Short layover in Atlanta (ATL) on Delta doable?

[lvdis]

Our connecting flight time has changed and I'm trying to decide if it's really doable. We will be flying from Orlando and the layover time is now only 35 minutes in Atlanta. When we booked it, it was a little over an hour. We are flying Delta. Our flight out of Florida is at 2:30pm landing in ATL at 4:06 with the connection at 4:40. Any thoughts? Of course it's not until 6/5, so they will probably change it again between now and then. Our flights have already changed twice since I booked it a month ago!

 

[DebbieB]

Our connecting flight time has changed and I'm trying to decide if it's really doable. We will be flying from Orlando and the layover time is now only 35 minutes in Atlanta. When we booked it, it was a little over an hour. We are flying Delta. Our flight out of Florida is at 2:30pm landing in ATL at 4:06 with the connection at 4:40. Any thoughts? Of course it's not until 6/5, so they will probably change it again between now and then. Our flights have already changed twice since I booked it a month ago!

That's really close considering the next flight will board at 30 minutes. Will you be checking luggage? I've had my luggage delayed on short connections in ATL (they put it on the next plane) but at least it's on the way home for you. Where are you seated on the first flight (it can take 15 minutes to get off from the back)? How long to the next flight?

 

[lvdis]

That's really close considering the next flight will board at 30 minutes. Will you be checking luggage? I've had my luggage delayed on short connections in ATL (they put it on the next plane) but at least it's on the way home for you. Where are you seated on the first flight (it can take 15 minutes to get off from the back)? How long to the next flight?

We are seated two rows behind coach and will have carry-on luggage only. I'm not sure at this point what gate it will be coming into or leaving from.

 

[buckler]

There is a thread on Flyertalk specifically about connect times in Atlanta. I think they will say that the time is too short, but you could post your question there.
Minimum Connect in Atlanta Thread

Personally, I'd change the flights. Call and insist on a change without penalty since they changed the schedule and you are now under the minimum connection time of 55 minutes for domestic to domestic connections in Atlanta.

 

[DebbieB]

We are seated two rows behind coach and will have carry-on luggage only. I'm not sure at this point what gate it will be coming into or leaving from.

You will not know the gates until you get there. Even though they publish gates a day or two ahead, they often change. When we went in December, we lucked out that both flights were on A going down, coming back we connected in CVG. But I went to San Antonio 3 weeks ago, I went from A to B going and E to C coming back. Both times I had about an hour and didn't have a problem, even had time to grab something to eat.

Do you have children or is this just adults? How long to the next flight to your destination?

 

[maxiesmom]

I have done a 47 minute connection on Delta thru Atlanta, and we had just enough time. They started bording as we got to the gate. And that was with our first plane landing early. I don't think I would want to try a 34 minute connection.

 

[buckler]

I quickly scanned through that thread on Flyertalk and the minimum time I saw mentioned by anyone as being comfortable for them was 45 minutes.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

That should be considered an illegal connection and you should be rebooked on a different set of flights.

 

[msmayor]

My daughter flies through ATL on her way to/from college and we never consider a flight with a connection less than 50 minutes. She's never had a problem, but truly doesn't have much in the way of time to 'relax'. She debarks her first flight, checks the boards for her gate and starts walking to get there, as she knows boarding will begin shortly. She'll stop for a drink only if a snack stand is on the way to the second gate; she never seeks one out elsewhere.

Her roommate was connecting in ATL to Denver with a similar connection time and ended up having to switch terminals...she hit the ground RUNNING after getting off to make sure she got to the gate on time.

 

[lvdis]

I just called and got switched to another flight without any problem. We just have to leave an hour earlier, but that's better than not being able to make the connection. Who knows, it may change again between now and then and we might get to switch to a later flight again. At least now we have a 1hr and 33 min layover or something like that. Much safer!