Traveling with Children - Direct (not nonstop) or change of planes?

[encinc]

Which do you prefer when traveling with young children (ages almost 3 and 5) - direct flight (but not nonstop) or one change of planes?

We're traveling from Orlando to Buffalo. The nonstop flights are either too expensive or at inconvenient times. We can get a direct flight with a stop in Baltimore, or a flight with a one-hour layover in Atlanta. Similar times (though the one with the layover gets in about 45 minutes later because of the extra time on the ground). Similar price.

I vote for the layover because it would allow the kids to get off the plane and run around. DH thinks that it would be easier to stay on the same plane. He worries about a missed connection, and says that it is a hassle to move the carseats between planes. (I know, we could check the carseats - but that's a whole other debate!)

Any input would be appreciated. We've done the connecting flights thing before, but we've never had a layover without changing planes.

 

[sympatico]

I vote for non stop for anything 3.5 hrs or less. We traveled with two 2yr olds and two 4yr olds and their parents in Nov. and having a layover was more bother than it was worth, especially if you have to go through security again to get on the next plane. We took laptops with kids cartoons to keep them entertained while on the plane. Make sure the battery is fully charged. Also keep lots of snacks available. Having a layover just prolongs the trip. We found they were tired of traveling after a while and it's better to get there in the least amount of time. Good luck.

 

[snowbunny]

I agree with your DH. It will be much more relaxing not to have to change planes. You can still get off the plane and stroll around with the kids at BWI, then get back on when the plane reboards. But you can leave the carseats and other stuff on the plane.

Plus, if the plane is late there is no chance of missing your connection - you are sitting on the connecting aircraft. One hour between flights in Atlanta is not very much time.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Even without traveling with small children - I would go for the direct flight. You don't say when you're going, but if you're flying out of Buffalo in the winter (October - May ), weather delays really could cause you to miss your connection. Plus, Atlanta is a larger airport than Baltimore. You might well have a hefty hike to your connecting gate.

 

[hematite153]

Direct flights often require you to get off of the plane and then reboard. So, the kids may get to run around a bit anyway--you may wish to check with the airline for this particular flight.

I would vote for the direct flight over the transfer since delays are less likely to affect you when the plane you need to connect with is the one you are already on. I.e. if your first flight is late, you don't have to worry about missing the second one.

 

[PlaneJoy1]

Honestly - it may not matter. Many airlines publish these "direct" flights, but NEVER actually operate them that way! What you think is a one-stop is a connection made to look like one-stop. Airlines do this in order to get better presence on booking engines - thus (hopefully) higher revenue.

Either way Atlanta or BWI would be fine for a short lay-over.

Good luck!

 

[encinc]

Honestly - it may not matter. Many airlines publish these "direct" flights, but NEVER actually operate them that way! What you think is a one-stop is a connection made to look like one-stop. Airlines do this in order to get better presence on booking engines - thus (hopefully) higher revenue.

Either way Atlanta or BWI would be fine for a short lay-over.

Good luck!

As you say, it probably doesn't matter. It's our return flight from Orlando (we will fly direct out of Buffalo to avoid weather delays - we're traveling in March), so weather shouldn't be a big issue.

I called the airline (SW) to ask whether we would be able to get off the plane during the stop at BWI. The agent said that it would be a quick stop, just to allow other passengers to get on the plane. As you say, though, you never know what may happen with the schedule between now and then, and it may end up being a connecting flight.

The other airline is AirTran. We've had good luck with connections in ATL with them in the past - both flights have always been in the same concourse.

 

[canwegosoon]

Even without traveling with small children - I would go for the direct flight. You don't say when you're going, but if you're flying out of Buffalo in the winter (October - May ), weather delays really could cause you to miss your connection. Plus, Atlanta is a larger airport than Baltimore. You might well have a hefty hike to your connecting gate.

As a fellow Upstate NY'er...ITA...If your children were a year or 2 older-I would say ok, but with the way air travel is now-I would not want to get off my plane for fear that I would get stranded somewhere(with little kids and no luggage ). ANd plus a 2 1/2 hr flight vs a 4-6 hr flight...I'll do the 2 1/2 and get out in orlando and stretch my legs there

In winter in Upstate NY you have to consider the possibility that weather will play a factor in your arrival. We have been flying out of Newburg to take advantage of Non-stop flights. If you are going in the summer you just have to consider where the connecting flight is coming from...and if that area is prone to severe thunder storms or tornados etc.

 

[monorailsilver]

My advice, pay more for the direct flight.

We flew in 2005 with my then 4 yo dd & 20 month ds.

The flights from Hartford direct on Delta were around $220-$230. But I found a flight from Hartford to Colombus to Orlando.

Lets just say, 2 kids, strollers & crap for them on the plane lugging them around was not fun in Columbus. Not to mention the flights were short so as soon as the DVD player came out, crayons, etc..I felt like we had to put them away again.

I think we left Hartford at around 10 am & didn't get into Orlando until 4. That was a long day.

 

[jewelmicky]

It was worth it to us to pay the little extra for the nonstop...from Detroit to Orlando and back...the $$$ difference really wasn't all that much.

