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
Apr 3, 2006, 12:44 pm
#211
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 173
The official "legal" connection time in ATL is 35 min (meaning 35 min is ok, and 34 min is not bookable). This is the rule that delta res agents and delta.com both use.
I found this out last year when I had a 40+ min connection in ATL that was shortened to 34 min in a schedule change. SMS strongly recommended that I choose new flights that day (no change fee of course). However, she mentioned that it was possible to keep the flights with the illegal 34 min connection, but she would have to make a note in the PNR that it was voluntary and Delta would not be responsible if I misconnected (they would only be required to allow me to standby for later flights). So I guess if I hadn't called, there would be no note in the PNR, and they would be responsible if I didn't make the connection? Or perhaps the computer would have automatically rebooked me at a later time.
I found this out last year when I had a 40+ min connection in ATL that was shortened to 34 min in a schedule change. SMS strongly recommended that I choose new flights that day (no change fee of course). However, she mentioned that it was possible to keep the flights with the illegal 34 min connection, but she would have to make a note in the PNR that it was voluntary and Delta would not be responsible if I misconnected (they would only be required to allow me to standby for later flights). So I guess if I hadn't called, there would be no note in the PNR, and they would be responsible if I didn't make the connection? Or perhaps the computer would have automatically rebooked me at a later time.
Apr 3, 2006, 2:14 pm
#212
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
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Originally Posted by CEUflyer
The official "legal" connection time in ATL is 35 min (meaning 35 min is ok, and 34 min is not bookable). This is the rule that delta res agents and delta.com both use.
Originally Posted by Pharaoh
Minimum published connect times vary by the type of connection and are:
Domestic to Domestic -- 55 min
Domestic to Domestic -- 55 min
We see this argument from time to time, "don't take a flight inside of 90 minutes". This is silly. So, there is a flight in 45 minutes that you could easily make but you choose to wait another 3 hours for the next one? Why would you do that when be on the 45 minute flight and if you miss it you could still be on the same flight 3 hours later. Yes, I know you have lost your choice of seat and could lose your upgrade but you might also end up in F class instead of V. Just last week I was late getting to ATL, only ended up with 24 minutes. I went from B to A, had to wait at the gate to clear an upgrade and we left 5 minutes early. In retrospect, I could have had time to go smoke.
Jul 14, 2006, 9:45 am
#213
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Chevy Chase
Posts: 1,818
connection time at ATL - 40 minutes enough?
Flying BOS-SAN via ATL early on a Thursday. There's 6am BOS-ATL flight that lays over for 1hour and 40 minutes and a 7am leaving only 40 minutes to get to the connection. Now its been awhile since I flew DL through ATL but I want to make sure I get on the ATL-SAN flight. 40 minutes seems pretty darn tight especially at ATL but waking up for the 6am seems like a drag. Thoughts? Thanks in advance and sorry if this is a bit of a repeat question but I couldn't find the excat situation in a search.
Jul 14, 2006, 10:17 am
#214
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Gone to Carolina in my mind
Programs: AA ExpMM, DL 2MM, IHG Spire/RA
Posts: 1,986
40 minutes is a little tight but doable.
If you must be there on the booked flight from ATL-SAN, then I would take the earlier BOS-ATL flight.
If missing your connection and arriving a couple of hours late into SAN does not make a difference, then you can try the 40 minute connection.
Cheers
If you must be there on the booked flight from ATL-SAN, then I would take the earlier BOS-ATL flight.
If missing your connection and arriving a couple of hours late into SAN does not make a difference, then you can try the 40 minute connection.
Cheers
Jul 14, 2006, 11:56 am
#217
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 13
Originally Posted by PMMMDL
40 minutes is a little tight but doable.
If you must be there on the booked flight from ATL-SAN, then I would take the earlier BOS-ATL flight.
If missing your connection and arriving a couple of hours late into SAN does not make a difference, then you can try the 40 minute connection.
If you must be there on the booked flight from ATL-SAN, then I would take the earlier BOS-ATL flight.
If missing your connection and arriving a couple of hours late into SAN does not make a difference, then you can try the 40 minute connection.
Jul 14, 2006, 12:12 pm
#218
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: AUS DL PM MM, HH LTD
Posts: 1,853
Also depends if you are going to carry on your bag. As they start boarding at 30 minutes prior, all overhead space may possibly be gone by the time you board. Also, I would check the gate information for today and yesterday to see where the gates might be located. No guarantees but I find that most flights leave from similar gates day to day.
