There's a lot of misinformation on this thread.
There are a number of questions we need to know the answer to give an accurate answer...
1) What airline are you using? If SW, they are in a single part of a single terminal. 41 minutes is plenty of time to make the flight (although you may not make your boarding position depending on other factors). If it's Delta there's a good chance you need to change terminals.
2) Is there anything that would slow down your travelling party? Wheelchairs, strollers, slow walkers, multiple carryons, etc can change the equation.
3) Are you comfortable with maps and getting around in strange locations? Atlanta is laid out very well, IMO and simple, but you do need to know where you're starting from and where you're going. Turning left instead of right makes a huge difference.
4) What time of year/time of day are you travelling? Winter has a bigger chance of delays. Afternoon thunderstorms in the spring the same.
We have flown thru ATL.
We have done this with short layovers, like about an hour.
Two things.....
If you are flying check-thru domestic... (one ticket, same airline for both flights) You probably will not have to change terminals.
Should probably be a fairly quick walk over.
Without knowing what airline they are using (and they don't say in the OP), this is incorrect.
No time for stopping, snack, etc...
Definitely. Get to your departure gate first, then if you have time, you can go to the restroom/get a snack.
If you are booking this as one ticket/trip on one airline, they should be aware of the necessary layover time, and not book flights with an insufficient layover. When you pull up the flights, do you see the lay-over FLAGGED in any way?
I think the minimum required layover at ATL is 35 minutes.
Secondly, I would hope that the airline knows that passengers are due from one flight from the next....
So, they should not close the gate if they know you are there somewhere, heading to the gate to board.
Doesn't matter whether they should or not, they might. Even if you are told they are going to hold the flight for you, DON'T COUNT ON IT.
For that matter, even if your first flight is late (past departure time of the second flight), check the departure board when you arrive and see if the connecting flight has left. It's possible it's been delayed.
One small thing....
The shorter the layover, the shorter the time they have to get your luggage transfered onto the plane.
Thank goodness our luggage followed us, with a fairly short layover, on our last International flight to the Caribbean...
But, even with a longer layover time, it did not make it onto our plane from ATL onto the short flight home?????
I think it was DELTA.
This is true, but you should never assume your luggage is going to make a connection, regardless of how long you've scheduled it. If you're taking multiple bags, "cross pack" people's things. Make sure you have anything you need for the first 24 hours with you in the carry ons.
I have made a connection in 10 minutes from when the first flight pulled up to the gate (first flight left late). However, I didn't have checked luggage, I was by myself and can move (relatively) quickly, I used the Delta app while we were taxiing to find my next gate assignment, and I understand how to get around ATL. That being said, I would try for at least an hour layover. But if it's 40 minutes vs. 3 hours, give me the 40 minutes. If the 40 minute layover is $100pp cheaper, I'll take it.
An hour is the closest I would cut it and I know that airport like the back of my hand.
And its exactly what the OP is asking for - different opinions/experiences. I would do it all day and long twice on Sundays. I rarely (in terms of percentages) miss flights and when I do, its usually by a wide margin - meeting went over a few hours, etc. You could also say who wants to spend an extra hour on a layover - say the next flight allows for 2 hours? - on the off chance you can't make the flight? There's tons of flights from ATL to Orlando, if you miss the flight, its going to be because of a delayed flight, and the airline is going to sort it for you. To ME this would be a non-issue. Other people feel differently. I was just suggesting what I'd do. It surely doesn't make me wrong. I've been on over 50 domestic flights a year for the last 13 years, so I feel good about my opinion based on pretty darn good experience. Anyway, I don't think the OP should sweat it at all. The airline is allowing it, its totally doable - IMHO.
