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

[maryj11]

PP doesn't say what airline they're on. As has been said, Delta will have flights at every terminal, but primarily ABC (and I think T) for domestic flights. Smaller planes will probably be concourse C and the larger ones (usually heading to MCO) will depart from A or B. That's not a guarantee though.

It is a pretty big plane that will leaving for MCO. It has 45 rows.

 

[maryj11]

I don't know if they'll respond while the aircraft is taxiing, but I've had a number of cases where they have made announcements that some passengers had close connections and if you're not in a rush to please keep your seats. People are generally very cooperative in that situation.

I don't think OP will have any problem in ATL as long as their arrival is on time.

If it is delayed does Delta put us on the next flight at no chsrge? Or what do we do?

 

[JimMIA]

If it is delayed does Delta put us on the next flight at no chsrge? Or what do we do?

I assume so. I don't fly Delta usually, but American has never charged me regardless of the reason for missing the connection.

 

[SirDuff]

If it is delayed does Delta put us on the next flight at no chsrge? Or what do we do?

As long as it was bought as one ticket, yes. If you bought two separate tickets (which I doubt but just making sure), you are on your own.

One slight change to your sentence though - they will put you on the next AVAILABLE flight. If the next flight doesn't have enough empty seats for you and your family, they will not bump others off of that flight for you. There are a lot of ATL-MCO flights, each day (changes in scheduling due to COVID notwithstanding), so, unless you're on the penultimate flight of the night, you'd likely get on something that day.

 

[maryj11]

As long as it was bought as one ticket, yes. If you bought two separate tickets (which I doubt but just making sure), you are on your own.

One slight change to your sentence though - they will put you on the next AVAILABLE flight. If the next flight doesn't have enough empty seats for you and your family, they will not bump others off of that flight for you. There are a lot of ATL-MCO flights, each day (changes in scheduling due to COVID notwithstanding), so, unless you're on the penultimate flight of the night, you'd likely get on something that day.

Ok yes I know the next available flight. With this COVID 19 I don’t think planes will be full unless they are because they are leaving the middle seat empty.

 

[ScubaCat]

This thread is making way too big of a deal strategizing for a simple connection. . Just get off the first plane, follow signs to the next gate, and catch the next flight. Ask a gate agent if you're concerned. People connect at these hubs every day. Not a big deal!

 

[sam_gordon]

I don't know if they'll respond while the aircraft is taxiing, but I've had a number of cases where they have made announcements that some passengers had close connections and if you're not in a rush to please keep your seats. People are generally very cooperative in that situation.

I have heard the announcement plenty of times (including the time I had my 5 minute connection). Unless you're toward the front of the plane, I've never really seen people "cooperate".

Anyway, go back and look at the post I quoted...

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

They recommended informing the FA if the flight lands later than expected or takes too much time taxiing. Which you can't do until the plane is on the ground, and therefore you can't do. That was more my point.

 

[sam_gordon]

This thread is making way too big of a deal strategizing for a simple connection. . Just get off the first plane, follow signs to the next gate, and catch the next flight. Ask a gate agent if you're concerned. People connect at these hubs every day. Not a big deal!

So I guess you tell people who are having a panic attack (not saying the OP is) to "just calm down"? They point is we're trying to make the OP feel more confident about making this connection. Not everyone has the flying/connecting experience others do.

Here's the other thing we haven't mentioned... isn't Delta still offering no change fees? I don't think it's needed, but OP, if it would really make you feel better, why not change one of the flights to give you more time to connect?

 

[paigefant]

Hi I'm local in Atlanta. We're DVC owners at Poly and VGF so we travel in and out of Hartsfield quite often to Orlando. On Delta you will most likely go out of A or B concourse to Orlando, possibly C. T is the International terminal and all the way at the end of the train, even past baggage claim. You won't go to Orlando out of the T terminal. I would ask them when you board your flight at your originating airport if they can let the flight crew know that you have a tight connection. They will most likely let you off first. Atlanta is fairly easy to navigate. Like someone else said go down the escalator to get to the the "plane train." I don't think you will have any trouble with that time frame. The airport is empty right now so you will not be fighting people to get around which is normally the hardest part.

 

[Best Aunt]

This thread is making way too big of a deal strategizing for a simple connection. . Just get off the first plane, follow signs to the next gate, and catch the next flight. Ask a gate agent if you're concerned. People connect at these hubs every day. Not a big deal!

Well I was nervous the first time I had a connection in Atlanta. When you’re used to a nonstop flight from a small airport, the Atlanta airport can be intimidating.

 

[spiders]

T isn’t the international concourse. T is the smallest and those are the Terminal Gates because they’re connected to the terminals and there is no need for the train if you’re a local. Delta has a few of those gates but not many and used to, maybe still do, run higher markets out of like LaGuardia.

E & F is international and I think E might be temporarily boarded up.

