Choice of 2 layovers in ATL - 51 minutes or 1hr 51 minutes....HELP!

[Minnesota!]

Full disclosure - a little over a year ago, due to having to de-ice in MN before we left, we got into ATL very close to our connection flight time, and they had already given away 2/4 of our seats. My little one and I continued on to MCO while my DH and and my ODS were stranded in ATL for 8+ hours. Traumatic for my older son....and heartbreaking for me, too.

Anyway, that clouds my vision a bit here. We have 2 flight choices for October (so no freezing issues to deal with here..). One gives us a 51 min layover in ATL and one just under 2 hours.

DH says he is fine with the shorter one....but it scares the crap out of me!

Do you really think 51 minutes is do-able? Mid day Saturday flying MSP- ATL in mid October?

 

[DisneyOHFan]

We fly through ATL frequently and I would definitely recommend the 1 hr and 51 min layover. Even if the weather is perfect and you arrive on time, it is a crazy big airport. And if you are flying Delta, your connection could be a long walk (RUN) away.

It would leave less stress (in my opinion).

 

[cbnsoul]

We fly through ATL frequently and I would definitely recommend the 1 hr and 51 min layover. Even if the weather is perfect and you arrive on time, it is a crazy big airport. And if you are flying Delta, your connection could be a long walk (RUN) away.

It would leave less stress (in my opinion).

THIS! The more time in Atlanta (to a point), the better.

 

[Minnesota!]

Thanks! That is what I am thinking, too. We are flying Airtran, but DH just sees "We get to WDW 1 hour earlier" where I see "we might not make it to WDW with the short connection".

Does the fact that we are flying Airtran change things at all (like, gates are all in one area, etc.)?

 

[Traveliz]

Thanks! That is what I am thinking, too. We are flying Airtran, but DH just sees "We get to WDW 1 hour earlier" where I see "we might not make it to WDW with the short connection".

Does the fact that we are flying Airtran change things at all (like, gates are all in one area, etc.)?

I do the 51 minute Airtran layover on occasion in ATL. It seems scary but I have only had a problem once and that was weather related and one hour and 51 minutes wouldn't have made a difference.

Generally speaking the Airtran flights land and take off from Concourse C. Rarely they land at C and take off from D or vice versa. I have still made the connection in time BUT the important thing here is to take the TRAIN. It doesn't matter if it says the next train is three minutes away...you will still arrive WAY earlier than those who choose to walk/run between concourses.

Things that would keep me from the 51 minute connection would be more than 2 young children or strollers/carseats to lug.

Liz

 

[Nebraska_Disney]

When I travel for work, I try to avoid short connection times as much as possible. When I am flying w/ my family (especially through Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas) I would go for the longer layover. No reason to risk it. One reason that would sway me even more, almost EVERY time I fly anymore, the plane is full. So "getting on the next flight" is not as easy as it used to be.

I'd rather lose just 1 hour vs 8 ?

 

[Sandi]

I agree with the other posters. Go for the longer layover at ATL. We have sprinted to connections at ATL more than a few times -- sometimes when the layover has been more than an hour -- because of arriving late. With little kids, I would take a little more time at the airport than the shorter layover.

I wonder what my cut-off would be though. If it were 2 hours (which isn't that much more than 1 hr; 50 min) I think I'd go with the shorter layover.

 

[bpesch]

51 minutes is doable, but to be honest, anything under an hour worries me too. I would opt for the longer layover, much less chance to something going wrong.

 

[maxiesmom]

Look at it this way: Most airlines start boarding their planes 30 minutes before take-off. So you only have 20 minutes to make if from your arrival gate to your departue gate, before they start boarding. And if you plan on packing carry-ons, you want to be on the plane as soon as possible to claim your overhead compartment space. It has become precious!

I'd definately go with the longer layover. It sounds like just enough time to grab a quick bite to eat, make a restroom stop, and head to your new gate.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

The 51 minutes connection means you really only have 20 minutes to catch that flight. They close the boarding process and shut the door to the aircraft anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes prior to departure. When you land you will have to wait for the people ahead of you to get off the plan which could eat into the amt of time you have to catch your next flight. So in reality you may only end up with 10 minutes to catch that next flight!

I would pick the longer layover. By the time you get off the plane, take a bathroom break, stretch your legs it will be time to board. I would rather be comfortable knowing that I did not have to worry about any delays and trying to reach my connection.

Take the longer one. After all its only one hour longer than the other connection.

** If you take the shorter connection and miss that flight and they have to rebook you, you may end up with an even longer layover than if you would have just booked the flight with the 1 hr 50 minute layoff. Quit possibly they may not get you out till the next day! Remember this is ATL we are talking about. One of the busiest airports.

 

[Elmo007]

I also vote longer but i usally fly out of NY, so I even worry at 1:51. I have spent that on the Runways alone at both LGA and JFK

 

[bumbershoot]

I'd rather be bored at the gate than sprinting through the terminal...especially with kids. Take the longer one!


And didn't Southwest just finish up the purchase of Airtran? Gates might be changing due to that...

 

[Allison]

I don't like any connection under an hour.

 

[purple figment]

I would definitely choose the longer layover because weather isn't the only reason planes are delayed.

The last time we flew out of Orlando, our plane was already late leaving and then had to return to the gate because they miscounted the luggage so there was a discrepancy that required a recount. We left Orlando almost 2 hours behind schedule so we figured we would miss our connecting flight, but that flight was also delayed so we raced through the airport and made it by the skin of our teeth.

Another time our flight arrived at the airport on time, but the gate we were assigned was still occupied by another plane so we sat on the tarmac for a little over 30 minutes and waited.