Nope. Doesn’t matter how fit you are. In a huge airport like ATL all you need is one delay bc your flight is waiting for a free gate or the jetway doesn’t arrive in time and you’re automatically 20-30 min late getting off the plane. If that happens (and it’s happened to me more than once at ATL), 16 min isn’t enough to make it even if you aren’t flying out of the int’l terminal, which you may or may not be.

Do not do this! You will create a nightmare for yourself and kids. Get an earlier flight to Atlanta. Kids would be better to get up at crack of dawn that arrive in middle of night. Also driving 2 hr in middle of night is not safe. Change flight. I would not do under 90 minutes in between flight in Atlanta.

Maybe.

Is this under one ticket? If you are booking separately, I would not. If it's under one ticket and you miss the flight, you have a greater chance of being rebooked.

Can you look at the historic patterns of gates for the inbound/outbound flights from ATL? (flightaware should let you do this; it also gives an average late figure for each flight). If the gates are typically miles away, I'd also lean away from this itinerary.

If you wanted the earlier flight, could you possibly fly to ATL late the prior evening and stay over in an airport hotel?

Anonymous wrote:Would you do it? Traveling to Costa Rica.

46 minutes before the flight leaves?
Or 46 minutes before the boarding ends?
Big difference, To the former, I wouldn't.

Anonymous wrote:Nope. Not a chance. We had 90 mins between our flights, landed a little late, ran to our next gate, and just barely made it. No time to grab food or use the bathroom. Nightmare with our kids. Never again.

+1 Too much risk in such a large airport

Anonymous wrote:No way. If you feel 5 and 8 is too young to handle an 11 pm arrival, it's WAY too young to handle sprinting through an airport with carry ons.

Depends on your level of fitness. My husband and I sprinted through CDG twice this summer carrying luggage and two five year olds. It sucked but we made our flights

Anonymous wrote:I’d do it, BUT I lived in Atlanta and flew in and out weekly for 3 years. Costa Rica/South America is not always leaving from F (international), so you may not need to cross the entire airport, but I wouldn’t count on it. You’ll need to catch the train (not difficult), and then make it through whatever terminal. You won’t have time for bathroom breaks or food, so plan accordingly. Also let your flight attendants know when you board and they can let you know which gate you’re landing at and taking off from.

+1, unless you'll be traveling with kids. What is the scheduled travel time to Atlanta? I fly there regularly to visit my parents and generally find the travel time is much less than what is scheduled. I routinely arrive 20 minutes early.

I’d do it, BUT I lived in Atlanta and flew in and out weekly for 3 years. Costa Rica/South America is not always leaving from F (international), so you may not need to cross the entire airport, but I wouldn’t count on it. You’ll need to catch the train (not difficult), and then make it through whatever terminal. You won’t have time for bathroom breaks or food, so plan accordingly. Also let your flight attendants know when you board and they can let you know which gate you’re landing at and taking off from.

Maybe for a solo business traveler. Going as a family? No way. If you take the other option, I'd consider just staying at a hotel near the airport when you land, and travel to the condo the next day.

Doesn't Southwest have a direct flight now too? Better for the environment.

No way. If you feel 5 and 8 is too young to handle an 11 pm arrival, it's WAY too young to handle sprinting through an airport with carry ons.