Racing To Make A Tight Southwest Airlines Connection
I was late even before I landed.
The Southwest Airlines flight out of New Orleans into Las Vegas left NOLA 20 minutes late and my friend and I were looking at our watches because we were headed to Sin City to make a connection to Los Angeles
We already had a tight time frame to catch the next flight – 45 minutes, which is really closer to about 30 minutes by the time you get off the plane. And now being late, we had less than half an hour to locate our new gate, get to it and line up to board the next flight.
So when we got to Vegas, we hustled off the New Orleans flight, bolted to the board and (pause) confusion.
We were due to depart around 8:30 p.m., and there were half a dozen Los Angeles flights leaving around that time. That can’t be right! In a hurry, my friend pointed to one and said “B-24.”
We were in Terminal C and went to find our gate. The Las Vegas airport has a tram to the gates so normally this is not a problem. The signage to Terminal B was confusing so we jumped on the tram and it went to baggage claim. And then back to where we had boarded it.
I saw Terminal B sign with an arrow pointing to a wall but we headed for it, found a walkway and began a long walk to Terminal B. And I mean a looong walk. At least 10 minutes at. a very fast pace. Finally we arrived, went to the gate and the gate agent told us “this is Spirit, not Southwest.”
What!?
The board listing the flights probably indicated that but with so many flights to Los Angeles leaving in such proximity of one another, plus the fact we were pressed for time, we obviously read it wrong.
I strongly suggest that McCarran Airport list flights by the airlines rather than the destinations.
So we went back to another board and noticed – naturally – that our flight was departing from Terminal C. Ugggg.
By now, we only had 15 minutes to get there and as we rounded a corner to another long hallway I heard “Southwest Airlines paging Kevin Wilkerson….” Oh no, it was last call and they were about to close the gate on us (my friend was on a stand-by ticket).
I really needed to make that flight because I had purchased a super-low fare and if I missed it, I ran the risk of having to pay as much as an additional $200 to get on another flight.
So I began running, my friend following close behind me. As I rounded the last corner, I noticed our flight was a the third gate. I had a chance!
But not so fast. After two gates was something that drives me absolutely crazy about airports. We encountered a shopping mall.
It went on and on and on, so much so I thought I was in the Desert Passage along The Strip. We had to dodge slow-moving passengers, those sideways-walking people in which you can’t predict the angle in which they are moving, and other obstacles.
Finally, we emerged within sight of the gate and rushed up to the gate agent. She was engaged in conversation with a couple who was inquiring about alternate flights and they were asking questions such as “well how far is that airport from so-and-so, and what kind of dining options are available…”
The gate agent was acting like a travel agent and meanwhile they were about to shut the gate on us!
I then did something I don’t normally like to do, because I hate it when people do it to me – I interrupted the conversation. “We’re here,” I said, panting from my sprint.
The gate agent casually waved her hand in the direction of the door and said “well go over there.”
My friend had to stay behind to get a boarding pass but I swiped my e-ticket and walked down the ramp. The way things were going, I half expected it to start to retract while I was on it only to be pushed back into the terminal by a pushy airline employee. But I made it onto the plane.
So too, did my friend.
So yes we made it, shaking, sweating and breathing heavily, but we were on board.
And speaking of boards, I’m again suggesting that McCarran change its boards to make life easier on its passengers.
Cheers!
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