 

[ScubaCat]

Well I was nervous the first time I had a connection in Atlanta. When you’re used to a nonstop flight from a small airport, the Atlanta airport can be intimidating.

Everything can be intimidating the first time, and information is useful. Sometimes too many tips and pointers can make it worse, that's all I'm saying. Best thing to do is just follow the signage and ask a gate agent if you're unsure. It's not a military invasion; it's walking from one gate to another.

 

[JayMass]

When is your flight? Delta is allowing free flight changes for travel through the end of September. If you are seriously worried, you could always try to change to a flight that has no layover or a longer layover. But, if that doesn't work, I am sure you will be fine. Delta's flights are only 60% capacity so you should be able to get off your flight pretty quickly and do whatever it takes to get to your connection. I like the whoever said no bathroom, no food until you get to your gate and can see the status of your flight. Good Luck!

 

[maryj11]

When is your flight? Delta is allowing free flight changes for travel through the end of September. If you are seriously worried, you could always try to change to a flight that has no layover or a longer layover. But, if that doesn't work, I am sure you will be fine. Delta's flights are only 60% capacity so you should be able to get off your flight pretty quickly and do whatever it takes to get to your connection. I like the whoever said no bathroom, no food until you get to your gate and can see the status of your flight. Good Luck!

Yeah I have already checked for other flights and didn’t see any I liked.

 

[maryj11]

Hi I'm local in Atlanta. We're DVC owners at Poly and VGF so we travel in and out of Hartsfield quite often to Orlando. On Delta you will most likely go out of A or B concourse to Orlando, possibly C. T is the International terminal and all the way at the end of the train, even past baggage claim. You won't go to Orlando out of the T terminal. I would ask them when you board your flight at your originating airport if they can let the flight crew know that you have a tight connection. They will most likely let you off first. Atlanta is fairly easy to navigate. Like someone else said go down the escalator to get to the the "plane train." I don't think you will have any trouble with that time frame. The airport is empty right now so you will not be fighting people to get around which is normally the hardest part.

Thank you for all the information.

 

[maryj11]

This thread is making way too big of a deal strategizing for a simple connection. . Just get off the first plane, follow signs to the next gate, and catch the next flight. Ask a gate agent if you're concerned. People connect at these hubs every day. Not a big deal!

If we don’t know the airport and miss our flight it is a big deal . I’m confident now I know what I’m doing when I get there thanks to everyone’s info and tips. I guess if we miss the flight we will have to go for the next one.

 

[ScubaCat]

If we don’t know the airport and miss our flight it is a big deal . I’m confident now I know what I’m doing when I get there thanks to everyone’s info and tips. I guess if we miss the flight we will have to go for the next one.

Fortunately that's usually a pretty easy option between major hubs like ATL and MCO. Still, it's a pain. Best to just make your connection, which you will no problem.

Actually one real tip I will share (that applies to ANY flight, really) is always check the monitors (or airline app/website). Gates change regularly so even if they tell you the connecting flight gate onboard prior to landing, it could change. Take a quick glance at the monitors or app when you get through security or disembark your first flight. If you don't have the app handy and don't see monitors, ask the uniformed agent when you first enter the terminal after you get off the first flight. It only takes a second and could save your bacon.

That being said, there is excellent signage at ATL so you'll find this all a lot easier than you're expecting.

 

[maryj11]

Fortunately that's usually a pretty easy option between major hubs like ATL and MCO. Still, it's a pain. Best to just make your connection, which you will no problem.

Actually one real tip I will share (that applies to ANY flight, really) is always check the monitors (or airline app/website). Gates change regularly so even if they tell you the connecting flight gate onboard prior to landing, it could change. Take a quick glance at the monitors or app when you get through security or disembark your first flight. If you don't have the app handy and don't see monitors, ask the uniformed agent when you first enter the terminal after you get off the first flight. It only takes a second and could save your bacon.

That being said, there is excellent signage at ATL so you'll find this all a lot easier than you're expecting.

Yes I plan on checking to make sure our gate number has not changed. Last year our gate was changed about 45 minutes before take off.

 

[maryj11]

So I guess you tell people who are having a panic attack (not saying the OP is) to "just calm down"? They point is we're trying to make the OP feel more confident about making this connection. Not everyone has the flying/connecting experience others do.

Here's the other thing we haven't mentioned... isn't Delta still offering no change fees? I don't think it's needed, but OP, if it would really make you feel better, why not change one of the flights to give you more time to connect?

I changed flights once. Is the no fee just a one time deal?

 

[gatour]

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.

I used to fly through Atlanta a lot, and I agree unless a train has just arrived, it is faster to walk on the moving sidewalks if you are only going one concourse over from you arrival concourse.

To the person mentioning DFW. That was my least favorite. Moving from one terminal to another (which was pretty much guaranteed) was a PIA as the people mover was not very efficient. They now have a train system that works much better.

To keep this Disney related. The people mover at DFW was based on the same technology as the People Mover at Walt Disney World.