45 minute layover in Atlanta

[clhcpaca]

I am flying Delta from San Jose to Orlando in September. I only have a 45 minute layover in Atlanta. Is that enough time to switch planes? There is a flight that has an additional 2 hour layover in Atlanta, arriving in Orlando at 6:30 pm.

Cindy

 

[Luv2Diz]

Atlanta is a huge airport, so 45 minutes is marginal for a layover. You have to hope that your first flight arrives on time, then wait for everyone to get off (depending on where you are seated on the plane - this can take awhile), then check the monitor in the terminal and make your way to the next gate. If your flight arrives on time and the next gate is close by, you would have not problem. If your flight gets in even a little late and the gate is at the far end or the terminal - or even in another terminal - you probably won't make it. For comfort, I wouldn't book less than a 1 hour layover in Atlanta.

 

[CarolA]

45 is actually about standard for domestic flights in Atlanta. But it does require that you move along. Stopping to shop, get food etc will screw you up!

 

[jana616]

Totally hijacking, but what about 42 minutes in Cincinnati? I'm assuming that's a pretty small airport, so we should be fine, right? Already booked, just nervous!

 

[AKLforever]

Cincinnati is fine, but Atlanta, youll need to hustle. Heres a trick for you.
When you get off the plane, as fast as you can ,locate your connecting flights gate, then walk fast to get there even if you know youll make it, once there and you still have time, then you can relax and get a small bite or what ever, or a drink near by. But yea, youll have to move fast just incase. That place is very huge, its like a small state , lol.

 

[Alesia]

We had a 1 hour layover in Atlanta and it was plenty of time.

 

[Alesia]

Totally hijacking, but what about 42 minutes in Cincinnati? I'm assuming that's a pretty small airport, so we should be fine, right? Already booked, just nervous!

You will be fine. We had a 38 minutes in Cincinnati and still had time to get a sandwich.

 

[bgirl29]

In November we had 45minute layovers and on the way down going from the small plane to a large plane was fine. On the way home it took awhile to get off of our plane than we used the tram in ATL we had to hop on at the first stop and get off at the last stop. Our flight was already loaded when we got to the gate. And that was with running and no stopping to look at anything along the way.

That said we knew this going into the trip, although when the flight was booked we did have over an hour layovers, they were shortened by Delta. If you need to gate check anything or will worry about missing your connection I would think about choosing the longer connection time.

On a previous trip with an hour connection we circled the airport in atlanta so many times that had our connecting flight not been delayed for mechanical reasons we would have missed the flight. Despite again running through the airport.

 

[duketennisgal]

You will be fine. We had a 38 minutes in Cincinnati and still had time to get a sandwich.

I had a 38 minute layover in Atlanta and I had to book it but I made it on time. 45 minutes if very doable, especially if you are fairly familiar with the airport.

I had a 30 minute layover in Cincinnati and was fine, even though I got lost for a couple of minutes.

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[tkldisney]

I would take the 45 min. layover vs hanging around for two hours in the airport. Google ATL and check out the layout of the airport. Like previous post check out which gates you will be going in/out of. I know they do change gates sometimes so check the monitor as soon as you get off to make sure your heading to the right gate.

 

[dudspizza]

Here is a link to the terminal maps. http://www.atlanta-airport.com/forms/passenger/frmPassengerInformation_terminallayout.aspx

Basically look at the airport as 5 separate, long, skinny buildings. There is a walkway and train that runs underground between terminals. The train is the way to go... walking it takes forever. To get to the train and walkway, you go to the center of the building and go down one level. You train to your next terminal and go back up to the gate level. It is VERY EASY, IMO, but familiarize yourself with the terminal maps to be prepared.

I also suggest tracking flights the week leading up to your trip. See where your plane lands each day (which gate) and where your connector takes off from. It isn't guaranteed they will be the same gate, but it will give you an idea of how far you might have to walk/run.

