I have FF tickets for my family next week that include a six hour layover in ATL. We are waitlisted on two later flights that would close the gap nicely but it's a waiting game for now. Someone at Delta suggested that the gate agents have more leeway around getting us those seats on the day of departure...but only 3-4 hours in advance. If I wait 'til 3-4 hours before, then the earlier flight will be gone.

Does anyone have any experience or creative ideas for getting off the waitlist? Should I try to go to the airport earlier in the day or the night before? Is there any hope? (Do you have any good ideas about what to do at ATL for six hours?)

I don't think they can do anything for you at the airport the day before. And if you have to go to the airport earlier on the day of travel, then why not just take the earlier flight and forget about it?

Six hours, you can go to downtown Atlanta; or if you're continuing on a long flight to Europe or something, perhaps get a hotel room at an airport hotel so everybody can get some rest.

Amy...I have never heard from any travellers I would normally hear from that they had any "luck" with any Delta waitlist.From all I can gather, it is a totally automatic event.With more than one traveller on the waitlist, it gets even more difficult.But anything goes these days.Flights that are totally sold out, even overbooked one day may fall apart the next.Best thing you can do is just be patient and hope for the best.

Where are you headed? If this is an international award itinerary, I don't believe you can same day confirmed is allowed on your domestic segment.

Also the agent is correct in that you can only request same day confirmed within 3 hours of the scheduled departure of the flight you want to change to, so you're taking a risk that there will be seats available on the later flight.

Unless you clear the waitlist, I would accept that you have a 6 hour layover at ATL.

Good luck!

Hi rkkwan. Was hoping to hear from you.

The airport is only 20 minutes away. Coming back home would be less of a hardship. It would even be worth it to go up there at 5:30 am when the ticket office opens to avoid the six hour layover, that is, if I thought it might do any good.

I hear conflicting advice on leaving the airport and returning through security, etc. during these long layovers. I have considered the High Museum of Art, reachable by Marta, or a hotel room. We will be flying to Europe, with an additional layover at CDG (a good thing!) followed by a hop to Montpellier.

I will have a 12 y.o. with me but I think I read the T&C on the Delta Club as no under-21's. Is that correct? Are there any other pay-as-you-go clubs at ATL that will allow my daughter in?

Ack! That should read "If this is an international award itinerary, I don't believe that same day confirmed is allowed on your domestic segment."

The 21 and older requirement is for buying a membership. There's no problem bringing children into the CRC.

Hey, I cross-posted with BeachBoi and Patty. Thanks for the input.

BeachBoi, the last person I spoke with suggested we split the reservation since you are correct about getting three seats. I think that if we flew two and one, it would be even worse. So, I didn't go for that plan. I suppose I'll think about what to pack instead.

Patty, that is interesting....no SDC on domestic part of an Intl. reservation. Okay, I am just going to relax...maybe look at Orbitz for a good price on a hotel room! If I can get one for the same $25/pp to SDC, maybe I'll go for it!

Patty WOW! Do you think that a one-day pass to CRC is a good idea? That would be the same as the $25 SDC x 3.

Well, I just got off the phone with Delta and they say that I cannot bring in a child with a one-day pass. Why oh why do I fly Delta???

I don't do Delta, but I think it is common that the daypasses sold are good for the purchaser only. So if there are three of you, you would probably have to buy at least two passes, and hope the gatekeeper would take sympathy on you and let your daughter in without a pass.

Also, it is my experience that it is getting harder and harder to do standby; many airlines now charge for it if you are lucky enough to get moved. And I think they are more willing to move you to an earlier flight (when they know it is leaving now with empty seats) than to a later flight (when they still have some hope of selling seats at the last minute).

I would probably not leave the airport with a six-hour layover, as I would want to get back at least 2.5 or 3 hours before the flight, and that doesn't give much time to do anything. If this is the typical overnight hop across the pond, I would find a nice restaurant in the airport and enjoy a relaxed meal with food almost certainly better than what will be offered on the flight.

Though I usually don't eat airport food (much less airline food!) your suggestion to find a restaurant will help me with the "live on European time" jet-lag plan! Two o'clock in the afternoon is approximately dinner time in France n'est pas?

