SWA How bad are the 1Stop No Plane change flights?

[JenC025]

We are looking to book a cheap flight, we can save a good amount of money and time schedule is better for the one stop no plane change flight. According the time it only adds an hour to our flight. Is that accurate or should I expect longer time. I've never done this I guess we just sit on the runway- is it air conditioned? My real problem is adding another take off and landing since I hate flying and those parts super freak me out

 

[msmayor]

I've done a couple of one-stop-no-change flights...they're not bad at all.

Once all those people departing at the stop de-plane, the flight attendants ask everyone to remain seated for a few minutes so they can get an accurate head-count to the gate. Then, they move into high-gear to get the plane ready for incoming passengers. You are free to get up, change seats, use the bathroom, etc...everything except get off. Within 10-15 minutes the new passengers are getting on.

The stops are indeed pretty fast, and the cabin conditions I've found are fine.

I wouldn't hesitate to book a one-stop like that again.

 

[DisneyWacker]

I just took a flight like this (Hartford-Baltimore-Tampa) this week. Everyone but about 5 people got off. We waited about 5 minutes for the flight attendants to take a count, then I got to move to the exit row. We waited for another 10 or 15 minutes then the new passengers started boarding. AC was on while we were on the ground and SWA is pretty good at turning planes around quickly. I don't think we were on the ground for more than 30 or 40 minutes. I'd do it again for sure.

 

[JenC025]

Thanks for the replies- It's worth the extra hour to arrive a few hours early and save about $70

 

[disneyag]

These flights are quite easy. It's nice that you can change seats before the new passengers board. SWA has one of the fastest plane turn-around times in the industry.

 

[CPT Tripss]

I've done a couple of one-stop-no-change flights...they're not bad at all.

Once all those people departing at the stop de-plane, the flight attendants ask everyone to remain seated for a few minutes so they can get an accurate head-count to the gate. Then, they move into high-gear to get the plane ready for incoming passengers. You are free to get up, change seats, use the bathroom, etc...everything except get off. Within 10-15 minutes the new passengers are getting on.

The stops are indeed pretty fast, and the cabin conditions I've found are fine.

I wouldn't hesitate to book a one-stop like that again.

Ask the cabin crew . . . I wanted to get off,stretch my legs and pick up some food. It was fine.

 

[kda]

Ask the cabin crew . . . I wanted to get off,stretch my legs and pick up some food. It was fine.

Thanks for the tip. We're going to fly from San Antonio to Denver to Hartford (6 1/2 hours) because it was the least expensive of expensive options, and I hadn't thought about being on a plane that long without access to food. We can plan to take something on board, but I'd love to be able to get off the plane and grab something.
Did you re-board separately or with the "new" passengers?

 

[poohbear7]

You board ahead of the new pasengers boarding.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You only board ahead of new passengers boarding if you're back at the plane ready to board before they start boarding new passengers. No, it's not a tongue-twister . You just don't want any angry mobs attacking you when you try to cut ahead of an appropriately-numbered-and-boarding group.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Would they hold the plane up if it was the last plane of the day, and there were connecting passengers still trying to land on other planes?

My 1Stop, No Plane Change horror story from about 30 years ago.

Actually there was a plane change involved in this. During Easter Week (Thursday before Easter), I flew from Milwaukee to Savannah. I changed planes in Chicago, and the plane from Chicago to Savannah had a stop in Atlanta.

There was a rainstorm up and down the Eastern Seaboard which extended to the Great Lakes. I was supposed to have an hour layover in Chicago, so I could catch a quick bite. But the plane out of Milwaukee was nearly an hour late in taking off. So I litterally ran to the gate at O'Hare (fortunately, the same terminal and about five gates away). Got to the gate just in time.

The food selection on the Chicago/Atlanta segment was limited (I don't think we got to eat due to the turbulence). We got to Atlanta a little late, but not horribly late.

I wanted to get off the plane to get some supper, but we were told we had to stay on the plane, since our time at the gate was short.

So we waited.

And waited.

Although our flight was only a few minutes late, other flights into Atlanta were much later. As a result, we waited at the gate for nearly two hours to allow passengers on the later flights to make our plane. Remember, this was Easter weekend, and ours were the last flight of the day.

