Atlanta Intl

[dudspizza]

I am flying in there in May. I land at 1030am and connect to a flight that leaves at 122pm. Will I have any problem going out to the main terminal, grabbing some lunch with a friend who lives in Atlanta, and then getting back to my gate (Atlantic Southeast Air-Delta)?

Duds

 

[DisneyBeach]

Depending on what terminal you arrive in (assuming you are on time) factor in about 15-20 minutes to get to the main terminal. I would then just monitor the security line to figure out how much time you need to get back into the terminal (and another 15 minutes or so once past security.) It is very possible to do this but the security line is the main variable to keep an eye on.

Around lunch or dinner time, the restaurans up front could get quite busy so hopefully your friend could grab a table while you make your way up front.

Good luck.

 

[Puffy2]

You land at 10:30 and your next flight leaves at 12 or 12:20? Remember, most flights these days board 20-30 min. early and sometimes the doors are locked and they are pulling away from the gate at the stated flight time. Personally, I don't think you will be able to make it off your flight, go on the tram back to baggage claim and the main "pedestrian area" with the restaurants, have lunch, go back through security, get back on the tram, and finally find your flight again.

If your friend could meet you as you get off the plane and then eat in that terminal (there are many places near the gates), without you having to go through security - that would be different. The way security is now, I don't think they allow anyone without a ticket to pass through securitiy and go to the terminals. So, If it were me, this lunch with a friend wouldn't be happening. Sorry.

 

[CarolA]

I find the Atlanta airport easy to navigate and I am not sure I would try this.

Security here can be a nightmare. You need to plan on an hour... you might get lucky, but then again you might not... Are you are frequent flyer? If so, most of the airlines have "fast pass" type of lines for first class and top level frequent fliers and that means it only takes about 15 minutes for security.

With ASA it's VITAL to be at your gate early (and keep checking the gates, they move them and don't tell you and some of thier agents are not the brightest lights on the tree!)

 

[Puffy2]

Exactly, I also once had a flight that I was at the gate an hour before boarding. We got hungry and asked the clerk "do we have time to grab a piece of pizza". "Oh, yes" we were told, "the flight is delayed". So we eat (all of 10 min), go back sit down and wait (the board still said "delayed") then we notice that after another flight was called, the room emptied, except for us and a few other people..so we go to the desk, where we are told that our plane had boarded and closed. "But your sign still says DELAYED...not BOARDING OR CLOSED!"

Point being, they board early and close it and you won't even know it, so if you want to make your flight, don't fool around with your flight times.

 

[kjs1976]

You should have plenty of time. However, Atlanta is the hardest to navigate if you don't know where you're going and the hardest to manuever if you make a mistake and get on the wrong tram. Had I not run from the tram to our connecting flight on our honeymoon to Florida, we might still be there! We were the last to board...and DH was taking his time....ugh...not a fun airport.