Which would you pick?

[CalSea12]

We decided for many reasons to change our vacation from July to October. If the parks are open and we get to go in October we obviously would have to change our flights.

It will be me, and my 5 YO DD, we are coming from SLC. So... I am having a hard time picking flights... I have three options:

1. 6:25 AM- 4PM ( this is a 8 hour flight because we will have 2 stay 1-hour on the plane stops in Dallas and Austin.) I worry here because I dunno how I feel about keeping my 5 YO on a flight for 8 hours with no get up and move layover. If they would actually let us get up and grab some food or something this would be a great option!

2. 6:25- 5:25 ( we have a 4 hour layover in Dallas...) this layover seems super long for a 5 YO but at least its a break for her. Not sure what we would do for 4 hours in an airport.

3. 7:35-4:25 (I actually prefer this flight but there is a 1.5 hour layover in Chicago) I worry about Chicago because I know how that state is being right now... I don't wanna get stuck there and my worries for this might be moot but...

So what do you think? What would you do?

 

[spiders]

You should avoid Chicago as much as possible during snow season. There are constant flow control constraints that can ruin your day.

 

[sam_gordon]

We decided for many reasons to change our vacation from July to October. If the parks are open and we get to go in October we obviously would have to change our flights.

It will be me, and my 5 YO DD, we are coming from SLC. So... I am having a hard time picking flights... I have three options:

1. 6:25 AM- 4PM ( this is a 8 hour flight because we will have 2 stay 1-hour on the plane stops in Dallas and Austin.) I worry here because I dunno how I feel about keeping my 5 YO on a flight for 8 hours with no get up and move layover. If they would actually let us get up and grab some food or something this would be a great option!

2. 6:25- 5:25 ( we have a 4 hour layover in Dallas...) this layover seems super long for a 5 YO but at least its a break for her. Not sure what we would do for 4 hours in an airport.

3. 7:35-4:25 (I actually prefer this flight but there is a 1.5 hour layover in Chicago) I worry about Chicago because I know how that state is being right now... I don't wanna get stuck there and my worries for this might be moot but...

So what do you think? What would you do?

I would go with #3. An extra hour of sleep and get in only 25 minutes later than #1? No brainer to me. And PP claim about avoiding Chicago during snow season would usually carry some weight in my decision making, but I wouldn't come close to categorizing October as "snow season".

I'm not sure why you're concerned about what Illinois is doing right now. October is five months away and a lot of things can happen by then. Personally, I wouldn't book anything because I'm not confident things will be open enough to enjoy, and unless the airline cancels the flight, you're out the money. It doesn't matter if you decide not to go.

 

[Spunky946]

I’d do number 3. chicago Would be just like stopping anywhere else. Have you checked other airlines?

 

[DisLiss]

I would personally avoid #1 at all costs. *I* don't even like to be stuck in a plane for 8 hours, never mind a 5 year old.

The 4 hour layover can be broken into chunks...get something to eat, take a walk around, spend time playing a small game you can have with you--card game, dice game, etc. if you really want to avoid Chicago. I think my choice would be to go ahead with the Chicago one, though.

 

[CalSea12]

I would go with #3. An extra hour of sleep and get in only 25 minutes later than #1? No brainer to me. And PP claim about avoiding Chicago during snow season would usually carry some weight in my decision making, but I wouldn't come close to categorizing October as "snow season".

I'm not sure why you're concerned about what Illinois is doing right now. October is five months away and a lot of things can happen by then. Personally, I wouldn't book anything because I'm not confident things will be open enough to enjoy, and unless the airline cancels the flight, you're out the money. It doesn't matter if you decide not to go.

A good point and I wouldn't buy it if it wasn't already bought for July :/... I am just moving it... just wasn't sure which was the best flight option. I bought my airfare in Feb for July so, unfortunately, I can't change the not buying it thing. If things end up where we cant go in October either then, unfortunately, we will just be out the airfare money.

 

[brockash]

We decided for many reasons to change our vacation from July to October. If the parks are open and we get to go in October we obviously would have to change our flights.

It will be me, and my 5 YO DD, we are coming from SLC. So... I am having a hard time picking flights... I have three options:

1. 6:25 AM- 4PM ( this is a 8 hour flight because we will have 2 stay 1-hour on the plane stops in Dallas and Austin.) I worry here because I dunno how I feel about keeping my 5 YO on a flight for 8 hours with no get up and move layover. If they would actually let us get up and grab some food or something this would be a great option!

2. 6:25- 5:25 ( we have a 4 hour layover in Dallas...) this layover seems super long for a 5 YO but at least its a break for her. Not sure what we would do for 4 hours in an airport.

3. 7:35-4:25 (I actually prefer this flight but there is a 1.5 hour layover in Chicago) I worry about Chicago because I know how that state is being right now... I don't wanna get stuck there and my worries for this might be moot but...

So what do you think? What would you do?

Honestly; I'd probably do the 2nd one 4 hrs in Dallas. Dallas used to (not sure if still does) have a nice play area.. 5s probably on the older side, but she could still get some energy out. It's a nicer airport to spend time in as there's a train, various food establishments etc. I'd maybe try to do a sitdown meal to kill some time.

8 hrs with 2 stops and being stuck, not moving on a plane twice for an hr would be pretty frustrating.