I will also consider throwing myself at the mercy of someone in one of the clubs. I find the Delta staff at ATL to be worlds friendlier than TPA, my normal departure airport. (What IS with those people at TPA anyway?)

You have to keep in mind that you are flying on a FF ticket(practically free?) and that all of the midwest area has started their spring break vacation time so every flight is full north/southbound through Atlanta. I personally think that if I was flying to Europe with a connection that I would rather be there earlier in case of weather or a mechanical,etc.Six hours can go quickly despite it all and keep in mind that the last hour is always boarding for an international flight particularly CDG.I, too would NOT leave the airport for a museum or a local hotel-it will take you an hour each way to travel back and forth! I think that most airlines do not want younger children in their clubs for a reason if the persons aren't really yearly club members-read businessmen,etc.So hit the international food court in the international wing and just relax and people watch,hit the shops and watch the CNN loop in the gatehouse like the rest of us!

Actually, the last time I checked, there were about 20 and 30 seats available on each of the two later flights. If they were full, the point would be moot, of course. I do appreciate the point made by clevelandbrown about moving us to an earlier flight vs. a later one where there's a sliver of a chance they'll sell a few more tickets.

I think I will also go with cb on the "sympathy" play at one of the clubs. It might work....worth a try. After all, if they let us in (with our well-comported daughter) it's another fifty bucks in the coffers. I don't really understand the distinction between a child belonging to a regular club member vs. a daily passholder. Are we somehow less civilized?

I don't actually think I've flown internationally through ATL, so maybe the Intl. departure area will be new and exciting! (haha) We've so done the rest of the darn airport...

The key here is not capacity level of plane but FF tickets - Delta may choose, for whatever reason, not to put you on an earlier flight even if there are seats available. I doubt there is anyway they would do this earlier than 24 hours before you fly.

In my experience this "waitlist" is for a FF seat not just any seat. Unless they choose to open up more FF seats, which they may do 24 hr in advance, you will get to know more about ATL than you ever thought possible.

I'm more familiar with Continental than with Delta. I know at the Continental lounges, a member can bring in his family, including children, with no charge.

Someone who buy a day-pass cannot bring in guests or family, so I would have to buy a day pass for myself, and another for my wife. I haven't had young kids for quite a while, but I would think if I bought day-passes for my wife and I, we could bring in a young child; its not like a child is going to drink up all the free liquor!

I looked at the Delta web site, and it says that people under 21 cannot have membership or access, but it also says that alcohol will not be served to anyone under 21, which can be read to imply that children can be in the club, if accompanied. If you really want to get in, just buy the two passes at the door. If they require a pass for your child, or won't let your child in with you, you can always return the passes and get your money back.

Since my wife and I don't drink a lot, and there aren't a lot of other benefits, I think the clubs are not worth the money. We had a long layover at LAX once so we went in the club. I wanted a quick shower (some clubs do have them), but I looked all over and all they had was some sinks and some footwashers and paper towels. The place had all the atmosphere of a doctor's waiting room, but the magazines were newer.

Delta CRC members can definitely bring their children into the lounge with them. I wasn't thinking of a day pass situation when I posted earlier, sorry. You could still try asking at the CRC and see what they say. CRC's have free drinks but very little in terms of food or snacks, so you may find that your money is better spent on a meal elsewhere anyway.

I sifted through the Delta language about the 21 rules too and finally called someone who had to put me on hold a long time to figure out the member/non-member distinction. If we can find a quiet place to sit and read, we'll all be happy. Often, an unused gate area near a window will suffice.

I was thinking about the unspoken rule in France than once you've ordered a coffee, the table is yours for as long as you like. Too bad we can't camp out like that at a restaurant here! I guess that's why we travel...to see how the rest of the world operates.

So, does anyone know any "good" restaurants at ATL?

My suggestion would be the Houhilan's in the Atrium. I don't know that it's GOOD, but it's better then most and the atmosphere is out of the terminal.

Thanks Carole. I used to hang at a Houlihan's when I was in my 20's and single. (yikes!) We'll head in that direction...

Actually, I'm getting so excited about going to France, the mega-layover is diminishing in importance. We'll survive, I'm sure. Looks like my daughter will have plenty of homework to do since she;ll be missing a week of school. I told her that if she finished some of it, we'd mail it home and she wouldn't have to carry it or worry about it.