USING DTCI

Hi this is my first post.
I am flying LHR - ATL - TPA in June UC and using DTCI, this is the first time that I have done this route and would be grateful if someone could answer a few questions.
Do I need to do OLCI for the Virgin & Delta flight or will VS take care of this at the DTCI ?
How easy is the connection through Atlanta as VS have only allowed us 1 hr 25

Many thanks
Wilbs

Hello and welcome to the forum!

There's no real need to do OLCI - but it certainly couldn't hurt. You'll get the boarding passes for both when you arrive
ATL is a very easy airport to navigate through. There is a shuttle between the terminals that is very quick. 1h 25m should be just about do-able, but it is cutting it a little tight. If there's much of a delay arriving into ATL you may struggle. Besides the arrival time, the second biggest factor will be the immigration line, which really is anyone's guess. Is this your first time on your current ESTA? Will you be having checked baggage also? Remember that you'll need to pick up any checked luggage after clearing immigration, go through customs, recheck your luggage with Delta, go through security again and head to your gate. It can be a little cumbersome.

If it's any piece of mind though, there are a LOT of Delta services between ATL and TPA, on the random date I searched for they were leaving every hour. So if you do happen to misconnect, There's many many more they can put you on. But hopefully that won't be necessary.

Hi Slimpyjones
Thank you for your reply. This isn't our first trip to the US, so hoping to use Immigration machines. So do we have to go to Delta check in or is there a connection desk as you come out of immigration?

I used the ATL route last year (have a search for some TR's) and found it extremely easy - It was the 1st ATL flight out of LHR and we arrived into am empty immigration hall. The transfer after that was extremely simple.

David

Edit to add link viewtopic.php?f=4&t=290968

Yes Wilbs there is a connection desk pretty much right in front of you after you exit customs where you can drop your bags off

I use ATL a lot to connect now VS go in there and initially left at least 2 hours between flights. Has always been so quick to get through that I accept minimum connections now. Especially if you are on an ESTA that you have previously used - it's then automated in ATL.

As you leave customs in ATL turn left and there is a belt to drop your bag on on the left. Then just go through security and on to the train to whichever concourse your next flight departs from.

Thanks everyone , hopefully it will be go to plan Looking forward to the CH first time at LHR