Atlanta Travel Forum

Hi Everyone

I need urgent help!! I am flying from Dublin, Ireland to San Juan but have to get a connecting flight in Atlanta and the layover time is only 1 hour 35 mins. Is this enough time?? I have never flew to America before and am unsure as to their policies about security etc. Do i have to go through customs again?? Do i have to get my luggage and check in again?? I am just about to book the flight now but have been told this is the weekend before Thanksgiving and may be much more busy. Please help so i can book my flight and my lovely Soutern Caribbean Cruise.

Thanks!!!!

That could be tight. I travel frequently via Atlanta and normally I have to count on 1 hour to cope with immigration and customs. The last time (in May) I had a 2:15 connection and barely made it.
Check their website:
www.atlanta-airport.com

Do you mean you had two hour 15 min layover time and that was tight?? Do you have to go through security again and customs, lift luggage again etc??

thanks for the prompt reply!

Yes

You will deplane in ATL, go to passport control, pickup you bags closeby, walk through customs ('nothing to declare' path), then put your bags on a transfer-baggage checkin belt again(closeby). then you will make your way in the main terminals to the proper gate for your next flight.
you time allowance will work okay, just don't dawdle or window shop, keep moving, find the shortest lines and you will be fine.

As I said, normally 1 hour and some is just OK but tight, but last May I stayed in line for passport control for almost 2 hours.

You may not have to go through immigration etc in Atlanta.

Dublin and Shannon are the two airports in Europe where you can clear US Immigrations there instead of on the US mainland.
http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/programs/editorial_0685.shtm

However, 1h35m doesn't really give you a lot of leeway in the event your flight from Dublin is delayed. Your luggage still has to be taken from your first plane and placed onto the second plane.

Ah-that's something I didn't know. I knew about pre-clearance in certain Canadian airports (like Calgary) but didn't know about in Europe. Thanks for the info.

If you are on a pre-cleared flight you should have plenty of time. Normally as was said, an hour is plenty of time to get through immigrations. I have had a long wait one time, but generally speaking Atlanta does a good job of moving people through customs/immigration and then getting you re-screened to enter the airport terminals. (You have to be re-screened because you were re-united with your baggage. A pain but understandable)

Have fun in the sun!!!!