43 min Layover in ATL with 2 kids - would you do it?

[lacrosse_lady72]

I would never do this, even with us it's 2 adults. We are browsing flights and had to pass on one because there was a 50 minute lay over in Atlanta.... almost any other airport would be ok but not Atlanta.

Why?

IT'S HUGE!!!! My mom isn't the fastest walker in the world but I could only imagine it would take more time with 2 youngsters.

Your flights may be at complete opposite ends of the airport, it's happened to us more than once. You may have to talk or take the tram to get to your gate. Other times, our next flight has been only 5 gates down . There's just no way to know.

Another thing is airlines begin boarding 30 minutes before scheduled take off for domestic flights and I believe they ask any one with small children to board first. Not that it's required but I am sure there's a reason why they do that. That'll leave you with 13 minutes, yikes! Don't do it!

Unfortunately for us, there aren't many options going from Portland, OR to WDW on red-eye so we almost always end up stopping here, we know ATL well enough to not want to chance it.








I honestly hate this airport.... that and JFK, I have waited in security so long at JFK and had terrible experiences everytime.......... grrrrrrr.

 

[DISNEYmooner2008]

We are flying from Charlotte,NC to Atlanta,GA and then Atlanta, GA to Orlando, FL. We have a 2.5 month old and our choices were a 31 minutes layover, or a 3 hours layover. We decided on the longer layover. ALT is HUGE and to me slightly confusing. We'll be gate checking our stroller which we'll have to wait for, potty/diaper change break, ect... It wasn't worth it to not have a longer layover.

 

[pilferk]

I wouldn't do it.

If I were flying an airline who only used one terminal, I'd consider it because I know I won't have to traverse much ground to get to my next plane.

But if there is ANY chance you have to change terminals...you want to give yourself about an hour to account for delays and the time it takes to physically cover the ground to your next flight.

I've flown through Atlanta a number of times...it's not a bad airport. It's actually pretty well layed out and easy to navigate. That being said, it's a BIG place...so it takes some time to get from one gate to another. Throw in a change in terminal and that 45 minutes is a squeaker, even if your first flight is on time, and without taking into consideration the two wee ones.

I wouldn't do it with our 3 kids (2,4, and 6)....

 

[CarolA]

Another thing is airlines begin boarding 30 minutes before scheduled take off for domestic flights and I believe they ask any one with small children to board first. Not that it's required but I am sure there's a reason why they do that. That'll leave you with 13 minutes, yikes! Don't do it!

.

Airlines no longer ask or even ALLOW folks with small kids to board first. You board when your row/zone boards.

 

[prncess674]

AirTran mainly operates out of 2 concourses (C & D) and while Atlanta is a fairly large airport it is however well marked with signage and efficient reliable transportation between terminals. As long as you aren't on the last ATL-MCO flight I would risk it. Print out the maps of the concourses so you have something to refer to when you land about which way you need to go.

http://www.atlanta-airport.com/forms/passenger/frmPassengerInformation_terminallayout.aspx

 

[MineeBaby]

On our last trip, we were traveling with our 3 year old and 1 year old. We were on a delta flight that was the same flight number, so our 45 minute layover wouldn't mean much because we would be staying on the same plane. WRONG! They kept the same flight number, but we had to deplane, change terminals, and reboard on an entirely new plane. We were about 10 minutes late arriving, I had to wait for the stroller that we had plane side checked, my husband ran the two kids over the the T-terminal while I waited for the slow people to bring the stroller, then I hustled my butt, running as fast as possible with an open double stroller to the other terminal and gate. I got there as they were closing the gate, with my husband and two kids standing there waiting for me. The woman running the gate said that we were checked in, because it was the same flight number, but they would take off without us even though it was the same flight number and they were running late. It was the oddest situation and it is only by the grace of God that I made it on time. Otherwise we would have missed the flight all together. I will never ever have another layover that short again, even if they say it is the same plane.