Multi-Stop Same Plane Trip - Concerns?
 

Hi. I am currently planning a trip from DC to Denver. One of the cheapest (and surprisingly quickest) connecting routings WN shows me is IAD-MDW-COS-DEN, all on the same plane. Should this present any concerns to me? Especially regarding checked baggage? I assume WN has procedures ensuring a through bag gets kept on the plane, but I've never been on a routing such as this. Are there any other concerns I should think of? Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

These days, I’d definitely have concerns. If you have to be somewhere by a certain time, book a smarter route.

Date?

You should be OK. These days there's a crew shortage. Your crew might not stay with the plane, so you could be left without a crew for a while.. But the bag will stay on. If it's the first flight of the day the crew is more likely to remain on board for all 3 legs.

Don't they have multiple daily nonstop flights between IAD-DEN?

Looks like it is just one daily these days. UA has plenty though. No way I am taking this routing unless the price is really outrageous for the non stops.

BWI as an option
 

Any chance you could use BWI instead of IAD? There should be some better options from there.

There are 4 nonstop flights daily from BWI - DEN.
Take Amtrak from DC to BWI.

Be careful of the “same plane” mentality. I had a flight from DTW-BNA-MSY which both segments had the same flight number. The first flight got delayed and so at BNA since there were so few “continuing on” they made a judgement to get a different plane for the BNA-MSY portion to get back on-time. I missed the connection and had to spend the night in BNA. I still don’t get how they could have two flights in the air at the same time with the same flight number. Regardless, I’d be more concerned about issues with 2 stops and getting delayed or stuck somewhere over feeling like you were safe cause WN “claims” no plane change.

I've seen that once. IIRC they add 8000 to the flight number for the second plane.

Close - stubs start 9000 and go up, resetting daily.

I really don't see any issue here. OP says he's on a flight that makes two stops between Dulles and Denver, but he doesn't even have to change planes. His luggage will be on the same plane.

Please don't ask readers on FT to decide whether trying to find a different connection for you that is quicker but costs more, or a connection that takes longer but costs less, is preferable They don't know you. Only YOU, as the OP, are empowered to make that call.

My record is a nine hour SJC-LAS-TPA-NYC same plane 9 hour marathon. No baggage / operational issues. Exit row the entire way, that is one benefit. Bring food...

Thanks for the replies, everyone. The date I was looking at was 9/17. And the flight is a 0645 departure, so it's the first flight of the day, so I assume the crew would be with the plane at least through to DEN?

There are plenty of UA non-stops around the same price, so that's probably the safest choice. I guess the bag fee is a small price to pay to not stop twice on the way to DEN.

Thanks again!

Gimme a break. OP asked for thoughts, which is what he received, including from you.