 

[Taja]

As you say, it probably doesn't matter. It's our return flight from Orlando (we will fly direct out of Buffalo to avoid weather delays - we're traveling in March), so weather shouldn't be a big issue.

I called the airline (SW) to ask whether we would be able to get off the plane during the stop at BWI. The agent said that it would be a quick stop, just to allow other passengers to get on the plane. As you say, though, you never know what may happen with the schedule between now and then, and it may end up being a connecting flight.

The other airline is AirTran. We've had good luck with connections in ATL with them in the past - both flights have always been in the same concourse.

I've had good experiences with SWA direct flights with one or two stops. Preference is non-stop, of course, but I'll take a stop or two over a connecting flight almost any day!

SWA is very straight forward with their flight information--or have been in the past. If they say it is one-stop continuing on the same plane, it will be, barring mechanical issues or something completely unforeseen when scheduling (does happen occasionally, but rarely).

 

[DebbieB]

I haven't seen it happen with SW but often with other airlines "direct" flights turn into connections. The plane will get to the gate and they will announce an "equipment change", which means you have to get off and go to another gate, just like a connection. If the first flight is delayed, they may still run the second leg ontime, which means you missed it. The sad part if you are collecting frequent flyer miles is they calculate the miles straight through, you get more miles if they are 2 separate flights and often it turns into 2 separate flights but you still don't get credit. Again, I haven't heard of it happening on SW, but I have seen it plenty of times on USAirways.

 

[twinmommyks]

I vote for NON-Stop!!!! Having flown 3 times in 6 years with small children, I couldn't imagine having to get off the plane, have a layover and reboard again.

We flew to Chicago with twin one-year olds and a 6 year old, then to Orlando with twin 4 year olds and a 9 year old, and then to Anaheim with twin 5 year olds and a 10 year old. Every flight was non-stop through SW airlines and I wouldn't do it any other way, especially when they were smaller and we had strollers and all that extra stuff. Even now that they will be 7, 7, and 12 when we fly in May, we are still flying non-stop. Even with the longer flight to California, I still would go non-stop.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

When are you flying? Airtran offers a midafternoon nonstop. Jetblue has a morning. Southwest has 3 nonstops per day, morning, early afternoon, and evening.

For our May flights, all of the above are $99-110 one way. And the flights with layovers or stops are the same price or higher.

Just curious. Our kids are 3 and 4.5 at the moment, and nothing beats that 2-1/2 hour nonstop flight.

We did a layover in Atlanta last Feb. Had to switch terminals dragging both kids, my mom, and all our carryons. Second plane was delayed, then they overbooked it so we waited longer while they tried to get voluntary bumps. DH said never again.

 

[snowy76]

I'd say go with the nonstop if only because the layover in ATL is only an hour. For that airport, that can be really cutting it close... especially if you have kids and carseats!

 

[MrMarv]

A direct flight always involves a single aircraft, so there's no way for any airline to disguise a flight which stops from your starting point to your destination point as to whether it's a direct flight or a connecting one.

One quick peek at the airline's website or your ticket will clearly show that.

If you're flying SW, their scheduling is built on very short stops (20-25 minutes tops) and very short periods between connecting flights, but at least you won't have to worry about clearing security again if you're taking a flight which involves making a connection.

And I agree with everyone else--a one-hour gap between flights is pretty close, but should be manageable, and especially if you're not flying on Delta.

Also,

 

[MrMarv]

An airline cannot disguise any flight as it relates to the issue of whether or not it's a direct flight (no change of plane, with one or more stops along the way) or a connecting flight, which involves utilizing two different aircraft between your origination point and your destination point, and requires a stop and a change of aircraft along the way.

A one-hour period for changing planes in Atlanta should be fine as long as you're not flying on Delta.

 

[disneylandkids]

Nonstop.

I'm a big believer of going to the airport, checking bags, getting on a plane, arriving at the destination airport, getting my bags, and going on my way.

EVERY time we've had connecting flights, we've had delays, lost bags, or other mishaps. We have had horrific experiences with having to get to different terminals in impossibly short times, all while lugging diaper bags, other carry ons, and pushing our three little ones in two strollers. It was simply insane (but some of that was 'thanks' to frequent flier award tickets).

No. No. No. Direct is it.

 

[Mikelly1221]

I'm going to agree on nonstop and add to say that having only a 1 hour layover in Atlanta is a setup for disaster! That airport is ridiculously large. We somehow always end up coming in from the opposite side that we have to leave from. Plus add up all the stuff you'd have to be toting, and it's not a good scene!

 

[MouseyMin]

If you can't get a non-stop flight at a reasonable price, your next best bet is the direct flight with one stop. As previously stated by someone, you can leave the car seats in place while you stretch your legs. But the most important reason is this - your checked bags won't have to change planes. This is very important, as I've seen some cases where people were able to run to the next gate in time, but the bags didn't make the transfer on time. And Atlanta is a HUGE airport - I wouldn't chance it. I've been to Baltimore on Southwest a few times - it's a very pleasant terminal to spend a few minutes.