Atlanta Hartsfield Airport

Great Airport. It's really clean and there is enough sitting room. I love the large array of shops and places to eat. I imagine it can probably be confusing for someone going through it for the first time. I do not like how you have to pay for wi-fi. There are enough plugs for everyone which is really nice. Overall great airport.

It seems the security debacle has not improved looking at previous comments. I arrived in Atlanta from the UK with 1hr 30mins between my connecting flight. I stood in Immigration (along with about 500+ other foreign nationals) for 1 hour 15 mins as there was the grand total of 3 immigrations officials to cater for all these people. The aircon was broken the Shuttle train wasn't working and although I'm fairly fit I could not run the 1 mile to the other terminal in time for my flight! I missed my flight and was put on another one leaving an hour later.

I connected through Hartsfield to and from Guatemala. Transfers went very smoothly. I was especially impressed that I was able to get through passport control customs check my bag through security getting to my connecting gate in 45 minutes.

Overall not a bad experience. Depending on the load at any particular concourse it can feel crowded and cramped. Generally the passenger facilities are decent. Delta has introduced more power stations in gate areas and that has to be a good thing. Hold on tight in the people mover it starts and stops abruptly.

I have connected a few times in ATL in the AirTran Terminal. I must say this terminal has a great variety of restaurants and bars. It even has a smoking section. Connecting times are very short with AirTran.

Connected at ATL on Delta. We arrived at Concourse B transfer using the tram was fast. Concourse E had a lot of shops good design of the airport although the gate area had a lot of seating. Return flight from CUN we had to go through customs and it the best immigration experience I've had - only one flight so that helps. Food court on Concourse B was great excellent views of the apron and traffic gate area was a bit small. Overall I was impressed with this airport considering it's huge traffic and size it is organized and well ran and friendly staff.

I agree with an earlier reviewer. The return flight out of Atlanta was smooth few queues and comfortable sized gates with lots of amenities. Really very slick. By contrast the arrival is baffling despite the Delta flight trying to explain the inexplicable before landing. In short you clear immigration (I had no problems) and you reclaim your bag from security. This would normally be it. However you need to go through the usual outward bound security checks (shoes/belts etc) all over again. Before you can do that you need to pop your case on a carousel which the sign says will arrive at a similar carousel in the Terminal South/North building. So half an hour for the security check down to the shuttle train which loops round the 5 main buildings and the final Terminal/exit before picking up the bag. I have every sympathy with those who had to wait for their bags although I was just as concerned that anyone could have walked off with them. Not a good way for the city to introduce itself although it seemed to work (just)

This airport has it's good and it's bad points. From the point of view of arriving at this airport it is mediocre at best. Once off the plane you frantically search for the baggage claim signs. This could be improved upon greatly. Once getting downstairs to the shuttles between concourses you are rushed to the baggage claim efficiently. The rental car facilities are well maintained and usually staffed. Leaving the rental car facility is simple then you enter and head directly into the hell that is baggage check-in. If you are fortunate carry-on you are in luck not much waiting. Typically we travel with odd engineering tools which can be a hassel to explain to TSA "agents" who apparently moonlight as Walmart employees. So a carry-on is usually in favor. When you approach the desk and I've only struggled with Delta check-in agents are often discourteous. Many stand around under signs which indicate that terminal is open and when you approach them they are quick to inform you to choose another line. The lines are long because only one person usually checks bags per every 25 people standing in line. Once through this heading for security is simple. There are many places to chop and eat both inside and outside security. The frustration here is their "expert traveler" security point. Located at the end of the hall quite often you get stragglers who miss the main security gate. I have no problem spending a few minutes in security if means I get home safely. My frustration is with those who are completely unprepared and think the world has to wait on them. Once through heading to your gate is simple - at the gate the shops and eateries throughout the concourses. But there isn't enough seating in the gate area for those on each plane. Often crowds and lines form into the main aisle putting you harms way of being run over with impatient shuttle (golf cart) drivers chauffeuring loads of elderly and morbidly obese people. Grab something to eat if there's room and if you have time to stand in line. Do some shopping or find a seat four gates away. People watching is always a good way to pass the time.

What a terrible airport I have never seen such a stupid setup in all my life. After arriving from London on a delta flight we thought we were free of the US security apparatus but no! Post customs we walked into an abusive storm from airport and security officials complaining that we had not bothered to read the signs. Despite not knowing what was going on (there are no signs explaining this ridiculously stupid process) our bags were ripped from us and we were shoved into a long TSA security line. No one else does this so who were we to know. After clearing security and picking our way through an airport that has multiple signs in the terminal for existing (all pointing in several different directions including the wrong direction) we were forced to wait 2 hours for our bags to re-appear. I note that we were greeted with the option of picking from 3 carousels in a luggage lucky dip. 15 International flights and 3 carousels - 3 hours after arriving we were free.

Taking into account that Atlanta is one of the most crowded airports in the world I think it does a great job. I am an American that works out of the country so I spend a fair amount of time going through customs everywhere. While Atlanta's could certainly be improved it is not as bad as many places. Once the new international terminal opens it will further help alleviate the current headache. The rest of the offerings in Atlanta are great however if you aren't flying Delta or Airtran I can see there could be some difficulties with gate changes.