Atlanta Hartsfield Airport

Being a frequent flyer I use this airport a lot. I've used ATL as my starting destination and layover airport and would say it is designed quite well to efficiently handle massive numbers of passengers. Considering its size and passenger traffic it is very easy to change terminals for domestic connections and has a good number of shopping/eating options. The "Plane Train" is large fast and very frequent and the new LED/LCD display inside the train cars looks great. I've had better results using "Plane Train" when changing terminals than trying to walk/run. I usually try to avoid having to go through security during peak hours on Monday mornings (even priority lanes get very long). Other times aren't bad but priority lanes sure do help a lot. "TSA pre" is also available in South Terminal which I heard is more faster and convenient than priority lanes ( haven't personally used that yet but colleagues of mine did). Baggage is also handled quite well. Never had a lost/delayed baggage when checked in at ATL. I've noticed many new exhibits/art works being displayed around the airport (not sure if it is to encourage local artists or anything but surely beats walking past lame advertisements or promotions). Overall its a nice clean huge airport that handles itself quite well. It has its share of issues (could use better signs long lines at security at-times) but which airport doesn't.

The new international terminal is very nice. However the airport does not permit regional shuttles to pick up passengers at the new international terminal (they are permitted to drop off passengers). When arriving if you need to catch a regional shuttle (Groome Transportation) to another city such as Columbus Ga. or Macon Ga. you must first get on a small airport bus that takes you to ground transportation located in the domestic terminal. It is very inconvenient especially with several suitcases. I have never seen an airport with such a system. Regional shuttles should be permitted to pick up passengers at the international terminal. Also when exiting the international terminal there are no signs indicating how to get to downtown Atlanta or other areas. The signs only say I-75 North I-75 South and I-285. This is confusing. There should be big signs showing directions to downtown Atlanta Macon and Montgomery (the domestic terminal has these directions/signage).

My biggest issue is when arriving from an international destination and terminating in ATL if you come in to an E gate you have to walk forever to be screened and pick up bags in the new F terminal. Also with the international terminal when dropping off passengers and then parking there is no place to make a u-turn to get to parking. A rather stupid over sight.

Nice new International Terminal but there is nothing here! I appreciate it's not finished but to have only takeaway options at the Food Court is not good. The price of wine and beer at the bar was blatant profiteering. To pay between $8 and $14.00 for a glass of supermarket wine and then to be served in plastic glasses is appalling. To be fair the Delta staff at check-in were lovely and the TSA staff were less surly than some I've met. Boarding was quick and efficient but I would not choose to fly to or from Atlanta in the future.

If you have to change planes here you feel like you're on a trek from gate to gate. There are trams available but first you have to figure out which one to take and then you have to hope that it's not full. The place is always packed because so many flights originate here (it makes no sense that flights from the midwest to points west are often routed east through Atlanta) and the signs are confusing. Very long and slow moving lines at security so plan to arrive even earlier than recommended by the airlines. Also it may just be our bad luck but every time we have had to change planes there the gates are changed at the last minute requiring a sprint from point A to point B. I can completely understand why there are so many complaints about missed connections here. The one saving grace is that our luggage has never been lost at this airport. We have learned that even if it means extra cost to avoid flights requiring the use of Hartsfield if at all possible.

This is my home airport and since I'm familiar with it I probably find it less annoying that some. My husband and I recently took a trip to Europe. We left out of the old international terminal Terminal E. No real problems. We had checked in prior to our flight so we got the short check in line at Lufthansa. Security went quickly. Hopped on the train out to the terminal. We returned into the new international terminal. It had been open about a week and obviously the "bugs" hadn't been worked out yet. Our flight landed an hour early which caused me concern. We got through customs in a reasonable amount of time. We went to pick up our luggage - it took over an hour. Good thing the plane was early. The luggage dribbled onto the carrousel at the rate of about 2 bags every 5 minutes. As we walked out to the departure lobby we saw an area immediately to our left marked for limo drivers. No one there with our name. When we were dropped off the driver didn't have a card so I needed to find the limo service's phone number. Walked to the information desk in the lobby asked for a phone book so that I could call the limo service. She didn't have one. Asked if she could look up the phone number on the PC sitting in front of her. She gave some excuse about it didn't always work right. Finally gave me a number that was wrong. Atlanta if you want to be a true international city you need to get your airport in order.

Atlanta is very illogical. Coupled with Delta's copious delays and cancellations make sure to have a lot of time for a layover there. My flight was listed on the screens as "At Gate" but it didn't have the gate number! Needless to say that's not the thing you want to see. After asking a pretty unhappy info desk lady I found out it was at the end of terminal E at that time the int'l terminal. The walks are long and you have to ride trains and sometimes buses.

This concerns the recently opened international terminal. First there is only one place to eat in the departure level outside the security check point. It is rather small and often crowded. Second the customs area is too small to handle all incoming flights. Customs officials are rude and bark orders to arriving passengers. Third to catch MARTA or regional shuttles you have to get on a shuttle bus to go to the domestic terminal and ground transportation. That means lugging your heavy luggage onto a shuttle bus. The domestic terminal was much more convenient and offers more services. The only advantage of the new international terminal is that passengers do not have to recheck their luggage and go through security before exiting the airport. Very poorly planned international terminal.

After travelling through most of the world's large airports in the past 20 years Atlanta is by far the worst. The signage is diabolical the staff surly and don't even get me started on the illogicality of screening passengers and baggage after they've landed - you need to allow another 2-3 hours just to get out of the airport!

Flew in to the new Maynard International terminal. Staff at customs seemed to be surprised an international flight had arrived. Only 4 customs officers on duty and very surly people then shouting at you to clear the area even if you were just waiting for friends or family to come through. On the journey back you see the new terminal facility and whilst gate areas are spacious the facilities are very poor. There is a fast food court and a few shops and that's it. There was far more catering available in the domestic piers. Considering this must be a showcase terminal for international travel to not even have a restaurant or bar where you could sit down is ridiculous the domestic piers are also notable for the number of passengers desperately running to catch connecting flights - it almost looks like a sport!