Is 1 hr long enough to connect to international flight at Atlanta
Jul 12th, 2012, 07:11 PM
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Is 1 hr long enough to connect to international flight at Atlanta
Flying from Harrisburg to Belize connecting in Atlanta. Is a 1 hour layover enough time to connect to other flight. Both flights are Delta.
Jul 12th, 2012, 08:50 PM
#2
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Going to Belize an hour should be okay if your flight into Atlanta is on time. If Delta is the one that set your itinerary they will know you should be on the flight to Belize and might, notice I said might, wait for you if it's their plane's fault for you being late to Atlanta.
Coming from Belize, if Atlanta is your first landing in the states, I doubt an hour would be enough to get through customs and make your connection.
Coming from Belize, if Atlanta is your first landing in the states, I doubt an hour would be enough to get through customs and make your connection.
Jul 13th, 2012, 05:23 AM
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I would not do it. There is always the unpredictable "if my flight is on time" Who could possibly know that. And missing an international flight often means a full day delay - not like you can just hop another plane an hour later to Belize.
If everything works 100% perfectly - probably. Would I risk it - No.
If everything works 100% perfectly - probably. Would I risk it - No.
Jul 13th, 2012, 05:23 AM
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Here's the response I posted to your same question on the Airline Forum:
The problem with questions like this is that even if the consensus of the responders tells you a 1 hour connection time should be OK - if your inbound flight is delayed for any reason you may miss your connecting flight. If that happens you have to know what your flight options are in order to reach your final destination if your inbound flight is delayed. The point being, if the next flight to Belize is not until the following day you are going to be stuck at the airport and telling the airline that the responders on a Travel Forum told you it would be OK won't amount to a hill of beans - you'll still be stuck at the airport.
So, while a 1 hour connection should be sufficient since your connection is akin to a domestic connection there is always the possibility something could go amiss. YOU have to weigh that risk.
The problem with questions like this is that even if the consensus of the responders tells you a 1 hour connection time should be OK - if your inbound flight is delayed for any reason you may miss your connecting flight. If that happens you have to know what your flight options are in order to reach your final destination if your inbound flight is delayed. The point being, if the next flight to Belize is not until the following day you are going to be stuck at the airport and telling the airline that the responders on a Travel Forum told you it would be OK won't amount to a hill of beans - you'll still be stuck at the airport.
So, while a 1 hour connection should be sufficient since your connection is akin to a domestic connection there is always the possibility something could go amiss. YOU have to weigh that risk.
Jul 13th, 2012, 05:39 AM
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Is this a single ticket? If so, Delta is responsible for getting you on the next flight out WITH AVAILABLE SEATS. This does not mean th enext flight out - only one with empty seats. I don;t know hw often they fly to Blize - or what that might be.
If it's not one ticket and you miss the flight - you are a "now sow" - and it's your responsibility to make whatever ongoing arrangements you want at whatever price you can find at the time.
I assume the later is not the case - BUT - if your plane is late you may well miss the flight. Have you looked up the on-time record of the incoming flight? (I would never take any connection less than 2 hours.)
If it's not one ticket and you miss the flight - you are a "now sow" - and it's your responsibility to make whatever ongoing arrangements you want at whatever price you can find at the time.
I assume the later is not the case - BUT - if your plane is late you may well miss the flight. Have you looked up the on-time record of the incoming flight? (I would never take any connection less than 2 hours.)
Jul 13th, 2012, 07:12 AM
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I wouldn't, and they probably won't wait, even if it is a continuing Delta connection. We were late for a connection to Paris in Philly, and if there hadn't been mechanical trouble with THAT plane, they would have been gone.
Jul 13th, 2012, 09:37 AM
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Atlanta is the airport where I've had the most problems. But even if you have a 2.5 hour connecting time, if your first flight is delayed 90 minutes you're in the same boat, there are no guarantees. Just know that if your flight out of Harrisburg is showing late when you get to the airport, approach the counter and ask them if you are still going to have a "legal connection" in Atlanta. If not, they are supposed to make new arrangements for you in Harrisburg, they are not supposed to strand you in Atlanta. And they are even supposed to find you something on another airline (at no charge to you) if that's all there is out of Harrisburg.
Usually I will try and research some possible scenarios...later flights out. If you only have a 1 hr connection in Atlanta, it's not too worrisome if there is a 2nd flight to Belize in a couple of hours, you assume they'll put you on that one instead. If it's the last flight to Belize that day, on any airline, I wouldn't book it because you have a good chance of getting stuck in Atlanta.
Statistically, you are much more likely to have delays on afternoon and evening flights than on early-morning flights. Plus if you DO have problems, they are more likely to find you something else if the whole day of flights is ahead. So I would be much more likely to take your flight out of Harrisburg if it's morning than if it is afternoon.
Usually I will try and research some possible scenarios...later flights out. If you only have a 1 hr connection in Atlanta, it's not too worrisome if there is a 2nd flight to Belize in a couple of hours, you assume they'll put you on that one instead. If it's the last flight to Belize that day, on any airline, I wouldn't book it because you have a good chance of getting stuck in Atlanta.
Statistically, you are much more likely to have delays on afternoon and evening flights than on early-morning flights. Plus if you DO have problems, they are more likely to find you something else if the whole day of flights is ahead. So I would be much more likely to take your flight out of Harrisburg if it's morning than if it is afternoon.
Jul 13th, 2012, 09:47 AM
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As far as doing a little research, this is what I mean. Say you have a 7am flight out of Harrisburg, you arrive and find that it's been delayed to 8am. The agent tells you there is no other flight until tomorrow. But you've done your homework and you know that United has 9am service to Belize. "Can't you try to get me onto the 9am United?" The clerks don't always offer the information, but if you know your rights and the possibilities, you are a step ahead.
