55 minute layover in Atlanta?

[lovewdwfun]

We will have 55 minutes between planes in Atlanta flying Southwest. We will be traveling with 4 kids, including two who can't walk (gate checking a stroller is a must). How stressed out am I going to be? Are the gates all close for Southwest? We also will need to sit with kids on the flight from Atlanta to Orlando, although we can split the group in two.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I'll say I've never flown Southwest.

It all depends on how close together your gates are. The last time I went through Atlanta was on the now-Southwest-owned AirTran and the gates were literally 2 apart (and I had a 3 hour layover. Go figure.).

If you have to get from one terminal to another, that's going to be awfully tight, especially if your first flight is delayed for any period of time.

If the two gates are in the same terminal, I'd be comfortable with it. I might not be if they're in different terminals, particularly noting the time needed to gate-check the stroller and the fact that you really do need to be at the gate when boarding starts due to Southwest's open seating policy.

Maybe another poster can offer some insight as to where the Southwest terminals are in Atlanta.

 

[Woodview]

Think this through

You are flying South West both legs ( Home to Atlanta to Orlando ) so there should be a through ticket.

What time is the next flight from Atlanta to Orlando ?

With 4 kids & 2 adults You more than likely need a Restroom stop ( Or 2 ) which will take time.

Is it worth Stress & meltdown of a child to try and catch that 55 min departure . ?

Catch the next flight & arrive ALL in Happy Mood.

 

[OKW Lover]

Southwest is pretty much all in one terminal in ATL. You'll be fine getting from one gate to the other as long as our first flight is on time.

 

[DebbieB]

Southwest is all on C in Atlanta, same concourse (not terminal). I have a flight in May PIT-ATL-MCO. Looking at today's flights, PIT-ATL came in at C17, ATL-MCO went out at C12. Looking at today's ATL-MCO flights, they range from C2 to C20.

Another thing to consider is boarding is at 30 minutes. So you have to get off the plane, wait for the stroller, get to the new gate and get in line at your spot (or family boarding). Otherwise you could be boarding at the end and getting seats together would be difficult.

 

[maxiesmom]

Honestly? I wouldn't do it. You will be cutting things very close, and may end up "those people" on the airplane begging people to move to accommodate them. Not a fun place to be. As another poster pointed out, they start boarding at least 30 minutes out. I've seen them do 45 minutes out.

 

[tjmw2727]

I would look for a longer layover in your situation.

You can look at the flights your thinking of booking now to see what gates the first is landing in and the 2nd is departing from (although this can change!) and then go to the airport website to see the gate layout to see how far apart they are. Also check the on time status of the first flight!

Bigger issue with SWA as some have pointed out is the open seating, you may miss family boarding if boarding has started before you get to the new gate and who knows what seats will be available. Since your kids are young yet SWA will try and get an adult seated with them especially if your using car seats but its going to be tricky getting folks to move if there are no seats together when you board.

I like to put the odds in my favor so in your situation I would look for a flight with a longer layover (or a non-stop!) to give your family the best experience possible.

 

[Starwind]

Can it be done ? yes. Is it comfortable ? probably not; and things can go wrong.

I recent connected in Atlanta going from Texas to Canada. In Atlanta I had to change terminals (it was either C to A or A to C, forget whcih). I had one hour. I required wheelchair assistance, which meant I was the last passenger off the arriving flight. I needed and had a restroom stop on the way to the gate. At the gate there was enough time for me to buy a drink and quick snack (but not enough to get "real" food).

After all of that I still had a small amount of time to wait at the gate until the next flght's boarding started.

So it is doable. BUT if anything goes wrong, you are hooped.

My personal preference for connections is at least 1.5 hours, preferring 2 or more, and that was before I started needing wheelchair assistance.

SW

 

[sam_gordon]

With all able bodied travelers, I'd probably try it. Needing to wait for gate checked strollers? I'm not sure. Have you already booked this? What would the fee change be to catch a later flight? What is the next flight (is it another hour layover or an extra five hours)?

 

[lovewdwfun]

Thanks. I can take an earlier flight to have a longer layover, but I was hoping to avoid leaving the house with 4 kids at 6:30 in the morning, plus it would cost a couple hundred dollars more. I think it will be better to do that than to stress about about the flight for the next six months!

 

[brockash]

We will have 55 minutes between planes in Atlanta flying Southwest. We will be traveling with 4 kids, including two who can't walk (gate checking a stroller is a must). How stressed out am I going to be? Are the gates all close for Southwest? We also will need to sit with kids on the flight from Atlanta to Orlando, although we can split the group in two.

You absolutely can't just regular check the stroller? I know it would be a pain while in the airport, but waiting for that would be my biggest concern. We flew through Atlanta with a 37 min. layover on our way to Disney one year and I did not gate check the stroller because I knew it'd be too close. We were able to make it in time, but it was def. a rush and stressful (the other option though got us in way later, so I booked it and hoped for the best). We had a 2 year old at the time and it was just myself, 2 year old and 7 year old son. I'm sure we looked like crazy ppl. fast-walking/son basically running through the airport but we did make it, so with 55 mins. I'd feel decently comfortable, but the stroller thing would be my biggest concern. I've had to wait for gate checked strollers for up to 10 mins. after I got off the plane, so really even longer compared to when we actually arrived at the gate.

I'm not sure where the Southwest gates are in Atlanta, but you should be able to look it up online (when we had a 37 min. layover we were not in the same concourse either,) so if you are then that's a plus. I wouldn't worry too much about the seating on the plane. Even if you're the last ones on the plane I've always encountered polite ppl. on planes when they see a parent get on with a young child and really, would they actually want to be the one sitting next to the parentless child lol.

 

[JWigs]

I used to fly through ATL every month for almost 2 years. I can tell you that I always flew delta but it's one of the largest airports and especially with 4 kids; I'd not risk it.

Like others said, try to minimize disaster and stress by taking one with a longer layover. You end up appreciating the downtime plus think your kids will thank you later. Nothing like running with a stroller to make your next flight (which I've also done).