what does flight layover mean?

[dana1003]

ok so we found these really great fares for 104$ rt to orlando but it makes one stop and says the layover is 1 1/2 ...doesnt say anything about switching planes so..my question is..does that mean we have to sit on the runway for that long on the plane or can we get out, maybe grab a bite to eat and then get back on? we have never traveled w/a layover so dont know what to expect..oh and.. we're traveling w/2 toddlers...should we do it?

leaves ny at 10;30
arrives in miami at 1:30
1 1/2 layover
miami to orlando for one hour

thanks

 

[blanq]

You will be switching planes, with a connection in miami.

 

[dana1003]

thank you...ok thats not so bad..sitting on a plane while its not moving would have drove me crazy!!

 

[TifffanyD]

I have actually had flight layovers where you stop but do not get off the plane, most notably with Southwest. I would fly from Cleveland to Chicago, sit on the plane, and wait for ppl to board to go to St. Louis. But in those cases, when it was awhile, they did let you get off the plane for food and such.

 

[MiniGirl]

ok so we found these really great fares for 104$ rt to orlando but it makes one stop and says the layover is 1 1/2 ...doesnt say anything about switching planes so..my question is..does that mean we have to sit on the runway for that long on the plane or can we get out, maybe grab a bite to eat and then get back on? we have never traveled w/a layover so dont know what to expect..oh and.. we're traveling w/2 toddlers...should we do it?

leaves ny at 10;30
arrives in miami at 1:30
1 1/2 layover
miami to orlando for one hour

thanks

Check your flight numbers. If those are the same, you are probably on the same plane. If they are different flights, then you will probably switch planes. Same thing with seat numbers. If they are different, they are on different planes. If they are the same, it could go either way.

Also, 90 minutes is a long time. Even if you are on the same plane, you will undoubtedly be encouraged to get off the plane and stretch your legs. If you stay on board, a flight attendant has to stay with you and that could make him/her late getting to the next flight or getting home, etc -- not to mention they don't get paid for staying on board with passengers.

Have a great time and enjoy MIA. There used to be a couple of good Cuban restuarants in the airport where you could grab a quick bite to eat. Don't know if they're still there though. Anyway, have fun.

 

[ceecee]

You will change planes if you have two different flight numbers, not if you don't. Normally when they just add passangers to an existing flight, it is a minimal wait so with that much time you are probably getting on another flight.

 

[blanq]

I think we are talking semantics. I consider a "direct" flight one in which passengers do not have to change planes, but it may involve one or more stops en route. Direct flights keep the same flight number. I consider a layover one that involves a plane change. I could be wrong.

 

[Banana magic]

Which airline are you on? Even if the same plane continues to Orlando, they would let you deplane. With that amount of time, they may actually have a crew change in Miami.

 

[ceecee]

I think we are talking semantics. I consider a "direct" flight one in which passengers do not have to change planes, but it may involve one or more stops en route. Direct flights keep the same flight number. I consider a layover one that involves a plane change. I could be wrong.

A direct flight is one with no stops.

 

[LadyyRedd]

A direct flight is one with no stops.

I thought that was a non-stop?

I thought it was:

non-stop flight = no stops
direct flight = may have a stop, but no change of planes
layover = change of planes

But then again, I may be wrong also! lol

Kimya

 

[kaytieeldr]

A direct flight is one with no stops.

Nope, a non-stop flight is a flight with no stops.
A direct flight is one where the plane stops at one or more airports between your embarkation and your destination, but your entire trip is (usually) on that one plane.

 

[MrMarv]

A direct flight is ALWAYS on the same plane, with a stop (or two) between your starting point and your destination.

That's been the standard at Southwest during their entire 36-year history.

For instance, in flying SWA from LA to Chicago, I can either fly non-stop several times a day, or on a direct flight, such as the one they have which stops twice in Las Vegas & Omaha en route from LA to the Windy City, but with NO change of planes.

 

[DOOM1001]

thank you...ok thats not so bad..sitting on a plane while its not moving would have drove me crazy!!

I had a flight from Miami to San Francisco with a stop in Dallas,everything was fine until we had to sit on the runway before taking off for S.F. for almost 2 hours,apparently San Francisco was backed up so they just made us sit there.I've never felt claustrophobic before,at least not like this,I had no idea when they were taking off,they didn't say anything and I literally had to tell myself to breathe deeply and think happy thoughts to avoid freaking out!! I was pretty darn close to jumping out of my seat and telling a stewardess to let me out!!

After we took off, the flight the whole way was awesome,I felt great.But just sitting on the runway for some reason seriously got to me!!

 

[dana1003]

ok i just looked at the itinerary and i do see 2 different flight #s-one from here(newark) to miami then i see miami w/a different flight # to orlando. so i guess that means 2 different planes? layover an 1 1/2 ..ok another tricky question (by the way-all the feedback from everyone has been great!)

can they keep you on the same plane but just change the flight # because now the location is different?

and i feel the same way ...i would start to freak out if tehy kept us confined but not moving..especially my 3 year old twins

 

[dana1003]

Which airline are you on? Even if the same plane continues to Orlando, they would let you deplane. With that amount of time, they may actually have a crew change in Miami.

spirit

 

[lastminutemom]

Even with direct flights (those that make a stop before your destination), the airline usually lets you off and you reboard with all the new passengers. You can leave your (non valuable) possessions on the plane. That said, if the layover is to short, they won't let you off. An hour and a half, they would certainly let you off.

But, it is unlikely that it is the same plane anyway.

 

[MiniGirl]

ok i just looked at the itinerary and i do see 2 different flight #s-one from here(newark) to miami then i see miami w/a different flight # to orlando. so i guess that means 2 different planes? layover an 1 1/2 ..ok another tricky question (by the way-all the feedback from everyone has been great!)

can they keep you on the same plane but just change the flight # because now the location is different?

and i feel the same way ...i would start to freak out if tehy kept us confined but not moving..especially my 3 year old twins

Yes, they can change the flight # and keep the same plane and often do in your situation. Generally, the plane will go from one end of the system to the other (in this instance north to south). It will then turn around and go the other way with a new flight number. Since I don't think Spirit goes any further south than MIA (no islands), I would think the plane changes flight #s there for its journey back up north. However, with 90 minutes, you would still be encouraged to get off the plane.

As far as the lingo goes..... when I was a flight attendant, we called a non-stop a flight that, obviously, had no stops. A direct flight was a flight from point A to B with at least one stop in between and the same flight #, we called the time between flights "sit time," and we used "layover" to say where we would be sleeping that night. So, in your situation, I'd say you have 90 minutes of sit time or a 90 minute sit.

Have a great time.

 

[Banana magic]

ok i just looked at the itinerary and i do see 2 different flight #s-one from here(newark) to miami then i see miami w/a different flight # to orlando. so i guess that means 2 different planes? layover an 1 1/2 ..ok another tricky question (by the way-all the feedback from everyone has been great!)

can they keep you on the same plane but just change the flight # because now the location is different?

and i feel the same way ...i would start to freak out if tehy kept us confined but not moving..especially my 3 year old twins

I am not too familiar with Spirit, but if you show 2 different flight numbers, then you are most likely changing planes. I looked at their website and saw a flight with times like yours from LGA to FLL (Fort Lauderdale) with 2 different flight numbers to get to Orlando. The best thing to do would be to check with Spirit though to be sure.

Yes, airlines can change the flight number because the locations are different. Either way, with that amount of layover,they would most likely have you deplane, esp with 2 small children. They will then be able to service the plane (fuel, clean interior, service restrooms, etc).