Can it be done?

[pooch]

40 minute plane change in Atlanta - one young healthy adult. DD will be flying back to MCO from Oakland and the best time/price has a 40 minute plane change in Atlanta. Is this even possible? I have no experience with that airport but what I've heard isn't good.

 

[loves to dive]

Yes it's possible. If she is flying in and out on the same airline chances are she won't have to change terminals. Even if she does, they have what is called the plane train which will get her to the next terminal pretty fast. If her arriving plane is late, she might have issues but they normally know when someone is coming in and will have someone at the gate to help with connections if it's late.

 

[DVC-Don]

Maybe. The flight starts to board 30 minutes prior to departure time, so you've got 10 minutes to get off and find the new gate.

 

[bcarey2k]

Assuming the flights are at least a little on time, she'll be okay.

I've made tighter connections.... might want to think about that middle seat near the front for leg 1 though ... if ya could.

Brian

 

[sam_gordon]

Yes. Definitely doable. I've changed planes in ~7 minutes when my first flight was late, and that included a terminal change and I was sitting behind the wing on the first flight.

If she's flying Delta, there's a good chance she'll change concourses.

Have her download the airline app and learn how to use it. As soon as the first plane turns off the runway, activate data and check to see what gate she needs to go to. Watch out the window to see what gate she'll be arriving at. Take note of which direction to go once she gets off the plane. Do NOT stop for anything (bathroom, food, etc). Go directly to the gate, do not pass go, do not collect $200. Once she gets to the gate, if there is time, THEN worry about food and bathroom.

 

[pooch]

She will be flying Southwest

 

[Allie B]

It is for sure doable but run!!! I like to have at least one hour layover for restroom break and piece of mind. Everyone is running in Atlanta though lol

 

[debster812]

She will be flying Southwest

According to Southwest's site, she'll be in Concourse C. This is the link to the map of the Concourse, so she can take a look at get her bearings. She'll definitely have to hustle, but I think it's doable.

http://www.atl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Concourse-C.pdf

And according to SWA, they use Gates 1-7, 9, 10, 12-17, 20-22, so all the gates are in the same half of that concourse, which will help!

 

[Day-Day]

Maybe. The flight starts to board 30 minutes prior to departure time, so you've got 10 minutes to get off and find the new gate.

The passenger does not have to be present when boarding starts.

 

[xlsm]

Atlanta isn't as scary as it sometimes sounds. Especially if she's staying on the same concourse and doesn't have to use the plane train, she will be fine. Everything is well marked. She won't have a ton of time, but enough to use the restroom and get a drink and then get to the gate for boarding.

 

[OKW Lover]

Since the OP's daughter is on Southwest she will be fine with a 40 minute connection. They all use Concourse C and the distance from one gate to the other isn't that large, especially for a young healthy adult.

 

[LilyWDW]

Doable? Yep.

Would I personally do it? Nope. I have bad luck with delays and connections so I make sure to have more time.

 

[nkereina]

I find Atlanta to be one of the easiest airports to navigate. The terminals don't seem that big to me, so I'll often ride the plane train to another terminal for different food options or whatever if I have a longer layover. Its quick to move between terminals using the train. I agree 40 minutes should be enough time if all goes well, but I also agree that it would make me nervous in case I encounter a delay - both for me and for any checked baggage that needs to change too.

 

[sam_gordon]

It is for sure doable but run!!! I like to have at least one hour layover for restroom break and piece of mind. Everyone is running in Atlanta though lol

Highly doubtful she'll need to run.* I might see a couple people running through Atlanta, but it's far from "everyone".

*Assuming first plane is on time and she stays on the same concourse.

 

[Jimsig]

Airlines set minimum connection times at each airport and it can be different for each airline at an airport and it depends on different factors. If your flights do not meet that min time you should not even be given the option to book them.

In other words if you are flying from MCO to OAK through ATL on Southwest and you arrive ATL at 1045a and minimum connection time is say 35 min you would not be able to book a flight that departs at 1115a, it would not give you an option of that flight from ATL, it would give you a later one. The airlines really don't want you missing your flight and have to rebook you on a later flight if they can help it. It's on thing to have a late plane due to weather etc, but they don't want you to arrive on time and miss a flight because there was not enough time to actually make it. Delta however may have a min connection time of say 55 min due to the fact that they use multiple terminals at ATL. SW would be less because you do not have to change terminals.

Years back I was flying back to BOS through Midway and was to have about a 2 1/2 hour layover. As I got off my plane I heard them boarding a flight to BOS that left in 30min at the gate next to my arrival. I turned to my right went to the desk and asked what the chances were of getting on that plane as I had no checked baggage and was able to get on. I had no idea that that flight existed as I was never shown that option at booking. It was nice arriving home early.

 

[msmayor]

For four years while at college in Savannah, my daughter connected through Atlanta to get home 2-3 times a year and almost NEVER had a connection time longer than 40 minutes. She never missed a flight...