Short layover in DTW vs ATL with 1 year old

[CysRage]

All, we are flying with a one year old and have two flights we are considering, both with very short layovers. Either we can fly through Atlanta and have a 57 minute layover or fly through Detroit and have a 35 minute layover. I have never flown through Detroit but I know it's a much smaller airport compared to Atlanta. I've learned in the past that even 1 hour layovers in Atlanta give you little time to spare if you have to hop terminals via the Plane Train. Keep in mind we want to gate check a stroller but we aren't opposed to bag checking it since time is of the essence on a short connection. What would you suggest? Thanks!

 

[Rabbuk]

FWIW i think if memory serves Detroit is just two connected hallways essentially.

 

[CysRage]

FWIW i think if memory serves Detroit is just two connected hallways essentially.

My few minutes of research says the same. Even if you are able to just walk it, 35 minutes is very quick even if you arrive on time. Our second flight is on a regional jet and heck I think they start boarding those 40 minutes prior to takeoff. On the flip side, Atlanta also scares me with an hour layover.

 

[CtownCyclone]

Both of them make me nervous. If I was by myself, I would consider the Atlanta layover.

35 minutes basically means you land and your next fight is starting the boarding process.

 

[jdoggivjc]

FWIW i think if memory serves Detroit is just two connected hallways essentially.

DTW is my "home" airport. Perfect description of it.

 

[cowgirl836]

FWIW i think if memory serves Detroit is just two connected hallways essentially.

and super cool with the lights. Toddler would love it.

 

[jdoggivjc]

Both of them make me nervous. If I was by myself, I would consider the Atlanta layover.

35 minutes basically means you land and your next fight is starting the boarding process.

One thing Atlanta has going for it is a very good train system that connects the various different terminals. I know DTW has a train system as well, but ATL's was less confusing in my opinion.

 

[Macloney]

Whichever is cheaper.

You will make it either way.

Even if you don't, they will wait for you. It may be awkward being the one being waited on, but they wait unless it is more than an hour.

 

[CysRage]

and super cool with the lights. Toddler would love it.

I saw that, he would love it if we had to go through that walkway between terminals.

Whichever is cheaper.

You will make it either way.

Even if you don't, they will wait for you. It may be awkward being the one being waited on, but they wait unless it is more than an hour.

Both are the same price. The nice thing about the Detroit flight is the total travel time is nearly 2 hours shorter. I thought I read somewhere that's it's a thing of the past that they hold planes for connecting passengers, even if they are only a few minutes late.

 

[cowgirl836]

I saw that, he would love it if we had to go through that walkway between terminals.

Both are the same price. The nice thing about the Detroit flight is the total travel time is nearly 2 hours shorter. I thought I read somewhere that's it's a thing of the past that they hold planes for connecting passengers, even if they are only a few minutes late.

IDK what your flight plan is but check and see which layover has more options in case you end up missing it. If it's a flight that goes every couple hours, you've got a bit of a safeguard if you miss the original flight.

 

[MeanDean]

Whichever is cheaper.

You will make it either way.

Even if you don't, they will wait for you. It may be awkward being the one being waited on, but they wait unless it is more than an hour.

Missed a connecting flight in ATL by like 10 minutes because our inbound flight was late. Yes it was a very short layover and I busted ass to get there but nope, gate closed. 6 Hours later I was on a flight back.

 

[ianoconnor]

35 minute layover with a kid sounds terrible.

 

[clones2005]

I saw that, he would love it if we had to go through that walkway between terminals.

Both are the same price. The nice thing about the Detroit flight is the total travel time is nearly 2 hours shorter. I thought I read somewhere that's it's a thing of the past that they hold planes for connecting passengers, even if they are only a few minutes late.

I would absolutely not trust them to hold the flight. Based on connection locations I assume you're flying Delta. I fly with them all of time for work, and have had the boarding gate closed 15 minutes before scheduled departure time (they state you need to be in gate area 30 minutes before departure). They will certainly rebook you on another flight if you miss due to a missed connection though.

All that said, if I were choosing between 35 minutes in DTW and 60 minutes in ATL, I'd take the ATL option again and again. Typically way more options from there to get to your destination in the event something doesn't go quite right. Also, not sure when you're planning to fly, but the odds of bad weather causing issues in Detroit this time of year are way more likely than in Atlanta.

 

[CysRage]

IDK what your flight plan is but check and see which layover has more options in case you end up missing it. If it's a flight that goes every couple hours, you've got a bit of a safeguard if you miss the original flight.

I would absolutely not trust them to hold the flight. Based on connection locations I assume you're flying Delta. I fly with them all of time for work, and have had the boarding gate closed 15 minutes before scheduled departure time (they state you need to be in gate area 30 minutes before departure). They will certainly rebook you on another flight if you miss due to a missed connection though.

All that said, if I were choosing between 35 minutes in DTW and 60 minutes in ATL, I'd take the ATL option again and again. Typically way more options from there to get to your destination in the event something doesn't go quite right. Also, not sure when you're planning to fly, but the odds of bad weather causing issues in Detroit this time of year are way more likely than in Atlanta.

Both flights are the last flights out for the night so it's a moot point. Both have 2 flights the next day (Saturday so flights are much more limited). We would be traveling in late May. I was leaning on Atlanta and now I'm thinking that is the best choice since it is a longer layover despite being a bigger airport.

 

[jdoggivjc]

I saw that, he would love it if we had to go through that walkway between terminals.

Both are the same price. The nice thing about the Detroit flight is the total travel time is nearly 2 hours shorter. I thought I read somewhere that's it's a thing of the past that they hold planes for connecting passengers, even if they are only a few minutes late.

I will say this - if you're going from a regional airport to regional airport using DTW as a hub, it's likely you won't end up going through the tunnel unless you end up with the unlikely odds of your open gate being in Terminal A. Terminal A is where the vast majority of the "big" flights are, like the international flights and the hub-hub flights. Meanwhile, most of the regional flights are relegated to Terminals B and C (both share one of the hallways). The illuminated terminal connects Terminal A to Terminals B and C. That being said, if your flights end up being Terminals B and C, and you have plenty of layover time, it's worth spending some of that time experiencing the walkway if you think your kids would be into that kind of thing.

 

[Macloney]

Missed a connecting flight in ATL by like 10 minutes because our inbound flight was late. Yes it was a very short layover and I busted ass to get there but nope, gate closed. 6 Hours later I was on a flight back.

I've had carts waiting to take me to and from gates and have never missed a connector that has taken off.

Hundreds of flights over 20 years. I guess I'm lucky.

 

[chuckd4735]

I feel like 90% of the time, as long as your flight from Des Moines leaves on time, you'll arrive sooner than what the time is listed on the flight, thus you'll have more time.

 

[enisthemenace]

I hate ATL, but with your situation and those layover options, I think I’d strongly consider it.

 

[CtownCyclone]

Whichever is cheaper.

You will make it either way.

Even if you don't, they will wait for you. It may be awkward being the one being waited on, but they wait unless it is more than an hour.

Counting on them to hold the flight is a risky proposition in my experience. I guess if you're the last flight out and it won't affect connections at your destination, they might hold it for a while.

Lots of moving parts in air travel.

 

[cyIclSoneU]

35 minutes in DTW is really pushing it if you have to go underground between the terminals. DTW does have the tram inside the terminal that runs end to end though but it doesn't run as frequently as the ATL subway if memory serves.

An hour at ATL should be sufficient since the subway (Plane Train) is quick and runs frequently.