Anyone Familiar with Atlanta Airport????

[mackeymouse4eva]

Hi all! I have a co-worker who has a flight from Boston to Atlanta with an international connection only 50 minutes after her arrival!! Expedia picked the flight & connections, and she is concerned.

My question is...

It is a Delta flight . Does Delta primarily use a certain concourse?

Is the International Terminal the SAME building or a separate one?

I think we re trying to figure out IF everything goes on time, can she move VERY swiftly to her connecting flight. I know some airports have separate terminal bulidings, HUGE concourses, have additional security etc.

She will try to move to an earlier flight but we need a worst case battle plan

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Does she have Global Entry? If not, this is too risky; there's a very good chance she won't make the connection.

You can look at a map of the airport on the airport's website; also on Delta's website.

Why would you buy a ticket on Expedia? Also, someone had to confirm that selection. Expedia doesn't force you to chose a particular flight

 

[mackeymouse4eva]

Does she have Global Entry? If not, this is too risky; there's a very good chance she won't make the connection.

You can look at a map of the airport on the airport's website; also on Delta's website.

Why would you buy a ticket on Expedia? Also, someone had to confirm that selection. Expedia doesn't force you to chose a particular flight

I do agree, I guess the original itinerary had about 30 more minutes , but the times have been changed reducing the time for the connection. I think she will call both Delta and Expedia, and see if she can change to an earlier flight time. Luckily there are many flights a day from BOS to ATL. Maybe they will tweek itinerary without charging a fortune!

 

[rdevine10]

We had a 38 min connection in Atlanta in December (all domestic flights). It was VERY stressful but we made the flight. (last passengers on the plane- boarding all all done). To answer your question, NO Delta is not all in one terminal at Atlanta. There is an international terminal in the Atlanta airport (which is likely where the international flight would be in)- it is in its separate concourse- which is at way at one end of the airport. Atlanta goes like this: Main Terminal, then Courses T, A, B, C, D, E, F (International) I would say in this airport that would be a very risky connection.

 

[rdevine10]

I do agree, I guess the original itinerary had about 30 more minutes , but the times have been changed reducing the time for the connection. I think she will call both Delta and Expedia, and see if she can change to an earlier flight time. Luckily there are many flights a day from BOS to ATL. Maybe they will tweek itinerary without charging a fortune!

If Delta changed the flight times they will likely allow a change of flight at no additional cost.

 

[Carriemel]

I'm quite familiar with ATL. Here's what I would do. For a couple of days, check and see what concourse/gate her flight will arrive at and depart from. That generally gives you a good idea of where you'll be and where you might need to go. Then, check out the maps of the concourses: http://www.atlanta-airport.com/Passenger/Terminal/ Assume that if she's going from one concourse to another that she will probably have to take their version of a subway to go from arrival to departure flights. It *APPEARS* right now that most of the flights on Delta between Boston and Atlanta arrive at terminal A. Of course, that is just today and tomorrow...and is subject to change.

If you have any questions, PM me. I'll do what I can to help y'all out.

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm quite familiar with ATL. Here's what I would do. For a couple of days, check and see what concourse/gate her flight will arrive at and depart from. That generally gives you a good idea of where you'll be and where you might need to go. Then, check out the maps of the concourses: http://www.atlanta-airport.com/Passenger/Terminal/ Assume that if she's going from one concourse to another that she will probably have to take their version of a subway to go from arrival to departure flights. It *APPEARS* right now that most of the flights on Delta between Boston and Atlanta arrive at terminal A. Of course, that is just today and tomorrow...and is subject to change.

If you have any questions, PM me. I'll do what I can to help y'all out.

I agree with this post. I think 50 minutes is enough time to make this connection, as long as she can move at a decent (not necessarily fast) pace. IIRC, there's nothing special about connecting TO an international flight, it's coming back through customs that would require more time.

If there is another flight that would work better for her, she can call Delta and say she's not comfortable making the 50 minute connection, and can they more her to flight 'x'. They SHOULD (but are not required) allow a change with no fee.

 

[lpereira]

That is no where near enough time. ATL changes departure and arrival gates frequently. They are like fp+ kiosks- volatile moving targets.
The international flights are in a different building but when you check the website it says the train you take runs every couple minutes. What it doesnt say is you land at the wrong time and you'll wait a few trains before you can get on. Once you do it is less than 5 minutes. Finally, international flights start boarding 60 minutes before scheduled departure.
I was so happy when direct flights started running from Charlotte to Sao Paulo. No more ATL for me.

