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
Dec 21, 2017, 6:30 am
#2401
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Now in SLC
Programs: DL GM 1MM, MR LT Titanium
Posts: 4,119
If your inbound is on-time, and if you're able to walk at a decent pace, and if you study the layout of ATL in advance so you know exactly what you're doing to make the connection (see the wiki above for advice), then yes, you can make it. But even then, it will be tight.
Dec 21, 2017, 7:10 am
#2402
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
40 minutes is plenty at ATL. You will not have time to eat a sit-down meal but you won't need to run.
Is that your entire itinerary? If so, there are plenty of other connection options even if you misconnect.
Is that your entire itinerary? If so, there are plenty of other connection options even if you misconnect.
Dec 21, 2017, 7:16 am
#2403
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 4
Yes. But if i miss i will have to overnight There. That sucks, thanks for the help!
Dec 21, 2017, 7:24 am
#2404
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
Ah, yes, the KLM flight was for a while the last transatlantic departure of the night. The last few times I've been through ATL, though, I had seen it leaving pretty early in the day. I see now they've moved it back to the late slot.
Dec 21, 2017, 7:24 am
#2405
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 4
Dec 21, 2017, 11:20 am
#2408
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 4
Dec 31, 2017, 8:06 am
#2411
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: DL PM, SPG Platinum
Posts: 616
I've got BOS-ATL-SXM coming up. 50 minute connection. First flight out of BOS in the AM and the only SXM flight of the day. It seems that the BOS flights usually come in on T/A gates and SXM goes out on E/F gates.
1) Is this even a legal connection?
2) The only options I see are to take the BOS-ATL flight the night before and spend the night in ATL, or I can risk it. If the risk fails, I spend the night in ATL and lose a day of my vacation.
1) Is this even a legal connection?
2) The only options I see are to take the BOS-ATL flight the night before and spend the night in ATL, or I can risk it. If the risk fails, I spend the night in ATL and lose a day of my vacation.
Dec 31, 2017, 8:53 am
#2412
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Now in SLC
Programs: DL GM 1MM, MR LT Titanium
Posts: 4,119
It's legal--the minimum connection time is 40 minutes for a domestic to international connection. What time of year would this be? If it's the winter, I might take the overnight due to the possibility of having to deice in BOS, but any other time of the year, I'd probably risk the 50 minute connection.
Jan 9, 2018, 8:05 pm
#2413
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: SAV/HHH
Posts: 327
Thanks to endless schedule changes, I went from a nonstop SLC-FLL to now flying SLC-ATL-FLL. I was thinking I would be fine with a 39 minute connection, but then they also changed my inbound to an A333, and put me in the back of the plane.
If I change my seat to the front of the cabin, is that enough? Or should I try and get a new set of flights.
If I change my seat to the front of the cabin, is that enough? Or should I try and get a new set of flights.
Jan 9, 2018, 8:22 pm
#2414
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,071
Thanks to endless schedule changes, I went from a nonstop SLC-FLL to now flying SLC-ATL-FLL. I was thinking I would be fine with a 39 minute connection, but then they also changed my inbound to an A333, and put me in the back of the plane.
If I change my seat to the front of the cabin, is that enough? Or should I try and get a new set of flights.
If I change my seat to the front of the cabin, is that enough? Or should I try and get a new set of flights.
Jan 15, 2018, 1:48 pm
#2415
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 1
Spirit to Delta: 1:30 min enough?
Hi
I'm taking a domestic flight from FLL to ATL in Spirit and want to buy separate tickets in Delta. The connecting time or time I would have between one flight and the other is 1:30 mins. Is that enough? What if I checked bags at FLL? Would it be better to just take a carry on and make it faster to the connection?
Thanks!
I'm taking a domestic flight from FLL to ATL in Spirit and want to buy separate tickets in Delta. The connecting time or time I would have between one flight and the other is 1:30 mins. Is that enough? What if I checked bags at FLL? Would it be better to just take a carry on and make it faster to the connection?
Thanks!