Is a 40 minute layover too short Atlanta?

40 minutes is almost never enough time for a layover in Atlanta. Even if you arrive right on time, and your next flight is one gate over from your incoming flight, the Atlanta airport's ability to transfer baggage from one plane to another very often exceeds 40 minutes.



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The short answer (based on my own personal experience) is that the minimum connection time for domestic flights in Atlanta is 35 minutes. It doesn't matter what terminal you arrive at and what terminal you're departing from. 35 minutes is doable. Anything less than that, not so much.

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Travel advisers say there's a lot to take into account when booking connecting flights, but a general rule of thumb is 60-90 minutes between domestic flights and at least two to three hours for international itineraries.

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The recommended layover time for international flights is generally longer, as you will have to go through customs and immigration before boarding your next flight. In most cases, a 30-minute layover for domestic flights and an hour for international flights is considered a minimum, or short, layover.

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The bus ride between the terminals takes about 15 minutes. In addition, the International Terminal Connector provides service between the International Terminal and the Car Rental Center and runs approximately every 15 minutes.

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It varies. They will often wait a little while, especially if it's the last flight of the day and even moreso if there are multiple passengers making the same connection. I've had Delta wait for me after inbound connection delays on several occasions.

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If your itinerary was purchased as one ticket (as in: you have only one itinerary and one confirmation number), and the connection time was too short and you miss the second (or third) flight, you can rest easy, no matter what happens. The airline will simply put you onto the next available flight, free of charge.

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Recommended minimum connection times
Delta: 30-minute minimum connection time. Southwest: At least 30 minutes if you have checked bags.

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Current Average TSA Wait Time at ATL
This average wait time is based on the current time (Pacific Standard Time). Please expect to wait up to at least (13 mins) on average to go through security checkpoints at ATL.

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Delta Air Lines operates both in Terminal S - Domestic (South) and in Terminal I - Maynard International Terminal. In some cases this terminal can change, check the terminal with your airline. - Concourse F is placed in the International Terminal.

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Delta Air Lines occupies the South Terminal with its own curbside check-in and baggage claim area. Other domestic airlines, such as Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and JetBlue Airways, operate out of the North Terminal with a baggage claim area and check-in facilities.

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A 30 minute layover is not advisable unless the second flight is the same aircraft continuing onto it's next destination, such as KLM from Amsterdam to Manila with a stop in Taiwan. Passengers disembark and follow a route through the terminal just to re board the same aircraft.

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What happens if I miss my connecting flight due to delay Delta? If you experience a delay, cancellation or other operational disruptions, Delta will automatically attempt to rebook you on the next available flight. The airline will also make every reasonable effort to reroute your checked baggage on the same flight.

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If the missed connection is the airline's fault (a delayed initial flight due to mechanical problems, for example), the airline should rebook you on the next available flight. If the next outbound flight is the following morning, the airline should either book you on another airline or provide accommodations and meals.

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But many travel advisers say those guidelines result in itineraries that don't always work for passengers. “On average, 35 minutes is what they consider a legal connection,” said Loulu Lima founder of the Texas-based travel agency Book Here Give Here.

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According to a spokesperson for Delta, wait times are about two to three hours. Since the pandemic began, its reservation and customer service lines have received record-breaking call volumes. Having travel ramp up rapidly hasn't helped. The airline is in the process of hiring 1,300 specialists to meet the demand.

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The short answer is sometimes, but not always. Airlines may or may not hold a plane for connecting flyers depending on the circumstances.

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Atlanta Airport Terminals
At either end of the airport, you'll find the domestic terminal and the international terminal; between those are concourses T, A, B, C, D, E, and F. The Plane Train connects all the terminals and concourses so travelers can easily transfer between sections.

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