Help with indirect flights please

[jjj4]

Hi In the past I have always flown direct but I have booked indirect return flights from Orlando - Atlanta - Manchester with Virgin Atlantic. The two flights - the internal flight with Delta and the other with Virgin both have flight numbers starting with VS. I have 2 hours, in theory, between the flights. As this is my first time flying indirect I am trying to find the answers to the following questions and hoped someone on here might be able to help or point me in the right direction:
1. When I check in at Orlando will I be given the boarding passes for both flights?
2. At Atlanta will I need to collect my luggage and check it in again or will it be transferred?
3. When I get off the plane at Atlanta what do I need to do in terms of security and how easy is it to navigate from what I presume is a domestic terminal to the international flight terminal?
4. I have prebooked seats on the Virgin flight but this doesn't seem possible with the Delta flight - is this normal?
5. Any other advice/help you can offer.

Sorry for all the questions.

 

[disneyholic family]

so you're only doing this on the return...that's really easy...

1. when you check in at orlando, i do believe that you will get both your boarding passes. Ask when you check in and have the ground agent show you which is which (i always play stupid and make them show me everything - just to make sure they're actually giving me everything i need.
Also when you check in, make sure they are checking your luggage all the way through to manchester. And do what i do, make them show you the luggage tags that they're attaching to your luggage - that it shows manchester on it so that it's going all the way to manchester (yes i make them do that. Safe is safe. I want to be sure they're actually tagging them all the way through.

2. In atlanta, NO you do not collect your luggage. It will be tagged in orlando all the way through to manchester. You do NOT have to do anything in atlanta regarding your luggage. It will be automatically transferred to the next plane.

3. i'm not familiar with the airport in atlanta, but you can ask the flight attendant on your plane, or a ground agent when you get off. However, i assume that your boarding pass for the virgin flight will say the gate number in atlanta and then you follow signs. But you should also check to make sure the gate number hasn't changed (which can sometimes happen). Two hours is plenty of time to get from one plane to the other. Ask the flight attendant to help you. Also, usually, in the magazine in the seat pocket, there is a map towards the end of the magazine of every airport delta serves. So atlanta should be in there. But you can ask the flight attendant. they're usually very familiar with the airports. And you can also ask for help inside the airport (if the signs are confusing).
Again, two hours is a lot of time for a return flight connection.

4. i'm surprised you can't book your delta seats. have you tried accessing your flight inside the delta webpage (go into the delta website and try accessing your flight with your confirmation number and last name). the only time you can't get a seat on delta is if all the 'regular' seats are booked and only special seats are left. Then you have to wait until 24 hours before. But i have a hard time believing that's what's happened.

5. don't worry. it's really very easy to do this. I've made it sound harder than it is. We always fly indirect - both to and from orlando. It's not difficult. For me the MOST important step is when i check in in orlando - making sure that they actually are checking my luggage all the way through to my final destination.

 

[jjj4]

Thank you so much for your reply Beth - you have really helped put my mind at rest.

Yes, our outgoing flight is direct, it is just the return journey that is indirect. The difference in the cost was so great that we thought we would give the indirect flight a go but then my mind has started whizzing round thinking of all the questions I asked. I appreciate your help and wonder if I could contact you again if I think of any other questions. Jo

 

[disneyholic family]

Thank you so much for your reply Beth - you have really helped put my mind at rest.

Yes, our outgoing flight is direct, it is just the return journey that is indirect. The difference in the cost was so great that we thought we would give the indirect flight a go but then my mind has started whizzing round thinking of all the questions I asked. I appreciate your help and wonder if I could contact you again if I think of any other questions. Jo

of course....ask away!! that's what this board is for..

and hopefully, someone else will come into this thread with your atlanta answers...there are lots of people on this board who've flown through atlanta...i'm just not one of them...we usually end up either flying through new york (JFK) or detroit (another delta hub - delta has 3 of them, atlanta, detroit and minneapolis)...

anyway, it really isn't difficult...
don't worry..
but i would check into those delta seats...have you asked virgin about getting you seats on your delta segment?
also, try the delta website and see if that works.
and delta is an ok airline....i've flown it a lot...they're fine...
oh and delta in orlando is used to handling people flying overseas (like us)....
but still, make a point of saying that your luggage should be checked all the way through (safe is safe)..
.

 

[jjj4]

Thanks - will have a look at those Delta seats.
Jo

 

[Wakey]

Going out is easier than coming in at Atlanta, the security etc is a pain there. 2 hours is fine going home. You may have to get the monorail / train thing to a different terminal. I once had 1,5 hours and the plane out was delayed and I remember sprinting to the gate.

 

[jjj4]

Going out is easier than coming in at Atlanta, the security etc is a pain there. 2 hours is fine going home. You may have to get the monorail / train thing to a different terminal. I once had 1,5 hours and the plane out was delayed and I remember sprinting to the gate.

Thanks for the reply - keeping fingers crossed that everything runs smoothly. At least it's on the way home so if something goes wrong I'm not missing some of my holiday.......

 

[disneyholic family]

Thanks for the reply - keeping fingers crossed that everything runs smoothly. At least it's on the way home so if something goes wrong I'm not missing some of my holiday.......

and since your flights are on the same ticket, the airline will get you home eventually....
(sadly, our flights this year are on separate tickets - makes me nervous, but i had no alternative this year)

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

We flew the Atlanta flight in December. Our seats with Delta on the internal flights were assigned by Delta and you could see this on our booking, no charge either so that was good.

My tip would be, when you are departing from Orlando airport, Delta offer kerbside check in. There was a massive queue in the treminal and a Delta agent was walking the line saying there was no wait outside, but you had to tip. We left the queue and was immediately greeted by one of the agents who had us checked in within minutes. Well worth the tip. If we had know we would have taken our bags to kerbside in the car, checked in and then dropped the car off.

On arrival in Atlanta, it's just a matter of finding where you are departing from and you get the train/tube to your terminal.

 

[mitchfishguard]

Doing this in November. Booked seats on both VA and DL in one easy go. Ive got 50 minutes in Atlanta on the way back and after speaking to VA customer service,Ive had any fears allayed. As a previous poster said, Im coming home, so dont care if I miss a flight.

 

[disneyholic family]

We flew the Atlanta flight in December. Our seats with Delta on the internal flights were assigned by Delta and you could see this on our booking, no charge either so that was good.

My tip would be, when you are departing from Orlando airport, Delta offer kerbside check in. There was a massive queue in the treminal and a Delta agent was walking the line saying there was no wait outside, but you had to tip. We left the queue and was immediately greeted by one of the agents who had us checked in within minutes. Well worth the tip. If we had know we would have taken our bags to kerbside in the car, checked in and then dropped the car off.

On arrival in Atlanta, it's just a matter of finding where you are departing from and you get the train/tube to your terminal.

we always do curbside check in with delta.....it's fabulous...
and often, they'll look the other way if you're a bit overweight!! (not you, but your luggage)...

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

we always do curbside check in with delta.....it's fabulous...
and often, they'll look the other way if you're a bit overweight!! (not you, but your luggage)...

Oops thought you'd seen my recent pictures after 3 weeks dining in the States

 

[disneyholic family]

Oops thought you'd seen my recent pictures after 3 weeks dining in the States

mine too!!!!