to arrive in SAN on time though, and are looking forward to a fun day in Legoland today.

Yep, that's the risk of SW's "system" (and I use that term loosely). Even buying business select can still result in you sitting between strangers while your partner does the same 20 rows away. Yaaa....head 'em up...move 'em out...rawhide. (insert whip sound)

 

[DebbieB]

The non-stop is exactly why we love SW out of Pitts - til this last schedule release. Only one non-stop down (6:00 AM) and one back (7:30 PM). Not exactly favorable times. I don't have much hope for the next schedule update that they will add back any of the non-stops they removed, since the schedule will go from Sept. 28 to Nov 2 - basically the month of October. I was hoping they would go through November and cover Thanksgiving, no luck.

Maybe my sense of geography is off: we live 2 hours east of Pitts, about three west of BWI, and BWI is about 100 miles closer to MCO than is Pitts, yet the fares from BWI are $26 higher each way right now, for all ten flights down and eight back. It just seems odd I can fly cheaper from Pitts than from BWI.

Airfare is not based on per mile. There are other factors like airport costs, competition in the market. I used to fly PIT-Minneapolis alot on business and most of the time it was over $600 but I could go to LAX for $300, over twice the distance. The difference? No competition to MSP.

 

[LWQuestie]

I concur with the firt half of this, but disagree with the second... For the second flight you are likely o get a lower number because you can check in 24hours prior to your first departure, therefore getting the jump on those starting in Baltimore.

Yeah, that's what I meant, but did not say clearly. I meant higher as closer to the beginning of boarding, which is actually a lower number.

And, yes, as previous posters mentioned, that wouldn't matter if your connection is like 30 minutes.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I concur with the firt half of this, but disagree with the second... For the second flight you are likely o get a lower number because you can check in 24hours prior to your first departure, therefore getting the jump on those starting in Baltimore.

I have gotten pretty low boarding numbers in the A group, but when it is a connection, it can be pretty disappointing!

We boarded a flight home in NC that originated in Orlando. I guess few people got OFF, because we were shocked to board and even with our low number As, the flight was already almost full. To make matter WORSE, these people were all settled in, and comfortable, and had all their junk on any empty seats. (they should have made an announcement to move it before we tried to board??) Anyway, we had to ask people to move their coats, bags, whatever, and there was all this grumbling..... annoying.

But I paid $30 each for us to take that flight from NC to Philly, so we managed! (last January).