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It's the time of the year where I start looking at vacation plans next year. One of the things I'm looking at layover times at the various airports I may be flying through. One of those airports is Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport.
Planning ahead before booking a flight, I thought I would see what those who fly through that airport feels is the minimum amount of time needed for a layover there? FYI, the most likely airline I would use is Southwest airline.
I had a return Southwest flight layover last year at BWI. It was relatively easy to go between the terminals but I did have a very large gap between my flights.
...I'm looking at layover times at the various airports I may be flying through.
One of those airports is Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport.
... (what is) the minimum amount of time needed for a layover there?
Do you mean hanging around the airport lounges until the transfer flight is called to board?
Two stiff drinks and maybe a sandwich.
Do you mean layover as a touristy night (or more) and catch a later flight?
Start with the schedules of the several rail line choices to B'more or DC.
If you have the $$ arrange for sedan service direct to the lobby.
I mean how much time should I have between the first flight landing and the second flight taking off. I've seen everything from 55 minutes to 4 hours and some change. I personally think 55 minutes is cutting it pretty close, but 4 hours seems rather excessive.
I would go to the airport's website and find that out. Airports typically would tell you the minimum time required to transit at that location. Each airport is different due to size, volume, whether you're transiting during peak hours or not, etc. BWI is a smaller airport so the air traffic shouldn't be so bad.
Having said that, after missing my overseas onward flight at JFK due to FAA traffic control delay (despite having 2.5 hours transit time), I will no longer transit with anything less than 3 hours transit time.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Originally Posted by xxmagex
I mean how much time should I have between the first flight landing and the second flight taking off. I've seen everything from 55 minutes to 4 hours and some change. I personally think 55 minutes is cutting it pretty close, but 4 hours seems rather excessive.
missing information (which is pertinent)
#1, Are you arriving as an international passenger? (SWA arrives BWI from Caribbean locations, then you need to clear immigration and recheck luggage)
#2, Is your connection SWA>SWA or are you switching carriers in BWI?
#3, if SWA (or any continuing connection) your available flights are within the specified connection time.
#4, Are you on a late flight (end of day can accrue delayed flights) but... your carrier will make your connection valid.
SWA allows 45 min connections in BWI. An hour should be plenty if you are OCD.
remember...
Arrivals are 'arrive at gate', not disembarking time of all passengers. (I've seen over (10) wheel chair passengers who must be removed before others can de-plane.)
Doors close 10 - 20 min before departure.
That's another option if you are concerned. Book a wheelchair requirement.
I mean how much time should I have between the first flight landing and the second flight taking off.
I've seen everything from 55 minutes to 4 hours and some change.
How far is your gate from that lounge? So... maybe 55min PLUS the walk/gate time.
In the morning most flights are not delayed. The later, the higher the chance. I had one time, the doors where closed, and they opened for me and 1 other person. I got a massage on the phone the plane would wait. I think it was Dulles.
BWI is an easy airport to navigate. Southwest flies into Concourses A and B and also a portion of C. All three of them are connected airside so you won't have to go through security again. At a normal walking pace, I would estimate that it would take about 10-12 minutes between the two farthest gates. There are moving sidewalks within Concourses A and B, and also for about half the distance down the corridor between B and C.
Allowing 10 minutes to deplane (this, of course, can vary according to where you sit, how many wheelchairs are deplaning, etc.), and requiring to be at your connecting gate 10 minutes before departure, if your first flight is on time, you could make it with a scheduled connection of 30 minutes. Personally, I wouldn't be comfortable with anything less than an hour, because I like to leave a cushion for delays.
Incidentally, there is a good selection of restaurants at BWI, including fast-food as well as several sit-down restaurants. So if you have enough time built into your schedule, you won't go hungry. Most (though not all) of the fast food is in a row between Concourses A and B, and fronting the row is a huge glass wall, from which you can watch the planes take off and land. All in all, I think it's one of the better airports out there.
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