Another scenario is that the Harrisburg flight is delayed due to mechanical problems and 40 people are lined up waiting for the gate agent to fix their tickets. You don't have to wait. Get on the phone to Delta and they can re-arrange everything for you over the phone. (And again, it helps if you know some of the possibilites, such as "well I just checked with the United gate and they said they have open seats in an hour? Can you put me on that flight instead?"
Where you can really get screwed is with weather delays. The airline really doesn't have to do anything for you because it's not their fault. But if it is "mechanical problems" or "the flight crew hasn't shown up yet" etc, you have rights.
Another scenario is that the Harrisburg flight is delayed due to mechanical problems and 40 people are lined up waiting for the gate agent to fix their tickets. You don't have to wait. Get on the phone to Delta and they can re-arrange everything for you over the phone. (And again, it helps if you know some of the possibilites, such as "well I just checked with the United gate and they said they have open seats in an hour? Can you put me on that flight instead?"
Where you can really get screwed is with weather delays. The airline really doesn't have to do anything for you because it's not their fault. But if it is "mechanical problems" or "the flight crew hasn't shown up yet" etc, you have rights.
Jul 13th, 2012, 09:59 AM
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Don't count on Delta's holding a connecting flight for you.
I was delayed out of NY b/c of bad weather in Atlanta, where I was supposed to catch a connecting flight to Anchorage.
Not only did they not hold the connecting flight for me, but the only "help" the Delta "Help" desk gave me in Atlanta was to tell me I'd have to wait for the next day and hope I could catch the flight then -- just like in tracy's example above.
Fortunately, while we were delayed in NY, I had asked the gate agent about alternate connections - none of which the "Help" desk in Atlanta suggested to me. I was able to make a later connection, but it was through my own efforts, not Delta's.
I would not try to connect to an Int'l flight in just an hour.
I was delayed out of NY b/c of bad weather in Atlanta, where I was supposed to catch a connecting flight to Anchorage.
Not only did they not hold the connecting flight for me, but the only "help" the Delta "Help" desk gave me in Atlanta was to tell me I'd have to wait for the next day and hope I could catch the flight then -- just like in tracy's example above.
Fortunately, while we were delayed in NY, I had asked the gate agent about alternate connections - none of which the "Help" desk in Atlanta suggested to me. I was able to make a later connection, but it was through my own efforts, not Delta's.
I would not try to connect to an Int'l flight in just an hour.
Jul 13th, 2012, 11:59 AM
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Count me out too.
An hour is basically zero time, even for a domestic connection. At a busy airport your incoming flight may have to stay in a holding pattern until it's cleared to land, then you have to deplane and get to your next flight. Keep in mind that your luggage may not make the transfer in such a short time.
An hour is basically zero time, even for a domestic connection. At a busy airport your incoming flight may have to stay in a holding pattern until it's cleared to land, then you have to deplane and get to your next flight. Keep in mind that your luggage may not make the transfer in such a short time.
Jul 14th, 2012, 03:04 AM
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Thanks Everyone. I emailed and spoke to a rep at the Atlanta airport and they say it should be a duable. However since there are 4 of us and we are doing missionary work I am not going to chance it. I think I will book s day ahead and just stay in a hotel near the airport that provides a shuttle
Jul 14th, 2012, 07:09 AM
#16
Aren't there any other flight options? I don't think you need to an entire 1 day in advance, just to change planes!
Only suggesting that 3 hours is the timeframe most people allow for an international airport transfer.
Only suggesting that 3 hours is the timeframe most people allow for an international airport transfer.
Jul 14th, 2012, 01:58 PM
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Very few flights into Belize. I'm not sure Delta flies every day. There's a couple United flights out of Houston, American out of Miami and Dallas. I think US Air has one a week out of charlotte. Continental used to have one weekly out of Newark, not sure if that still exists since United took over.
I'd take the one hour connection, and have a back up plan to head to Cancun. Only six hours by bus from the Cancun airport to the Belize border. Beats sitting in a hotel room in Atlanta.
I'd take the one hour connection, and have a back up plan to head to Cancun. Only six hours by bus from the Cancun airport to the Belize border. Beats sitting in a hotel room in Atlanta.
Jul 14th, 2012, 03:57 PM
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After a very close call years ago, our rule now is never, ever make an international connection on the same day - for a vacation or other trip that is important, especially for the outbound trip. We always try to fly in the day before to the connection city, "camp out" at a nearby airport hotel overnight, and then - well-rested and calm, we catch the international flight the next day.
Same thing as I believe cruise lines recommend to their passengers - fly in the night before, to decrease the chance a lost connection will cause you to literally "miss the boat"
Yes, there's an extra expense involved, as well as time. We are fortunate that we are able to do this. But having a travel break is helpful when the international flight is an ordeal, like 22 hours. Plus having the overnight wiggle-room there is less chance that the LUGGAGE won't make the tight-same day connection.
This might not be so critical for domestic travel but it can be for international flights - which as mant have stated, don't fly as often.
There have been at least three times when this rule has saved our trip.
Same thing as I believe cruise lines recommend to their passengers - fly in the night before, to decrease the chance a lost connection will cause you to literally "miss the boat"
Yes, there's an extra expense involved, as well as time. We are fortunate that we are able to do this. But having a travel break is helpful when the international flight is an ordeal, like 22 hours. Plus having the overnight wiggle-room there is less chance that the LUGGAGE won't make the tight-same day connection.
This might not be so critical for domestic travel but it can be for international flights - which as mant have stated, don't fly as often.
There have been at least three times when this rule has saved our trip.
Jul 15th, 2012, 07:45 AM
#20
I understand arriving a day early for a cruise. Because you HAVE to be on the boat on time. That's not true just for making a flight connection, where there are other options available to get you there.
