Would you book this flight with this connection

[katyintx]

We’re working with a travel agent on booking our flights from IAH to Tanzania. He is pushing this flight (operated by Delta, KLM) to us:
IAH - ATL 11:19 - 14:20
ATL - AMS 15:22 - 5:55 
AMZ - JRO 10:35 - 20:00

I told him I’m uncomfortable with only having a one hour connection time in Atlanta, and he came back and said airlines won’t allow them to sell flights with a connection under the connection times permitted.  I get that, however, if we miss the one hour connection time, it’s going to throw our entire trip out because an 8pm landing in JRO is also cutting it close...

So, what do y’all think?  Anyone have a lot of experience with the ATL airport?  Will coming in domestically on Delta and then leaving internationally be a trek from one terminal to another?  Also, am I wrong in thinking they start boarding international flights around an hour ahead of time...? 

[neonpink]

Atlanta is my home airport and I missed my connection from Atlanta-Amsterdam-Prague by 20 minutes. The only thing that was ok about it is since it was all the same flight once we landed in AMS they automatically had us booked on the next flight a few hours later make it to Prague.

The Atlanta Airport is massive. Our terminals are at least a 16-20 walk apart once you get to where you can move between terminals or a train ride apart. The terminals themselves are up to 40 gates each side so if you ended up at the end of terminal T-and had to get to our international gate F you would have flat out Run to get there.

I feel that airlines are boarding earlier and earlier. I fly out of Atlanta a lot and 1 hour there to me would make me nervous. I love my airport but it's not the place for short connections. (push for a longer one and grab food at ATL we have some awesome restaurants in side.)

[ESF]

Don't do it.

I went to Atlanta for the first time in August, and I couldn't believe how enormous that airport was. I got to the airport an hour and a half before my flight, thinking I'd have time to get some dinner before I boarded, and the TSA pre line and shuttle around the airport took so long that I didn't actually make it to my gate until 5 minutes before boarding, and had no time to eat. You won't have to deal with security I imagine, but it's a confusing, massive airport with so many people everywhere, and I wouldn't expect that the two gates would be anywhere near each other.

[thebulldog]

one hour for a connection in Atlanta seems insanely close to this type of trip. Do you have to go back through security to get to the international terminal?

we did Tanzania last year from DC (IAD to Schiphol then Schiphol to JRO). We went to JRO specifically as we were climbing Kili -- have you look at Dar Es Salaam too? could that give you more options?

[chimera]

Nope that isn't a risk I'd take-- International flights usually do start boarding about an hour before departure. There should be a ~ 5 PM flight departure to AMS that gets in early enough to make your connection in AMS.

[Deleted]

I wouldn’t do it. I had a 40 minute domestic connection there once and almost missed my second flight. We didn’t land late but it took forever to taxi to our gate and get to my new gate even with running, I boarded the plane less than 5 minutes before they shut the door.

[frlcb]

I live in Atlanta and I would do it. They’ve given you two hours flight time from IAH to Atlanta and its more like and hour 30 flight. You take a train from one terminal to another but the international flights don’t always leave out of the international terminal (and often don’t) so you may not even need to get to that terminal. Saying that I’m sure there is an earlier flight from Houston so can you just get on an earlier one for peace of mind?

[frlcb]

Oct 8, 2018 13:31:12 GMT -5 thebulldog said:

one hour for a connection in Atlanta seems insanely close to this type of trip. Do you have to go back through security to get to the international terminal?

we did Tanzania last year from DC (IAD to Schiphol then Schiphol to JRO). We went to JRO specifically as we were climbing Kili -- have you look at Dar Es Salaam too? could that give you more options?

You do not have to go through security to get to the international terminal but international flights often leave out of the domestic side anyway.

[GilliC]

I would only do it if there was no other option at a reasonable price. I hate 1-hour connections, even at small airports I know very well. A short delay on the incoming flight means running through the airport and potentially missing the flight. On a long trip like that, it’s an additional level of stress that I personally don’t want to have to deal with.

If the only other options are over 6 hours connecting or $$$ more, then I’ll take the risk and just plan accordingly (e.g. nothing booked right after arrival, amenities in my carry-on for an overnight delay, try to book an aisle seat close to the front to get off the incoming flight as quickly as possible, etc).

[redheadk]

I wouldn’t.

United often has pretty reasonable direct flights to AMS from IAH. That might be a better, less stressful option.

