Originally Posted by
GYEWorldTraveler
There are exceptions to MCT. The Domestic to Domestic may be stated as 55 minutes in ATL but there is a ****** meaning that exceptions exist. Exceptions sometimes are by flight numbers, sometimes by equipment type and sometimes by carriers. The MCT for a flight number 5000-5200 connecting to a DL flight 1000-1999 may be 35 minutes for example. So this would be an exception and a valid connection. It appears that you are not too well educated with MCT since it seems you did not know exceptions exist and are unsure why they exist just from one sample you have made.
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I assume that you would, then, extend your comment about "not too well educated with MCT" to the DL employees who have provided me information on the topic?
I am sufficiently well educated by experience to know that 35 minutes is an insane MCT for most itineraries through ATL.
I'll stand by my observations.
The system seems to be insensitive to the OT performance of the inbound aircraft, unique aspects of the RJ experience (such as retrieval of pink-tagged bags), and the not too infrequent chaos of "where can we find an open gate" in ATL.
With capacity cuts leading to often oversold planes, there are far fewer second chances left in the system if you miss your connection.
I allowed in my post that DL management might be moving towards liberalizing the connection times. I hope that this is the case.