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 15, 2018, 4:29 pm
#2416
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Now in SLC
Programs: DL GM 1MM, MR LT Titanium
Posts: 4,116
90 minutes is plenty of time to make the connection, though I wouldn't check a bag since you'd have to go to baggage claim to get it and recheck it with DL. Assuming you don't check a bag, the only concern is if the Spirit flight is more than about 50 minutes late. DL isn't obliged to help you, though they probably would as long as you don't buy a basic economy fare.
Jan 15, 2018, 4:40 pm
#2417
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,363
Diana, I agree with Logan but would emphasize that checking the bag would be VERY bad. It would certainly cost you 30 minutes, and very possibly an hour.
P.S., I am assuming the DL connecting flight is something easy and cheap so that if things do get screwed up there is little cost (dollars or time). If the DL flight is to Asia or some such, you need more time in case disaster strikes.
P.S., I am assuming the DL connecting flight is something easy and cheap so that if things do get screwed up there is little cost (dollars or time). If the DL flight is to Asia or some such, you need more time in case disaster strikes.
Jan 17, 2018, 5:45 am
#2418
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,018
HI all, I have a general ATL Logistics questions:
Arriving on DL (domestic flight, B737 aircraft).
Departing on UA.
Both flights are separate tickets. Have 4 hours to connect (no problem there).
I will have checked bags to collect from DL and deposit to UA.
Question is ...for landside ATL transfers .....can I walk from whatever terminal my DL flight arrives to the UA North terminal check-in area?
If it is a difficult walk (e.g., lots of stairways, crossing roads, etc)...then I might just a taxi or something (sounds silly....but could be the way to do it).
There is no way around the checked luggage. I have to deal with it somehow. Any thoughts / suggestions?
PS = I don't think I have been landside at ATL !!! I have never visited ATL!
Arriving on DL (domestic flight, B737 aircraft).
Departing on UA.
Both flights are separate tickets. Have 4 hours to connect (no problem there).
I will have checked bags to collect from DL and deposit to UA.
Question is ...for landside ATL transfers .....can I walk from whatever terminal my DL flight arrives to the UA North terminal check-in area?
If it is a difficult walk (e.g., lots of stairways, crossing roads, etc)...then I might just a taxi or something (sounds silly....but could be the way to do it).
There is no way around the checked luggage. I have to deal with it somehow. Any thoughts / suggestions?
PS = I don't think I have been landside at ATL !!! I have never visited ATL!
Jan 17, 2018, 8:43 am
#2419
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta FO
Posts: 114
HI all, I have a general ATL Logistics questions:
Arriving on DL (domestic flight, B737 aircraft).
Departing on UA.
Both flights are separate tickets. Have 4 hours to connect (no problem there).
I will have checked bags to collect from DL and deposit to UA.
Question is ...for landside ATL transfers .....can I walk from whatever terminal my DL flight arrives to the UA North terminal check-in area?
If it is a difficult walk (e.g., lots of stairways, crossing roads, etc)...then I might just a taxi or something (sounds silly....but could be the way to do it).
There is no way around the checked luggage. I have to deal with it somehow. Any thoughts / suggestions?
PS = I don't think I have been landside at ATL !!! I have never visited ATL!
Arriving on DL (domestic flight, B737 aircraft).
Departing on UA.
Both flights are separate tickets. Have 4 hours to connect (no problem there).
I will have checked bags to collect from DL and deposit to UA.
Question is ...for landside ATL transfers .....can I walk from whatever terminal my DL flight arrives to the UA North terminal check-in area?
If it is a difficult walk (e.g., lots of stairways, crossing roads, etc)...then I might just a taxi or something (sounds silly....but could be the way to do it).
There is no way around the checked luggage. I have to deal with it somehow. Any thoughts / suggestions?
PS = I don't think I have been landside at ATL !!! I have never visited ATL!
Jan 17, 2018, 10:04 am
#2420
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,018
Whew! thank you so much. Didn't realize it would be so easy!!
Once I get checked in with United, I will get my daily exercise by walking inside the terminals post security!
Jan 17, 2018, 10:19 am
#2421
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
From the north end to the south end of any given concourse is about 0.4 miles, from the T-gate train stop to F is about 1.3 miles.
Jan 17, 2018, 6:11 pm
#2422
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,018
You can walk up and down each concourse and all the concourses are connected underground, you can walk between them instead of taking the plane train.
From the north end to the south end of any given concourse is about 0.4 miles, from the T-gate train stop to F is about 1.3 miles.
From the north end to the south end of any given concourse is about 0.4 miles, from the T-gate train stop to F is about 1.3 miles.
Jan 17, 2018, 7:18 pm
#2423
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Diamond, Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 7,265
Jan 18, 2018, 7:05 am
#2425
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: Delta DM, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,495
Jan 20, 2018, 8:11 am
#2429
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Diamond, Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 7,265
Checked bags or no checked bags? No checked bags and I'd feel pretty confident, but reclaim, recheck, and reclear security is way too tight for my tastes.