Recommended time to allow for a "can't afford to miss" flight from ATL?
May 4, 2015, 10:15 am
#16
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
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Posts: 21,622
May 5, 2015, 9:41 am
#17
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: USA
Programs: DL Gold / AA Gold
Posts: 609
Why using the examples of cruise or rafting to be sunk (no pun intended) cost is beyond my imagination.
Sorry of being technical, just can't help myself with this pun. Hope you had fun or pun
May 5, 2015, 1:42 pm
#18
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Everywhere
Programs: Delta GM, *G, BA Blue, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Silver, LHW
Posts: 753
Thanks for all the advice. The trip was successful. He arrived at the airport 80 minutes before the flight and reached the gate in plenty of time for boarding.
The flight to PHX was on time, followed by a 4 hour drive to the Grand Canyon, followed a few hours later by a 10-mile hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon to meet a rafting trip. Fortunately the baggage was not delayed either, since no airline delivers lost bags by helicopter! No backup plan was feasible for any of this. There's no substitute for luck.
The flight to PHX was on time, followed by a 4 hour drive to the Grand Canyon, followed a few hours later by a 10-mile hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon to meet a rafting trip. Fortunately the baggage was not delayed either, since no airline delivers lost bags by helicopter! No backup plan was feasible for any of this. There's no substitute for luck.
May 5, 2015, 10:06 pm
#19
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Traveling the World
Posts: 6,072
I would say 2-3 hours is best especially with weather conditions at ATL. Perhaps your relative could fly in to ATL the day before the flight if its that important especially with weather delays. I would much rather have too much time on my hands than too little time and be stressed out.
Your relative can then check out of his hotel around 12:00 noon and get a Day Pass to the Delta SkyClub and spend the rest of the time there.
Your relative could pack his suitcase and see if it can be sent to his final destination if its international there are no bag costs or the agent could short check it to ATL and waive the Domestic Bag Fee and then your relative could then just check it in to his final destination.
Or if Delta can send it directly to his onward destination then your relative could pack an overnight bag with clothes and small TSA approved toiletries for the overnight stay. The Sheraton ATL is a great hotel for overnights and a lot of DL crew stay there and they offer a free shuttle to and from the airport.
Your relative can then check out of his hotel around 12:00 noon and get a Day Pass to the Delta SkyClub and spend the rest of the time there.
Your relative could pack his suitcase and see if it can be sent to his final destination if its international there are no bag costs or the agent could short check it to ATL and waive the Domestic Bag Fee and then your relative could then just check it in to his final destination.
Or if Delta can send it directly to his onward destination then your relative could pack an overnight bag with clothes and small TSA approved toiletries for the overnight stay. The Sheraton ATL is a great hotel for overnights and a lot of DL crew stay there and they offer a free shuttle to and from the airport.