Flying with an Atlanta layover

[Huglife]

So an Atlanta layover just got added to my awesome 2hr and 40min non-stop flight from Hartford to Orlando. The layover is only 45 mins but the flight time from Hartford to Atlanta is 2 and 1/2 hours and then it's another hour and 1/2 from Atlanta to Orlando is 1 and 1/2 hours. I know wind currents and what not play a part in flight time but this seems excessive. Anyone ever fly through Atlanta? Is this right?!

 

[The Mom]

There are so many variables, so I probably shouldn't have said that the OP should be worried with less than an hour layover.

If your first leg leaves on time, so you arrive on schedule, no problem.
If your next gate is nearby, preferably in the same terminal , no problem.
If ATL is not crowded, so you don't have to wade through crowds to get to the tram, no problem.
If the tram is not having mechanical problems (if it is, you have to walk) no problem.
If you are familiar with the airport, so don't have to search for your next gate, no problem.

I have had all of the above problems, either individually or combined, over the years. I've missed a couple of flights, and have also had to race to my gate, so I personally would not have less than an hour layover. In fact, I go out of my way to avoid making any transfers there.

 

[ddrongowski]

I have a simple solution....

Get your pilots license and buy a small aircraft.

 

[Huglife]

Thanks for all the responses. I'm crossing my fingers and keeping my flight, hoping the woman at Delta knew what she was talking about in saying we can't miss our flight. Our other options would be flying out of JFK (Crazy!) or Westchester (Parking costs as much as the flight!)

 

[stonemom]

Just explain to them that you feel like 45 minutes is not enough time to get from one gate to another in Hartfield and they ought to change it for you. The airlines will work with you if they have made a change that proves difficult for you to get to your connecting flight. But even if they don't then do not worry that much. You'll be fine. You don't have to get your checked bags or anything. All you have to do is exit the plane, go to the tram, take the tram to your next gate hall/location and then walk to your gate. Like I said before, we have had several 35 minute layovers at Atlanta and we have never missed a flight. We even had enough time to stop by the restrooms.

that made me fel better about our layover there in December- 35 minutes didn't seem like enough to me but I wont fret as much now

 

[Disaddict]

Thanks for all the responses. I'm crossing my fingers and keeping my flight, hoping the woman at Delta knew what she was talking about in saying we can't miss our flight. Our other options would be flying out of JFK (Crazy!) or Westchester (Parking costs as much as the flight!)

that made me fel better about our layover there in December- 35 minutes didn't seem like enough to me but I wont fret as much now

Remember that as The Mom said, you may run into some variables so if you are uncomfortable with the flights as they are I would call and have them changed. Otherwise, good luck and have a ball at Disney! :sohappy: We personally have never had any of those things mentioned happen to us but I do know that they could be possible.

 

[ShookieJones]

Ive been poking around looking for flights for our yearly may trip.
Weve taken delta every single year leaving bradley at 7 am and non stop to mco by 10:30.
I noticed today that there are no non stop flights to mco anymore!!
Bizarre is this common? Ive never heard of this, but with them changing your flight it looks like this is what theyre doing.

 

[Uncle Lupe]

Last time we went via Atlanta we had to wait 45min on the tarmac waiting for an open gate. It's just something that can happen that can make you miss connections.

 

[Disaddict]

Ive been poking around looking for flights for our yearly may trip.
Weve taken delta every single year leaving bradley at 7 am and non stop to mco by 10:30.
I noticed today that there are no non stop flights to mco anymore!!
Bizarre is this common? Ive never heard of this, but with them changing your flight it looks like this is what theyre doing.

Yes. I don't think we have had a non-stop from Louisville to Orlando since 2005. They seem to have done away with those or at least don't like to offer them much anymore. Also, I have never seen an airline switch flights more than Delta in all my life. They have switched out flights 9 times one year and they did not inform us about the changes. I had to find out by checking to reservations.

 

[Huglife]

Ive been poking around looking for flights for our yearly may trip.
Weve taken delta every single year leaving bradley at 7 am and non stop to mco by 10:30.
I noticed today that there are no non stop flights to mco anymore!!
Bizarre is this common? Ive never heard of this, but with them changing your flight it looks like this is what theyre doing.

