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 14, 2005, 10:44 am
#107
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Originally Posted by JS
What is this, the "is this connection OK" forum?
Apr 14, 2005, 11:06 am
#108
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Originally Posted by Aircfo
I've made numerous close connections in ATL. Some as close as 15 or 20 minutes. If it is very close, make sure you have a good pair of running shoes
Apr 14, 2005, 11:11 am
#109
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Originally Posted by JS
What is this, the "is this connection OK" forum?
In all seriousness, Delta has established minimum connection times and without some intervention won't sell you a ticket under those times. While they can be tight, all of the minimum connection times are very "doable". This always assumes that there are no delays, but I, for one, just won't figure that in, as I am just as often early as late and the connection may or may not be on time.
Apr 14, 2005, 11:51 am
#111
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Originally Posted by Airframe
Sorry !!
Moderator please feel free to move this thread to appropriate forum.
Moderator please feel free to move this thread to appropriate forum.
Apr 14, 2005, 1:06 pm
#112
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: NYC
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Originally Posted by indufan
My flight into SLC arrives at 11:30 and my connection to FAT leaves at 11:18, do you think this will be enough time? I realize that it's 12 minutes before arrival but I know that sometimes flights arrive early and SkyWest is never on time.
Of course, the connection wasn't booked like that, but.....
As the story goes.....my mainline flight to SLC was scheduled to arrive at 10:19am....but actually arrived at 9:47am....and it was a westbound flight no less (MSY-SLC).
As soon as I was off (was actually seated in F in that 737-300
), I "dashed" as quickly as possible from Concourse C to D in order to use SDC to get on a 10:10am SLC-ATL flight....instead of waiting for the 1:25pm flight that I was originally booked on (F was full on the later flight anyway ....and I managed to get 34A on the 10:10am flight 
).FWIW, I did give up a confirmed upgrade for my ATL-LGA flight and instead ended up sitting in 12G onboard a 767-200 (delay + equipment change = I should have asked to have been booked on the next flight instead
).A.J.
Apr 14, 2005, 3:06 pm
#113
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Good luck! I've had some pretty close connections in ATL lately and I just pick an aisle seat and hope for the best. What annoys me is that a DL agent told me that delta.com and agents are not supposed to sell flights with a connection time less than 55 minutes. I pointed out that it's done all the time and she didn't believe me until I had her pull up my dozen stored Delta itineraries.
Apr 14, 2005, 3:45 pm
#114
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Originally Posted by jmscsc
Good luck! I've had some pretty close connections in ATL lately and I just pick an aisle seat and hope for the best. What annoys me is that a DL agent told me that delta.com and agents are not supposed to sell flights with a connection time less than 55 minutes. I pointed out that it's done all the time and she didn't believe me until I had her pull up my dozen stored Delta itineraries.
Apr 14, 2005, 3:53 pm
#115
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: ca
Posts: 62
Originally Posted by indufan
My flight into SLC arrives at 11:30 and my connection to FAT leaves at 11:18, do you think this will be enough time? I realize that it's 12 minutes before arrival but I know that sometimes flights arrive early and SkyWest is never on time....
The good news is yes, you'll make your flight. The bad news of course is that your flight is to Fresno.
Apr 14, 2005, 4:18 pm
#116
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Originally Posted by dphmicn
The good news is yes, you'll make your flight. The bad news of course is that your flight is to Fresno.
Apr 14, 2005, 4:24 pm
#117
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 415
Originally Posted by indufan
You missed the humor. We have lately had a rash of questions on connections. Don't take it personally.
Not being a regular on this side of FT I was unaware the comment referred to
previous posts.
Cheers
Apr 15, 2005, 11:38 am
#118
Join Date: Feb 2005
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You'll be fine
Assuming inbound arrives on time.
Check w/ Gate Agent upon deboarding to determine which gate your O/B flight leaves from. Go to CENTER of whichever concourse you are in and look for signs regarding which way to go down escalators to catch train. Get off train at appointed concourse, go up escalator and immediately look for screens displaying departure gates. ATL is notorious for changing gates, sometimes even concourses. Given its a domestic flight, if anyone tells you your flight leaves from "E" concourse, question them severely - this is very very rare. I've had them tell me that, and lo and behold they were WRONG.
If by chance your I/B is late, your O/B will probably also be late. ATL stands for late. Hightail it to departure gate to try to catch plane - if unsuccessful, immediately try to rebook a seat on a later plane. You should eventually get there.
Check w/ Gate Agent upon deboarding to determine which gate your O/B flight leaves from. Go to CENTER of whichever concourse you are in and look for signs regarding which way to go down escalators to catch train. Get off train at appointed concourse, go up escalator and immediately look for screens displaying departure gates. ATL is notorious for changing gates, sometimes even concourses. Given its a domestic flight, if anyone tells you your flight leaves from "E" concourse, question them severely - this is very very rare. I've had them tell me that, and lo and behold they were WRONG.
If by chance your I/B is late, your O/B will probably also be late. ATL stands for late. Hightail it to departure gate to try to catch plane - if unsuccessful, immediately try to rebook a seat on a later plane. You should eventually get there.
Apr 15, 2005, 12:37 pm
#119
Join Date: Mar 2005
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Closer Connections
This seems to be fairly common lately. I fly through ATL twice weekly (usually SFO-ATL-MEM or the reverse) and my connection seems to be much tighter since DL revamped their schedule in ATL in order to improve dispatch reliability. I've found myself running from B (low numbers) to A (high numbers) 5 times in the last 8 trips.
This past time, I barely made the connection...7 minutes to spare. And I had no time to watch the upgrade screen...turns out I had been upgraded (according to my records), the ticket machine didn't spit out the new boarding pass, and I sat in coach for 4+ hours.
DL is really starting to suck.
This past time, I barely made the connection...7 minutes to spare. And I had no time to watch the upgrade screen...turns out I had been upgraded (according to my records), the ticket machine didn't spit out the new boarding pass, and I sat in coach for 4+ hours.
DL is really starting to suck.
Apr 15, 2005, 2:25 pm
#120
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The rule of thumb at ATL
When you have a 2 hour connection, you have to go from B10 to B12.
When you are late and only have a 20 minute connection, you have to go from T1 to E36.
When you are late and only have a 20 minute connection, you have to go from T1 to E36.