Changing planes in Atlanta?

[mrskay9]

Can someone tell me their experiences about changing planes in Atlanta airport?
I've never flown into their before. Is it a huge airport?

I'm on Delta and coming in I've got an hour and 55 mins to change flights.

Coming home I've got 46 mins to catch the next flight.

I'm flying in the same day as the cruise so I'm a bit nervous and this is my first cruise so I'm a worrier.

(realizing now I should've done a search. I hate when people don't search. But see, this has me in a tizzy. ) Tell me it's going to be ok???

 

[ksucats]

Can someone tell me their experiences about changing planes in Atlanta airport?
I've never flown into their before. Is it a huge airport?

I'm on Delta and coming in I've got an hour and 55 mins to change flights.

Coming home I've got 46 mins to catch the next flight.

I'm flying in the same day as the cruise so I'm a bit nervous and this is my first cruise so I'm a worrier.

(realizing now I should've done a search. I hate when people don't search. But see, this has me in a tizzy. ) Tell me it's going to be ok???

At least coming in you have plenty of time. Coming home may be a different story. Delays are very common in ATL & 46 minutes isn't very much - especially if you have to change terminals, which is very possible. Is there another flight to your home airport after your scheduled one if you miss the connection?

 

[kcashner]

Atlanta is actually easy. If both flights are Delta, there's a good chance you'll be in the same terminal. If not, you go down an escalator, onto a train that runs about every 3 minutes, off at the next terminal, and to your new gate. Of course if the first flight is late you could have an issue, but it is more likely that the second flight (out of Atlanta) will depart late!

 

[clten]

kcashner is right, Atlanta is fairly easy to get around even though it is a large airport. I think Delta uses primarily 2 of the terminals. (Seems we always have to go from one to the other when we are flying.) I just wanted to mention, when you first land, check with a delta rep or the tvs to get your connecting gate -- they can change from what you are told when you check in at your originating airport because of delays and such. If you do have to change terminals, the signs are very well marked. You do have to go down a level to get the shuttle train -- which seems to confuse a lot of people if they don't know.

 

[rotary2808]

Can someone tell me their experiences about changing planes in Atlanta airport?
I've never flown into their before. Is it a huge airport?

I'm on Delta and coming in I've got an hour and 55 mins to change flights.

Coming home I've got 46 mins to catch the next flight.

I'm flying in the same day as the cruise so I'm a bit nervous and this is my first cruise so I'm a worrier.

(realizing now I should've done a search. I hate when people don't search. But see, this has me in a tizzy. ) Tell me it's going to be ok???

We connect to Atlanta on just about every trip.

It's a fairly large airport connected by underground trains. You can also walk underground as well, but it's a bit of a hike between terminals.

Coming in you've got more than enough time to make your connecting flight. Going home is cutting it close, but we've had several of those and have never missed a flight yet.

Atlanta is an easy airport to navigate. It's just lined up in straight rows and the escalator/elevator for the trains comes up right in the middle. Each terminal has lots of food choices so you can easily find somewhere to grab a bite to eat if you need to.

I wouldn't worry. I know going to a new airport can be a little daunting, but even though Atlanta is one of the world's busiest airports I find it one of the easiest to navigate and I personally don't mind flying into it.

Have a great trip!!!!

 

[pluto1979]

Don't worry about making your flight to MCO. You will be just fine with plenty of time to make your connection. Leaving is a bit close but if you miss it they just put you on standby so I would not worry at all.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[mrskay9]

Thanks.

I've flown into Boston and NY airport and used to live in DC. And if it were just me and dd, no sweat, but we're lugging around my husband!

He HATES to fly.

I think I won't mention the two terminal thing just say "Follow me honey!"

 

[Warbluzki]

The Atlanta Airport gates are arranged in six parallel terminals with a subway or walkways connecting them.

------------------------------------------------ T
------------------------------------------------ A
------------------------------------------------ B
------------------------------------------------ C
------------------------------------------------ D
------------------------------------------------ E

The subway runs down the middle of each terminal-so about half the gates are on one side of the subway and half on the other side.

Terminal T is closest to the baggage.

Delta flights to and from MCO usually go out of Terminals T, A, or B depending on the time of day.

Flights to and from IAD (just a guess as to where you are flying from) go out of Terminals A, B, or C.

If you have to go from one end of one terminal (say A1) to the other end of another terminal (say C44), you won't have time to meander around, so your 46 min layover may be tight. On the other hand, your two flights might be right next to each other.

Anyway, since all your flights are on the same carrier, Delta should take care of you if your inbound flight is delayed and worst case put you on the next flight.