The flight I originally booked left BDL a little after 7am and landed in MCO at 10:03. Maybe Delta just axed the flight completely? There's a non-stop Jet Blue flight but it's more expensive and gets in in the evening.

 

[musketeer]

The flight is fully booked. They can't leave without a plane full of people....Can they?:shrug:

Of course they can, why not?

 

[Huglife]

Of course they can, why not?

Flying an empty plane seems ridiculous to me...but who knows with Delta?

 

[musketeer]

Flying an empty plane seems ridiculous to me...but who knows with Delta?

Maybe I misunderstood something, but why would think it would be empty? Not everyone on your first flight is going on your 2nd flight. In face, I would think that most of the people on your first flight AREN'T going to orlando.

 

[Huglife]

Maybe I misunderstood something, but why would think it would be empty? Not everyone on your first flight is going on your 2nd flight. In face, I would think that most of the people on your first flight AREN'T going to orlando.

Everyone from the first flight is going to Orlando. It was originally a non-stop flight and completely booked. The stop in Atlanta was added after. According to seatguru the plane we are transferring to is the same size so I'm assuming people from the first plane will fill up the majority of the second unless a lot of people cancelled because they added a layover.

 

[Disaddict]

Everyone from the first flight is going to Orlando. It was originally a non-stop flight and completely booked. The stop in Atlanta was added after. According to seatguru the plane we are transferring to is the same size so I'm assuming people from the first plane will fill up the majority of the second unless a lot of people cancelled because they added a layover.

When your nonstop got canceled and you got added to a layover flight you were added to a flight with totally different people. It is highly unlikely that everyone was shifted from the nonstop to the same two layover planes. Think of it like this... you and the other passengers from all of the planes that day are a deck of cards. They simply reshuffled and dealt a new hand. The same cards are not going to the same players (planes).

 

[majorrfb]

We avoid Atlanta for plane changes NOW

A few years ago my, then, young family and I was had a lay over in Atlanta. It was a long walk to our next gate. We arrived with plenty time to spare. Our exit gate CHANGED 3 times for our outgoing flight. The loudspeaker system wasn't loud and difficult to hear. We caught the first two changes but missed the third change. Luckily, nervous as I was, I checked in at the "new" gate and discovered we missed the latest gate change. We did make the new gate, but it was boarding as we arrived. Nightmare!!! :brick:

 

[The Mom]

When your nonstop got canceled and you got added to a layover flight you were added to a flight with totally different people. It is highly unlikely that everyone was shifted from the nonstop to the same two layover planes. Think of it like this... you and the other passengers from all of the planes that day are a deck of cards. They simply reshuffled and dealt a new hand. The same cards are not going to the same players (planes).

I understand what you're saying. Not everyone from the first flight will be boarding the same plane for their next flight. The OP only has a 45 min layover, but some people on the same flight might, for example, have a 2 hour layover, because they will be boarding a different plane at a different gate (or even the same) but at a different time.

I have been in airports when there have been two flights to the same destination at the same gate about two hours apart - confusing if you weren't paying attention to your flight number. "No, you're on the next flight to xxxxx, not this one." :lol:

 

[Disneydreamer23]

let me guess ... airtran>?? they just did that to me on the way down there added an atlanta stop cancel and book wth southwest etc thats what i did they refund your money

 

[musketeer]

Everyone from the first flight is going to Orlando. It was originally a non-stop flight and completely booked. The stop in Atlanta was added after. According to seatguru the plane we are transferring to is the same size so I'm assuming people from the first plane will fill up the majority of the second unless a lot of people cancelled because they added a layover.

I think you are assuming wrong. An airline wouldn't just add a stop for no reason. They wouldn't just decide to stop in atlanta and leave again...wastes way too much fuel.

You were just shifted to a different flight that happens to connect in atlanta.

 

[Huglife]

That's what the lady at Delta said to me though I'm not sure they know what they're talking about in the call centers.