Walk me through Stopover procedure?

[braydensmom]

Posting this here, because sometimes I think the people on the transportation board think Im a little slow

I just changed my Airtran flight from a nonstop flight that was arriving at MCO just before 5pm, to a stopover flight that arrives at 10:15am, so Ive technically just added a day onto the trip, as the 5pm arrival would waste a day.

Anyways, can someone walk me through the stop over procedure, we are leave dtw at 5:55 - arriving in ATL at 7:52
leaving atl at 8:45 - arriving at MCO at 10:15
We have 53 minutes in between flights but are flying Airtran for both. So please give me tips and help me figure out how this whole process works. I seem to have been fortunate enough to only have flown direct flights before.

 

[safarihatguy]

We did this last year and it is really an easy procedure. When you arrive in Atlanta you get off the plane and at the gate there will be someone with a list of connecting flights. Look for this person and ask the which gate the flight to Orlando is flying out of. Have your Orlando flight number with you as there may be more than 1. If this person isn't there you can check the departing boards or ask at another airtran desk.

The flights will be out of the same terminal (I think it is Concourse C) so you only need to get yourself to the correct gate. For us it was a short walk.

The Altanta airport website has terminal maps you can look at. They also allow you to track current flight arrival/departure times and this gives you gate numbers. Since flight numbers don't change week to week you can go to this site and check on the same day of the week at same time. This will give you an example of what to expect. Note it will likely be different during you flight so don't count on this info being correct.

Hope this help.

 

[dancin Disney style]

We did this last year and it is really an easy procedure. When you arrive in Atlanta you get off the plane and at the gate there will be someone with a list of connecting flights. Look for this person and ask the which gate the flight to Orlando is flying out of. Have your Orlando flight number with you as there may be more than 1. If this person isn't there you can check the departing boards or ask at another airtran desk.

The flights will be out of the same terminal (I think it is Concourse C) so you only need to get yourself to the correct gate. For us it was a short walk.

The Altanta airport website has terminal maps you can look at. They also allow you to track current flight arrival/departure times and this gives you gate numbers. Since flight numbers don't change week to week you can go to this site and check on the same day of the week at same time. This will give you an example of what to expect. Note it will likely be different during you flight so don't count on this info being correct.

Hope this help.

I've flown through ATL twice that I had to change concourses. Most of the time you are on the same one and ATA does mainly use 'C'. If you need to change it is super easy. The gate attendant will direct you to an escalator that you go down and get on the subway to the next concourse.

 

[braydensmom]

Thank you! A little apprehensive with the layover with my son, but i took the flight last year that got me in at 5, and it really did write off the entire day. We are definitely going to take the shuttle to the airport now, I think it picks us up at home at 11:45 pm.... and we will just have to get out and go into customs and I can hopefully sleep on the way there. My son can sleep anywhere, so Im not at all concerned about him. He will probably wake up when we get to Atlanta

 

[Minder]

Airlines do the Stopover thing thousands of times each day.

I almost always do my flight to Disney in 2 hops. They make it as easy as possible for you.

1. When you check in to start your trip, the attendant will check your baggage all the way through to your final destination, so you wont see them again till Orlando (Or your room if you are taking the Magical Express)

2. At the same time the attendant can check you in, and give you your boarding passes for both legs of your flight. Thees passes will have the Flight#, Terminal, Gate, and Seating information for both legs (1 pass for each leg). Ask the attendant to show you this information. If it is not there ask the attendant what their procedure is at the stopover. After this point you SHOULD not need to talk to an attendant again. (But sometimes things pop up so dont be afraid to ask if you need to)

3. Take the first leg of your flight the same way you always do. While you are in flight you may want to ask the Flight attendant to inform you if there are any changes in the Flight#, Terminal, or Gate information. You can also ask what Terminal and gate your current flight will be landing at.

4. Now there is a Magazine in the Seat pocket in front of you. Take it out, and somewhere near the back there will be a Map of the Airport you will be stopping at. Find the Terminal/Gate you will be landing in, and the Terminal/Gate where your connecting flight is taking off from. Study the layout of the airport, and what turns you will need to make going from your arival Gate to your Connecting gate.

5. When you land, dont waste any time. At this point it is far FAR better for you to be 30Mins early than 2 Mins late. your first priority is to get to your connecting gate. Once you are there, if you are early enough, you can go to the washroom, get a snack, buy a teeshirt or whatever you want to do, but do this only AFTER you find your gate, and you are sure you are not going to miss your connection. 7:52 to 8:45 leaves you 53 Mins to get there. This is more than enough time IF you dont dilly dally. But 53 Mins passes really fast if you are strolling and sight seeing. the last thing you want is to miss your conection.

6. When you get off the first plane, take 2 seconds to check the "Departures" screens which are located all over the terminal. find your connecting flight #, and check to be sure that the Terminal, and Gate information is still correct. Airlines OFTEN change this at the last second, so this short stop could be well worth the time. If they have changed the terminal or gate, dont panic. There are signs EVERYWHERE telling you which way to go to find your terminal. Once in the correct terminal just follow the numbers to your gate. Its not all that hard.

7. When you are at the gate, check the information board behind the gate desk. This will confirm the Flight number, and the boarding time for you. At this point, if you have spare time, you can wander around, but NEVER loose track of time. Boarding your second leg is no different than boarding your first leg. If you arent there when they close the doors, they wont be comming back for you.

8. From here on out, its no different than every other single leg flight you have ever taken. Sit back, relax, and dream of Disney!

 

[braydensmom]

Wow thanks.....this was the walk-thru procedure that I really needed.... Travelling with a 2 year old is tough enough, but when you dont know the procedures it makes it that much more difficult.
Thanks!!!