 

[KikiMouse]

Don't worry about making your flight to MCO. You will be just fine with plenty of time to make your connection. Leaving is a bit close but if you miss it they just put you on standby so I would not worry at all.

Enjoy your cruise!

I fly in/out of Atlanta very frequently.
I agree there is plenty of time on the MCO leg,
On your return flight, if you miss it, there are flights to Atl almost every hour., and they can rebook you. 46 minutes in Atlanta is a tight connection, even if you are in the same terminal.

Although the layout is easy, there can often be a long walk between the gates.
If you are even somewhat late taking off from MCO with such a tight connection, you may miss your connecting flight. Check and see how many flights there are to your final destination. If you are flying back to IAD or DCA, there are lots of flights available. They should put you on standby if you miss the flight.
I think you should be OK, not to worry. good luck, KikiMouse

 

[skiingfast]

I also had a short layover on my last trip through ATL. It was supposed to be 45 minutes and I had my 4 yo with me.

We landed a little late. I was checking the whole flight because I was worried. So when we got to the gate I had 38 minutes. Wasn't a big deal because our other plane was 4 gates away. But when we landed the gate was changed so we went from half way down the A terminal to the far side.

After stopping in a restroom we hustled down. But at the middle of the A terminal I figured we'd squeek in a train ride. We just went from A to B and back for fun. Still got to the gate with 29 minutes.

ATL is a really well layed out airport. It real easy to move through.

 

[lmhall2000]

If it's a continental flight into Atlanta you will probably make it just fine, just make sure to tell the flight attendants and try to be first off...if you're coming back from the Med cruise, you will most likely never make it...we flew from Amsterdam to Detroit but they told us we would have to gather our luggage and RECHECK them in for our continuing flight to Birmingham...that process took over an hour and many missed their connecting flights.

Hoping you're not on a Med flight!
We have flown through ATL many times (lived there for 7 years) and it's worse than Detroit at getting luggage off and rechecking...hth!
Tara

 

[kay1864]

I just wanted to mention, when you first land, check with a delta rep or the tvs to get your connecting gate

Also, when your plane is on approach, the flight attendants will usually announce "We will be landing at gate A21" (or somesuch), and then give you a list of gates for connecting flights, in alphabetical order by city. Listen for your home city, and you'll know if your connecting flight is on the same concourse, or the next one.

 

[mrskay9]

Nah, no Med for me........yet!

5 day Double Dip.

Ah, now to figure out whether to get a hotel room near the airport or drive at the crack of dawn. Our first flight is at 7am, but we live no where near the air port!!

Thanks goodness my husband loves me!

 

[ksucats]

Also, when your plane is on approach, the flight attendants will usually announce "We will be landing at gate A21" (or somesuch), and then give you a list of gates for connecting flights, in alphabetical order by city. Listen for your home city, and you'll know if your connecting flight is on the same concourse, or the next one.

If you or anybody travelling with you has a blackberry or internet phone, you can look up flight & gate status quite easily as soon as you land. That is what I do. Then you know which direction to start running if you need to run.

 

[kay1864]

If you or anybody travelling with you has a blackberry or internet phone, you can look up flight & gate status quite easily as soon as you land. That is what I do. Then you know which direction to start running if you need to run.

You mean of course, after the 10 rows ahead of you finally get off with all their carryon luggage

 

[mrsdn5]

I have only flown into atlanta a couple of times, but I have to say that I liked it better than flying into Logan. Atlanta seemed to be organized very well, and I never got lost. I get lost very easily.

 

[KikiMouse]

You mean of course, after the 10 rows ahead of you finally get off with all their carryon luggage

Usually the flight attendants on Delta make an announcement that some passengers are making really tight connections and need to get off the plane first
They ask nicely that people who are not in such a dire hurry, stay seated and let those people who are making tight connections go first.
People are usually pretty nice about it and let them go first. Especially if you have your carryons ready to go and you are ready to run down the aisle!
KikiMouse

 

[croppincolburn]

Dh transfered in Atlanta a couple weeks ago. He bought me some yummy pralines in the airport.

 

[tvguy]

I have had no issues with Atlanta. It's Delta's hub so it should be pretty organized.
I would never book less than an hour between flights (although Southwest once tried to convince me to book a flight with a 10 minute layover in Phoenix. I declined...booked a connecting flight with an hour and 15 minute layover and missed that conneciton because my flight coming in was late)

 

[poeticdiabetic]

Living in Atlanta, I have a lot of friends and family members who works for Delta. Atlanta is a great airport and Atlanta is Delta-land. Relax, because you're going to have a pleasant experience.