Indirect flight question

[CAROLINE4]

Hi hope you can help me. We have now been forced to look at indirect flights as direct prices are horrendous during school hols. We are looking at traveling 14/12/15 for two weeks and have found great prices of under £500pp stopping at Atlanta.

The question I want to ask is the return flight has a layover time of 55 mins to get to terminal s. Is 55 mins possible to change flights? It is on a virgin plane both there and back.

Thanks

Caroline

 

[NikkiMouse]

55 mins is very tight!

We've done indirect the last two times but not via Atlanta.

I would be more comfortable with nearly two hours on way there to get through immigration and then to find next gate. On way home slightly less than two hours as you would hit immigration on landing in UK

Hopefully someone will be able to comment on their experience going via Atlanta soon.

 

[chmurf]

is £500pp booking through virgin (or delta) direct or is it through any kind of shady ticket broker ?

now regarding the 55 minutes layover on the way back, it's tight but doable since you won't have to do anything except changing planes (no bag to collect, no paperwork, just go straight to your next gate, unlike on the way in)

you will get to the gate after boarding has started for your transatlantic flight. No big deal, but if your plane has any kind of delay in Orlando (or on the way to ATL) you *could* miss your plane back to the UK, meaning you'd probably need to spend the night in ATL and come home the next day.

my minimums are 3h out, 75 minutes in, but ymmv

 

[CAROLINE4]

Thanks for your replies. I've found them through skyskanner http://www.skyscanner.net/transport...senabled=false&inboundaltsenabled=false&rtn=1

 

[chmurf]

skyscanner is just a search engine
the company you book through is displayed under the "select" button

 

[CAROLINE4]

Last minute.com was the company I just posted the link for you to see
Thanks also netflights

 

[dixonsontour]

I'd say minimum 2 hours on way back but 55 mins should be fine way back. Especially if same company. We flew us one year and they held the second flight as so many were making the connection. Got off one and walked straight into the next at the next gate. Quickest change over I've ever done.

 

[dixonsontour]

We have booked Virgin on way back route Mco - Atlanta - Manchester. Was booked with Opodo as a delta codeshare. Paid £550 ish each inc direct on way out so price seems fine to me.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

We had a 1hr layover in Philidelphia, we basically got off the plane from Orlando, walked through the terminal and hot straight onto the international flight. They were announcing over the speakers for everyone to go direct to the flight, rather than stop or shop!

 

[steve_rob]

I've done a 50 minute layover in Atlanta on the way back and it was plenty of time - was even able to pick up a snack en route. However I'll admit we were changing from one Delta flight to another Delta flight, so the gates were within a two minute walk of each other and that's what made it possible - if I was changing to a different airline it might have been a lot further between the gates (possibly a different concourse altogether) and that maybe would have been too tight on time.

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

Check on the terminals, we did Delta via Atlanta one year and loved it, however coming home we had to change terminals which took a while and 55 mins would not have been enough time for us!

 

[CAROLINE4]

Thanks everyone. So 55mins is ok if I'm on delta all the way or virgin all the way home as gates are next to each other but if it's a mix of airlines go for the longer layover. Got it!

 

[mickeyforpresident]

We are doing the exact same flights this summer. It's booked with Virgin all the way but with Delta providing the internal element. Even though there are two companies I *think* that it's classed as one booking and so if you miss the return flight, Virgin and/or Delta are required to get you home. I think there are minimum times the company has to offer you between flights so if they are offering it you, it should be ok.

 

[saintrob]

In theory you 'should' have enough time at ATL however I always work on two hours for the return flight.

 

[wayneg]

I work on 2 hours outbound, 1 hour return but taken less with no problems.

 

[elaine amj]

As long as you buy everything on one ticket, the airlines are required to get you to your destination. I would probably be more tolerant of possibly missing my flight on my way home (although DH is more stressed about getting back to work so I try not to book tight connections for his peace of mind).

55mins is likely enough. But if there are delays leaving Orlando, it is more possible to miss your flight.

I would consider from your end how you would feel if there was a worst case scenario. If you miss the flight from Atlanta-UK, how would you feel? What time is the next flight? How would it affect you if you got bumped to that flight? Somehow, some way the airlines will get you home - but it may not be at the time you originally scheduled. The likelihood of delays/issues get higher with tight connections.

Check the details of your flight - sounds like Delta is operating the flight from Orlando to Atlanta. What about Atlanta - UK? Who operates that flight? When I fly with Delta, it is usually a codeshare and British Airways typically operates the flights to the UK. I don't know how Atlanta is structured - but in Chicago (where my last transit was), I got off my domestic Delta flight in Chicago airport and had to walk quite a long distance to the spot where I could get a shuttle to the next terminal. I had to wait for the shuttle (darn agents said it would leave momentarily - took 10 mins). Then take the 5 min ride to the next terminal and sprint to my boarding gate. I missed my flight to Heathrow by 10 minutes. The next flight was supposed to be 2 hours later but was delayed and left 4 hours later. By that time I knew I was going to miss my next connection. Unfortunately, I had to wait about 2 hours before an agent arrived who could assist me with changing all my flights (it was a long trip with multiple connections).

Anyway - see if you can find out what Atlanta conditions will be like and consider your own tolerance for issues.