Flying into Atlanta for a layover to MCO. Nervous with a question?

[maryj11]

We have a layover in Atlanta Airport for 48 minutes. I have not done a layover in probably 20 years. Will our flight from Atlanta to MCO on Delta be in the same area we are unloaded in? I’m kind of nervous about stopping at Atlanta since we have always done non stop for the past 20 years and I know Atlanta is a big airport .
I wouldn’t be so nervous if our layover was longer then 48 minutes. I feel like we will have to get to our gate pretty quick.

 

[James From Utah]

I've had this short of a layover in Atlanta before. The gates ended up being right next to each other so it wasn't bad. The airport is quite large so It's hard to know for sure. Atlanta does have an airport train to shuttle passengers between terminals/gates.

 

[sam_gordon]

The airline you're on makes a huge difference. SW is (generally) all on one concourse. Delta on the other hand spans three+ concourses. Although large, Atlanta is very easy to get around. Each concourse is a long building and they run parallel to each other. In the middle of each concourse is escalators/elevators to take you to the walkways/plane train below. You can walk between concourses (and there's moving walkways) or take the plane train (picture a monorail).

About a week before your trip, start watching https://flightaware.com/. Put in your flight numbers for the day you're watching. You should see a trend of what gates they arrive/depart from. If not specific gates, at least what concourse. This is no guarantee you'll use the same gates, but a pretty good idea.

Download your airline's app. After your plane lands and gets off the runway (while taxiing), fire up your phone, go to the app, put in your flight information (both flights) and it should show what gates you're using. When you get off the plane, head immediately to your next gate. Do not stop for food, do not stop for a bathroom break, do not collect $200. Once you get to your next gate, see how much time you have before boarding. Only then go to the bathroom/get food.

You also don't say the ages/walking ability of your party. If you have a baby and need to wait for a stroller, that affects your time. If you have someone that uses a walker or cane or wheelchair, that affects your time.

48 minutes in Atl is tight but doable. One time I changed planes (including changing concourses) in 5 minutes. BUT, it was just me, both gates were close to the central connectors, and I caught the plane train perfect.

 

[keishashadow]

I wouldn’t be so nervous if our layover was longer then 48 minutes. I feel like we will have to get to our gate pretty quick.

That’s tight with so many flight time changes happening now

At least both flights are on Delta, which helps.

always try to book an early connecting flight thru ATL if I can’t find a decently priced NS when flying into MCO. That way, at least they’ve been able to fit us onto a later flight when missing the connection.

 

[DebbieB]

The good news about Atlanta to Orlando is they have several flights a day. So if you miss it, they will probably get you on the next one. I’ve connected in Atlanta several times and never missed a connection, many times under one hour. If your next flight is on a different concourse, there is a train to get there, very quick.

 

[spiders]

There are plenty of connections made in less than 60 minutes in ATL.

 

[karen4546]

You can make it. Your connecting flight will probably be already boarding so you won't have to wait long. We fly MLU-ATL-MCO on Delta a lot. We once had a 38 minute layover and made it but the flight was almost completely boarded.

The train is really fast there but if you are at the back of the plane, have walking issues, have little children, or if you let them put your bag in the cargo area then you will be in a time crunch. My advice is to NOT bring anything on board that will not fit under your seat or in the overhead bin. Travel light travel fast with that short of a layover.

 

[maryj11]

The airline you're on makes a huge difference. SW is (generally) all on one concourse. Delta on the other hand spans three+ concourses. Although large, Atlanta is very easy to get around. Each concourse is a long building and they run parallel to each other. In the middle of each concourse is escalators/elevators to take you to the walkways/plane train below. You can walk between concourses (and there's moving walkways) or take the plane train (picture a monorail).

About a week before your trip, start watching https://flightaware.com/. Put in your flight numbers for the day you're watching. You should see a trend of what gates they arrive/depart from. If not specific gates, at least what concourse. This is no guarantee you'll use the same gates, but a pretty good idea.

Download your airline's app. After your plane lands and gets off the runway (while taxiing), fire up your phone, go to the app, put in your flight information (both flights) and it should show what gates you're using. When you get off the plane, head immediately to your next gate. Do not stop for food, do not stop for a bathroom break, do not collect $200. Once you get to your next gate, see how much time you have before boarding. Only then go to the bathroom/get food.

You also don't say the ages/walking ability of your party. If you have a baby and need to wait for a stroller, that affects your time. If you have someone that uses a walker or cane or wheelchair, that affects your time.

48 minutes in Atl is tight but doable. One time I changed planes (including changing concourses) in 5 minutes. BUT, it was just me, both gates were close to the central connectors, and I caught the plane train perfect.

