Aug 19, 2016, 8:19 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

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)

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

Effective JAN 2, 2020: ATL will be smoke free indoors with all smoking rooms closed and banned in the bars and restaurants that previously allowed it.

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.

Note: as of Labor Day 2018 (possibly earlier) there is a Precheck lane at the I-D reclearing security checkpoint.

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

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Apr 12, 2017, 11:00 am

#2206

beachmouse

Join Date: Aug 2012

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ATL has a common airside area for all gates and the plane trains operate on very short intervals. Just go plane train

Apr 12, 2017, 11:04 am

#2207

pvn

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Quote:

Originally Posted by joetro

What's the fastest way to get from domestic south to international terminal? I have 77 minutes sitting fairly far up front (16) on my MD-88 inbound from Dallas, going to LHR. Should I take shuttle or plane train?

You should be fine. MD88s usually arrive at A or B (though really it's possible you might arrive at any concourse), you will almost certainly be departing out of E or F. The plane train will be a five minute ride at the most, including wait time.

Apr 12, 2017, 11:04 am

#2208

pvn

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Also, this is still applicable:

Quote:

Originally Posted by pvn

If you use the app, you can check in "my trips". Gate assignments for the incoming flight to ATL will usually not be given until a couple of hours before arrival, so you may or may not be able to get the info before you leave PNS, and of course sometimes it will change. Once you hit the ground in ATL, while you're taxiing to the gate, though, the app should be pretty accurate.

Apr 12, 2017, 11:16 am

#2209

joetro

Join Date: May 2012

Posts: 574

Oh, I see. The Plane Train is just like our SkyTrain at DFW. Seems I can take this from whatever terminal I land at all the way to International, likely with little wait between trains and something like 10 minutes to get to International?

Apr 12, 2017, 12:13 pm

#2210

pvn

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exactly. The app has maps of every airport, and the signage in ATL is pretty good. Just head for the center. In most concourses (except for T, E and F) there will be one set of escalators to go in one direction (towards domestic baggage claim) and another set on the other side of the centerpoint to go in the other direction (towards F), but if you get on the wrong escalator its no big deal since you can just walk to the other side.

The basic layout is

Domestic Baggage Claim and Ticketing
T gates
A
B
C
D
E
F

Apr 12, 2017, 12:50 pm

#2211

LoganFlyer

Join Date: Sep 2005

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Quote:

Originally Posted by joetro

The Plane Train is just like our SkyTrain at DFW.

Yup, except that the ATL one is more efficient. The ATL train goes through the center of each concourse instead of going around the outside like the DFW one does.

Apr 12, 2017, 12:54 pm

#2212

joetro

Join Date: May 2012

Posts: 574

Thanks. Looks doable. Appreciate everyone's help.

Apr 12, 2017, 12:57 pm

#2213

beachmouse

Join Date: Aug 2012

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Think of the layout of ATL as a spine (the plane train) and rib cage design. As stupidly large as ATL is, it's really pretty easy to get around. Also you're not going to see any 'South Terminal' or 'North Terminal' signs airside. Those are just kind of administrative wordage for 'we're parking the plane at some gate to be determined later'. Inside the airport proper, it's all T (for Terminal) A B C D E F concourses on the signage.

Apr 12, 2017, 12:59 pm

#2214

MissJ

Join Date: Nov 2008

Location: It's hot here

Posts: 4,284

And it's underground.

Airside, easy peasy. Just go to the center of the concourse, go down and jump on.

Apr 12, 2017, 1:25 pm

#2215

joetro

Join Date: May 2012

Posts: 574

Okay, cool. Walk to center of any terminal, go downstairs, then catch train to international, use Delta app to check which terminal exactly. Thanks, all.

Apr 14, 2017, 2:13 am

#2216

moonwoo

Join Date: Jan 2016

Location: STL

Programs: AA

Posts: 167

I have not flown Delta in a while so I am not familiar with ATL. I will be coming in to concourse T at around 6pm (on American Eagle) then have a connecting flight on concourse C at 8pm on Southwest. Do you guys think this will be enough connection time especially since they are two separate tickets? Thanks!

Apr 14, 2017, 2:34 am

#2217

dcadwell

Join Date: Jan 2017

Programs: Delta PM

Posts: 890

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonwoo

More than enough.

Apr 14, 2017, 2:43 am

#2218

flyerCO

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Quote:

Originally Posted by moonwoo

Even if you needed to pickup luggage, recheck, and reclear security that should be plenty. I make 35 minute connections at ATL frequently.

Apr 14, 2017, 7:52 am

#2219

moonwoo

Join Date: Jan 2016

Location: STL

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Posts: 167

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcadwell

More than enough.

thanks both of you!

May 1, 2017, 7:10 am

#2220

sbr7d

Join Date: Mar 2012

Location: South Korea

Posts: 100

I thought I would ask the forum's opinion on my connection. I feel like I have plenty of time but wanted some tips to cut down my transition if my original flight is delayed.

I have a DL flight from a small regional airport that arrives in ATL at 9am. I then am on a KE flight that departs at 11:55AM. The problem is I have to collect my bags from the baggage area and then recheck them in with KE. Flight is ATL-ICN and I have to check in a bag or two. If all goes to plan, that will be plenty of time to collect my bags, re check with KE, go through security, then head to my gate with maybe a stop at the lounge.

Any tips for a more efficient plan regarding collecting my bags in either B or C and heading the the international terminal? I have read somewhere on here that the international terminal is easier to clear security since it does not get that much traffic but could be mistaken.

This flight takes place on Thursday as well, Jan 4

Thanks in advance