I only fly once or twice a year, and know little to nothing of airline rules and regulations, so I'm hoping an expert here can give me some input.

Last March, I booked tickets through a travel agent for our Christmas holiday trip back home to the U.S. We are flying Delta roundtrip from Dusseldorf to RDU, connecting through Atlanta. A few weeks ago, I received an email from the agent saying that my flight times had changed. When I looked at the new itinerary, I realized that I now have only 56 minutes to connect in Atlanta on my return flight.

When I spoke to my travel agent, and she said that she had noticed the problem as well, and that Delta has assured her that it was okay. But I'm worried that, especially at such a busy time (flight in on Jan 4), we're just asking for trouble. I'm even more concerned because it will be just me and my three girls, since my husband is returning to Germany one week earlier.

So my question: am I worrying over nothing? If not, what should I do? And if I'm stuck with this itinerary, what do I need to know or do to be prepared to cope with possible problems?

Thanks so much!

You are not worrying over nothing. Atlanta has a bad reputation that's not entirely deserved because it's not that hard to get around, but it is a very, very busy airport (and our air traffic system is beginning to fail under pressure).

Less than an hour is ill-advised, especially in the holiday season, especially with the onset of winter. You can get jammed up circling over Atlanta if the weather's iffy, and you can get stuck out on the tarmac waiting for a gate to open up. So even if you can get from one gate to the next for your connection in less than 15-20 minutes, you may not be on the ground when you need to be.

If the reduction in connection time is Delta's fault, they should allow a change in itinerary without a penalty charge (and your agent should know that).

It would be prudent to widen your connection time. I'd insist on it.

As for what to do if you have problems and miss your connection: make sure you have the airline's 800 (or "toll free&quot number and call them as soon as your phone is operational to get yourself booked on the next flight a.s.a.p. Waiting in line for a ground agent can eat up all your options.

Soccr-

Thanks for the validation and the really helpful information. My agent acted like it wasn't such a big deal, and I'm glad asked here.

I'm going to look into getting on an earlier flight out of RDU. The LAST thing I want is to be stranded in an airport with 3 kids!

Thanks again!

Actually, 56 minutes IS a problem because the published minimum connection time is 90 minutes for your international-domestic connection.

When they have changes, Delta's computers make the new arrangements and often fail to consider the required connection time. Fortunately, Delta is well aware of this shortcoming. So simply call Delta (or insist your TA does) and they will gladly change this for you.

"Actually, 56 minutes IS a problem because the published minimum connection time is 90 minutes for your international-domestic connection"

The connection is domestic to international, not the other way around. Still below the minimum connection time of 60 minutes, and I would look for a change, but at least it is conceivable. The other way would most certainly not be, at least if checking luggage.

Thanks to you, as well, NoFlyZone and Travelgourmet. If I'm reading this correctly, then it seems that there is an actual rule against a connection this short?

I will be calling Delta shortly. Since my travel agent didn't seem too concerned, I'm going to try going straight to the source.

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Connecting domestic to international is no more difficult than connecting domestic to domestic at ATL. Though I agree that 56 minutes would be cause for unnecessary worrying, especially if there is a flight from RDU a couple hours earlier.

Now if I was told that I'd have to wait 4-5 hours in ATL, I'd probably risk the shorter connection.

That is correct. DL's unpublished, but internal rules is 60 minutes for domestic-to-international at ATL.

DL24 ATL-DUS departs 4:45p in December.

The flight they should now be on for RDU-ATL is DL1687 1:42p - 3:11p. Which leaves a very reasonable 1:34 connection.

In fact, I don't see a 56min connection for most dates... Can you tell when are you flying?

Anyways, DL flies RDU-ATL about 10 times a day, so there's no reason why you have to wait too long at ATL.

Oh, I see it now. For January, the schedule are all different. You want to be on the earlier DL1635 12:25p - 1:54p with just under 3 hours at ATL. A bit long, but that's the "right" flight to be on.

"Connecting domestic to international is no more difficult than connecting domestic to domestic at ATL."

Except with checked baggage. And our OP, with 3 kids will most certainly have baggage. Remember that, upon entry, you have to collect your bags, proceed through customs, re-check the bags, and then make your way through immigration. I would think that this process would take at least 30 minutes, even under ideal circumstances. You then still have to travel just as far between gates. So I would argue that it is definitely at least 30 minutes longer, even if not much more difficult.

Bags are checked through domestic-international.

No difference from domestic-domestic.

Since you will be going to a different terminal - definitely - and it is the Christmas season - I would definitely go with the 3 hour layover that one of the earlier posters recommended. You could have time to have a nice snack or coffee and LEISURELY get to your next flight. People always assume that their first flight will actually get there on time, but I never assume that - so the 3 hour layover might just be a 1 or 2 hour layover.... Have a great trip, whichever way you go - but I'm with you - longer layover in Atlanta means less stress....

"Bags are checked through domestic-international.

No difference from domestic-domestic."

Misread. Thinking the other way around.

I was thinking in reverse, too, so my comments were incorrect.

Just an update...

I called Delta and they couldn't have been more helpful.

I took your advice, rkkwan, and got onto flight 1635. And I totally agree, Debi, that I'd rather have a leisurely 3 hours to wait than have to make a mad dash for my connecting flight...or worse, miss my flight totally.

Thanks again to everyone for the advice. Now that the flights have figured out, I have to figure out what to pack!