Frequently Asked Questions
Southern Airways Express FAQs
The following Frequently Asked Questions may be helpful for passengers who book through Southern Airways Express to travel to Chicago or to connect to other destinations.
Southern Airways Express has an agreement with American, United, Alaska and Hawaiian airlines to provide a seamless flight connection process for passengers. Please note if your connecting flights are with one of these partners as security and baggage procedures will differ.
For the best availability, check http://www.iFlySouthern.com. The website includes connecting flights on airline partners (United, American, Alaska and Hawaiian). Tickets can also be purchased through any of Southern’s airline partners or online travel agencies. Tickets can also be purchased by calling 800-329-0485 or at the ticket counter.
Those traveling on official Purdue business should book through AAA Corporate Travel, or directly with Southern Airways or one of their airline partners—United Airlines, American Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines or Alaska Airlines for domestic travel. For international travel, Purdue Travel recommends booking through the university’s travel agent, AAA Corporate Travel Corporate Travel, or with one of the airline partners. A Quick Reference Guide is available to assist with booking.
To access an itinerary, visit www.iFlySouthern.com or download the Southern Airways Express mobile app. If booked through an airline partner (United, American, Alaska and Hawaiian) or a third-party, contact the selling agency.
All seats are assigned at the gate.
Passengers can check in at the ticket counter or using the Southern Airways Express mobile app. All passengers must be checked in at least 30 minutes prior to departure from Purdue, and 45 minutes prior to departure from Chicago. Passengers who check in at the counter at Purdue will also receive their onward boarding passes for connecting flights if they booked with an airline partner (United, American, Alaska and Hawaiian).
Passengers who book with an airline that does not share an agreement with Southern (e.g. Delta, Southwest) must check in with the airline in Chicago, print a new boarding pass for the connecting flight, recheck luggage and go back through security.
All passengers will go through a standard security check at Purdue/LAF.
Southern Airways Express participates in TSA PreCheck. PreCheck status is contingent upon TSA approval and is not guaranteed.
Notifications will be sent to the passenger’s email, phone and via text message by Southern. If booked through an airline partner (United, American, Alaska and Hawaiian) or a third-party agency, the selling party will contact passengers.
Southern Airways Express uses Terminal 2, Gate F4 in for flight arrivals from Purdue/LAF.
Connecting passengers who book with Southern Airways Express or one of their airline partners (United, American, Alaska and Hawaiian) do not need to go through security again at Chicago/ORD in either direction.
Your checked bags will be transferred if you book through an airline partner (United, American, Alaska and Hawaiian).
Customers will pay Southern’s baggage fees when leaving Purdue. When returning to Purdue on a round-trip, customers will pay our airline partner carrier’s baggage fees.
Checked baggage CANNOT be transferred to any other airline besides the airline partners (United, American, Alaska and Hawaiian). If you are traveling with an airline that does not share an agreement with Southern (e.g. Delta, Southwest), you must proceed to baggage claim at the termination of your Southern Airways flight and claim your checked bag. Then, you must re-check the bag with your next airline.
For international itineraries, customers must recheck their bags at their first point of entry into the U.S. where they clear customs.
Southern operates the Cessna 208, always with two pilots, between Purdue/LAF and Chicago/ORD.
Southern offers wheelchair assistance at all the airports it serves; however, customers must be able to ascend and descend the stairs to the aircraft under their own power for their safety in an emergency. No ramps are available.
Minors under 15 may not fly unaccompanied. Minors aged 15 to 17 must be booked through Southern at 800-329-0485. They may not take flights which have connections or take the last flight of the day on a given route. Additionally, all travel must be complete by 5 p.m. Exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis for Purdue University students who are under 18. Parents or responsible adults of an unaccompanied minor must remain at the departure gate with the minor until they depart, and a parent or responsible adult must meet the minor at the destination airport. A $35 unaccompanied minor fee also applies.
Yes, but size restrictions exist. Please dial Southern customer service at 800-329-0485 or coordinate with local airport staff.
All aircraft are not equipped with a lavatory. An inflight magazine and sickness bag are located in the seat-back pocket.
Southern customer service is available 24/7 by calling 800-329-0485 or emailing info@iflysouthern.com. If booked through an airline partner (United, American, Alaska and Hawaiian) or a third party, call that airline or agency for changes or cancellations.
Please visit http://www.iFlySouthern.com for further information on baggage policies, contract of carriage, route maps and much more.
United Express/SkyWest Airlines FAQs
Purdue University has partnered with SkyWest for commercial air service to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport through United Express, a regional network operated by United Airlines.
The following Frequently Asked Questions may be helpful for passengers who book through United Express/Skywest Airlines to travel to Chicago or to connect to other destinations.
