Man - alt

[mickeyforpresident]

Has anyone done the Manchester to Altanta, Atlanta to Orlando flights and give provide any tips. It is our first indirect so a little nervous, although we don't let these things stress us out!!

I am curious that since the return leg is with Delta, then with Virgin, if we can use the Disney Resort check-in? Does anyone know? Delta is on the list and it says for some international flights...? This would be so convenient!

 

[Kath2003]

Not that specific route but indirect is pretty standard. You will get boarding passes for both flights when you check in.

On the outbound you will clear immigration in ATL. You collect your bags, then clear customs. You then recheck your bags, go through security again and then go to your gate for the second leg.

On the return leg, you don't do any of that. Your bags are checked all the way through to the UK, so you won't see them again until you arrive at home. You don't have to clear immigration or customs again, so you just go straight to your new gate for the Atlantic flight. Depending on where those gates are, you may need to go through security again.

I don't know what your connection times are but you should always have a decent connection time on the outbound. You can cut it closer on then return leg.

 

[tinks86]

Hi, we did heathrow - Atlanta - Orlando last year. Atlanta airport was geared up to transiting passengers and we had time for a sit down meal between our connecting flights. On the return leg we did have problems as our first flight out of orlando was delayed so we missed our connecting flight but did manage to get the next flight out. How long are your layovers?

 

[Elise79]

The VA MAN-ATL flight is a really new route it used to flown by Delta so I doubt anyone will be able to give first hand experience yet however Kath has given you excellent advice

 

[wayneg]

Done MAN~ATL~MCO(or TPA or MIA) numerous times now(6+)
Never a problem, just make sure you have a minimum of 2 hours outbound at ATL, friends of ours had 90 mins a few years ago but it wasn't long enough, they had to wait for the next flight, about 1 hour later.

 

[mickeyforpresident]

Times we have are
MAN to ATL arrive 14:50
ATL to MCO departs at 16:55 - so 2 hours 5 mins (that should be enough time right?)

On the way back it looks tighter:

Depart MCO at 16:30, arrive ATL at 18:04 (!! Rather specific isn't it!) departs ATL at 19:05 so only an hour to make flight (which I think is the last one of the day!!!!)

Thanks for all the replies so far!

 

[wayneg]

Perfect timings to me are those. Just don't hang around on the outbound journey, 2hrs 5mins is OK if ontime and all goes smooth, we have had to race thru a couple of times but always managed to make it.
Coming home I have accepted 60 mins before, your times are fine.

No idea if it will change now with VA taking over the MCO~ATL route but Delta have a habit of making changes to their schedules. Always had ours tweaked, a minimum of 2 changes but one year I think we had 6 changes between booking and flying. Might only be a 1 minute change but you get an email about it.

 

[mickeyforpresident]

Cheers Wayne. Do you know if you can do the resort checkin?

 

[wayneg]

Cheers Wayne. Do you know if you can do the resort checkin?

Sorry, no idea. Not something I have ever tried.

 

[NatalieMT]

We are doing the same flight in August, our outbound times are identical but our inbound times aren't as tight! I've done loads of indirect flights before and have always been fine though, usually do US via PHL and never any issues so I don't foresee any with this either!

 

[wayneg]

We are doing the same flight in August, our outbound times are identical but our inbound times aren't as tight! I've done loads of indirect flights before and have always been fine though, usually do US via PHL and never any issues so I don't foresee any with this either!

We are going thru PHL with US again next year when we goto Atlanta. MAN~PHL~ATL, cost us about £350pp compared with the direct route MAN~ATL which was about £750pp.

 

[NatalieMT]

We are doing the PHL route in April and got a really good price on it! Not sure why I didn't go with that for August but I think it's because I'm going on to Tulsa afterwards to see friends so my inbound flight is from Tulsa to Atlanta then Manchester.

 

[Kath2003]

We are sampling the delights of US Airways for our return journey in the spring through PHL. Not heard good things so glad to hear it's gone well for people here. We have a stupidly long connection time (~4 hours) and then a 4 hour drive home on our return so that will be a fantastic day

 

[wayneg]

We are sampling the delights of US Airways for our return journey in the spring through PHL. Not heard good things so glad to hear it's gone well for people here. We have a stupidly long connection time (~4 hours) and then a 4 hour drive home on our return so that will be a fantastic day

US are not my fave airline but it is a few years since we used them now. Last time the seats were really narrow, not good after 2 or 3 weeks of dining in the USA. They are OK and get you from A to B.

 

[Kath2003]

US are not my fave airline but it is a few years since we used them now. Last time the seats were really narrow, not good after 2 or 3 weeks of dining in the USA. They are OK and get you from A to B.

Luckily I am a fairly small person (both vertically and horizontally ) so hopefully it won't be too bad. I figure you always walk off a long flight tired and grumpy so I don't really care who delivers that service Just hope the transatlantic leg is on time as we don't arrive until mid morning then have a long drive home and are back at work the next morning