Connecting through JFK or ATL

I don't know enough about Hartsfield to say having only been through it 2 times but JFK is a horrible airport. I fly into it frequently because I have no other choice. I'd go through Atlanta. Ninety minutes is cutting it close in Atlanta so 3 hours should be enough. I encourage you to get Global Entry between now and July.

I would always prefer to connect in ATL, but the fares to Europe are usually much higher from ATL. The Plane Train at ATL is quick and easy.

@JHK thanks! Was just talking to hubby about considering getting Global entry. I’m guessing you have GE and even with that you’d still recommend connecting through ATL…

@cala the price difference of the flights is only about $50/each more to fly through ATL so I’m willing to pay it if the odds are in our favor flying through ATL

Is ITA Airways much more expensive? They are a Delta partner and they start LAX to FCO non stop at the end of next month.

Also, still with Delta,, I prefer to travel straight from California to Europe (from LAX you can fly Delta non stop to numerous destinations, like Paris CDG or Amsterdam, and from there connect to Italy. By doing so on the way back your first port of entry in the US will be LAX, and you don’t have to worry about clearing immigration and customs, and then catch a connection to California. I avoid the airports in the East like the plague (those airports are also often subject to thunderstorms, therefore delays, in summer) and use those airports only if flying free (mileage award) or if the price savings over flying straight to Europe is enormous.

I would fly through JFK anytime over Atlanta. We avoid Atlanta.

@roberto there is an option to fly ITA but would be $300/ea more and early departure. It would be a non stop but price + departure time were the weighing factors that won to the non stop.

We are flying into FLR and starting our trip there. Connecting either in CDG or AMS. The connection time in AMS would be 2 hr 45 min;CDG would be 3 hr 45 min. I would prefer not to connect in CDG but have never flown through AMS

EDIT to add:

While on the topic of connecting through CDG or AMS to FLR - I’ve read some comments while searching that our luggage should be checked entirely through but my first trip in the early 2000s that was not the case; although we were told it would be, we did not learn until arriving in FLR that our luggage never left CDG. Can someone confirm if something has changed?

We fly through Atlanta a lot and have never had a problem. To me it is the easiest major US airport to transit.

JFK along with Chicago O'Hare are my least favorite airports in the USA.
At JFK, if you have to change terminals, you have to leave security and the clear security again. Also, delays seem more common. In Atlanta, once you are inside security, you can change terminals.

EASY CHOICE is ATLANTA

I’ve flown from SFO to FLR via CDG multiple times including this month. If you fly Delta/AirFrance on one ticket the luggage is checked in California al the way to FLR and you won’t have to worry about it until you arrive.

I’ve not flown to AMS for many years, but the experience then was positive as the transfer was easy. I read recently (after Covid) things did not go smoothly at AMS but I have no direct experience.

Flying through CDG is easy, including my recent experience this month, however it’s a huge airport and transferring from your arrival terminal 2E (Gates K or L doesn’t matter) to Terminal 2F (for your EU flight to Florence) takes time, also because the long runway where the large planes land (generally RWY 09R/27L) is very far from the terminal 2E and the taxing from the runway to the arrival gate takes forever. I would not recommend a layover at CDG of less than 2 hours, but if you have 3h45 min you will have plenty of time for the transfer. I had a similar layover and had time for a full lunch before boarding.

@giovagriffith - thank you, that is incredibly helpful to know about JFK! I don’t recall having to deal with that flying through JFK in the past but those were also outbound to Italy and smooth for us. I think that solidifies the decision and ATL will be our choice for connecting through.

Any insight anyone has on connecting through CDG vs AMS for our flight coming into italy would be welcome, particularly more recent and if we will have to retrieve our luggage or if it will be checked all the way through, would be appreciated.

JFK or ATL

As an observer it seems like the hangman asking, "Do you want me to use the green rope or the blue rope"?

ATL in August would have me considering what time of day I would be arriving/departing. The later in the day, the more likely to have a thunderstorm pop up and make a mess of the choreography.

@roberto thank you! Good to know your recent experience, this gives me piece of mind the luggage will be checked all the way through.

Now we just need to decide if we should opt for the added cost of global entry or if we should be ok without given we will have 3+ hours connecting time.

@joe32F arrival in ATL 6:05pm, departing 9:22pm 😕

I would definitely choose Atlanta over JFK. The last time I came back through JFK last year, I had to switch terminals and go throw another security check - fortunately a shorter one. But overall, I feel like the Atlanta airport is much cleaner than the JFK one, too, especially when I’ve spent several hours in each of them this past year.

I love connecting thru Atlanta and select it whenever possible, domestic or international.

Have always had seamless, no-hassle passport control/immigration processes and actual cheerful, pleasant TSA personnel.

That is more than enough time for JFK. There are kiosks for non global reentry. The process is quite smooth.

I utilize both airports regularly.

A connecting flight through JFK is much easier and faster than ATL if it is all on Delta. Everything is in one terminal - 4. On the other hand if you have to switch between an Air France aircraft and a Delta aircraft then you may need to change terminals. Getting from one terminal to the other is accomplished by using the AirTrain which runs regularly. However, you will then need to clear security to renter the terminal. In that scenario I do not know how checked bags work because I use carryon. If it is a codeshare then there may be no terminal change.

Connecting flights and terminal changes through ATL are much simpler because everything remains airside. You’ll still need to clear immigration and security, as well as rechecking your bags for an international inbound flight.

The biggest issue that I’ve had is efficiency of immigration and security through Atlanta. I’ve minimized inbound international flights into ATL. Perhaps things have changed.

I honestly would go for the CDG or AMS options. With the 2+ and 3+ hours for transit either works. Too soon to tell if there will be a meltdown at either location this summer like last but for myself either would work.

I transited thru ATL last Fall on Delta going FCO to my local Spokane WA airport. I’d booked because there had been a non-stop from ATL to Spokane but it disappeared. What I did NOT check was the flight time from FCO to ATL. It was over 10 hours so I regretted not going thru CDG or AMS where the long leg to the West Coast is about the same or less (and no I don’t understand that).

We are flying into FLR and starting our trip there.

Assuming that means Florence, it is a very small airport and you might find more options if you look at flights to Pisa or Milan.

Thank you everyone for your input! We are booked!

Flying in we are connecting thru CDG and coming home we are connecting thru ATL

Now onto all the fun planning, I’m sure I will have more posts for your input.

Thanks again!

Crystal

if you're worried about your bags, get Airtags or Tiles. Fun for the whole family!