Thank you for all the info and especially the app. I will definitely use that. It is going to be 2 adults no wheel chairs or anything.

 

[butterscotchcollins]

Worst case scenario if your flight lands later than expected or takes too much time taxiing to the gate you can always nicely ask the flight attendants to let you off first - I’ve had to do this and people are generally kind about letting you off first to catch your connection.

 

[maryj11]

Worst case scenario if your flight lands later than expected or takes too much time taxiing to the gate you can always nicely ask the flight attendants to let you off first - I’ve had to do this and people are generally kind about letting you off first to catch your connection.

Ok thanks for the tip. Our flight is not full so that might work.

 

[maryj11]

You can make it. Your connecting flight will probably be already boarding so you won't have to wait long. We fly MLU-ATL-MCO on Delta a lot. We once had a 38 minute layover and made it but the flight was almost completely boarded.

The train is really fast there but if you are at the back of the plane, have walking issues, have little children, or if you let them put your bag in the cargo area then you will be in a time crunch. My advice is to NOT bring anything on board that will not fit under your seat or in the overhead bin. Travel light travel fast with that short of a layover.

Ok thanks! Will we have to go on a train to get to our gate? We only bring carry on so we shouldn’t have to worry. We usually have a bag in the bin and small backpack we take to our seat.

 

[spiders]

Ok thanks! Will we have to go on a train to get to our gate? We only bring carry on so we shouldn’t have to worry. We usually have a bag in the bin and small backpack we take to our seat.

It depends and you won’t know until you land. Delta operates in every single concourse at ATL and all of A & B are exclusive to Delta.

 

[maryj11]

It depends and you won’t know until you land. Delta operates in every single concourse at ATL and all of A & B are exclusive to Delta.

I have been searching similar arrivals and departures for our flights. All I have seen are arriving at B and departing at A. So how would we go about getting from B to A as fast as we can lol?

 

[JimMIA]

I don't think the gate-to-gate connection process will be the problem. The much greater threat to making the connection is that your flight INTO ATL gets delayed and causes you to miss the connection.

OTOH, it's Atlanta and Delta. If you miss one flight, they'll put you on the next one.

I think you'll be fine.

 

[Alice Sr.]

I have been searching similar arrivals and departures for our flights. All I have seen are arriving at B and departing at A. So how would we go about getting from B to A as fast as we can lol?

You want to use the train it is super convenient. I had a delay and made it in 20 minutes. As @sam_gordon mentioned get the Delta app. Go to the lower right corner to the "more" option and search Airport Maps for ATL. It's a great feature.

 

[maryj11]

You want to use the train it is super convenient. I had a delay and made it in 20 minutes. As @sam_gordon mentioned get the Delta app. Go to the lower right corner to the "more" option and search Airport Maps for ATL. It's a great feature.

Ok thanks! I do not know Atlanta airport so I’m worried. So we go down the escalator to the train right? My worry is does the trains route run A-B-C etc.. because we don’t want to take a trip all the way around the airport. Or is there a train that goes C-B-A?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Ok thanks! I do not know Atlanta airport so I’m worried. So we go down the escalator to the train right? My worry is does the trains route run A-B-C etc.. because we don’t want to take a trip all the way around the airport. Or is there a train that goes C-B-A?

So like @sam_gordon posted and @Alice Sr. repeated:

You want to use the train it is super convenient. I had a delay and made it in 20 minutes. As @sam_gordon mentioned get the Delta app. Go to the lower right corner to the "more" option and search Airport Maps for ATL. It's a great feature.

 

[DebbieB]

Ok thanks! I do not know Atlanta airport so I’m worried. So we go down the escalator to the train right? My worry is does the trains route run A-B-C etc.. because we don’t want to take a trip all the way around the airport. Or is there train that goes C-B-A?

Go to the center of the concourse, there are signs. There are escalators. One side goes one direction, the other side, the other direction. So if you want to go B to A, look for the side that is for A direction.

 

[sam_gordon]

You want to use the train it is super convenient. I had a delay and made it in 20 minutes. As @sam_gordon mentioned get the Delta app. Go to the lower right corner to the "more" option and search Airport Maps for ATL. It's a great feature.

I will say, if you just miss a train, you would probably be able to walk between B & A before the next train shows up. The train is definitely faster if you have to go multiple concourses.

 

[sam_gordon]

Worst case scenario if your flight lands later than expected or takes too much time taxiing to the gate you can always nicely ask the flight attendants to let you off first - I’ve had to do this and people are generally kind about letting you off first to catch your connection.

How exactly did you do that? Would the FA respond to a call button while taxiing?