Airtran Atlanta layover question

[timon711]

I have very little experience with layovers since I normally select direct/nonstop flights.

For this trip, I booked the latest flight leaving Orlando, which has a half hour layover in Atlanta.

My question is: How can I tell if we are actually changing planes or just landing and letting others on/off that flight? If we are changing planes, can we really do it in a half an hour in Atlanta? Sounds like that would be pretty tight!

Thanks in advance to anyone with experience and advise on this!

 

[DVCBELLE]

I am assuming you are flying into CMH - it would be extremely unusual for you not to change planes since ATL is their hub and goes to many other locations. It looks like the normal flight has a 52 minute layover - which would be tight but doable. But if you are on a flight with only 1/2 hour layover, I would definitely call them and ask about that. Did they change the flight time?

 

[Traveliz]

You can tell if they are not changing planes if your flight number is the same - I had a flight last week that stopped in Atlanta and then continued on to Orlando - the flight number was the same for both portions of the flight.

We still had to get off and back on though because the flight crew changed.

My daughter had one with Airtran a couple of months ago from Orlando and stopping in Atlanta and then continuing on where they allowed them to stay on the plane because they were behind and wanted to catch back up time wise.

A half an hour is very tight but if the flight you are catching is the last one from Atlanta to your destination I find they often hold that plane for the connecting ones coming in - no guarantee of course but in my experience they have held that plane and told us to hurry.

Liz

 

[LimoFam5]

No to scare you of anything....BUT I have flown with Air Tran in the past and there flights can run a bit tight. A half hour layover is not that long if you are changing planes so I would suggest you really hussel to make it from plane to plane. Airtran flights are usually all sold out so if you miss your connecting flight be prepared for standby. On the other hand most Airtran flights run about 15 min behind schedule anyway.

I wish you the best of luck!!!!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

with a 30 minute layover don't expect to be able to get off and go to the bathroom or grab a bit to eat! Hopefully your connecting gate is close by. Some are located in another terminal which would require riding the shuttle to the new gate.

 

[timon711]

Thanks for the responses!

I just double checked AT's website to make sure I read it right, yes it is only scheduled for a 30 minute layover. Those were the original times I booked, so it hasn't changed (yet ). We are actually flying into DAY, CMH is much closer, but I wanted an earlier direct flight down and a later flight home, so it was worth the drive for extra park time. My flight no#s are different, so it looks like I will be switching planes. I was hoping if this were the case, that the gates would be near each other, but I see I might not be that lucky.

Yikes, it sounds too tight, why would they schedule like this? Looking at AT's times, I see there is a choice of 3 departure times that all take the same final segment, the last one only allows for 30-35min layover time. So this appears to be the way they normally schedule the latest departure time.

It has been several years since I've had my one and only connection in Atlanta, pretty sure it was with Delta, and we did have to go from one end of the airport to the other! I didn't realize it at the time how long it would take. We stopped to have a cigarette and make a quick call home to the folks picking us up at the airport. The gate workers called us by name as we were approaching and told us to hurry that they were waiting on us! I think that was with a 45 min or more layover. I felt horrible, had I realized how long it took, I wouldn't have stopped for the smoke and phone call.

Lesson learned, I won't make any stops and will high-tail-it to the next plane!

Is there any way to know this far in advance what gates this flight route usually comes in on and which gate the final segment departs from? Has anyone experienced a tight connection like this on AT? I was wondering if the flight crew ever asks for passengers w/certain connections (such as this) to debark first?

Thanks again for all your help!

 

[DVCBELLE]

Thanks for the responses!

I just double checked AT's website to make sure I read it right, yes it is only scheduled for a 30 minute layover. Those were the original times I booked, so it hasn't changed (yet ). We are actually flying into DAY, CMH is much closer, but I wanted an earlier direct flight down and a later flight home, so it was worth the drive for extra park time. My flight no#s are different, so it looks like I will be switching planes. I was hoping if this were the case, that the gates would be near each other, but I see I might not be that lucky.

Yikes, it sounds too tight, why would they schedule like this? Looking at AT's times, I see there is a choice of 3 departure times that all take the same final segment, the last one only allows for 30-35min layover time. So this appears to be the way they normally schedule the latest departure time.

It has been several years since I've had my one and only connection in Atlanta, pretty sure it was with Delta, and we did have to go from one end of the airport to the other! I didn't realize it at the time how long it would take. We stopped to have a cigarette and make a quick call home to the folks picking us up at the airport. The gate workers called us by name as we were approaching and told us to hurry that they were waiting on us! I think that was with a 45 min or more layover. I felt horrible, had I realized how long it took, I wouldn't have stopped for the smoke and phone call.

