One of the Best SW Transfer Points - Far Better Stop Than Denver
SITREP
All things being equal, not all SouthWest Airlines Airport Concourses treat you the same. Some are better with their connected flight logistics than others.
SETUP
Take my recent trip to New Orleans. The flight going there had me switch places in Denver, CO. The flight back had me switching here in Las Vegas, NV.
TRANSFER IN DENVER TO NOLA - NIGHTMARE
Flying in from Sacramento on Flight 580 on Thursday morning to Denver. Deplaning from that flight, and transferring to the Seattle Flight enroute to New Orleans that stops in Denver. I arrive at Gate C29 and I am supposed to get to Gate C49 almost a mile away. I have a planned 40 minutes between arrival and departure to sprint down the C Concourse. And that's if the plane arrives on time. Which it didn't. It was about 10-15 minutes late.
So from the moment I get off my Sacramento Flight to the where I am to catch transfer to the Seattle Flight going to New Orleans at Denver, I am making a mad dash to try to catch my plane.
TRANSER IN VEGAS ON WAY BACK TO SACRAMENTO - GREAT
Flight was actually 30 minutes early on top of a 1 hour lay-over. The Gates were only only TWO (2) gates apart. I had to time to catch my breath. Get some breakfast. Set up the laptop and do some wifi'ing before getting on my transferred flight back to Sacramento. Totally relaxed.
THE LOWDOWN
I like it when a flight plan with a transfer gives you enough time and doesn't make you engage in a sprint to catch your transfer flight. SouthWest Airlines in Vegas did it right.