Originally Posted by
TMetanova
Yes, Sunday 18. With everything on time I should be landing at 11 am via Southwest and departing at 2:17 pm in United (I have been following flights for months now and they seem to be earlier).
That’s not particularly a peak time of day, in the few times I’ve had flights scheduled around that time. Southwest arrives into the main terminal, so you’ll be exiting past security, going down to baggage claim, picking up your bags, taking them back upstairs to the ticket counter, checking them with UA, and then going through security.
Originally Posted by
TMetanova
TSA stats are usually under 30 min but I do need to check in at the counter (Travel Ready Center says so).
30 minutes would qualify as a long wait at AUS.
As a 1K, I do get Premier Access for free, but I can tell you this: I regularly arrive at the AUS airport parking garage less than an hour before my flight (no checked bags). Recently, on a trip when I did need to check bags, I arrived 55 minutes prior to my flight (baggage cut-off time is 45 minutes). I haven’t missed a flight yet, and I don’t have pre-check or CLEAR. On peak travel days, I
have seen long lines at the UA counter, but mostly for the 6 AM bank of departures, and rarely after that.
Buying Premier Access would basically be insurance against Southwest arriving 2 hours late. If they arrive less than 2 hours late, you should be fine.