59 minute layover pr 2 hours layover what would you do???

[D L and K's Mom]

We will be flying out of Rochester NY on Dec 22 at around 5:30...we have a layover in Atlanta for 2 1/2 hours then we fly onto MCO. We get in late I think it is around midnight. DH just found a new flight that leaves from Atlanta earlier and would only give us a layover for 59 minutes we would get in to MCO earlier.....Should we try to change it? What would you do. I think 59 is pushing it. We will be a party of 7 people (MIL, SIL, DH, DD 15, DS 16 special needs child, DD 3 and myself). I am worried that the flight may be delayed from Roc to Atlanta in Dec due to weather or becasue it is so busy (Holiday season). I also tried to tell DH when we get off we will have to RUN through the terminal to get to the connection and if we miss it we are doomed as it is Dec 22. I just don't think running and getting the underground subway to another terminal will be possible. DH thinks since we are staying on Delta we will leave from the same terminal. I can't remember the last trip but I seem to remember taking an undergroudn shuttle to our new gate???? What do you think. DH really wants to get in earlier so the kids can sleep etc....I think it is to risky and we may end up stuck in the airport for days do to missing a connection.. Anyone who flys often have any great advice?? Thanks.

 

[NancyIL]

There are pros and cons to both. If the later flight out of Atlanta is the last one to MCO that day, and you miss it or it gets cancelled - you could be stuck overnight in Atlanta. At least if you miss the earlier flight with the 59-minute layover, you still have a chance for another flight, IF there are seats available. (Yes, you do have a good chance of changing terminals in Atlanta.) The disadvantage of changing to the earlier flight is missing the connecting flight, and/or your luggage missing the flight. Do you realize you'll pay a $50/pp change fee plus any difference in fare if you change your tickets?

Whatever you do, pack a carry-on with at least a change of clothing - even though you can't bring toiletries on the plane.

 

[Tara]

Being on Delta is no guarantee that you will be in the same terminal. You remember correctly -- terminals are connected by an underground train system, and gates at Atlanta are very f-a-r apart! Assuming your flight is on time, I think 59 minutes is possible, but I'd be concerned, too.

I guess I'd look at it this way -- everyone is likely going to be hungry at some point in the evening. What would you rather do -- try to find somewhere for everyone to eat at about 10-10:30 in Orlando, or feed everyone at the airport during the longer layover at a more realistic dinner time?

 

[salmoneous]

Couple basic facts, then opinion... Delta flies out of multiple terminals in Atlanta. It's not uncommon to have a long walk to the train, then a train ride, then another long walk to the gate in the new terminal. That said, *if* your flight is on time, 59 minutes is plenty of time to get between any two gates in Atlanta.

Personally, when I have a connection less than an hour, I stress. Will we leave on time, will we be delayed? Oh, my gosh, we are taking off 15 minutes late - we doomed. Maybe we can make up the time in the air. Come on plane, FLT FASTER. It just doesn't make for fun way to start a trip.

I would gladly trade getting in an hour later to have a transfer I don't have to worry about. Especially somewhere like Atlanta, where there are plenty of shops and restaurants to visit during the wait.

 

[NancyIL]

Delta, like most airlines, is very likely to make changes to their schedule between now and Dec. 22nd. Your flights could end up being at better times, or they could get worse. I would hate to see you pay $50 x 7 people to change your tickets, and then have the flight times change down the road.

 

[havencruiser]

Since you are flying later in the day there is a very good chance that you first flight will not take off on time. Couple that with all the other issues posted and it's good chance that you won't make the next flight.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

We purchased them back in Feb.....the fares were pretty high but we are locked in to specific dates and times (we are both teachers). After 3 weeks there seemed to be some changes to the flight times etc.. I called and spoke to a very nice man. Well, first he told me he had us down under another name and not having paid for the tickets as of yet? Huh?? Can you do that? Reserve tickets?? He spoke to his supervisor and got it all cleared up. Then he said they had added a direct flight and we could book that and it would be $50.00 off of our $ from a voucher since the prics had come down. OK!!! YEAH a direct flight!!! This is great especially since we have a special needs son who needs a lift etc!!! WHOOPPPEEE Direct flight!!! Ok we will switch flights and pay the $50.00 for a DIRECT FLIGHT. I didnt even know there was a cahnge in price.I was told the itenerary would be emailed to me....I didnt get it. I called back 7 days later....ummmmmm no direct flight it had been canceled and we were now on a earlier flight that we could not make. It was earlier by 2 1/2 hours! Ok what do I do. The nice Delta lady told me I could change my flights again for $50.00!! WHAT!!! I never got the change of flights, I only changed our flights becasue there was a direct flight. You re-booked me...oh my goodness. When she went to check she came back and said that I had changed the reservations to the earlier flight. No, no I didnt. She again had a different name for some of the tickets (there are 7)??? Ok she was able to change the flights for us to a later flight but we now owe another $50.00 per ticket. Ummm I don't think so. Ok speak to supervisor...he does some tracking and then says he will fix the flights and my credit card will be credited $50.00 per ticket. YEAH!!!! All set right ..nope, no credit appears for 3 months (I call once and am told it can take 180 days) When I call again I am told that "Bob" could be just about anyone as they do not use their real names?!?!?!? Oh my! Ok can you check the credit? There is no history of a credit.....grrrrrrrr. Tell them the story again, they see the history but no credit. Ok I give up on the credit. There is a $26.00 voucher issued to all 7 tickets though for travle. I still have not received and itenerary I have no record of this??. They will email it to me...Ok I get it. WRONG ADDRESS!! We are in NY we are not a P.O box in Atlanta!!!!Fast forward to last night when I had DH check the flights and then I called about the address. again. Nice lady answers.....yup we are all set 7 seats. Can we change flights if we want to ? Yup $50.00 a seat change fee. We should have some $ on a voucher (approx $26.00 a person) yup she sees that there is plenty of open seats. Ok I will discuss with DH and call back. Oh ya can you check the address for me please...yup PO box #### Atlanta...Nope, not us. Oh I need to get superviosr to check this. She comes back and says It is Ok if the billing address is not right!??!?!? Umm is there any chance that maybe somewhere along the lines someone else got my credit? Maybe someone elses credit card got my $350?? You had wrong name, wrong address, wrong info on ticket changes.....She said no, that could not happen. Ok My husband is taking all the tickets and going to the airport sometime this week when it is not busy and is going to try to get everything straight with DELTA. We have had problems with DELTA in the past but everyone we have dealt with has been very nice and tries to be helpful....i just really don't like DELTA sorry if anyone works for them. I am just hoping that when we go to the airpoort on Dec 22 that we have seats!! YIKKKKKEEEESSSS!! Please just get me and my family to WDW for Christmas Please!!!!

