Changing planes in Atlanta

Hello All.

I’m looking to book reward flights LHR to MCO and I know I’ve got a greater chance if I go via Atlanta.

My question is will 95 mins be enough time to clear immigration and transfer our cases or should I go for the 159 min option ?

Hopefully we’ll be travelling VS UC on the international flight to Atlanta and First on the domestic Delta flight if that makes any difference.

Tia !

I have never done that route but is it was me I would be cautious & take the longer option.

I changed at ATL a few years back and we had closer to 2hrs. I personally would go for the 2hr+ option for peace of mind. ATL is one of the worlds largest connection airports and it is quite smooth but equally given the scale of airport and risk of delays on the inbound to ATL I would suggest 95 would be tight, whilst possible with all things running smoothly I personally would prefer the peace of mind.

95 mins is doable, but Atlanta CBP is massively understaffed at the moment and wait times have been quite high lately. There is also no QuickConnect facility so I would strongly recommend the 159min option.

I transferred through there a couple of weeks ago and, even using Global Entry, it took me 15 mins to get through! The queue for normal clearance was long and it took my folks at least 45mins to clear and then find me in the luggage hall - luckily I had already found our cases.

Flight connections was quite smooth though, and it probably only took us another 15 minutes to dump our bags with the DL transfer porters and clear transit security (TSA Pre, but the ordinary security line was moving quickly too)

There is an air train that links the international terminal with the other domestic terminals which is regular and quite a speedy way from one end of the airport to the other.

Our connection time was 2hr20mins, which was great because we also managed to sneak in some time at the SkyClub by our domestic gate to grab a drink and a quick snack before the flight across to IAH.

Hope that helps

95 mins is doable, but Atlanta CBP is massively understaffed at the moment and wait times have been quite high lately. There is also no QuickConnect facility so I would strongly recommend the 159min option.

I transferred through there a couple of weeks ago and, even using Global Entry, it took me 15 mins to get through! The queue for normal clearance was long and it took my folks at least 45mins to clear and then find me in the luggage hall - luckily I had already found our cases.

Flight connections was quite smooth though, and it probably only took us another 15 minutes to dump our bags with the DL transfer porters and clear transit security (TSA Pre, but the ordinary security line was moving quickly too)

There is an air train that links the international terminal with the other domestic terminals which is regular and quite a speedy way from one end of the airport to the other.

Our connection time was 2hr20mins, which was great because we also managed to sneak in some time at the SkyClub by our domestic gate to grab a drink and a quick snack before the flight across to IAH.

Hope that helps

Thanks for the detailed reply Joeyc

We have Global Entry so hopefully that will speed things along. I think I’ll go for the longer option as I’d rather be waiting in the lounge with a drink in hand than stressing and running around an unfamiliar airport.

[mitchja]

Global Entry will speed things up quite significantly.

The flight connection security lanes at ATL don't have TSA-Pre lanes though. For TSA-Pre, you will be directed out through the exit into arrivals and then you head up to departures to use the normal security lanes which does have a TSA-Pre lane.

Having flown via ATL a few times in recent years I have found that it takes at least 60 minutes gate to gate travelling from the UK.

I was flying MAN to PHL via ATL with Global Entry. 7 mins plane door to rechecked baggage, another 10 mins to new terminal. I had allowed 3 hours.

I would go for the longer window as well. We went through ATL in early February and had a 195 min layover. Our VS flight from MAN was 75 mins late. We eventually arrived at our departure gate 30 mins before departure just as boarding started.

The flight connection security lanes at ATL don't have TSA-Pre lanes though.

They do, left hand side as you are facing the security check point. There is a TSA officer manning a desk to check on eligibility if the TSA pre lane is open. If it is closed, go through the normal security lane, show the TSA pre on your boarding pass to the screening agents and they will give you 'expedited' status - means you get to keep your shoes on and go through the metal detector.

There is no 'Clear' lane in connections though - still not sure of the benefit behind that program.

[mitchja]

The flight connection security lanes at ATL don't have TSA-Pre lanes though.