[moorea]

I wouldn’t - too short for my comfort! We had a 1.5 hour connection on a trip earlier this year. Flight left a little late and knocked our connection down to an hour. We had to go through security again and the lines were long (and we had TSA precheck!). We got to the gate as they were halfway through boarding! And unfortunately our bags did not make it! It wasn’t a big deal since we were on our way home, but if you’re checking bags, that would be a worry of my mine too.

We much rather have a longer layover and hang around the lounge or get a bite to eat and just relax than have to stress about making a connection.

Oh , and if I recall correctly, most of the international fligthts I’ve been on recently started boarding 45 min before takeoff.

[jr009j]

I wouldn't. If I remember correctly that KLM flight is the only direct flight to JRO from Amsterdam, so if you don't get to Amsterdam in time, you could be stuck in Amsterdam overnight.

[katyintx]

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

I think we’re going to pass on this one and find a different flight. There were options on Turkish and other KLM/Air France flights we could take, so it’s not like this was our only option. thebulldog we do need to fly into JRO so switching airports isn’t an option, but I’ve found other flights so we’ll still make it work.

[Shreddingbetty]

When we go to Europe I always leave a lot of time for a layover. Usually it ends up being 5-6 hours. But if I miss the international flight I lose out on an entire day so the layover is worth It to me. On the way home I could care less. Then if I miss a flight I may miss work. Bummer
They actually canceled my flight home from Paris this summer. It was fun, met some peeps at the airport waiting in line for customer serive and went to watch the soccer semi finals at a bar in Paris. And I got a $700 check because the flight originated in Europe. It was totally worth it and fun. No one felt sorry for me either 😂😂 (including me) Had I had a canceled flight in the US I might have had a hotel and dinner.

[keweenawlove]

I guess I'm in the minority but we do an hour layovers through Atlanta all the time. The train between terminals is really efficient and I don't think it's ever taken me more than 15 minutes to get from gate to gate. There's no extra security to get to the international terminal on the outbound leg, at least for Central and South America.

[Deleted]

Oct 10, 2018 11:18:34 GMT -5 keweenawlove said:

I guess I'm in the minority but we do an hour layovers through Atlanta all the time. The train between terminals is really efficient and I don't think it's ever taken me more than 15 minutes to get from gate to gate. There's no extra security to get to the international terminal on the outbound leg, at least for Central and South America.

I would be less concerned about getting from terminal to terminal and more concerned about even just a 10 or 20 minute delay throwing it all out of whack. 

[frlcb]

Oct 10, 2018 11:18:34 GMT -5 keweenawlove said:

I guess I'm in the minority but we do an hour layovers through Atlanta all the time. The train between terminals is really efficient and I don't think it's ever taken me more than 15 minutes to get from gate to gate. There's no extra security to get to the international terminal on the outbound leg, at least for Central and South America.

There's no extra security for any international flight once you are inside the airport past main security. I am with you, I would have done it!

[katyintx]

Oct 10, 2018 17:56:39 GMT -5 @princessbubbleyum said:

Oct 10, 2018 11:18:34 GMT -5 keweenawlove said:

I guess I'm in the minority but we do an hour layovers through Atlanta all the time. The train between terminals is really efficient and I don't think it's ever taken me more than 15 minutes to get from gate to gate. There's no extra security to get to the international terminal on the outbound leg, at least for Central and South America.

I would be less concerned about getting from terminal to terminal and more concerned about even just a 10 or 20 minute delay throwing it all out of whack. 

And this is a huge concern for me. I don’t want the beginning of our vacation to throw off the whole thing!  If it were on the way back I wouldn’t mind as much and would probably do it no issues. But before I even get out of the my area or the US?  

[neonpink]

The delay in flights is what would have me book another flight. Weather, mechanical issues are all out of your control. I wouldn't want to miss a flight.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Personally, an hour is the shortest connection I'll fly through Atlanta. I find that traversing between gates is generally pretty quick and easy, because the trains run very regularly and I know my way around. (Last time I was there, I had an hour and managed to have a nice sit-down appetizer and cocktail at One Flew South before my flight.) However, for the start of an international vacation? I'd probably be more inclined to try for at least two hours, for sake of not starting your vacation in stress-out mode.

[katyintx]

Good news! We found a Delta/KLM flight that I think may have been just released from IAH - AMS - JRO with a 3 hour layover and for $1k less than the trip mentioned before. So we have our flights to Tanzania now! Whew - I know it’s still a long time from now but I’m relieved that part is done.