 

[mickilee]

is there time to step out for a smoke? or do u have to go threw security again?

 

[Minder]

is there time to step out for a smoke? or do u have to go threw security again?

In most cases you will need to go through security again. I seirously doubt that you will have enough time out of your 52 Mins to go out for a smoke.

 

[lisalonglash]

What a great thread! We're flying SEA-ATL-MCO in September and I, too, was wondering about how the ATL stopover would work.

We're flying Delta and have just under two hours stopover time. I'm hoping there will be enough time for some southern breakfast in the concourse!

 

[lisalonglash]

In most cases you will need to go through security again. I seirously doubt that you will have enough time out of your 52 Mins to go out for a smoke.

Why would you have to go through security again? You're just going from one gate to another, aren't you, if you're flying on the same airline?

 

[Minder]

Why would you have to go through security again? You're just going from one gate to another, aren't you, if you're flying on the same airline?

To be clear here. If you are simply going from 1 gate to another for a connecting flight, then 9 times out of 10 you can do it all inside the secure zone. Sometimes (but not often) you will need to exit the secure area and re-enter (I know London Heathro makes you exit and re-enter no matter where your going)

But if your looking to smoke the story changes again.

In most airports that I have flown through, once you are inside the Secure areas there are few if any Smoking areas, and there is no outside access what so ever.

If the airport you are in has Smoking areas inside the secure zone then you are good, but if they dont, you really need to consider how much you need that smoke, and how long it will take to get back in.

 

[Minder]

What a great thread! We're flying SEA-ATL-MCO in September and I, too, was wondering about how the ATL stopover would work.

We're flying Delta and have just under two hours stopover time. I'm hoping there will be enough time for some southern breakfast in the concourse!

Two hours is way more than enough time to get to your connecting gate, however i would still advise you to go find your connecting gate FIRST. It is always easier to come back to it, than it is to find it the first time, and when your at a temorary stop half way across the country, the LAST thing you want is to miss your flight because you left it too long and couldnt find the gate.

One other thing to mention on a 2 hour stopover, keep half an eye on the Departures screens, as I said earlier airlines OFTEN change gate information at the last second. If the flight leaving just before you does not clear the gate in time, they often simply re route your connection to a different gate.

I would strongly suggest you re-check the departure screen every 15 mins or so, so you dont miss a vital change in information.

 

[lisalonglash]

To be clear here. If you are simply going from 1 gate to another for a connecting flight, then 9 times out of 10 you can do it all inside the secure zone. Sometimes (but not often) you will need to exit the secure area and re-enter (I know London Heathro makes you exit and re-enter no matter where your going)

But if your looking to smoke the story changes again.

In most airports that I have flown through, once you are inside the Secure areas there are few if any Smoking areas, and there is no outside access what so ever.

If the airport you are in has Smoking areas inside the secure zone then you are good, but if they dont, you really need to consider how much you need that smoke, and how long it will take to get back in.

Thanks, I was wondering why you'd have to go through security again for a connecting flight, that's all Strangely, I do not recall having to go through security again when we have had connections at Heathrow, but it's been a while, so my memory could be faulty

 

[lisalonglash]

Two hours is way more than enough time to get to your connecting gate, however i would still advise you to go find your connecting gate FIRST. It is always easier to come back to it, than it is to find it the first time, and when your at a temorary stop half way across the country, the LAST thing you want is to miss your flight because you left it too long and couldnt find the gate.

One other thing to mention on a 2 hour stopover, keep half an eye on the Departures screens, as I said earlier airlines OFTEN change gate information at the last second. If the flight leaving just before you does not clear the gate in time, they often simply re route your connection to a different gate.

I would strongly suggest you re-check the departure screen every 15 mins or so, so you dont miss a vital change in information.

Oh yes, we're a wee bit neurotic about finding our departure gate before doing anything else and watching the information screens - especially in an airport we've never been through

 

[Minder]

What a great thread! We're flying SEA-ATL-MCO in September and I, too, was wondering about how the ATL stopover would work.

We're flying Delta and have just under two hours stopover time. I'm hoping there will be enough time for some southern breakfast in the concourse!

Delta has a map on their website.
http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/airport_information/airport_maps/atlanta.jsp

It apears that there are 2 terminals, with 6 Concourses all of which are connected by a Tram.

You shouldnt have any real trouble getting to your connection, BUT if your breakfast is not inside your departure coucourse, make sure you guage how far away you are and how long it will take to get back.

 

[Minder]

Thanks, I was wondering why you'd have to go through security again for a connecting flight, that's all Strangely, I do not recall having to go through security again when we have had connections at Heathrow, but it's been a while, so my memory could be faulty

It may have been just because I look like a bad egg

 

[Minder]

Oh yes, we're a wee bit neurotic about finding our departure gate before doing anything else and watching the information screens - especially in an airport we've never been through

I have never missed one, but i have come close twice, and it scared the bejebus out of me.

 

[braydensmom]

Now what happens if the first flight is delayed (not unheard of due to the lovely weather all of us Canadians are so accustomed to) and I miss the connecting flight? Will the airline work with me to get on the next available flight? Will I have to pay anything extra?

 

[lisalonglash]

Delta has a map on their website.
http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/airport_information/airport_maps/atlanta.jsp

It apears that there are 2 terminals, with 6 Concourses all of which are connected by a Tram.

You shouldnt have any real trouble getting to your connection, BUT if your breakfast is not inside your departure coucourse, make sure you guage how far away you are and how long it will take to get back.

Would it surprise you to know that I called Delta a month ago to see which terminal they use (south) for our flights and have printed off the maps of every concourse in the south terminal - all of which are filed in my WDW trip binder?

 

[lisalonglash]

It may have been just because I look like a bad egg