I try to always avoid Chicago as we've never been able to get through there without issues (usually pretty ling delays.)

 

[kaytieeldr]

#1 Only if flying Southwest and you think you might want to change seats at one or both stops. By October, everybody might have to exit the plane, for sanitation. But you probably won't have time to get food.

#2 https://thepointsguy.com/2015/07/your-layover-guide-to-dallas-texas-dfw/

#3 Agree with @sam_gordon. Don't know what you mean by what's going on in Illinois, but it's a big state, so whatever is going on likely has no effect on Chiago airports.

 

[gatour]

My first choice would be the Chicago layover.
Second choice would be the Dallas layover. I am pretty good at keeping myself entertained during the long layovers.
No way would I consider the two layovers.

 

[sweetpeama]

Out of your options I would go with option 2 Dallas

I am going to give you option 4 because I have been on it using SLC as a layover spot and that is take Delta. The 9:30 AM flight lands in Orlando at 3:58 PM and we actually landed a little after 3:30 PM when we flew and that was in January so we had to wait while they deiced the plane before take off.
We were able to easily get all 12 of us off the plane, use the restrooms near the gate, get us and our carry ones with a group that included 4 kids ranging in age from 27.5 months old to 6.5 years old,3 seniors 2 of which had double knee replacements 1 of them 4 months before we traveled, and 1 a little over a year out from a heart attack down to Magical Express. We were to our resort on property and easily able to go eat dinner around 6 PM.
Even with the time difference being that it was still around 4 PM back home we had been traveling for 12 hours from our homes to go from our original airport to SLC and had not had an actual meal since our layover in SLC though we did have 2 snacks on the plane. We did take a little bit of time to unpack our carry on luggage and get that organized before we headed over to the resort food court to get something to eat.
My plan when I get a chance to return is to take some time to at least grab a more substancial snack than what we get on the flight at MCO before going and catching DME to the resort even if it's splitting an order of fries perferably loaded cheese fries.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

We decided for many reasons to change our vacation from July to October. If the parks are open and we get to go in October we obviously would have to change our flights.

It will be me, and my 5 YO DD, we are coming from SLC. So... I am having a hard time picking flights... I have three options:

1. 6:25 AM- 4PM ( this is a 8 hour flight because we will have 2 stay 1-hour on the plane stops in Dallas and Austin.) I worry here because I dunno how I feel about keeping my 5 YO on a flight for 8 hours with no get up and move layover. If they would actually let us get up and grab some food or something this would be a great option!

2. 6:25- 5:25 ( we have a 4 hour layover in Dallas...) this layover seems super long for a 5 YO but at least its a break for her. Not sure what we would do for 4 hours in an airport.

3. 7:35-4:25 (I actually prefer this flight but there is a 1.5 hour layover in Chicago) I worry about Chicago because I know how that state is being right now... I don't wanna get stuck there and my worries for this might be moot but...

So what do you think? What would you do?

Option 1. Get it over with as quickly as possible. Try to have your child sleep for a bit during the flight. If that isn't possible, bring electronics/movies, etc. Much easier than dealing with 2 full boardings with a child, plus trying to keep her entertained in the airport between flights, during an overall longer travel experience.

Changing planes also increases the chance you'll face a flight delay or cancellation, or that your luggage will be lost. With this flight, you probably will be allowed off the plane at at least one of the stops, or at least to get up and stretch your legs onboard.

 

[pooch]

Still not sure why snow is being brought up as a concern. Really VERY unlikely in October.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I also agree with a PP to avoid northern cities as a connection due to possible extreme snow stopping flights at the airport.

Honestly, in October you're still much more likely to encounter a tornado in Dallas or a hurricane in Florida, than a snowstorm in Chicago.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Honestly, in October you're still much more likely to encounter a tornado in Dallas or a hurricane in Florida, than a snowstorm in Chicago.

^^^^This. Snow in Chicago before Thanksgiving is a rare occurrence, although we did see some last year. I also remember one other pre-Thanksgiving snow that was substantial enough to affect travel plans. That’s three weeks into November.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

Oops. Didn't notice the Aug - Oct reference. That's what I get for skimming. Took out the snow concern from my post.

 

[sam_gordon]

Option 1. Get it over with as quickly as possible. Try to have your child sleep for a bit during the flight. If that isn't possible, bring electronics/movies, etc. Much easier than dealing with 2 full boardings with a child, plus trying to keep her entertained in the airport between flights, during an overall longer travel experience.

Actually Option 3 would be the quickest of the three. And Option 1 has the plane on the ground at two intermediate airports for an hour each. What's the difference between keeping the child entertained while constrained to the seat vs out in the concourse.

Also OP, don't forget about the time change. SLC is two(?) hours behind Orlando and departure and arrival times will always be LOCAL. So 6:25A-4P would be the equivalent of 6:25A-2P (7:35 duration) 7:35A-4:25P is 7:35A-2:25P (6:55).

 

[Albee]

I would pick #3. By the time you get to the other gate, it will almost or will be boarding. October should not be too busy, unless it's MEA weekend. (MN 3 days off). It will provide movement & less time in transit to FL.

 

[suemom2kay]

I travel 100% for work. I would go with 1.5 hour layover in Chicago. 1.5 hours is the perfect amount of time to not be rushed to make your connection and not having to spend many hours in an airport.

I would avoid #1 at all costs!