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
Jan 26, 2021, 12:13 am
#2791
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: YYJ
Programs: AC SE*MM, Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Gold, National EE, Sixt Plat, Hz 5*
Posts: 2,441
Just some points of clarification:
- The landside train that goes from North/South Terminals (and domestic baggage claim) to the Rental Car Center is called the "SkyTrain." The "Plane Train" is the underground one that runs airside between concourses.
- Unless arriving on a precleared flight with no checked bags, you can't use the Plane Train to exit out of the domestic terminal where the SkyTrain is located. Int'l flights and int'l arriving baggage dump out of the International Terminal (connected to Concourse F) and you can't go back airside without a connecting flight (nd re-checking bags). International Terminal to rental car center is serviced only by a shuttle van.
- The landside train that goes from North/South Terminals (and domestic baggage claim) to the Rental Car Center is called the "SkyTrain." The "Plane Train" is the underground one that runs airside between concourses.
- Unless arriving on a precleared flight with no checked bags, you can't use the Plane Train to exit out of the domestic terminal where the SkyTrain is located. Int'l flights and int'l arriving baggage dump out of the International Terminal (connected to Concourse F) and you can't go back airside without a connecting flight (nd re-checking bags). International Terminal to rental car center is serviced only by a shuttle van.
Jan 28, 2021, 7:30 pm
#2792
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: MCO
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Posts: 12,809
The rainforest hall is my favorite. I wish they’d just extend that the length of the airport.
Mar 15, 2021, 12:57 pm
#2793
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Diamond, Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 7,269
I've got my first trip since the pandemic began coming up on Wednesday and three hours between flights. If I don't feel like paying for SkyClub access, is E Concourse still pretty lightly used around lunch time? I'm looking for a quiet and socially distanced spot where I can curl up with an e-reader for a bit.
Mar 15, 2021, 1:13 pm
#2794
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,665
I've got my first trip since the pandemic began coming up on Wednesday and three hours between flights. If I don't feel like paying for SkyClub access, is E Concourse still pretty lightly used around lunch time? I'm looking for a quiet and socially distanced spot where I can curl up with an e-reader for a bit.
Mar 15, 2021, 3:18 pm
#2795
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Diamond, Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 7,269
Mar 18, 2021, 10:41 am
#2796
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
The very end of E before the escalators to the E<>F tunnel has always been deserted for me, both pre- and post-COVID. There's usually always an unused gate somewhere in E, as well.
Mar 18, 2021, 10:51 am
#2797
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 890
Mar 18, 2021, 5:21 pm
#2798
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Diamond, Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 7,269
E was indeed its usual mid day sleepy self but around 1:00pm they started closing some gates by the giant ear of corn in order to set up covid quick test areas for the Rome and Amsterdam flights.
Mar 20, 2021, 12:52 am
#2799
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
I love that ear of corn for some reason! Anytime I'm in that "wing" of E I can't help but snap a photo of it.
Mar 20, 2021, 2:21 am
#2800
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
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Last edited by flyerCO; Mar 21, 2021 at 2:26 pm
Mar 20, 2021, 8:26 am
#2801
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
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Posts: 18,946
Mar 20, 2021, 8:31 am
#2802
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Location: ATL
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Posts: 10,745
Apr 4, 2021, 1:00 pm
#2803
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Biscoff, USA
Programs: Delta
Posts: 50
Re-invigorating the "Can I make my connection in X minutes" question
Hi folks,
Here is the dealio. For Memorial Day Weekend: Most recent flight schedule change with Delta afforded us the opportunity to connect into ATL and hop on a 767-400 to our final dest (completely domestic flight). But, to make that connection onto the 767-400, we have a 1 hour 13 minute layover in ATL.
If flight #1 is on time, are we cutting it too tight? We are sitting in First Class on both legs, so having First Class on Leg #1 will at least let us beat the less animated de-boarders off the plane.
Shiny faux penny for your thoughts.
Thank you!
Here is the dealio. For Memorial Day Weekend: Most recent flight schedule change with Delta afforded us the opportunity to connect into ATL and hop on a 767-400 to our final dest (completely domestic flight). But, to make that connection onto the 767-400, we have a 1 hour 13 minute layover in ATL.
If flight #1 is on time, are we cutting it too tight? We are sitting in First Class on both legs, so having First Class on Leg #1 will at least let us beat the less animated de-boarders off the plane.
Shiny faux penny for your thoughts.
Thank you!
Apr 4, 2021, 1:13 pm
#2804
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
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Not cutting it too tight at all. If your 767 is flying out of E like mine was last month, you'll probably even have time to stop in the SkyClub for a drink and a bite. Given the lack of F service like PDBs, no reason to board early.
Apr 4, 2021, 1:14 pm
#2805
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,946
Here is the dealio. For Memorial Day Weekend: Most recent flight schedule change with Delta afforded us the opportunity to connect into ATL and hop on a 767-400 to our final dest (completely domestic flight). But, to make that connection onto the 767-400, we have a 1 hour 13 minute layover in ATL.
If flight #1 is on time, are we cutting it too tight? We are sitting in First Class on both legs, so having First Class on Leg #1 will at least let us beat the less animated de-boarders off the plane.
If flight #1 is on time, are we cutting it too tight? We are sitting in First Class on both legs, so having First Class on Leg #1 will at least let us beat the less animated de-boarders off the plane.
