ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AIRPORT   Passenger Reviews and Opinions

ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AIRPORT customer review :  8 January 2010 by Rich Jenkins   (USA)

Customer Rating :  2/5

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ATL's major function is providing domestic connections for Delta passengers and it does this fairly well, with an efficient train system between concourses. OTOH, the concourses are long and Delta customer service (such as it is) has been greatly cut back. Earlier this year, I encountered a situation where the wrong type of aircraft had been provided (after a long delay and cancellation of flights before and after ours) and the ticket staff were less than gracious in dealing with the fallout. The food selection remains relatively unhealthy and the largest food court (outside of the main terminal) tends to be crowded. The selection of reading material is generally pretty awful, but typical of Atlanta in general. CNN is loud and inescapable and the airport generally provides even less opportunity for peace and quiet than the average. Departure security is centralized and unpredictable, but not quite as timeconsuming as it was 2-3 years ago. The "secret" North terminal alternative to the main terminal security has been closed--this had provided much faster screening because it was known only to people using the T terminal and carriers other than Delta. Baggage areas have been remodeled, but there no longer is security to check tags. Beware of taxi operators who approach you in the baggage claim as they charge more than the ones in the queue outside. Expect taxi drivers to not know anything other than major hotels - bring mapquest-type directions to your destination. Long time Atlantans don't know much of the area either. Marta rapid transit service has gotten slightly better although the process of paying for fares with cards is cumbersome compared with the old token system. Marta is the best way to reach major hotels downtown, in Midtown, and Buckhead. Customer service is generally horrible in the airport although better with carriers other than Delta. Despite many years of living in ATL and much international travel, I always cleared customs elsewhere (my int'l travel was mostly to Asia and on United, so ATL was rarely feasible), my understanding is that international arrivals are variable and often unpleasant. The international terminal, which used to be dismal is apparently being redone. Delays are common at this airport - the weather in the Atlanta area is volatile, with downpours and thunder storms being quite common in Spring and summer, plus Atlanta gets the back end of hurricanes in the fall. Often things will seem mild or only drizzly at the airport, but will be violent somewhere in an nearby flight path and this will cause delays. Some delays occur because of problems elsewhere in an airline's hub/spoke system and this is particularly true of Delta which dominates the airport. Morning departures are more predictable and less prone to delay than afternoon or evening flights.

ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AIRPORT customer review :  30 December 2009 by E Jensen   (USA)

Customer Rating :  2/5

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I was wondering if what I experienced was a one of a kind or a bad day. Apparently not. In Atlanta, US Immigration Officials just get up and walk away when there are huge lines, and don't come back for a long time and say nothing. One official yelled at a passenger for standing in line the wrong way and pointed at her like she was a dog. After about 200 people deep in line, they finally opened some more windows to move us through. Then there is the re- screening to get out of the airport. I was screened three times to get on the plane, and now I have to go to get Xrayed when I am getting ready to go home. The random selection is also pathetic.

ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AIRPORT customer review :  16 December 2009 by Melissa Pace   (Malta)

Customer Rating :  2/5

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Arrived after a 12 hour flight from Malta/London feeling nauseous and not that good. Little did we realise that it would take another 2 hours to get out of the airport! The usual interrogation at immigration, then the inexplicable procedure of collecting your baggage, only to have it taken away again with no explanation of how to collect it. Then another 45 minutes standing in line to go through security just to leave the airport. Can someone please explain why this is necessary as no-one seemed to have a good explanation as to why we had to suffer this ordeal. Then we were directed to a tube-train crammed with people and when we eventually arrived at the baggage reclaim, there was our daughter and son-in-law (who live in the States and had come to meet us) standing with all our bags which they had collected for us!!! Some security - anyone could have walked off with it. I will never go there again - it was a nightmare and I still see no reason for it.

ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AIRPORT customer review :  6 October 2009 by Alex Greig   (UK)

Customer Rating :  1/5

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What a nightmare place! Immigration officials who suddenly leave their desks to go on a break without a word leaving a bewildered queue. Your luggage snatched away from you within seconds of retrieving it without any clear idea given of where or when you will ever see it again. Having to go through full security just to get out of the airport. Officials barking orders left right and centre. Never again if I can help it.

ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AIRPORT customer review :  28 September 2009 by Richard Martin   (USA)

Customer Rating :  3/5

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I have traveled through many airports over the years, and employees of Hartsfield Airport are the rudest I have seen. They act as if they hate their jobs, and bark orders at people. Customer service is not part of the job skill. It's a shame because the rest of the south have warm and welcoming people with great attitudes. I would not recommend going through this airport unless there is no other choice.

ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AIRPORT customer review :  24 September 2009 by Jorg Ludewig   (Germany)

Customer Rating :  4/5

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Went thru Atlanta from Frankfurt to San Diego. Customs was empty, thus pretty fast, though the USA treats its visitors like potential threats. Hand screen, iris screen, what is next? Footprints? Getting the checked in luggage took quite a while, checking back was fast. Only downpart is the security check right after. Did not we just got off a plane? Anyway, all facilities decent, ground transportation is efficient and layover can be rather short without being afraid to miss connection.

ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AIRPORT customer review :  15 September 2009 by J Leong   (UK)

Customer Rating :  1/5

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Southern hospitality it was not at Atlanta Jackson-Hartsfield airport! Upon arrival from Amsterdam, we reclaimed our baggage - and then told we had to queue and go through security again Plus we had our baggage screened and taken away from us , to be reclaimed a second time around! What was the point? Were they afraid that passengers who got off after a safe flight might hijack the bus or something? I am all for security but this was craziness banking on paranoia. As far as I know, no other US international airport does that. The staff at security and customs were also rude and unwelcoming shouting and ordering at passengers like badly-trained prison officers. I will avoid Atlanta Jackson-Hartsfield like the plague. The airport does not know how to make visitors feel welcome.

ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AIRPORT customer review :  5 July 2009 by L Drabik   (USA)

Customer Rating :  4/5

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I have used this airport for over 20 years to catch connecting flights to PA. Only once did I use it for outbound international travel, so have not experienced the inbound international travel situation as described by others (I re-entered the US via EWR). I have always encountered courteous employees throughout the airport, and I think the layout of the airport was well-planned, I especially like the subway that connects the terminal and all the concourses together. And I really like how you can go from concourse to concourse withOUT having to go through security again, like I experienced at a major European airport. Also, I like the many dining options available in every concourse. Rarely have I experienced any flight delays, as I normally fly in the early morning hours to avoid any weather-related issues like those that usually occur in summer afternoons! Last month I chose to travel in the afternoon, and sure enough, our inbound flight was put into a holding pattern for approx. 15 mins, and the outbound flight sat at the gate for 20 mins before backing out, due to the local weather situation. Now with all that said, the only real drawback I can find is the lack of moving sidewalks in the concourses. I do realize there are moving sidewalks parallel to the subway line, but I think with the length of the concourses, moving sidewalks would have been included as well!

ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AIRPORT customer review : 26 May 2009 : by Bill Atkins

Customer Rating : 4/5

Atlanta is one of the rare airports where someone seems to keep evaluating how to make things better for travellers. It is very crowded sometimes and seating in the Food Court pre-security can be short at peak times. However the whole check-in/security/transportation deal is well- organized and most people involved are polite and friendly.

ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AIRPORT customer review : 25 May 2009 : by Ralf Klein

Customer Rating : 4/5

Considered that ATL is a very large and busy airport I think it is amazing how fast one actually gets through immigration, baggage claim, customs, baggage recheck and security screening. I really appreciated that the last few times I used ATL as a port-of-entry when travelling to the US. I also like the airport lounges in Concourse E and the food court. Another plus is the quick train connecting all concourses.

ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AIRPORT customer review : 25 May 2009 : by M Steinfeld

Customer Rating : 4/5

Hartsfield seems to be kind of a hit-or-miss deal. If you're connecting, leave plenty of time (don't take a 30-45min layover, because it won't be enough if things start going wrong). When arriving/ departing from Atlanta (ie. not connecting through), I have never had a problem. Sometimes it takes bags a while to display in the terminal, but other than that, the ground is usually as efficient as possible. However, for connecting flights, the major issue seems to be weather. On a good-weather day, I never have problems. But once bad weather hits, everything starts to break down. Delta has always been good to me if I needed to rebook, but again, all we can do as passengers is to give ourselves a decent layover time to account for the possible delay. Overall, the facilities are pretty good compared to other US airports. Especially Terminal E. There's plenty of food options, as well as decent shopping. The airport staff is usually extremely nice and always helpful - just be polite. But as with all airports, I've found that those passengers who plan ahead and know what to do if there's an unexpected delay, etc. are the same people that are least impacted by that delay.

ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AIRPORT customer review : 18 February 2009 : by J Walton

Customer Rating : 1/5

So much for southern hospitality! I live in the Atlanta area and I hate and avoid this airport like a plague! If you have to pick up anyone from an arriving flight bring plenty of patience with you. The patrolmen directing traffic are the rudest I have encountered. They do not know how to relay what they want you to do, they only want you moving - people in the crosswalks? Run over them - that is what I was directed to do on 3 separate occasions! When I did not listen to the officers demand to continue on through the pedestrians he demanded I fight my way to the curb in my car, to give me a tongue lashing threatening to give me a ticket for holding up traffic - what a joke! I am not amused by this airport at all. Rarely is anyone helpful. Thank God for Birmingham. It is worth the extra hour I have to drive to get there. The people are nice and helpful and they have a wonderful idea - the cell lot! This is a place you can sit waiting on arriving planes in your car. An information board is set up so you can see arriving flights and you can wait there to receive a call from your passengers without driving around the airport making more traffic.

ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AIRPORT customer review : 27 January 2009 : by Roy Manry

Customer Rating : 2/5

This should be a warning to anyone arriving Atlanta Hartsfield concourse E that has to clear customs. Two things are needed, patience and a xanax! If it's busy, hang it up. After arriving from France and clearing customs, they took us apart again at security even confiscating small bottles of water Delta had given us prior to landing. Also saw wine and duty free confiscated. Really stupid. When will the US get over this paranoia complex?

ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AIRPORT customer review : 19 January 2009 : by S Koenig

Customer Rating : 3/5

Arriving on an international flight, the usual procedures are followed: go through Immigration, pick up check bags at a baggage carousel, then go through Customs. At many airports one would then simply go to a transit desk (if taking a connecting flight) or leave the airport (if not taking a connecting flight). However, even if departing the Atlanta airport (we were staying at a nearby hotel and taking a connecting flight the following morning), one has to take their bags to an attendant to be shipped on the intra-airport train, and then go through security before boarding the train, then ride the train to the main terminal and wait for one's bags at the baggage carousels. Confusing. This is a very big and very busy airport.

ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AIRPORT customer review : 20 December 2008 : by M Anderson

Customer Rating : 4/5

Landing and clearing immigration at Concourse E I have always found to be quite quick compared to other major US airports. At least for Delta your luggage for international flights usually pops out on the carousel about 20 to 25 minutes after your flight begins disembarking. Immigration officials here are quite courteous and efficient in my opinion. After picking up luggage, tyhen handing a customs official your customs declaration Delta has it's own luggage handling checkin for ongoing connections which is quite nice. But as noted in some other posts the security personnel with TSA here in Atlanta are the rudest I have experienced on many occasions. Don't get far from your belongings as when things drop from the Xray transfer belts they even have laughed at times. All in all clearing immigration and transfers to ongoing flights is quite easy in Atlanta. Any veteran traveller should have no problems, but then again actually reading signs where to go helps wonders.

ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AIRPORT customer review : 26 November 2008 : by E Eriksen

Customer Rating : 2/5

ATL is deplorable because it has such a record of delays and congestion. Why don't they construct a second airport and relieve some of the horrible congestion at ATL? I avoid ATL at all costs. Of course, part of this is that Delta has so significantly declined in its quality.

ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AIRPORT customer review : 9 October 2008 : by G McGowan

Customer Rating : 2/5

I avoid ATL like the plague. The only thing keeping me from giving it one star is the terminals are not run down like old DTW or MSY. However there are frequent delays and because of the layout of the runways it is possible to spend 30 minutes or more taxiing to the gate, which can be a serious problem if you have a tight connection. Once inside, the concourses themselves are extremely crowded and since there are no moving sidewalks it seems like you are at the running of the bulls in Pamplona - except there are no bulls, just many harried travelers rushing to make their connections.

ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AIRPORT customer review : 27 August 2008 : by D Iles

Customer Rating : 2/5

Have used Atlanta on number of occasions as entry point to USA, starting holiday and this year saw a marked downturn in service. Upon arrival at immigration waited approx. 45 mins and whilst familiar with need to recheck bags was surprised to see several hundred suitcases waiting to make the journey to their final collection point. Having waited some 30 mins for the bags to arrive I spoke with a staff member in the baggage hall and whilst very polite he indicated I could wait up to 90mins for the cases to make the 1800m journey from the international terminal, E, to the main collection area. Appreciate Atlanta is busy but they really must look at their inbound baggage handling systems as this surely cannot be the best they can do? Return trip yesterday to LGW was very easy though no queues at checkin nor security so it can be done

ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AIRPORT customer review : 27 August 2008 : by L Moulton

Customer Rating : 3/5

I have flown through this airport 20 or 30 times and had different experiences. There are a few good things about this airport one being you can almost always make a connection no matter how short your layover is (I once had a 20 minute layover for a flight to London-made the flight and luggage made it as well) due to lots of frequent transport between the terminals. There are also plenty of restrooms throughout the terminals (something I've found lacking in a few nicer airports). Now-on to the bad. The airconditioning system is a hit or miss, not a good thing for Northern Georgia, The restaurants are usually very crowded and many times I've had to wait 20 minutes for a table. The passport control and customs area is a nightmare - especially on a day the aircon isn't working. Overall this is an ok airport but I'd recommend another such as JFK, Detroit, Washington.

ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AIRPORT customer review : 21 August 2008 : by M Brown

Customer Rating : 5/5

One of the best airports I have used. Staff were extremely helpful and friendly. Facilities were excellent and included places to recharge electrical items and free wifi in certain areas. The quality of food was excellent (not just the usual fast food junk) and this was the case after security as well which is often not the case. The airport was easy to get around and was very clean. Departures were prompt. A really enjoyable experience.