 

[NancyIL]

What a nightmare! The airlines are quick to charge you and SLOW to credit you! I have had to follow up with American when they were supposed to credit us for various things and it took months - so it isn't just Delta. Keep on top of the situation by checking your itinerary online. You'll know if there are changes to your flights long before they'll ever contact you.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

One thing to keep in mind is that flights begin boarding 30 minutes before scheduled departure time, and that the aircraft door is often closed and sealed 10 minutes before departure.

So a 59-minute connection really means 29 minutes until boarding or 49 minutes until the door is sealed — if you actually get off the first flight exactly at the scheduled arrival time.

I try to avoid connections. But sometimes, connections are the best, cheapest, or only option. My rule-of-thumb is to have at least one hour for the connection if there are other options to get me to my destination the same day. And I try to have at least two hours if it's essential to make it onto the connecting flight (for example, for connections to Hawaii or Europe, where the airline might only operate one flight every 24 hours).

Of course, there's no way to guarantee making it onto a connecting flight. You could have a four-hour layover, and your first flight segment could be delayed five hours. However, five-hour delays are very rare. But delays of 20-30 minutes are very common, so it's best to have a margin of safety for such delays.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

We are going to keep the later flight. DH and I are going to go to the airport here in Rochester sometime this week so we can get the address corrected and maybe get a copy of our itenarary I know it is really worthless and it is an E-ticket but I want something with my name and ticket info on it with DELTA written on it. I have these nightmares of us going to the airport Dec 22 and being told we are not on any flights to Orland but we are booked on a flight to Atlanta our hometown according to our address they have listed.

 

[bab31]

I went round and round with northwest when charged over $1000 extra per seat X 4. Like said before quick to charge your credit card but very slow to give you a credit. I dont blame you for wanting things in writing.

 

[Lewisc]

Airlines have "legal" connection times that generally vary by airport. I wouldn't book an "illegal" connection but I wouldn't worry about booking a legal connection. Horace gave a nice description of when planes board BUT airlines don't have an inventory of planes sitting in the airport. Delays, particularly weather related delays, that affect incoming flights will also delay outbound flights which may be waiting for arriving aircraft. I don't think an airline will close the door 10 minutes before departure if a flight with connecting passengers is in the process of unloading.

I might be a little cautious if my connecting flight is the last flight of the day but otherwise I'd book a short, legal, connection.

 

[Lisa_Belle]

Airlines have "legal" connection times that generally vary by airport. I wouldn't book an "illegal" connection but I wouldn't worry about booking a legal connection. Horace gave a nice description of when planes board BUT airlines don't have an inventory of planes sitting in the airport. Delays, particularly weather related delays, that affect incoming flights will also delay outbound flights which may be waiting for arriving aircraft. I don't think an airline will close the door 10 minutes before departure if a flight with connecting passengers is in the process of unloading.

I might be a little cautious if my connecting flight is the last flight of the day but otherwise I'd book a short, legal, connection.

What is a legal connection in Atlanta? I've had both legs of my flight changed a wee bit, so now instead of 1.5-hour layover in Atlanta I have 46 minutes. I think it's too short, but Delta won't change them unless I pay the $50 fee.

 

[chipscinderelly]

What is a legal connection in Atlanta? I've had both legs of my flight changed a wee bit, so now instead of 1.5-hour layover in Atlanta I have 46 minutes. I think it's too short, but Delta won't change them unless I pay the $50 fee.

If Delta won't change it then less than 46 min is legal. St Louis has been 29 min for a long time. You can make it in 46 no problem!

 

[D L and K's Mom]

I just dont want to be running with a wheelchair, carseat etc. I didnt know that there was also a cut off as to how long the layover can be. I think I was told more than 3 hours is considered like an extra stop and costs more ...almost like a one way ticket. I was not aware of this policy.

 

[justplaingoofy]

As a previous posted mentioned that the plane starts boarding about :30 min prior to departure.

Also **** the departure time listed by airlines is not when they close the doors to passengers. It is the "push back" time.