Rate My RISK!!!

[icenhourfamily]

Here is the deal...

I fly out of Orlando at 8:49pm
Arrive at Atlanta at 10:18pm
Connecting flight leaves Atlanta at 10:55pm
Arrive home in Charlotte at 11:54pm

What concerns me is time between flights(layover) in Atlanta is only 37 minutes. I think this is enough time to switch planes. What I'm concerned about is if there is a delay in Orlando I may miss my connecting flight in Atlanta, which is the LAST flight leaving Atlanta for Charlotte that night. I do have the option of leaving Orlando 5 hours earlier in the day but, that would be 5 hours I would miss at Disney? So would anyone else roll the dice or should I play it safe and take the earlier flight?

[Keith]

I would PERSONALLY get the earlier flight because I'd be stressed out if I got the later one.

Taken a lot of flights for business over the years and I've made them with 30mins or less <G> but nowadays with airports being weird, security delaying things sometimes and so on, I just wouldn't risk it.

[OKWTink]

If I didn't have to be in Charlotte (to go to work, that sort of thing) AND I had a backup place to stay (instead of an airport lumpy chair) AND I could face missing my flight without worry, then I'd go for the later flight.

Since I personally could not deal with all that, I'd be on the earlier flight. :yes:

[GrammiePo]

I need a full hour between flight in Atlanta, the airport is so darn confuseing

[Indydisneyfan]

You need to check the airlines. I read somewhere that they have to give you at least 45 minutes between flights. Also, how is it taking you 1.5 hours to get to Atlanta from Orlando? Are you sure you looked at the times right? My flights from O'Hare to Orlando is only 2hours, give or take 5 minutes. Something doesn't seem right.

[JuniorMickey]

Remember there is a time difference from Chicago to Orlando - We're an hour ahead of you.

I had a 37 minute layover in NY once. Missed my connecting flight. Lucky for me, there are a lot of flights from NY to BOS so I just got the next on, an hour later.

[uscwest]

Since your connecting flight out of Atlanta is the the last one of the day I would think that the airlines would be obliged to hold the flight for you if there is a delay coming out of Orlando. At least that is the way it used to work.

[JuniorMickey]

not the case anymore John - I had a connection in MCO from PVD in April - should have been a 27 minute window. If I had missed it, I would have rented a car and driven home since it was the last flight of the day. As luck would have it, we took off early from PVD and I ended up with 40 minutes and no problems catching my flight.

[Johnie]

The Atlanta airport is HUGE. We've been able to get on connecting flights with that little bit of timeframe though. You just have to move fast! Who are you flying with?

[wdwgrandma]

I hate flying through Atlanta! It never fails that my plane will land at one gate, and my connecting flight will leave from the gate farthest away!

[uscwest]

I hate flying through Atlanta! It never fails that my plane will land at one gate, and my connecting flight will leave from the gate farthest away!
That normally happens to me every time I fly through Dallas. :)

[Rosie0610]

In past experience with missing a connecting flight if you've booked a flight with a layover and you were delayed coming out of the original airport it would be up to the airlines to give you accomodations for the night if you missed your connecting flight and it was the last one for the day. If you never made it out of Orlando then it's up to you to figure out accomodations. If you're in the middle of your trip they won't leave you stranded under normal circumstances.
BTW I don't think the airline would offer a connecting flight that they wouldn't believe you could make under normal flying times. They don't WANT you to miss your connection. Is it with the same carrier for both flights? The gates at least would have to be in the same terminal then.

[uscwest]

Is it with the same carrier for both flights? The gates at least would have to be in the same terminal then.Unfortunately Rosie this is not necessarily true at airports like Atlanta, Chicago O'Hare and Dallas.

[Johnie]

Airtran has 2 terminals in Atlanta.

[susieh]

We missed a connecting flight from Minneapolis/St Paul because our incoming flight was 3 hours late coming in. Both flights were with North West but the next flight to London was the following day (evening) and the airline did not give us 1 cent towards accommodation/food or anything. They said it was not their responsibility. If it were me I would be on that earlier flight!

[TimonAndPumba]

Remember that good travel insurance usually covers the cost of missing transport due to delays that are beyond your control.

[uscwest]

We missed a connecting flight from Minneapolis/St Paul because our incoming flight was 3 hours late coming in. Both flights were with North West but the next flight to London was the following day (evening) and the airline did not give us 1 cent towards accommodation/food or anything. They said it was not their responsibility. If it were me I would be on that earlier flight!I think I would have begged to differ with them. Was the 3 hour delay due to weather, which is beyond their control, or was it their fault?

[maggs]

Personally, I think that is cutting it fine. I woud have to go for the earlier flight myself.

Maggs