Atlanta airport layover...how short is too short?

[k5thbeatle]

Looking at flying Delta to MCO via Atlanta. One option we like only allows a 45 minute layover. Do you think that is too short of a layover?

 

[shoreward]

If your originating flight is late, your time to connect would be even shorter. There can always be weather delays, over which nobody has any control. Keep in mind that if you checked bags, they will have to transfer, as well. DL is based in Atlanta, with a very large hub, there; the gates are spread out over seven concourses.

- Concourse T is adjacent to Domestic Terminal
- Concourse F is placed in the International Terminal.
- Concourses A, B, C, D, E are located between Domestic Terminal and International Terminal in this order, being Concourse A the closest concourse to Domestic Terminal.
Domestic Terminal is divided in North Terminal and South Terminal.

If Delta has the connection listed, it is "legal." There may not be any problems, at all. I, personally, would not feel comfortable with only 45 minutes. Even if you miss your connection and DL rebooks you on the "next available" flight, that could be later in the day or even the next day. The airlines do not reimburse charges incurred for a weather-related delay or cancellation.

 

[OKW Lover]

This is certainly do-able. We have made shorter connections. Just walk quickly to the next gate without stopping to shop, eat, etc.

 

[macraven]

I have a connecting flight In Atlanta/Delta for September for Orlando
Have a 45 minute layover

No worries

Had the choice of 35 minutes, 45 minutes or 2.5 hours layover

Went with the 45 minutes lay over

 

[shoreward]

Instead of just opinions, here, you can check the on-time performance of your originating flight at www.delta.com .
Click on the blue hyperlink for your originating flight to check its on-time performance; it will show the percentage of on-time arrivals, as well as those arriving 13+ minutes late, 60+ minutes late, and cancelled. Past flight performance is not a guaranty of future performance, but it can be somewhat of an indicator.

 

[brianj320]

When I travel for work and have a layover in ATL, I have found it all depends on the time of the year and what time of the day it is of the layover. 45 minutes is doable but again it's not so cut and dry, IMO. as others have said, check the on-time performance and go from there. unfortunately, during this time of year weather is a big X factor, both at MCO and ATL!

 

[Day-Day]

I've seen Delta's 35 minute connection times at ATL and that is too short for me even though I might select it if the price and schedule was just right for my plans. I'm okay with 45 minutes.

 

[Disneypro1]

IMHO if you have 30 min you are perfectly fine. Time to refresh in bathroom and grab some snacks. Under 30....kinda pushing it.
We always...TRY TRY to get direct. Almost always with Southwest from CMH to MCO but Delta we have used also....
The best way to enjoy Atlanta is to fly over it on way to MCO...

 

[writerguyfl]

Instead of just opinions, here, you can check the on-time performance of your originating flight at www.delta.com .
Click on the blue hyperlink for your originating flight to check its on-time performance; it will show the percentage of on-time arrivals, as well as those arriving 13+ minutes late, 60+ minutes late, and cancelled. Past flight performance is not a guaranty of future performance, but it can be somewhat of an indicator.

This is good advice. It's also helpful knowing how many flights there are from Atlanta to your destination (Orlando, or your home airport on the return) that leave that day. The greater the number of flight, the higher the likelihood that you'll get to your destination if your inbound flight is delayed.

As for Atlanta to Orlando, Delta has almost hourly flights. For example, I picked a random day (July 23rd) and pulled the schedule. Delta has non-stop flight leaving at: 6:55am, 7:55am, 8:55am, 9:55am, 10:55am, 11:55am, 12:55pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7:10pm, 8:20pm, 9:20pm, 10:20pm, and 11:53pm. These are tiny regional jets, either. Every single one of the flights on that randomly selected day are large sets that seat 180+ passengers.

So, even if you're inbound flight is delayed, there's a very, very good chance Delta can still get you to Orlando on same day if you're not flying in the late afternoon or evening.

Link to Delta's Flight Schedule: https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/index.html

 

[sam_gordon]

Is there anything that would make you move slower than an average adult (cane, Walker, wheelchair, stroller, etc)? Assuming "no", I'd take a 45 minute connection.

 

[SL6827]

Atlanta airport is beyond huge.

 

[SL6827]

Looking at flying Delta to MCO via Atlanta. One option we like only allows a 45 minute layover. Do you think that is too short of a layover?

Is there even a Delta flight that doesn't stop in Atlanta? Are there any other airlines that will fly direct to MCO that don't stop in Atlanta?

 

[SL6827]

I know when looking for flights to San Diego, even if we were to fly out from Birmingham, we would have to go back to stop in Atlanta. Same with Nashville, with Delta. I thought surely if we went to Alabama and flew out from there they would turn back to Georgia to hit Atlanta and then go to San Diego, but they do.

