advice on connecting flight in USA

Hello!

Got a lovely mouse based holiday next july with my family 2A and 2C.

We have secured 4 G's to Mia (driving up) and then 4 Gs home from Atlanta at 2040.

Looking to fly up to Atlanta on the day of the flight home. I've spent all my miles so it'll be a cash booking. My questions are

If I book delta what time would you recommend? There are cheap flights ($110 in basic +baggage charges $185 in first) at 1.25 arriving 3.10 and 2.25 arriving 4.14. As these flights are obviously separate from the virgin flights home and thus offer no protection, what would be the best one to get? Is 4 hours enough time to be safe?

Is it possible to through check bags on these separate tickets?

Or, am I better waiting for south west to release their's sometime next year. They look to be about $75 on average including bags. (cash cost does matter unfortunately!)

Or is there a better option

What does the wisdom of the board recommend?

Sounds like you've got a solid plan either way

My thoughts:

- Given the regularity of MCO-ATL trips I'd say four hours should be fine. If the worst does happen and there is a delay you'll probably have noticed that there are many more flights you could be switched on to. It's a straightforward transfer to the international terminal on the plane train so changing terminals will be easy peasy.

- I don't know a lot about Basic Economy on DL, but from what I do know there's no seat assignment until the gate (correct me if I'm wrong) so you may risk your party being split up. I'm not convinced Basic would offer much priority in case you are delayed. From a Tier Points perspective (if you're at all interested), you'll get 1 for Economy and 3 for First.

- Regarding Southwest or DL, if cash is the biggest factor you may be better off going with Southwest, especially if bags are included. Depending on their times of course. But I fear that it will not be without inconvenience as I wouldn't expect Southwest to check your bags all the way home, especially as it's a separate ticket. So you'll have to factor in the extra faff of picking up your bags, changing terminals, checking them back in with VS, clearing security, etc. Which in theory shouldn't take long but these things can add up if you're against the clock.
With DL they are more likely to check them through given the partnership.

If cash cost is the biggest factor and you're not chasing tier points, my advice would be to pick a Southwest flight that gives you at least 4 hours to transfer, to factor in for any potential delays and in case they will not check your bags through.

Thanks. Planning to use magic express from disney and they never used to through check so I'm expecting to have to collect bags and check in either way.

Just a bit concerned with southwest and the no seat reservation policy. Cant have a 7 year old on her own. But then Delta will be $300 more (ish) and I'll have to pay for bags.

Also southwest wont release seats until next year for july.

Oh the pressure!

Any time I've connected from MCO albeit to JFK with Delta, I've been asked my final destination and when said LHR with VS, they've always offered to check bags through to London.

Whether this is mean to be or I've just been lucky I don't know ..

I've always thought I'd plenty of time so didn't bother until last year where I literally had to run from the plane, grab the bags and got through checking and to the gate as they were boarding.

I will now check my bags if I get the option.

The connections through ATL or JFK are now so easy if using Delta, infact we probably only fly direct home from MCO in about 50% of the trips

David

Don't book with Southwest. They will definitely not offer any protection in event of delay, nor will then offer you the opportunity to have your bags interlined to LHR.

Delta may offer both of the above. I would allow 4 hours in ATL on separate tickets just to be on the safe side.

bit of a bump here

Going to wait for the southwest flights. Delta are $500 more expensive than southwest. That's a lot at the current exchange rate!

As we have to get a separate unconnected flight from mco to atl to catch the VS flight home, I am booking the southwest flight that gets into atlanta at 140pm to give plenty time in case of delays before our 840 flight home.

What I would like to know is what time can I check in at atlanta and dump our bags? I'll have done online check in so its just a matter of getting rid of those bags? If the virgin desk is a late opener, can I use delta bag drop instead?

Thinking that if all on time, ill have the opportunity to explore the airport or even get MARTA into atlanta for a hour stroll about, but cant do that with suitcases in tow

suggestions?

I suspect VS check-in won't open until about 4pm, to service the Manchester flight which leaves at 7.10.

There is a luggage storage facility at ATL, at "Wrap-a-Bag", so that would be an option if you want to leave the airport.

As vast as ATL is I wouldn't want to spend 7 hours there and the MARTA makes getting downtown very easy.

Downtown Atlanta is not somewhere I would choose to walk around either, even by day. If you have a layover in Atlanta, stay at the airport, preferably airside.