Marc
Marc
Jul 14, 2006, 12:28 pm
#219
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: MCO
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Posts: 564
Like many others, I connect thru ATL almost weekly and rarely have problems with a 40 minute connection. If the flights are in the same terminal, no sweat. But you can even make it from T to E in less than 10 minutes if you have to. And most of the time, if one flight is delayed, so are many others. I'd catch the extra sleep and not worry - especially on a Thursday morning!
Jul 14, 2006, 1:37 pm
#220
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SAN,TPA
Posts: 366
I agree that you should be fine, I've done 40 minute connections many a time without a problem. I would like to add the following advice:
-Check your bag unless you are in F. That way you won't have to worry about overhead space and lugging it through ATL if your inbound is late. Typically your bag will make the connection even if you don't and it will be waiting for you in SAN.
-Watch the weather the night before to see if there will be any bad weather in the Northeast (not just BOS) the next morning. If it looks like there will be any delays you should get up early enough to make the 6am, call
SMS and request SDC.
Good luck and welcome to Sun Diego!
-Check your bag unless you are in F. That way you won't have to worry about overhead space and lugging it through ATL if your inbound is late. Typically your bag will make the connection even if you don't and it will be waiting for you in SAN.
-Watch the weather the night before to see if there will be any bad weather in the Northeast (not just BOS) the next morning. If it looks like there will be any delays you should get up early enough to make the 6am, call
SMS and request SDC.
Good luck and welcome to Sun Diego!
Jul 14, 2006, 3:14 pm
#222
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: New York, New York
Programs: Marriot Platinum, United 1P
Posts: 123
Originally Posted by chobby100
Flying BOS-SAN via ATL early on a Thursday. There's 6am BOS-ATL flight that lays over for 1hour and 40 minutes and a 7am leaving only 40 minutes to get to the connection. Now its been awhile since I flew DL through ATL but I want to make sure I get on the ATL-SAN flight. 40 minutes seems pretty darn tight especially at ATL but waking up for the 6am seems like a drag. Thoughts? Thanks in advance and sorry if this is a bit of a repeat question but I couldn't find the excat situation in a search.
Remember - you may have to switch terminals, and take the train...and walk the length of two terminals...I tried it once with a 40 minute connection, and wound up missing it in both directions.
Jul 14, 2006, 6:49 pm
#223
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: IND
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Originally Posted by Giovanni
I wouldn't do it. In my limited experience connecting through ATL (I tried it once, and then switched to another carrier) - let's say it takes 10 minutes to deplane (assuming that the flight arrived on time) - and DL closes their doors 10 minutes before scheduled departure time, that leaves you 20 minutes to make your way through the airport.
Remember - you may have to switch terminals, and take the train...and walk the length of two terminals...I tried it once with a 40 minute connection, and wound up missing it in both directions.
Remember - you may have to switch terminals, and take the train...and walk the length of two terminals...I tried it once with a 40 minute connection, and wound up missing it in both directions.
Jul 14, 2006, 11:34 pm
#224
In memoriam
Join Date: May 2005
Location: DAL
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New Sticky Suggestion
Is there any chance we could get a sticky together of what is needed for average connection time at each airport DL flies in/out of (or at least the main ones) so we dont have this thread over and over again.
Jul 15, 2006, 6:25 am
#225
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: MCO
Programs: DL DM,MM; AS; USeless Air, HHonors Diamond, Starwood Plat, Hyatt Gold
Posts: 564
A little off point, but.....
Originally Posted by Lehava
Is there any chance we could get a sticky together of what is needed for average connection time at each airport DL flies in/out of (or at least the main ones) so we dont have this thread over and over again.
That's a great idea. May I also ask some patience though from long-standing FTers with us "newbies"? Periodically - even somewhat regularly - there's a post about "this comes up every year" or "haven't we seen this time and again" etc. While I've been a frequent traveler for the majority of my life, I just recently discovered FT - just as many do every day. Why, just on this thread alone, half of posters have under 500 posts and 25% of us are under 200. I find threads all over this site on all sorts of topics to be fascinating, informative, entertaining and just plain fun to read, and while some of the thoughts may be re-hashed over and over again, the process is stimulating and usually brings out something new each time. Thanks for listening.
PS .... chuckling to myself wondering who among you can't resist the temptation to post "Haven't we seen this before?" LOL
Last edited by cbalaska; Jul 15, 2006 at 6:49 am