Aug 19, 2016, 8:19 pm
Last edit by: LoganFlyer
Navigating the ATL: Despite its size, ATL has a very functional layout that makes transfers quite straightforward. The airside complex is shaped like a rib cage, with the ribs (the concourses) branching off from the spine (the underground plane train)
Minimum Connect Time in ATL if connecting from a Delta flight to a Delta flight, per ExpertFlyer:
Domestic flight - domestic flight: 35 minutes
Exceptions:
If your inbound flight is on a 330 or 767, then the minimum connection time is 50 minutes for a domestic-domestic connection.
Domestic flight - international flight: 40 minutes
Exceptions:
International flight - domestic flight: 1 hour, 25 minutes
Exceptions:
International flight - international flight: 1 hour, 25 minutes
Exceptions:
- There is one common airside area for all carriers and all departures both domestic and international
- You do NOT need to re-clear security when making a domestic to domestic or domestic to international connection (international-domestic and international-international are the usual border fuss)
- The concourses are names T (for terminal) A B C D E F. TABCD are usually short and medium haul gates; E and F are usually long haul/international. The plane train connects all concourses.
- If your flight documents say 'North Terminal' or South Terminal', ignore that while connecting. That refers to land side check-in desks, and you won't see any references to those while on the air side of the airport.
- If you wish to stretch your legs, a pedestrian tunnel runs parallel to the plane train from the T to E terminals. There is an additional pedestrian tunnel between E and F unconnected to the other tunnel that requires going aboveground at E and poking around to find it.
- If you do not have club access, the E and F concourse areas tend to be quieter and less crowded places to wait
Minimum Connect Time in ATL if connecting from a Delta flight to a Delta flight, per ExpertFlyer:
Domestic flight - domestic flight: 35 minutes
Exceptions:
If your inbound flight is on a 330 or 767, then the minimum connection time is 50 minutes for a domestic-domestic connection.
Domestic flight - international flight: 40 minutes
Exceptions:
- If your inbound flight is on a 330 or 767, then the minimum connection time is 50 minutes for a domestic-international connection.
- The minimum domestic-YYC connection time is 45 minutes.
- The minimum domestic-HAV connection time is 55 minutes.
International flight - domestic flight: 1 hour, 25 minutes
Exceptions:
- If you are coming from a Canadian airport with preclearance other than YYC, then the minimum connection time is 35 minutes for an international-domestic connection.
- If you are coming from AUA, BDA, FPO, NAS, or YYC, then the minimum connection time is 45 minutes for an international-domestic connection.
- If you are coming from Ireland, then the minimum connection time is 1 hour for an international-domestic connection.
- If you are coming from LOS, then the minimum connection time is 1 hour, 30 minutes for an international-domestic connection.
- If you are coming from HAV, then the minimum connection time is 1 hour, 55 minutes for an international-domestic connection.
International flight - international flight: 1 hour, 25 minutes
Exceptions:
- If you are coming from a Canadian airport with preclearance other than YYC, then the minimum connection time is 40 minutes for an international-international connection.
- If you are coming from YYC, then the minimum connection time is 45 minutes for an international-international connection.
- If you are coming from AUA, BDA, FPO, or NAS, then the minimum connection time is 50 minutes for an international-international connection.
- If you are coming from Ireland, then the minimum connection time is 1 hour for an international-international connection.
- If you are coming from LOS, then the minimum connection time is 1 hour, 30 minutes for an international-international connection.
Minimum Connection Transfer Time at Atlanta (ATL): The Definitive Thread
Feb 4, 2012, 9:53 pm
#1501
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: The Dakotas
Posts: 608
Was so thrilled to receive a great price on a multi-city itinerary OMA-PHL (overnight at my expense) then onto LGW next day (via ATL) that I did not think about the 48 minute connection I will have when I arrive in ATL. I imagine that the inbound flight from PHL will arrive in a different terminal then the departing flight to LGW. I will most likely have only carry on baggage but I still feel this is too tight and I could possibly miss the LGW flight if there are even slight delays. When I ticketed this flight this was the only option shown for the next day PHL-LON flight. Would I have a chance at asking to be confirmed instead on a ATL-LHR flight that leaves a couple of hours later? Or would DL instead have me take the PHL-LHR flight that connects through CDG ?This is the less expensive option that is shown on delta.com presently however it is not a widebody aircraft and has 3 and 3 seating in coach that I find less desirable? Any recommendations on how to approach this?
