Is 45 minutes enough time to make a connection in ATL?

[solotraveler]

HI all!

I am looking at a Delta flight for a trip that connects in Atlanta. The connection time is about 45 minutes in the morning. Do you all think this is enough time to make my connection. I am usually comfortable with an hour layover at large airports but not much tighter than that. I'm also unsure of the layout of ATL, so any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Solotraveler

 

[kdudley3]

In my experience, it's enough time. Just as long asyour flights are on time and you don't stop to eat a meal.

ATL has many concourses. Seeing that it's a layover and not a transfer, you should be in the same concourse.

We've had many layovers there, it's never been a problem.

If you want to grab something to eat, there are plenty of eateries between gate switches. Just grab whatever and take it to the gate.

I wouldn't worry about it if I were you.

If your flilght runs late, inform a flight attendant and they can contact the airlines and make arrangements for you.

 

[CarolA]

I do it all the time. You do need to proceed to your gate and not stop and shop, but otherwise.

 

[alecam]

I have had some layovers for 30 mins or so, and have never had a problem. These were always the same airline, so it's usually just a few gates away!
Most airports have a layout of the different concourses on their website. so go there and check out which gates are for your airline and how far away they are from each other!

 

[skfulkers]

Based on my experiences with ATL, 45 minutes will either be plenty of time or just barely not even enough time. What I mean is this. If your flight is on time, you will have no problem making your connecting flight. You should still head directly to your conencting gate, because the layout of ATL contains several concourses, and you may have to swith concourses. It can be quite a hike if you arrive at the end of concourse A and have to go to the other end of concourse E. But you can still make it walking at a normal pace.
But......Delta has a bad knack for late arrivals into Atlanta. I have had several flights that have arrived into ATL 5 minutes before my connecting flight is supposed to leave. I have only missed one conenction, but I have run through this airport several times to make a very tight connection.
That being said, you have no control over your flight's arrival time, so I would go ahead and book the flight. Just be aware that you may need to lace up the track shoes upon arrival.

 

[docsnort]

Just be aware that you may need to lace up the track shoes upon arrival.

Our family can relate to that! Our flight from MSP was delayed and we sprinted to our connecting gate. My family needed to use the restroom, but luckily I went directly to the gate. They were literally closing the door of the plane. If I had stopped at the bathroom we would have missed our connection. We had a 50 minute layover. My advice, be prepared for anything!

 

[Jcricket Fan]

Our flight to Disney connected in ATL and we had to travel from one end of the airport to the other! We took the shuttle they have and just made it to our plane as it was boarding, had we walked we would not have made it.
We had on paper 45 mins to get to the next flight but by the time we got off the plane and found were we needed to go it ate up all the time.

I will make sure that if I can't get a non-stop flight I will get a flight that takes me to a smaller airport so I don't need to stress over getting to the plane.

 

[Bill From PA]

There's a tram that runs between concourses with the next train stopping 2 or 3 mins after the first leaves. It's on a lower deck and it's a breeze using this. We connected in less than your time frame but the only reason it was close is because our flight in to ATL was an hour late getting away from our home port.

Bill From PA

 

[ktglads]

If you are literally running through the ariport, you can go faster on the moving walkways than the train, if you have to wait for the train to arrive at the concourse. This is why I try to never fly in sandals - you may have to run through the airport. Doing that in flip flops is VERY uncomfortable.

We fly Delta a lot so the run through the ATL airport has become somewhat of a tradition. I think we might have made our original connection 50 % of the time. Then again, I have the worst luck in flying so you really can't depend anything on my experiences.

 

[deltachi8]

if your flight gets to ATL on time and you use the trams as Bill said, you wont have any problems.

 

[MamaQuack]

You can go to www.atlanta-airport.com and see the layout of the airport.

 

[Beast fan]

Also, if you do decide to use that itinerary, keep checking the Delta flights on their website for time changes.

The following has happened to me twice so far with Delta in ATL, both times with flights originating out of SDF (Louisville Intl Airport)............

1) I book the flight on delta.com with at least 45 minutes between flights at ATL.

2) I notice the flight itinerary changes. It changes to less than 15 minutes between flights at ATL.

3) I call Delta, politely explain the situation/predicament, and see if they can put me on a different/more accomodating schedule.

Each time, once I politely and accurately explained the situation (including flight numbers and arrival/departure times), I have been treated like gold, and I only fly about once per year. The customer service rep. has, each time, given me a direct flight from MCO to SDF with one of Delta's Connection carriers.

Good luck!

Dave