SW change planes question

DonaldnDaisy5

DIS Veteran
Joined
Mar 22, 2012
Finding airfare for our August trip has been trying to say the least.

Finally have a somewhat reasonable flight for way down on SW, because of no baggage fees, with a decent arrival time, however SW it is not a nonstop flight. We change planes in Atlanta :sad2: with 4 kids and approximately an hour between flights...anyway...when we check in will we have to check in twice (24 hours between each flight) or will we get two different boarding numbers when we check in for the first flight? :earsboy::confused:
 
You will get boarding passes for both legs when you check in for the first leg of the flight.
 
Finding airfare for our August trip has been trying to say the least.

Finally have a somewhat reasonable flight for way down on SW, because of no baggage fees, with a decent arrival time, however SW it is not a nonstop flight. We change planes in Atlanta :sad2: with 4 kids and approximately an hour between flights...anyway...when we check in will we have to check in twice (24 hours between each flight) or will we get two different boarding numbers when we check in for the first flight? :earsboy::confused:
remember boarding starts 30 minutes before departure time. so you really only have about 30 minutes to deplane and get to your gate for boarding. you can have a walk between gates esp if you have gate checked anything
 


It's considered one flight so when you check in 24 hours prior you'll be checking in once for boath legs and you can print both boarding passes.
All you have to do is walk off one plane and down the hall to the next.
Airlines group their gates so you'll probably only have to walk a few gates away.
An hour is plenty of time to walk off one plane and even go to the bathroom with the 4 kids and walk to the next gate before the boarding process even begins as long as your first flight lands on time.
 
Thank you! We've only been through Atlanta once and that was MANY moons and before kids ago! Makes me feel a bit better! Kids are 14, 12, 7, and 6 so not itty bittys at least!
 
My next question, which may need to be posted separately is whether we can check 2 booster seats. If flights home don't come down we may do a one way rental and drive home. :sad::charac2:o_O
 


Remember with only an hour between flights you goal is to get to the second flight. Before you stop for anything, make sure you are near your gate. That means no bathroom stops, no snack stop, nothing until you know you are by your gate. Maybe have the kids use the lavatory on the airplane before you start to descend. Sit as close to the front as you can too on the first plane, to cut down on the time you are stuck behind other passengers waiting to get off.

Atlanta is huge, so even if airlines are grouped together, your gates can be quite a ways away from each other. Get to your connecting flight before you do anything else.
 
Well, after a VERY long booking process we ended up on a different flight in order to all get the lower price. Still with an hour layover but now in St Louis instead. I have zero experience there, so that makes me a bit more nervous. There will be no stopping until we are at next gate.
 
I see you went to another airport, but for anyone reading this thread in the future, the SW gates in Atlanta are close together. We have changed there a few times with only 45 minutes, which was plenty of time.
 
St. Louis airport will be even easier than Atlanta. All of the SW gates are in close proximity to each other. You can easily go between the two furthest SW gates in under 10 min, even with a bathroom break.

No worries!

Steve
 
Well, after a VERY long booking process we ended up on a different flight in order to all get the lower price. Still with an hour layover but now in St Louis instead. I have zero experience there, so that makes me a bit more nervous. There will be no stopping until we are at next gate.
should be easier to make at St Louis than Atlanta. I would be less worried now than with the time in Atlanta
 
St. Louis airport will be even easier than Atlanta. All of the SW gates are in close proximity to each other. You can easily go between the two furthest SW gates in under 10 min, even with a bathroom break.

No worries!

Steve

Awesome! And we won't need the boosters until the way home. Planning on using ME from airport to hotel.
 
remember boarding starts 30 minutes before departure time. so you really only have about 30 minutes to deplane and get to your gate for boarding. you can have a walk between gates esp if you have gate checked anything

Yes, this. I had an hour layover in Atlanta last trip. By the time our plane got to the gate, I got off, quick used the restroom, and found my gate, my next flight had already begun boarding and I had just missed my boarding position. I was able to board immediately since my position had already passed, but it might be a bummer for someone who has purchased EBCI and loses the advantage with a layover.
 
The St. Louis airport, specifically the SW terminal, are extremely close together. You could make it from one end to the other in five minutes.
 
Yes, this. I had an hour layover in Atlanta last trip. By the time our plane got to the gate, I got off, quick used the restroom, and found my gate, my next flight had already begun boarding and I had just missed my boarding position. I was able to board immediately since my position had already passed, but it might be a bummer for someone who has purchased EBCI and loses the advantage with a layover.
was not Atlanta but one flight I was one had only enough people boarding to have thru B15 or 20. there were that many people already on plane so seats together were hard to come by as it was a full plane when leaving there. EBCI sure did not help on that flight
 

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