We didn't get to Savannah until after midnight on Friday morning. I was famished, but all the airport eating places were closed. And it was Good Friday, so I was supposed to be fasting anyway.

 

[NotUrsula]

Just so you know, this is what is technically known in the airline industry as a "direct" flight. (As opposed to a "non-stop" flight.)

As to SWA holding a segment at the gate for connecting passengers on the final flight of the day, yes, often they will if operations permit. I've been in that position a few times, and they have always held the flight for us. They won't do it if the aircraft needs to be somewhere else first thing in the morning, or if the crew would "go illegal" due to the time lag, but IME SWA does not seem to come up against that issue as often as the legacy carriers do.

 

[SnackyStacky]

It was a while ago, but I flew a one-stop, no-plane-change flight and had no problems. It was very quick.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Thanks for the tip. We're going to fly from San Antonio to Denver to Hartford (6 1/2 hours) because it was the least expensive of expensive options, and I hadn't thought about being on a plane that long without access to food. We can plan to take something on board, but I'd love to be able to get off the plane and grab something.
Did you re-board separately or with the "new" passengers?

You board ahead of the new pasengers boarding.

You only board ahead of new passengers boarding if you're back at the plane ready to board before they start boarding new passengers. No, it's not a tongue-twister . You just don't want any angry mobs attacking you when you try to cut ahead of an appropriately-numbered-and-boarding group.

Actually, I reboarded in the middle of the A group. The gate agent noticed me and called me over. She told the people I cut in front of, "he's a through passenger and already has a seat." YMMV

 

[Taja]

I frequently fly the Phoenix > Orlando > Phoenix route on a direct (1-stop) flight. Usually, the turn-around is very quick and there isn't time to leave the plane--just change seats, if you choose. You can ask the cabin attendents if you can disembark, but doing so isn't common, in my experience.

Pack munchies for the entire flight--it's less stressful than taking a chance on getting through a food service queue on the airport concourse. You could use a small, soft-sided cooler as one of your carry-on (or personal) bags, if necessary.

 

[itradehilton]

Since SW has no direct flights from the west coast we always have stops or plane changes going to Orlando. It really is best to bring some food with you just in case. Also delays have almost always happened to us due to weather. One time we had a 2 hour delay in Texas due to a storm in the distance. So be sure to relax and bring enough food and entertainment with you and the long flight will be manageable.

 

[antree]

This has been a concern for me for about a month now on if I should book with SW. I hate that they added the stops out of the Philly airport, but if we want the cheaper price that is what we would have to go with. I was worried with the stop since we are going without DH and I hate flying. I just don't want to feel like we are flying longer. I have even consider driving to Baltimore to get the straight through flight. I have to decide soon flight prices are jumping all over the place.

 

[minniebeth]

We did it not too long ago with 2 stops, no change of aircraft
Didn't want to chose that flight, but we booked last minute with rapid rewards points. We were not able to get off the flights, as almost the minute everyone got off, there were people coming back on. We were able to move our seats and use the restroom if needed. We brought our drinks and food for the flights on ahead of time which worked out great. We were AMAZED by how efficiently, quickly AND friendly Southwest turned the flights around.
I know I am reiterating what others have said, but just had to add that it was much easier than we thought it would have been, even though a direct flight would have been nice, it is no problem.

 

[BigTigger]

We did it not too long ago with 2 stops, no change of aircraft

I'd say 1 stop no change - no issues, 2 stops no change - maybe, 3 stops no change - no way. SWA used to have a PVD/Islip/MCO early flight that was cheaper than the nonstops and always was a breeze despite the extra stop. I took an SFO/LAS/MDW/PHL/PVD 3 stops no change horror show flight coming home a few days pre-Christmas 2008. We hit winds going into LAS, snow going into MDW, and had to return to the gate to have an unruly passenger removed in PHL. PVD arrival of 8:40 pm became 5:10 am. The more stops in busy hubs, the more chance you can have delays.

I'd still say to go for it if cheaper is better than quicker for you in your travel paradigm