Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I'm thinking 36 mins to change planes in Atlata for a 16 year old girl is not enough time. She'll be flying in with her dad from Tampa, but both only have 36 mins to catch the next flight to different destinations. Can he possibly get her on the flight and still make his connection? Flight history shows they will arrive into A34, but no departing history for her flight. Thanks, concerned mom!
Definitely NOT. Change the flight for a longer layover.
If one or both miss their flights, Delta will put them on the next available flight WITH AN OPEN SEAT. They routinely over-book flights these days, so that you can spend a day waiting for an open seat.
I agree with so many others here -- if you're worried about a 16 year old being escorted to her connecting flight, think about how you'd feel about a 16 year old left to figure out what to do if she has to spend the night in the terminal waiting for the next available flight with an open seat.
As others have noted, Atlanta is a huge airport with multiple terminals. Depending on which gates the flights are coming in or departing from, she might have to travel to the other end of a completely different terminal. A daunting prospect for a seasoned traveller who can run and who is packing light (no carry on).
In addition, remember that many people don't check bags anymore, to avoid the luggage fees -- so everyone and their brother has a huge heavy bag or two or three that they have to collect before deplaning. If their seats are anywhere but the front of the plane, they'll have to wait for others to gather their belongings and deplane before they can even start running to their next connection. Add one or two people who can't move quickly, or who are travelling with small children, they can slow them further.
As an ex airline ticket /gate agent I would suggest the " unaccompanied minor" designation for a 16 year old traveling alone. They'll pick her up when she lands, escort her to the gate for her next departure and do everything in their power to make sure she gets to the gate on time. Holding an airplane for a single passenger is rarely ever done...they may do it for an unaccompanied minor ( hint hint) if it is only a matter of a few minutes. If she misses her flight the airline will contact you and keep an eye on her until the next available flight.
As far as baggage transfers to a connecting flight... We loaded the transfer bags last so they were the first to come off so 36 minutes is plenty of time to get the bags from one plane to another if the bags were free loaded. Same with containerized bags... Transfer containers were first off. There's a method to the madness of loading bags. They just don't throw them all together. They're separated into groups.. Local bags, connecting bags, bags going to other airlines.. Etc.
The good thing about the UA designation is that she won't have to worry if she doesn't make her connection. In the case where an overnight stay may be required she won't have to sit in the lobby and wait by herself. She will be supervised, fed, and given a safe place to stay until she's on her way to her final destination.
Last edited by Sydney123; 05-08-2016 at 10:47 PM..
If you know the gates ahead of time, you can look at a map of the layout of the airport and see how far apart her gates are. She might make it fine if they are close together. Otherwise, it is very risky and I would say no.
> She'll be flying in with her dad from Tampa, but both only have 36 mins to catch the next flight to different destinations.
A 16 year old can probably move a lot faster than the adult. I'd worry more about the adult.
If the AIRLINE sold the ticket...that means they think there's a fair chance they will make the connection. And if the airline sold the ticket they are on the hook for finding an alternate flight. Doesn't mean it won't be several hours later though.
I would probably not buy this ticket but would look hard for alternates.
i agree with stan here
it is a recipe for stress and missed flight
my rule of thumb is a minimum of 2 hours to catch connecting flights in USA and 4 hours for an international flight. a bit of a wait, in my book, is far preferable to the major inconvenience and cost and lost time entailed in a missed flight
It's always a sprint in these type of deals. If there is NO delays getting off the plane, she should let the flight attendants know that she has a super fast connection and get airport staff to cart her down to the next gate. Would be VERY lucky to be in the same terminal.
^ She can run/walk faster then the cart can get her to the next gate. If the gate is in a different concourse she would need to be "Handed" off from the cart to a wheelchair person to a 2nd Cart Person. None of that happens fast.
Also Carts are for the mobility challenged not for tight connection @ Atlanta.
the delta hub is atl. i'm sure delta logistically booked it appropriately. i also assume that they are either on the same concourse or 1 concourse away so that the planes are on the same row.
why is the first concourse t and then a b c d ... ?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