 

[mackeymouse4eva]

Thank you all so VERY much!!! I think that's a great idea to watch those specific flights in the upcoming week or two and see which gates/terminals that they arrive/depart from. I also am sure that she will probably be making a phone call to adjust her flight time. There appears to be two flights that look like good options, giving enough breathing room without an extremely lengthy layover .

I'm quite familiar with ATL. Here's what I would do. For a couple of days, check and see what concourse/gate her flight will arrive at and depart from. That generally gives you a good idea of where you'll be and where you might need to go. Then, check out the maps of the concourses: http://www.atlanta-airport.com/Passenger/Terminal/ Assume that if she's going from one concourse to another that she will probably have to take their version of a subway to go from arrival to departure flights. It *APPEARS* right now that most of the flights on Delta between Boston and Atlanta arrive at terminal A. Of course, that is just today and tomorrow...and is subject to change.

If you have any questions, PM me. I'll do what I can to help y'all out.

Thank you so VERY much!! That is very generous of you. We will start with watching current flights patterns AND calling Delta!

 

[OKW Lover]

We fly through ATL very regularly and 50 minutes is enough time to make a connection there. Don't worry about changing from one concourse to another at ATL, its a simple train ride. You'll spend as much time walking from one end of a concourse to the train as the train itself.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Finally, international flights start boarding 60 minutes before scheduled departure.
.....

I fly internationally fairly often and have never had a boarding time 60 minutes before flight time, and that's on both domestic and international airlines.

OP, I misunderstood your question; I thought your friend had a connection in ATL after arriving from an international flight. She should be able to make a connection from a domestic to an international flight in 50 minutes, but I personally would prefer at least 90 minutes, just in case of delays.

Monitoring current gates and arrival times would be a waste of time, as they change often.

 

[Missytara]

I was glad the one time I flew into Atlanta, my boss gave me some great advice - back then I purchased my plane tickets through Disney and you always have connecting flights. Had he not told me about the tram, I would have never made it - I had to go from like concourse B to concourse T.

 

[nkereina]

I find Atlanta pretty easy to navigate, so I'm in the camp that she may have enough time IF there are no delays. The subway connecting concourses is easy to use, quick, and frequent. The only thing working against her is that I believe Atlanta is Delta's HQ, their main hub. So they have a large presence in that airport, many gates. No telling how far apart she will be.

 

[sharona]

ATL is huge and this connection time is tight. Sure she MIGHT make it if all goes perfectly but then again she might not. The big question is, if your friend misses the international flight, is there another one scheduled shortly after? If not I would rebook for an earlier arrival in ATL for a longer cushion.

 

[jsilvers]

According to the Official Airline Guide (OAG), the minimum "legal" domestic-to-international connecting time at ATL is 60 minutes. It sounds like the agent may have sold your co-worker a ticket that violates Delta rules, and if she's concerned she may want to insist that it be fixed.

 

[supersnoop]

According to the Official Airline Guide (OAG), the minimum "legal" domestic-to-international connecting time at ATL is 60 minutes. It sounds like the agent may have sold your co-worker a ticket that violates Delta rules, and if she's concerned she may want to insist that it be fixed.

My sources say the minimum legal connect time with a domestic arrival is 35 minutes at ATL. For international arrivals, the minimum connection time is 90 minutes.

 

[Epcotfan64]

I fly through ATL when going from MLB to PHL. If you're concerned about a delay on the first leg of your trip, don't hesitate to contact a flight attendant to explain your situation. Oftentimes contact can be made with gate staff, to let them know you're on your way.

 

[sam_gordon]

My sources say the minimum legal connect time with a domestic arrival is 35 minutes at ATL. For international arrivals, the minimum connection time is 90 minutes.

But this isn't an international arrival, it's a domestic arrival with an international departure. IIRC, there's nothing special about international departures, but I think they want to see your passport when boarding.

 

[supersnoop]

But this isn't an international arrival, it's a domestic arrival with an international departure. IIRC, there's nothing special about international departures, but I think they want to see your passport when boarding.

Exactly. I was refuting the earlier "60 minute" statement for domestic->international flights. 35 minutes is plenty of time.

 

[sam_gordon]

Exactly. I was refuting the earlier "60 minute" statement for domestic->international flights. 35 minutes is plenty of time.

Ah sorry, I thought you were saying the OP (her friend) needed 90 minutes minimum.