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
Aug 29, 2011, 7:52 am
#1441
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: AA BA CO DL UA US
Posts: 815
Thanks.
Looks like I can do PHL-ATL-LAX as well. There is a morning flight with an hour of connection time or another flight with 2 hours 20 minutes of connection time. Do you think the extra 1 hour and 20 minutes is worth waiting for or could the 1 hour be sufficient (thought it might not be comforting)?
Looks like I can do PHL-ATL-LAX as well. There is a morning flight with an hour of connection time or another flight with 2 hours 20 minutes of connection time. Do you think the extra 1 hour and 20 minutes is worth waiting for or could the 1 hour be sufficient (thought it might not be comforting)?
Aug 29, 2011, 8:52 am
#1442
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 would book PHL-ATL-LAX with an hour if that hour were in the morning or early afternoon, especially when there was another midday connection only an hour twenty later.
Aug 31, 2011, 11:13 am
#1443
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 7
Tight connection in ATL
So I've got a 37 minute connection in ATL tomorrow, which I'm almost positive I'm going to miss - I've got to go from gate C52 to A01, and I think that's going to be impossible even if I sprint the entire time. What will Delta do with me if I miss that connection?
Aug 31, 2011, 11:17 am
#1446
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: BTR
Programs: DL GM, UA Silver, Marriott Plat, National Exec
Posts: 1,810
I've got to go from gate C52 to A01, and I think that's going to be impossible even if I sprint the entire time.
Aug 31, 2011, 11:22 am
#1447
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: CVG,SDF,LEX
Programs: Delta DM MM
Posts: 772
Looks like the flights ATL BOS are nearly full tomorrow. Couple of F seats but no Y seats until 8pm. Only 2 y seats open tomorrow that I can see. What is your status and fare. Looks like it could be a long night if you miss it. If not in FC and no status, might want to call today and see what your options are. They are good about working with you if they have shortened your connection below what the computer says is valid (which this is)
Aug 31, 2011, 11:24 am
#1448
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: BTR
Programs: DL GM, UA Silver, Marriott Plat, National Exec
Posts: 1,810
They are good about working with you if they have shortened your connection below what the computer says is valid (which this is)
Aug 31, 2011, 11:38 am
#1450
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: CVG,SDF,LEX
Programs: Delta DM MM
Posts: 772
Maybe I mis-spoke. My understanding is that Delta sets a minimum connection time for each airport---example LAX is 70 minutes. Not saying that they wont make connections shorter than that, but these times are listed for each airport. I think it mainly comes into play with misshandled baggage and transfers to/from other airlines. I believe it in some way limits their responsibility for IROPS if a passenger, on his/her own, makes arrangements with shorter connections than this. As I said, Delta breaks these minumums all the time, but if your schedule changes and it falls below this threshold, you will usually recieve the email telling you that you may miss your connection. I have found that Delta is pretty accomodating when a change causes a connection time to fall below that threshold. If you want to know specific minimum connection time, the agents can pull it up in the computer.
Aug 31, 2011, 11:41 am
#1451
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MHT, CHS
Programs: DL DM, Hilton Dia, Avis Pres Club
Posts: 1,248
Why did you book FNT-ATL-BOS rather than FNT-DTW-BOS.
For me it would need to be dirt cheap compered to the flight through DTW. A lot longer on an RJ. flying through ATL rather than DTW. Probably a lot more time involved for the trip
BTW, you should have no problem unless a big delay on the FNT-ATL
For me it would need to be dirt cheap compered to the flight through DTW. A lot longer on an RJ. flying through ATL rather than DTW. Probably a lot more time involved for the trip
BTW, you should have no problem unless a big delay on the FNT-ATL
Aug 31, 2011, 11:50 am
#1452
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: CVG,SDF,LEX
Programs: Delta DM MM
Posts: 772
EF shows a 63% on time with avg delay over last 2 months of 48min for FNT ATL.. Unsure how accurate these numbers are but I cant remember the last time I pulled up to a gate on time in ATL. If you booked through ATL for a specific reason, keep the flight. If you booked the flight knowing there was a short connection, you are probably out of luck. If the connection time was dramatically shortened, I would use this to try to get a better route.
Aug 31, 2011, 11:54 am
#1453
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: ROC
Programs: DL DM, HH Diamond, National EE
Posts: 1,229
I made it from A6 to E12 in 12 mins a couple of weeks ago. It wasn't fun, but I did it. 37 mins shouldn't be a problem if, as others have said, your inbound is on-time (of course today you'd be SOL based on the inbound delay).
Aug 31, 2011, 11:56 am
#1454
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MHT, CHS
Programs: DL DM, Hilton Dia, Avis Pres Club
Posts: 1,248
Again gate checked on an RJ could reduce your time by 5 - 10 Minutes.
Aug 31, 2011, 12:12 pm
#1455
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 7
Why did you book FNT-ATL-BOS rather than FNT-DTW-BOS.
For me it would need to be dirt cheap compered to the flight through DTW. A lot longer on an RJ. flying through ATL rather than DTW. Probably a lot more time involved for the trip
BTW, you should have no problem unless a big delay on the FNT-ATL
For me it would need to be dirt cheap compered to the flight through DTW. A lot longer on an RJ. flying through ATL rather than DTW. Probably a lot more time involved for the trip
BTW, you should have no problem unless a big delay on the FNT-ATL
