Changing planes with different airlines

Parent Cafe
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<p>Now that Southwest and AirTran have joined, in researching flights to Minnesota, we have found some options where we fly one leg on Southwest, then another leg on AirTran. Now, most of these do go through Atlanta, and I have been on a direct flight to that airport. It’s a big airport. I know there are a lot of people from Atlanta on these boards, or just frequent flyers, and hope to get some insight as to how close the AirTran gates are to the Southwest gates. I know this is not a given, but I’ve seen that most airlines do tend to have their own section of gates at airports. Trying to not book too close of plane change times. Any insight/advice would be most appreciated. Thanks!</p>

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<p>55 minutes is the legal domestic connecting time at ATL. Either Southwest or Air Tran websites will offer joint flights and allow for connections.</p>

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<p>The airtran site lists the gates <a href=“Southwest Airlines | Book Flights, Make Reservations & Plan a Trip”>Southwest Airlines | Book Flights, Make Reservations & Plan a Trip; Looks like although SW is in C, Airtran could be in C or D. Transite between them should not be too hard with the train. </p>

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<p>Husband just flew this (through Atlanta) and had no problems. </p>

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<p>Since the announcement of their merger–in my experience–SW and AT gates are virtually next door to each other.</p>

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<p>I live in Atlanta and we use the airport all the time. Post #2 is correct. You may have to change from terminal C to D or vice versa, but the train system is very quick and you should be fine. This is assuming you’ve allowed a reasonable time between flights (45+ minutes).</p>

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<p>I’ve been on SW flights when they held up the connecting flight until we arrived, and been on SW planes while we waited for other passengers coming from arriving flights. This was not in Atlanta though, and not sure if AirTran has the same courtesy.</p>

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<p>Are you checking bags? </p>

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<p>The Plane Train in Atlanta shuttles folks from terminal to terminal very efficiently…and often. That being said…I don’t every travel with less than an hour layover when switching planes.</p>

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<p>

You must mean: “I have been on a non-stop flight to that airport”</p>

<p>A non-stop is exactly what it sounds like: it’s one plane and it goes from Point A to Point B without stopping.</p>

<p>A direct flight involves a stop, but you are riding the same exact metal tube from Point A to Point B, then from Point B to Point C. </p>

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<p>Ah, you’re correct. A non stop flight to Atlanta. I try to do mostly direct flights, if I can’t do non stop, but looks like we’ll have to change planes no matter what this time. We had a direct flight through Chicago, but had to change because of the recent problems. Son may want to come home for Thanksgiving, and some of the Atlanta changes may work, but at least one involves flying Southwest one leg and AirTran the other. Also some AirTran/AirTran, so good to know they are at different terminals in Atlanta. Thanks for the input!</p>

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<p>While this may be true on some airlines like Southwest, there are some airlines that really stretch the definition of “direct” by using it to cover flights were all segments have the same flight number, but a “plane change” (i.e. connection) may be required at an intermediate stop.</p>

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<p>What airline does that, ucb? Any savvy flyer would see right through that. </p>

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<p>

Delta does it on its Asia flights that transit via NRT. They fly a 777 or 767 on the intra-Asia segment. Then passengers switch to a 747 for the trans-Pacific segment. Same flight number.</p>

<p>Delta 285 HKG-NRT then NRT-MSP
<a href=“http://www.delta.com/booking/flightDetails.do?cmd=flightDetails&airCd=DL&fltNum=0285&dDay=17&dMon=Oct&dCityCode=MNL&aCityCode=BWI&appName=schedules&airName=Delta”>http://www.delta.com/booking/flightDetails.do?cmd=flightDetails&airCd=DL&fltNum=0285&dDay=17&dMon=Oct&dCityCode=MNL&aCityCode=BWI&appName=schedules&airName=Delta&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>I have had that happen a few years ago on AA from DC to Austin wth a change in Dallas. Same flight number different plane in different terminal. </p>

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<p>Thanks. I don’t fly Delta so haven’t seen that ever! </p>

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<p>H mentioned that had happened to him years back several times. I have never had that happen–nonstop with the same flight number has always meant nonstop for me on all my flights over the decades I’ve flown, United, Delta, AA, etc. I’d be irked if they snuck in a change of plane and terminal and it wasn’t noted anywhere.</p>