Layover in Atlanta Question

GoofyforDisney3

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Didn't want to highjack another thread, so I decided to start a new one.

Can someone explain to me the layout of the Atlanta airport and the "train" that is there to take you between gates and terminals? My flight is scheduled to arrive in Atlanta at 7:43 am tomorrow. We have an hour layover. The gate we arrive at is C37 and the gate we leave from after the layover is A4. I've read that there is a "train" that takes way less time than walking. Can you tell me about it? How easy is it to get to? Is the signage easy to read and understand?
 
Didn't want to highjack another thread, so I decided to start a new one.

Can someone explain to me the layout of the Atlanta airport and the "train" that is there to take you between gates and terminals? My flight is scheduled to arrive in Atlanta at 7:43 am tomorrow. We have an hour layover. The gate we arrive at is C37 and the gate we leave from after the layover is A4. I've read that there is a "train" that takes way less time than walking. Can you tell me about it? How easy is it to get to? Is the signage easy to read and understand?

See this map:

http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/airport_information/airport_maps/atlanta.jsp

The train is the red line that runs between all the concourses. You go to the center of the concourse and watch the signs for the concourse you need to go to. If you are on C, you'll see a sign on one side for D & E and a sign on the other side for T, A, B, C. There is an escalator down to the train, it's like a subway. You'll see the doors. Ride it to your new concourse. Then get off and look for the up escalators. You can also use the moving sidewalks instead of the train.

Be aware that gates in Atlanta frequently change, especially overnight. When you get off your first plane, take note of the gate you are at and then look at the monitor that will be right by the door at the gate to find your new gate. You may luck out and be on the concourse.
 
See this map:

http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/airport_information/airport_maps/atlanta.jsp
Be aware that gates in Atlanta frequently change, especially overnight. When you get off your first plane, take note of the gate you are at and then look at the monitor that will be right by the door at the gate to find your new gate. You may luck out and be on the concourse.

This is worth repeating it's happen to me I got off the flight went to the restroom and as soon as I got out the gate for my connection had changed. I was running to cAatch my next flight!!
 
Thanks! I'll make sure to stop and look at the monitors to confirm the gate. I just am hoping we don't have fog in the morning and we don't have a delay leaving on the first leg.
 

Yes, even if they tell you on the plane what the connections are... verify it. If there is a person asking for connections and they tell you...verify it. there are monitors everywhere that are usually up to the minute.

The train, while in the middle of the terminals, is still a long walk if you are at the end. If you have a tight connection, walk briskly to the train, skip the bathroom, and get to your next gate without delay in case there is a change, or the train is late or broken, etc. Once you've made it to your next gate you can relax and hit the bathroom or scan for Starbucks:)
 
With a short connection time I hope you are in the front of the plane that you are getting off of. If not you will need to factor in everyone else ahead of you getting off the plane which can eat up time. So you may not actually have an hour to catch your flight. Plus boarding for your next flight closes around 15 minutes before the actually departure. So an 1 hour over is actually 45 minutes.

Just something to keep in mind.
 
I do layovers of 55-60 minutes all the time, it's not unreasonable. Even done a SW layover of 35 minutes. Rememeber airlines pad those times, you will probably be there earlier. Flights don't close 15 minute ahead of time, it's usually less, they ususally don't even start boarding until about 30 minutes prior.
 
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Being someone who lives in ATL and deals with the airport here frequently I would heed the advice of an earlier poster. When you get off the plane ask the Delta attendant where your connecting flight is. The proceed directly to the gate. Once you find your gate then seek out bathroom, refreshments and etc. They do like to change gates often, but if you only have an hour layover I doubt you will have a gate change in that small amount of time. Just keep listening to the over head announcements...
 
OP,

Thanks for this post as I had the same question. We have a layover in Atlanta tomorrow morning a bit later than you.

Happy travels!
 
Ok I'm currently on ME and had to update about the hour layover. Our flight from VA left on time and we arrived in plenty of time. We landed at gate D37. Checked the monitors for the gate andsaid A3. So off to the train we went. That thing is fast and it took about 5 minutes to get from d to a. Walk all the way down to A3 and there was no one there. So back to check the monitors again. Well it changed to A20 that quickly! It was bizzar.
 





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