 

[OKW Lover]

Is there anything that would make you move slower than an average adult (cane, Walker, wheelchair, stroller, etc)? Assuming "no", I'd take a 45 minute connection.

Often our travel party includes a person needing wheelchair assist in ATL. They easily handle tight connections.

Is there even a Delta flight that doesn't stop in Atlanta? Are there any other airlines that will fly direct to MCO that don't stop in Atlanta?

Yes. Depending on where you are coming from/going to. From MCO, Delta flies non-stop (note there is a difference between non-stop and direct in airline parlance) to DTW, JFK, MSP, LAX, SEA, BOS, and a few others.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

This is good advice. It's also helpful knowing how many flights there are from Atlanta to your destination (Orlando, or your home airport on the return) that leave that day. The greater the number of flight, the higher the likelihood that you'll get to your destination if your inbound flight is delayed.

As for Atlanta to Orlando, Delta has almost hourly flights. For example, I picked a random day (July 23rd) and pulled the schedule. Delta has non-stop flight leaving at: 6:55am, 7:55am, 8:55am, 9:55am, 10:55am, 11:55am, 12:55pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7:10pm, 8:20pm, 9:20pm, 10:20pm, and 11:53pm. These are tiny regional jets, either. Every single one of the flights on that randomly selected day are large sets that seat 180+ passengers.

So, even if you're inbound flight is delayed, there's a very, very good chance Delta can still get you to Orlando on same day if you're not flying in the late afternoon or evening.

Link to Delta's Flight Schedule: https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/index.html

This!

No one likes to "bank" on backup flights, but Delta's schedule from ATL to MCO at least gives you a fighting chance.

 

[brockash]

Looking at flying Delta to MCO via Atlanta. One option we like only allows a 45 minute layover. Do you think that is too short of a layover?

As long as you land on time and go straight to ur next gate u should b ok, but it is tight if there's any kind of delay. We've done it but it doesn't leave much wiggle room.

 

[SuperPreparo]

It's definitely doable if your plane is on time. My daughter and I took the same flight (different days) from MCO with a 45 minute layover in Atlanta. Her first flight was on time, and she made it easily with time to spare. My first flight was delayed by weather, and I just missed my connection. However by the time I got to the gate I was already booked on the next flight, so it was handled well.

 

[AngiTN]

We'd totally do 45 min in Atlanta. Have many times, and gone from A to E even. Seeing how you have reserved seats with Delta doesn't bother me at all to be at the end of boarding

Is there even a Delta flight that doesn't stop in Atlanta? Are there any other airlines that will fly direct to MCO that don't stop in Atlanta?

Pretty much every other airline flies to a different airport.
AA stops in CLT on most all our trips (CLT is their hub, like Atlanta is Delta's)
Southwest is direct, no stops at all anywhere.

 

[writerguyfl]

My first flight was delayed by weather, and I just missed my connection. However by the time I got to the gate I was already booked on the next flight, so it was handled well.

Delta is one of the industry leaders in this area. Back in 2015 or 2016, they started using an automatic rebooking system called Viper. It works just as you described. If you are late, the system automatically puts you on an alternative flight. You simply pull up your new boarding pass on your phone or print one at a kiosk. It all happens without having to wait in line (in person or on the phone) to talk to someone.

For simple connections at a major hub, you're usually on the next flight. For more complex trips, you can always pull up all available options on the website and select what works best for you. In all cases, you still can choose to talk to a real human being.

Brief online article about Viper and other automatic rebooking systems: https://www.dailywire.com/news/5885/stuck-because-canceled-flight-thats-about-change-hank-berrien

 

[SL6827]

We'd totally do 45 min in Atlanta. Have many times, and gone from A to E even. Seeing how you have reserved seats with Delta doesn't bother me at all to be at the end of boarding

Pretty much every other airline flies to a different airport.
AA stops in CLT on most all our trips (CLT is their hub, like Atlanta is Delta's)
Southwest is direct, no stops at all anywhere.

I could see me flying Southwest to MCO with no problem. They actually do have flights to San Diego from Atlanta non stop, but hubby won't fly anything but Delta, and the timing of the non stop flights are mid-day and we want morning. But boy, they are cheaper. Let me ask you, with Southwest flights and it being such a short flight to Disney, do you pay extra for the early bird thing to board early to get dibs on your seats? Me and my teenager would like to sit together on flights but could care less where the seats would be on such a short flight. My husband on the other hand is 6'1'' and 250 lbs and really insists on an isle seat so not sure how that would work out for him.