Lesson learned, I won't make any stops and will high-tail-it to the next plane!

Is there any way to know this far in advance what gates this flight route usually comes in on and which gate the final segment departs from? Has anyone experienced a tight connection like this on AT? I was wondering if the flight crew ever asks for passengers w/certain connections (such as this) to debark first?

Thanks again for all your help!

I fly out of Dayton - I think you will end up with an earlier time. The flights up until November all leave closer to 7:00. I bet they end up changing your time between now and then.

 

[Traveliz]

Thanks for the responses!

I just double checked AT's website to make sure I read it right, yes it is only scheduled for a 30 minute layover. Those were the original times I booked, so it hasn't changed (yet ). We are actually flying into DAY, CMH is much closer, but I wanted an earlier direct flight down and a later flight home, so it was worth the drive for extra park time. My flight no#s are different, so it looks like I will be switching planes. I was hoping if this were the case, that the gates would be near each other, but I see I might not be that lucky.

Yikes, it sounds too tight, why would they schedule like this? Looking at AT's times, I see there is a choice of 3 departure times that all take the same final segment, the last one only allows for 30-35min layover time. So this appears to be the way they normally schedule the latest departure time.

It has been several years since I've had my one and only connection in Atlanta, pretty sure it was with Delta, and we did have to go from one end of the airport to the other! I didn't realize it at the time how long it would take. We stopped to have a cigarette and make a quick call home to the folks picking us up at the airport. The gate workers called us by name as we were approaching and told us to hurry that they were waiting on us! I think that was with a 45 min or more layover. I felt horrible, had I realized how long it took, I wouldn't have stopped for the smoke and phone call.

Lesson learned, I won't make any stops and will high-tail-it to the next plane!

Is there any way to know this far in advance what gates this flight route usually comes in on and which gate the final segment departs from? Has anyone experienced a tight connection like this on AT? I was wondering if the flight crew ever asks for passengers w/certain connections (such as this) to debark first?

Thanks again for all your help!

There is no way to know if your gates are close up til the time you get off and ask the person standing there with the sheet. They OFTEN change from the time you land to the time you get off the plane -- seriously. Definitely take the time to ask the agent that will be standing there where your connecting flight is leaving from - know your flight number. Also if you have to go to a different terminal WAIT for the train - even if you have to wait three minutes for it it will be MUCH FASTER than walking/running - trust me I learned that the idiot way a few years back.

Airtran typically asks that passengers whose final destination is Atlanta or their flight is leaving later to wait to let those with connections debark first.

They schedule it because they often hold that final plane for the connecting flights coming in or they schedule it because there is a later flight they can put you on that never fills up.

Liz

 

[timon711]

I fly out of Dayton - I think you will end up with an earlier time. The flights up until November all leave closer to 7:00. I bet they end up changing your time between now and then.

I will be keeping a close eye on this especially as our flight date approaches.

 

[timon711]

There is no way to know if your gates are close up til the time you get off and ask the person standing there with the sheet. They OFTEN change from the time you land to the time you get off the plane -- seriously. Definitely take the time to ask the agent that will be standing there where your connecting flight is leaving from - know your flight number. Also if you have to go to a different terminal WAIT for the train - even if you have to wait three minutes for it it will be MUCH FASTER than walking/running - trust me I learned that the idiot way a few years back.

Airtran typically asks that passengers whose final destination is Atlanta or their flight is leaving later to wait to let those with connections debark first.

They schedule it because they often hold that final plane for the connecting flights coming in or they schedule it because there is a later flight they can put you on that never fills up.

Liz

Great info, thank you so much for the advice!

 

[kevgraub]

Another tip I would have is that if you have not already reserved your seats, I would suggest doing so now and trying to sit as far forward as you can. It will be much quicker getting off of your first flight if you are seated near the front of the plane. Where a few minutes could make all the difference, something as simple as sitting toward the front of the plane and getting off 3 or 4 minutes quicker may help.

 

[KLL]

You can get an idea of what gates are being used for your flights by checking the flight schedules each day. The gate numbers may vary each day, but are usually in the same area. Check each airport's map for the location of the gates. At least you will have some idea of the areas where your flights will be arriving/departing.

I have been doing this periodically since May for our Sept./Oct. trip. Our flights, while the gate numbers change, have been located in the same terminals all the time. By doing this I now have a better understanding the terminals in each airport just incase they throw me curve ball and completely change the terminal location. As you can see, I am a planner who wants to know the details of things. It does give me some peace of mind.