Tight SW connection at BWI

[Distopia]

This is our first time flying SW and we have a 35 minute connection in BWI. We'll have 3 young kids with us, but they are all experienced travellers. Is anyone familiar with this close connection coming from MCO? Will we make it?! I'm a little gun shy after barely making a 1hr connection a few weeks ago due to headwinds. It has been many years since I've come through BWI. Are there many SW gates and are they in a small area? Thanks!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You can get a map of the gates at BWI on both WN's website and BWI's website.

There is no way I'd book a flight where I had 35 minutes to transfer with three young children on any airline at any airport. Even if your flight arrives on time, it's likely your continuing flight will be well into the boarding process by the time you get to the gate; you may not find seats together.

 

[Distopia]

Since it's their route connection for our return flight, we would have boarding cards for the second leg already, having been assigned at point of origin. SW seems to think it's doable. I'm just wondering if anyone familiar with this airport thinks so!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Since it's their route connection for our return flight, we would have boarding cards for the second leg already, having been assigned at point of origin. SW seems to think it's doable. I'm just wondering if anyone familiar with this airport thinks so!

Of course, but your boarding number is irrelevant if your number has boarded before you get to the gate!

I am very familiar with BWI and as I already posted, I would not book a flight with a 35 minute connection traveling with 3 children. It is a legal connection, but that doesn't mean you'll make your connecting flight.

 

[seashoreCM]

Since it's their route connection for our return flight, we would have boarding cards for the second leg already, having been assigned at point of origin. SW seems to think it's doable. I'm just wondering if anyone familiar with this airport thinks so!

YMMV.

Airlines may or may not permit you to book such a tight connection or may allow such a tight connection to come into existence because some frequent flyers would rather not get stuck with a long wait at the connection point most of the time. But in your situation (with kids in tow, etc.) you should book a longer connection, and insist on a flight reselection for free if the airline changes its schedule to produce such a tight connection.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

YMMV.

Airlines may or may not permit you to book such a tight connection or may allow such a tight connection to come into existence because some frequent flyers would rather not get stuck with a long wait at the connection point most of the time. But in your situation (with kids in tow, etc.) you should book a longer connection, and insist on a flight reselection for free if the airline changes its schedule to produce such a tight connection.

35 minutes is a legal connection at BWI.

 

[poohbear2]

We had this connection a few years ago. We rushed to our gate to find that they had not even started boarding yet. The stewardess told me over 50 people were connecting from the flight I was just on and they weren't leaving until everyone was there.

 

[maxiesmom]

I wouldn't do it. If your first plane is late at all, you may end up with a huge mess to deal with. Most planes don't fly with empty seats, if you miss your flight and have to take another you could have to wait quite a while.

Depending on where you are seated on the first flight it can take a while to disembark. That can eat up 20 minutes easy. I've been stuck in the back of a large plane for 45 minutes before, waiting to disembark.

You also cannot count on them holding the plane for you. I've been on connections where the FAs were trying as hard as they could to close the door, even though they knew there were people that had been delayed trying to make the flight. Actually got to hear a couple FAs arguing about it!

 

[Allison]

35 minutes with 3 young kids and no assigned seating. I wouldn't do it.

 

[seashoreCM]

35 minutes is a legal connection at BWI.

This means only that the airline will not forbid you to xxx xx book flights with a connection at that airport that short.

The problem with arguing over holding the flight for connecting passengers running up is that somebody has to "take the late" (an infraction). He or she may or may not be able to get it excused (expunged from his/her record). If a passenger is aggrieved by the FA's decision and summons the ground complaint resolution officer, the latter takes the late.

 

[Gracie09]

35 minutes with 3 young kids and no assigned seating. I wouldn't do it.

This there are too many variables and if one thing goes wrong you're sunk

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

This means only that the airline will not forbid you to you to book flights with a connection at that airport that short.

The term is pretty self-explanatory.

When you book a flight with connections on one airline, they select the routing, which includes the connection time, not the passenger. I would hope the airline would build a legal connection time into their schedule; I am sure mistakes sometime happen.

 

[rdevine10]

We connected in BWI a couple years ago on Southwest. I do remember a bit of a walk (nothing like Atlanta, etc), but the gate was NOT right near where we needed to go. I prefer about a 50 min to 1 hour lay over, ESPECIALLY when traveling with kids!

 

[maxiesmom]

The term is pretty self-explanatory.

When you book a flight with connections on one airline, they select the routing, which includes the connection time, not the passenger. I would hope the airline would build a legal connection time into their schedule; I am sure mistakes sometime happen.

I know one airline (maybe Delta) alerts you when looking at flights if you are choosing one with a tight connection. Just because booking them that way is fine and dandy with the airline doesn't make it a good idea to do.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

I wouldn't book that short of a connection.....we've do so in the past...but with 2 adults....and made the flight.....but it was boarding in the middle,of the B group and we had A boarding passes.....we've also missed flights with a 45 min connection due to,our first leg being delayed.......the gate attendants for the second leg told us they had no idea we were on a connecting flight....there were others that missed the flight as well and they told us we they had been paging us ....

 

[chasgoose]

On any other airline, you would be fine, but there is a good chance your second flight will be boarding when u get to your gate making it harder to find seats together

 

[RSWA2]

I've had tight connections like that before and it's ok, just a little stressful.

If you booked a thru flight and not individual legs, I would hope SWA would put you on the next flight if you were late.

In my case, I've always talked to a stewardess and they told me what gate I am arriving at and what gate to get to. Then as we approached and the time was close, they called down to the plane. I have seen where the pilot has held the plane for connecting SWA flights. Seats together will be hard to find...

I haven't flown or experienced this in a couple years, so YMMV.

At the very least, if you do take the flight, let some SWA steward on your 1st flight know, they may help.

 

[maxiesmom]

If you booked a thru flight and not individual legs, I would hope SWA would put you on the next flight if you were late.

That will only work if they have room on the next flight. Or the one after that. I've been on very few flights recently that had any open seats at all.

With a connection that tight there is always a chance of missing your flight. And then there is the chance that you may sit at the airport for quite a while before they have room for you on another flight.

I will say I flew through BWI this past December. And they had some construction going on then, but I'm not sure if it is all done. Because of the construction we had to go through security again before being allowed on our connecting flight. Hopefully someone here knows if that is still going on or not.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I would not risk a connection that tight flying southwest with kids. Nothing against southwest, I love them. But you run the risk of not getting seats together.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

......

In my case, I've always talked to a stewardess and they told me what gate I am arriving at [sic] and what gate to get to.....

FYI, the correct term is flight attendant, not stewardess.