Feb 5, 2012, 5:39 am
#1502
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Would I have a chance at asking to be confirmed instead on a ATL-LHR flight that leaves a couple of hours later? Or would DL instead have me take the PHL-LHR flight that connects through CDG ?This is the less expensive option that is shown on delta.com presently however it is not a widebody aircraft and has 3 and 3 seating in coach that I find less desirable? Any recommendations on how to approach this?
Feb 23, 2012, 11:59 am
#1506
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: So Fla & NYC
Programs: DL DM/2MM, UA MM, BV LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 23,766
If not protected, I would keep it if there were any other way to get where I was going if I missed the connection in SJU.
I would not like it either way, but what difference if the itinerary goes blooey in ATL or SJU? If it works you are in clover.
Feb 23, 2012, 2:08 pm
#1507
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,123
[QUOTE=tabasco;18069113]Will have first flight from RIC to ATL and then 45 min layover to get to gate for int'l flight to San Juan. Is this do-able? Delta offers the route and the price is right.[/QUOTE
San Juan is not international.
San Juan is not international.
Apr 14, 2012, 8:20 pm
#1508
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: ORD
Programs: DL DM, AS MVP Gold 100K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 299
I am looking at booking a trip an I would have a connection in Atlanta of 40 minutes. I am coming from LAX on DL 64 and are connecting to DL 117 to Detroit. Is 40 minutes both doable and legal?
Apr 14, 2012, 9:05 pm
#1509
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: So Fla & NYC
Programs: DL DM/2MM, UA MM, BV LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 23,766
It is legal and often doable but IMO inadvisable. You can book it and if you don't make it, there are a couple of flights later that you might be able to get on. If everything works smoothly, you are likely to make it but if there is any sort of foul-up, you are dead in the water.
I will add that at the hour that you are landing, ATL is very busy and it is not unheard of for an airplane that has arrived timely to sit around for as much as 30 minutes waiting for a gate to open.
And nowadays, with the full airplanes, unless you have Medallion status with DL, you might have a bit of trouble getting a seat on the later flights and if you do, it will probably be a middle seat in the back of the airplane. I would schedule a change with more time than 40 minutes, certainly at that time of day.
I will add that at the hour that you are landing, ATL is very busy and it is not unheard of for an airplane that has arrived timely to sit around for as much as 30 minutes waiting for a gate to open.
And nowadays, with the full airplanes, unless you have Medallion status with DL, you might have a bit of trouble getting a seat on the later flights and if you do, it will probably be a middle seat in the back of the airplane. I would schedule a change with more time than 40 minutes, certainly at that time of day.
Apr 14, 2012, 9:09 pm
#1510
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: ORD
Programs: DL DM, AS MVP Gold 100K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 299
I would also be connecting in Detroit to State College, PA so if I take the later one, it leaves me with a 22 minute connection from C to A. I am planning to use miles to UG to FC so I would be off the plane first. I am assuming with F opening in ATL it may reduce some of the congestion issues.
Apr 14, 2012, 9:15 pm
#1511
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: So Fla & NYC
Programs: DL DM/2MM, UA MM, BV LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 23,766
With all of those connections, why not just take an earlier flight out of LAX? You will be spending the entire day traveling anyhow so what difference does an hour or two in the morning make? Is flight 64 the only one with G or Z available?I fail to understand this urgent need to minimize travel time. All it does to you in the current environment is get you stuck somewhere you do not want to be.
I am actually spending all day traveling. SEA-LAX-ATL-DTW-SCE. Gotta get the 77L from LAX-ATL.
Apr 14, 2012, 9:26 pm
#1513
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: So Fla & NYC
Programs: DL DM/2MM, UA MM, BV LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 23,766
I do not know the dates you are planning but once you get into June, there are precious few Z available on that flight and you can have all the miles that you need and not be able to upgrade with them.
Apr 14, 2012, 10:25 pm
#1515
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: So Fla & NYC
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Posts: 23,766
Those of us who get the SWUs have been tracking that sort of stuff for years now. The overall experiences and the classic wisdom on that subject says "no" but there have been occasional sightings of exceptions. However, I certainly would not count on it happening.