Young Travelers Connection
Apr 10, 22, 5:50 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: TUL
Programs: Hertz PC, National Exec Elite, HHonors Gold
Posts: 983
Young Travelers Connection
My wife and I are talking about sending our daughters out to NJ to spend time with their grandparents, for a few weeks this summer, before the two of us drive out there. We live in Tulsa, and they would fly to either PHL or BWI. They are old enough to fly WN unsupervised, but not with the other airlines. We can fly them out of Tulsa and they would have a connection in either STL or MDW. I have never been to MDW and haven't been to STL since AA downgraded its hub status. Is that a doable connection for a young teen? The other options are drive the 4+ hours to DAL and fly them nonstop, or use AA and pay the $150 plus luggage.
Apr 10, 22, 8:03 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: OSH
Programs: SWRR, HH, SM, TSA Pre
Posts: 678
I've never been to STL but MDW is easily navigable by just about anyone. All of the SW gates are in one concourse and everything you need is within probably 100 yds. I've been navigating MDW since I was 9 and it's only gotten easier with the renovations. Agree with PP that I'd rather be at MDW for IRROPS than STL, just due to the sheer number of flights.
Apr 10, 22, 9:14 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: TOL
Posts: 639
STL is pretty easy to navigate, too. Southwest is in their own terminal and their gates are basically all in a line and numbered sequentially. MDW is a little more complicated with two concourses plus a very long walkway to two of the Southwest gates. As other posters mentioned, MDW likely has more flight options if something goes wrong with their connection. Try to get flights in the morning if you can to help reduce the chance of an unplanned overnight stay.
Apr 10, 22, 4:48 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ORD, MDW or MKE
Programs: American and Southwest. Hilton and Marriott hotels primarily.
Posts: 6,434
All of the SW gates are in one concourse and everything you need is within probably 100 yds. I've been navigating MDW since I was 9 and it's only gotten easier with the renovations. Agree with PP that I'd rather be at MDW for IRROPS than STL, just due to the sheer number of flights.
Apr 10, 22, 8:46 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2012
Location: DCA, lived MCI, SEA/PDX,BUF (born/raised)
Programs: Marriott (Silver/Gold), IHG, Carlson, Best Western, Choice( Gold), AS (MVP), WN, UA
Posts: 8,231
My wife and I are talking about sending our daughters out to NJ to spend time with their grandparents, for a few weeks this summer, before the two of us drive out there. We live in Tulsa, and they would fly to either PHL or BWI. They are old enough to fly WN unsupervised, but not with the other airlines. We can fly them out of Tulsa and they would have a connection in either STL or MDW. I have never been to MDW and haven't been to STL since AA downgraded its hub status. Is that a doable connection for a young teen? The other options are drive the 4+ hours to DAL and fly them nonstop, or use AA and pay the $150 plus luggage.
MDW or BNA are better options. Those two are major hubs. STL isnt much of one.
Does the children understand how an airport works and how to find where a connection is?
does one of them have their own cellphone?
ive travelled thru both MDW and BNA airports many many times.
MDW is basically in a squared U shape with V like angles. One side is A and other is B. Signage is clear.
BNA has an expanded structure with a new terminal thats mainly southwest ( C and D).
Apr 11, 22, 1:46 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: DEN
Posts: 260
Slight off-topic, but this isn't quite true. STL has been growing as MDW approaches capacity constraints for growth. I picked a random weekday in early June, for example, BNA has 138 daily departures while STL has 122. (MDW has 259 on that day)
Apr 11, 22, 8:58 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2012
Location: DCA, lived MCI, SEA/PDX,BUF (born/raised)
Programs: Marriott (Silver/Gold), IHG, Carlson, Best Western, Choice( Gold), AS (MVP), WN, UA
Posts: 8,231
as a result they cut bna and bwi XC routes.
Apr 12, 22, 6:10 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: STL
Programs: DL, AA, UA, WN, Hyatt, HHonors, Avis Pref+
Posts: 164
the increase is because of cuts due to Covid/ staffing forcing more hub spoke routing utilizing more of St. Louis and using more mid of the country on east/ wes5 flights with stop overs. They expanded St. Louis because of the mdw issue.
as a result they cut bna and bwi XC routes.
as a result they cut bna and bwi XC routes.
I agree that MDW has more options for rebooking if operations have issues, but MDW also can have more problems with weather. Storms in Chicago can mess things up for hours. Things recover quicker for STL & BNA. Booking morning flights would be recommended.
Apr 13, 22, 9:18 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: RNO
Programs: AA/DL/UA
Posts: 10,450
Apr 14, 22, 8:40 am
#12
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DAY
Programs: Rapid Rewards, Skymiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG/Marriott Rewards
Posts: 4,691
Sure, it's easy if everything goes right. What happens if it doesn't? Do these girls have a way of buying another flight? I doubt they are old enough to have credit cards. What if they were to get stuck in their connecting city? No reputable hotel is going to rent a a room to someone under 18.
Apr 14, 22, 8:50 am
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,112
You should look specifically at the morning flights you would choose and then see what Plan B, Plan C, etc. would be if they were to miss the connection at MDW, STL, BWI, etc. The total number of flights at the respective airports doesn't matter if there isn't another one to your destination.
Apr 14, 22, 9:06 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,428
Sure, it's easy if everything goes right. What happens if it doesn't? Do these girls have a way of buying another flight? I doubt they are old enough to have credit cards. What if they were to get stuck in their connecting city? No reputable hotel is going to rent a a room to someone under 18.
Apr 14, 22, 11:44 am
#15
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,650
I would go with whatever airport combination had the most flight AFTER your scheduled arrival from TUL, e.g MDW-BWI, MDW-PHL, STL-BWI or STL-PHL
I'm guessing MDW-BWI & MDW-PHL, nice that you have both options for pickup.
MDW is prone to heavy thunderstorms late spring / early summer, I've been stranded at MDW several times.
Tricky decision given today's thin schedules, crowded plans, "young teens" and just general bad flying attitudes of late. I would lean towards the other direct options or perhaps escorting them to the connection if flush with points?
Good luck!
I'm guessing MDW-BWI & MDW-PHL, nice that you have both options for pickup.
MDW is prone to heavy thunderstorms late spring / early summer, I've been stranded at MDW several times.
Tricky decision given today's thin schedules, crowded plans, "young teens" and just general bad flying attitudes of late. I would lean towards the other direct options or perhaps escorting them to the connection if flush with points?
Good luck!
