Atlanta airport

[barbara ann]

I don't know if anyone can reassure me, but we have a layover in Atlanta on our flight from Hartford to Orlando on September 30th. I just checked our reservation and although the fights haven't changed the times have. We now only have a 25 min layover and I'm worried that we won't make our connecting flight due to the size of the airport. Does anyone think we will have problems? On the upside we get to MCO an hour earlier!!!

 

[Mousema]

We only have 28 minutes now. Must be a trend.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

That is not long enough in the Atlanta airport. Who are you flying? Unless their arrival and departure gates are right next to each other, there is no way you can make your connection. It takes 10-15 minutes to get off your flight, and they close flights 10 (?) minutes before departure. That doesn't give you anytime to get to your second flight. And that's assuming your first flight is right on time...Call and get a later connection.

 

[DebbieB]

I agree that isn't enough time in Atlanta. If your connecting flight is on another concourse, you have to go down, get on a train, get off and back up at the other concourse. That airport is a zoo, so crowded.

 

[Laz]

Having done my best O.J. Simpson imitation in Atlanta's Airport (I just dated myself ), I can tell you it is NOT enough time.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Like the others have said, that's not enough time. For a connection in ATL you need at least an hour.

 

[pk1959]

We just had our flights changed courtesy of Delta and they had us with only a 22 minute layover in Atlanta for December. Having gone through Atlanta several times, I KNEW that wouldn't work, so I called them and they agreed that it wouldn't work. We are now changed to have a little over an hour. I would definitely call and make the changes.

 

[Pinnie]

I jsut flew in and out of there this past weekend and it was a ZOO! Esp. the D concourse! They closed a couple of restrooms and the lines were out the door!!!

I'd go for a longer layover!!!

pinnie

 

[tabrizia]

There is no way I would go for a 25 minutes layover in Atlanta, the airport is huge especially if you are on Delta, since then you are almost guarenteed your conecting flight will be in the concorse farthest from where you land. Definately agree with everyone else you need at least an hour for a layover in Atlanta to make your conecting flight.

 

[safetymom]

It all depends who you are flying. If it is AirTran most of their flights are all in the same terminal. But they will already be boarding for your next flight. I would look on your airlines website for the amount of time allowed for a connection. Most airlines have one where they will rebook you for another flight.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

Of course, I'm flying Delta...

Right now my incoming flight lands at 8:38 and the next flight leaves at 9:30 - assuming they don't change the times again! At one point the incoming flight wasn't landing until 8:48. I had a horrific experience with a delayed landing and plane change in Detroit, and never want to do that again. Well, at least I'm traveling alone and can sprint without worrying about leaving a child behind this time!

Is there a way to find out ahead of time which gate I'll land at and which I need to get to, so at least I'm prepared?

 

[barbara ann]

Yes we are flying delta which is what worries me. My cousin, who flies all the time because of work, also said anything less than one hour is not good. Maybe I should call the airline and see what they say. I'm just afraid if I change the flight, what's to say they won't change the times of the new flight?

 

[tms295]

In Atlanta ANYTHING is possible...

I have made short connections under 30mins. (only thanks to the flight delayed fairy who is entirely to generous in Atlanta) and I have missed connections with 1 hour layovers. (Once again thanks to that fairy throwing schedules off).

Do and make any changes to make you feel comfortable... if you miss a connection the airline will put you on the next available flight... pending space availability... (last connection i missed I was on another flight and in the air in under a 1 hr of being on the ground.)

You can get an idea of where gates are located for specific flights (however not guaranteed) by looking up your flight on expedia... or search the airlines website for the same flight number as yours but in the next 3 days... or wait until 3 days before your flight and search then

 

[dkal95]

Now I'm nervous. Our flight gets in at 10:04 and departs at 11:00.

I hope that's enough time for us to get ourselves and our 3 kids to the next gate.

:nervous

 

[Letsbgoofy]

Our flight gets in at 10:04 and departs at 11:00

I also have a 55 min. connection. It's plenty of time if your first leg is on time. I've been watching mine, and it's late almost every day. Fortunately, there's a nearly empty flight an hour later.

 

[dudspizza]

Is there a way to find out ahead of time which gate I'll land at and which I need to get to, so at least I'm prepared?

I flew through ATL last May. I started tracking the flight a month ahead of time to see if there was a trend as to what gates were being used. I then had an idea as to where I would be going.

I had never been to ATL and was a bit concerned. Although the airport was crowded, I really thought the train system between terminals worked really well. There were very short waits and the train boogies along. Personally, I think I could make a 30 minute connection if I had to and didn't have kids with me. Almost an hour, no problems at all, just don't dilly dally around. Get to the next gate, then take time to smell the roses!

Duds

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I flew through ATL last May. I started tracking the flight a month ahead of time to see if there was a trend as to what gates were being used. I then had an idea as to where I would be going.

I had never been to ATL and was a bit concerned. Although the airport was crowded, I really thought the train system between terminals worked really well. There were very short waits and the train boogies along. Personally, I think I could make a 30 minute connection if I had to and didn't have kids with me. Almost an hour, no problems at all, just don't dilly dally around. Get to the next gate, then take time to smell the roses!

Duds

I feel a little better now. Smell the roses? No need for that, even - I'll be happy just to "smell" the air flow thingy once I'm seated on that second flight!

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Having done my best O.J. Simpson imitation in Atlanta's Airport (I just dated myself ), I can tell you it is NOT enough time.

I hope the imitation was limited to the Hertz commercial and not anything else OJ has done. (sorry, couldn't resist)

I agree with others -- if it were AirTran, 25 minutes is possible, but with Delta it will be very tight. I'd check with Delta about changing your flight. Since they changed the flight times on you, they should change it without penalty.

 

[barbara ann]

I will call the airline this weekend and see what they say. I've now had one friend tell me anything less than 30 minutes is not a legal connection. Another friend thought that with new security and baggage being checked through connections, that the airlines make sure passengers are on the same plane as their luggage (you know bombs I guess).

 

[Tara]

When are you due to arrive in Atlanta? I've noticed that they tend to pad flight times quite a bit. Over the past 12-18 months, I've flown to ATL or through there and had wildly different experiences -- sometimes we'd circle for 30 minutes and still be on time, other times we'd go straight in and I'd be as much as 40 minutes early! So I'm not so sure that you will have as short a connection as you think. You might be lucky.