Purdue is contracted with SkyWest, and all flights will be branded under United Airlines and United Express. United Express is a regional flight service network that supports United Airlines’ operations, primarily by serving smaller cities and connecting traffic to United’s main hubs where passengers can connect to an extensive network of routes. Chicago O’Hare is United’s hub for the Midwest. Please visit United’s website for further information.
SkyWest will use United Express CRJ-200 twin-engine jets with 50 seat passenger capacity. Additional information on the aircraft is available here.
The start of United Express flights, as contracted through SkyWest, will be coordinated with the opening of the new Amelia Earhart Terminal at the Purdue University Airport, which is currently anticipated to be Aug. 5, 2025.
Ticket sales with United Express/SkyWest leaving from the Purdue University Airport will be available for purchase starting late April 10, 2025.
SkyWest will maintain at least one daily nonstop United Express round-trip flight between West Lafayette’s Purdue University Airport (LAF) and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
The new terminal is located directly west of the existing terminal and will offer a modern design, passenger information displays, public address system, improved building navigation and ADA compliance. It will provide a large hold room past security for larger aircraft, restrooms on both sides of security, self-serve food and beverages post-security, and parking adjacent to the building.
The airport continues to serve business travel needs for Purdue faculty and staff and personal travel for the Greater Lafayette community.
The upcoming opening of the new Amelia Earhart Terminal will provide capacity and accommodations for larger aircraft and flight operations that do not exist today. New opportunities for an enhanced customer experience and streamlined booking process are additional reasons.
More information will be shared as it becomes available, and any changes to booked flights will be communicated to affected passengers by Southern.
Passengers will have a traditional flight experience on United Express aircrafts, including traveling on larger twin-engine jets with more passenger capacity per flight. The reservation process will be streamlined for customers.
Ticket sales begin late on April 10, 2025. Once ticket sales are live, those traveling on official Purdue business should book through Concur or AAA Corporate Travel, and more information is available in this Quick Reference Guide.
Personal travel tickets can also be purchased through United.com or online travel agencies on or after April 10, 2025.
MileagePlus® is United’s loyalty program and is free to join, plus the miles earned will never expire. Join Mileage Plus here.
For help during your trip, or with future travel plans, please visit the United Help Center.
Download the United mobile app before your flight to get mobile boarding passes and real-time updates.
Travelers will be able to select a seat during the reservation process.
United provides several areas of information on accessible travel depending on what your needs are. This includes if you are traveling with a mobility device, traveling as a senior, have a cognitive disability and more.
Information about carry-on bags is available on the United website. Related information about checked bags, special items, pre-paying for baggage, and other topics is available by visiting the webpage above and then selecting the appropriate option from the side navigation.
Surface lot parking is available at Purdue University Airport through the ParkMobile app for $5/day. Before leaving your vehicle to board your flight, download the ParkMobile app and create an account. More information is available on the Purdue Airport Parking webpage.
You can check in 24 hours before your flight. The following check in methods are available:
Online
- If you are eligible for online check-in, go to United’s website.
- Enter your confirmation or eTicket number and last name, or log in using your MileagePlus® account information.
- Use a printed boarding pass or electronic boarding pass on your mobile device to board the flight.
On the United app
- Open the United app.
- Select check-in and enter your confirmation or eTicket number and last name.
- Use your electronic boarding pass on your mobile device to board the flight.
- For international travel, you can also scan your passport using the app.
At the airport
- Visit a ticket counter or kiosk to print your bag tags, or for a quicker experience prepay for your bag online and use bag drop shortcut.
Check-in time limits
United may require that passenger check in and baggage check occur at least a certain amount of time prior to departure.
For U.S. flights, it is recommended to be at the gate 15 minutes before boarding starts.
For international flights, be at the gate 30 minutes before boarding starts.
Flights begin boarding 40-50 minutes before takeoff.
You must be on board your flight 15 minutes before departure time.
All passengers will go through a standard security check at Purdue/LAF.
Notifications will be sent to the passenger’s email, phone and via text message by United Express.
United’s ticket counter is at Terminal 1 at Chicago O’Hare (ORD).
Terminal 2 is used for most United Express, some United flights, and all Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, and JetBlue flights. It has 41 gates on two concourses, lettered E–F.
For domestic and international flights leaving the Purdue University Airport in West Lafayette that are booked through United, passengers do not have to go through security when arriving at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and can proceed to the connecting flight’s gate.
If a connecting flight is on a separate itinerary or booked through a separate airline, the traveler may need to go through security in ORD.
For domestic travel booked through United, your checked bags will be transferred automatically to your connecting flight.
For international itineraries that are booked on a single ticket and with United, baggage will be transferred directly to the final destination. On the return trip, travelers must recheck their bags at the first point of entry into the U.S. where they clear customs.