Atlanta connection question

[BrerMama]

Last trip we had a horrible first day because we missed our connection in Dallas by 5 minutes (late start out of our home airport due to a mechanic not signing off from the night before). This trip we're flying AirTran, but the first leg is through AirTran JetConnect, so we are arrive at terminal D and departing terminal C. I've been tracking arrival/departure times on line and while they had been coming in on time for several months, lately there's been a lot of 11-11:10 arrivals (scheduled arrival is 10:50). Our next plane departs at 11:25. Do you think we could make it if our plane arrived at 11:10? There are 5 of us, but luckily the youngest will be 4 1/2 so no hauling a stroller, diaper bag, car seat, etc. while trying to make a connection.

I know I'm way paranoid but I went with AirTran because they do have another flight leaving in 1 1/2 hours (rather than the 6 hours between flights last trip). If anyone has any tips for maneuvering around the Atlanta airport, I'd appreciate those too.

 

[ktglads]

The C to D connection is an easy one. If you are a fast walker and walk on the moving sidewalks, you can actually beat the train that runs. Depending on where your gates are, it would be about a 10 - 15 minute walk. You can also look at a map of the airport to get a sense as to how far you will have to be going

You would be cutting it close if anything happens. You may land at 10:50, but not get out of the plane until 11 or after, depending on if the gate is available and where you are on the plane (always have people poking along ahead of us when they know very well that you are trying to make a connection). Usually the flight attendants have the actual gate departures available when you get off the plane (sometimes before) so you would be able to find out if the flight is on time or not. Possibly, they could radio to the gate and have the flight held if it is possible for you to make it there quickly or a lot of people from your flight are connecting onto the other one