They do, left hand side as you are facing the security check point. There is a TSA officer manning a desk to check on eligibility if the TSA pre lane is open. If it is closed, go through the normal security lane, show the TSA pre on your boarding pass to the screening agents and they will give you 'expedited' status - means you get to keep your shoes on and go through the metal detector.

There is no 'Clear' lane in connections though - still not sure of the benefit behind that program.

That must be new then as last time I went through ATL earlier this year, after I dropped my luggage at the transfer belt on showing the staff my TSA-Pre status, I was directed by them to head out through the exit and up through the TSA-Pre line via normal departures security.

Jumping in here, If I am flying from Manchester to Tampa via Atlanta and changing Virgin to Delta for onward travel, will my luggage be checked all the way through as it will be on one booking, or will I have to collect and re check again. I was under the impression that I could go through transfers after security and my luggage would go automatically.

Jumping in here, If I am flying from Manchester to Tampa via Atlanta and changing Virgin to Delta for onward travel, will my luggage be checked all the way through as it will be on one booking, or will I have to collect and re check again. I was under the impression that I could go through transfers after security and my luggage would go automatically.

Your bags will be tagged through to Tampa but you will still have to collect them from the belt at ATL to clear US customs as ATL is your port of entry to the US and then simply use the bag drop desks to hand them over once you have cleared customs.

[mitchja]

When ever you fly to the US and have an onward flight connection, you must always collect your checked luggage at your first point of entry. This applies to any US airport as, not just ATL.

As Tonty says, your bags will still be checked to your final destination, but you still must collect them at your entry point, which in your case will be ATL.

Pretty much all major US airports are geared up for transfers and they have a generic bag drop belt and transfer security area.

At ATL after you have collected your bags and gone through customs, as you exit the customs area, your turn left for flight transfers/ generic bag drop (you simply hand it to a member of staff as you pass, there’s not even any queuing) and then security to head through to the airside area and the plane train to your departure concourse / gate for your next flight or you turn right as your exit customs for the airport exit.

I found changing from VS to DL at Atlanta a breeze... but DL to DL was painful. Not sure why... Maybe a one off

When ever you fly to the US and have an onward flight connection, you must always collect your checked luggage at your first point of entry. This applies to any US airport as, not just ATL.

There are, I believe, a couple of exceptions - at MIA and ATL bags are sent straight through if the connection is between two international flights (eg UK-Caribbean).

Not the case here though, as obviously TPA is a domestic connection.

When ever you fly to the US and have an onward flight connection, you must always collect your checked luggage at your first point of entry. This applies to any US airport as, not just ATL.

There are, I believe, a couple of exceptions - at MIA and ATL bags are sent straight through if the connection is between two international flights (eg UK-Caribbean).

Not the case here though, as obviously TPA is a domestic connection.

This is kind of the case - I believe this is only a thing if you are travelling entirely on Delta (and possibly other airlines?) and only done at certain airports. For example I did London-Mexico City via ATL, on VS connecting to DL and still had to pick up my bag.

Sorry, but could I also 'jump on' this thread with a 'changing at Atlanta' question?

The route that we want to book (Manchester to Montego Bay via ATL) isn't available as a miles route in its entirety, which means that I would be booking our flights to ATL on miles, and the flight down to Montego Bay as a separate booking.

I'm assuming with this that the bag collection / re-check process is different and will take longer than if we were booked on one ticket? On the TA Atlanta forum I am being told that the 3 hour layover may not be enough, but I wondered if anyone had experience of this? TIA

It really depends on your attitude to risk.

If everything runs to plan, 3 hours is more than enough. But if you’re on separate PNRs you’re not protected if VS are late into ATL and you miss your connection. DL might take pity and rebook you on to the next flight down to MoBay, particularly if it’s not busy, but they don’t have to so what’s your Plan B?

Cheers. The connecting flight is the last of Delta's that day, so plan B is to book the connection for the next morning and stayover near the airport. Our only other option is Gatwick - Mo Bay, which, if we can get reward seats which is looking very unlikely, we would need to stayover near the airport the night before, so it doesn't make a great deal of difference!