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Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International opinions?

A

Aviator32

Guest
I'm flying to Arizona via Atlanta in a couple of weeks and I am reading a lot of negative reports about the airport. Is there anyone here who has used it recently, especially coming from outside the US and queuing for Customs and Immigration? I don't have a huge amount of time between connecting flights and I know from experience that some airports are worse than others for this. Although I've never missed a connecting flight I came extremley close once in Cincinnati and wouldn't want to repeat the experience. I am only taking hand luggage to try and speed things up.
Many thanks.
 
It depends on what time you arrive. Sometimes Customs and Immigration is manageable, and sometimes it's a mad house. You can look to see how closely your flight arrives as compared to other arrivals from Europe and South America, and get an idea of how busy it will be. After C&I, you have to go back through the security screening, so if you just have carry-on luggage you'll be way ahead of the game. The train between concourses confuses alot of people, but you're an airline employee, so you should be OK. Atlanta is where I'm based, PM me if you need more info.
 
Thanks very much. I arrive at Terminal S at lunchtime and my flight to Phoenix is three hours later from the same terminal. I've flown via Houston, Minneapolis and Cincinnati before as well as direct which was too expensive this time and only had a bad delay once. I always take hand luggage only which actually raises a few eyebrows at customs as everyone else on the flight has half a ton of suitcases but I travel extremely light. I'm also going to buy all my toiletries when I get there so I won't have any liquids at all.
 
Aviator32 said:
I'm flying to Arizona via Atlanta in a couple of weeks and I am reading a lot of negative reports about the airport. Is there anyone here who has used it recently, especially coming from outside the US and queuing for Customs and Immigration? I don't have a huge amount of time between connecting flights and I know from experience that some airports are worse than others for this. Although I've never missed a connecting flight I came extremley close once in Cincinnati and wouldn't want to repeat the experience. I am only taking hand luggage to try and speed things up.
Many thanks.
Click to expand...

I flew into Atlanta fairly recently. My connection flight took me to Chattanooga (WONDERFUL airport, by the way). It's good that you only have carry on luggage. Personally? If I can avoid Atlanta airport, I do. I pay extra to not have to deal with that rat race. But good luck!!!

NC
 
I've never had any problems in Atlanta, but 3 hours is still close given a international arrival. However no checked bags should help immensely and departing from the same terminal means no negotiating the trams (which are actually not all that hard to understand).

C/I can be very crowded there at times...like Bones said, it depends on the other arrivals. I've walked through that hall with almost no one in there, and come back through another time with the place jammed.

But you should have no issues given an on schedule arrival.

Have a good trip.
 
Thanks guys. I could have come in via Detroit or New York but I naively expected Atlanta to be the easier option! I had no idea it was one of the world's busiest airports.
 
Aviator32 said:
Thanks guys. I could have come in via Detroit or New York but I naively expected Atlanta to be the easier option! I had no idea it was one of the world's busiest airports.
Click to expand...


Just be glad you don't have to drive to or from it. I would rather have a sharp stick in my eye, than drive through Atlanta. I do NOT like going there, period.
 
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