As suggested above, immediately after you get off your first flight, locate a departures board and confirm your next gate and then get there. Once there you can use the bathroom or shop if you have time. Getting to the next gate is the key. If everyone is ready and does their part, getting through any airport is doable. Have someone take charge and be prepared and all will go well!

Best of luck.

Duds

 

[dudspizza]

Also, here is a picture of Atlanta airport to give you an idea of how it is set up. Each long, skinny building has planes surrounding it with the train/walkway running underground. The main terminal is on the far left, which you won't even see if you are simply connecting. I actually had a 4 hour layover in Atlanta, so I went out of the secure area and met a friend who lives in Atlanta for lunch. I went back through security in plenty of time to catch my connection.

http://www.allairports.net/images/hartsfield-airport-picture.jpg

Here is a great picture of how it is laid out.
http://www.visitingdc.com/images/atlanta-airport-terminal.jpg

Duds

 

[karajeboo]

Atlanta is probably the easiest airport of its size to get around. There is a subway that takes you to the terminals. My advice is to tell the flight attendant when you board that you have less than an hour layover. If your first flight is late, they may let you off the plane first to help get you to your connection.

 

[Madzac]

We were scheduled for a 46 min layover when Delta changed our flights recently. I talked to many people about this and most said, allow at least an hour. We had planned on just booking it when we landed, which we knew would be tough with 3 kids. However, the last couple weeks I have been watching the flights and at least 60% of the time, our first leg was getting in 20-60 min late. I think if everything went like clockwork, we would be ok, but I decided yesterday to move us to the later flight, so now we will have closer to 2 hours. I think my stress level will be less!

I think if it were just Dh and I we would risk it, but with the kids, we didnt want to end up waiting hours to find another flight with enough seats!

 

[georgina]

Madzac, that is what I was going to say - you may be able to make a connection with your 45 minute layover, IF your first flight arrives on time. Our experience with Delta is that they will not hold a connecting flight even if they know the first flight had landed and passengers were on their way.

 

[maxiesmom]

With a 45 minute layover, you are pretty much betting that everything will go your way during the flights. You need your first flight to land on time, if not early. And you need the next flight to be a little slow to load.

We took the chance last year, flying from Flint Mi to Atlanta, then on to Orlando. We got lucky and our flight from Flint arrived in Atlanta a little early. We made it to our gate maybe 10 minutes before they began boarding. We were on a small plane going to Atlanta, so we were off quickly, and didn't stop for anything.

Coming back was a different experience. We were farther back in a larger plane flying from Orlando. By the time we made it to our gate the flight was already boarding. In fact, they were holding it for us and a different flight. So who knows if we would have made it otherwise.

I want to add that that was on Delta too. And while they did hold the flight for us, one of the FAs was not happy about it. After we boarded and they were still waiting for another flight's passengers to arrive, she kept trying to close the door, and the person in the jetway kept telling her no.

 

[CarolA]

I want to add that that was on Delta too. And while they did hold the flight for us, one of the FAs was not happy about it. After we boarded and they were still waiting for another flight's passengers to arrive, she kept trying to close the door, and the person in the jetway kept telling her no.

That's because unless the delay exceeds some defined limit, FAs don't get paid until the door closes!

 

[maxiesmom]

That's because unless the delay exceeds some defined limit, FAs don't get paid until the door closes!

Ooooooh. That explains it. I wondered why she was in such a hurry to close that door!

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

I am flying Delta from San Jose to Orlando in September. I only have a 45 minute layover in Atlanta. Is that enough time to switch planes? There is a flight that has an additional 2 hour layover in Atlanta, arriving in Orlando at 6:30 pm.

Cindy

Last October we had a 50 minute layover in Atlanta. Our plane landed a few minutes late and we rushed off to the next gate to catch our connection. Well we got to that gate and the flight had been moved to a gate clear across the airport. We had to run from one side to the other and were the very last people to board the plane before it took off. Atlanta airport is huge. I highly suggest if you can get at least an hour and half layover, you much better off. This way it gives you room for situations like our family had on our trip. We were only minutes away from missing our connection.....I was in panic mode for sure