Access Atlanta > The Newcomer > Archives > 2008 > June > 05 > Entry
What to know before you fly from Hartsfield-Jackson the first time…
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
::poof::
That’s my fantasy of connection-free, moderately priced air travel to major cities whooshing off into our “code orange” smog alert.
When making that “Should I stay or should I go?” list before moving here, a big plus was the idea of easy air travel. Three years of living by a tiny airport meant I was waaaaay over shopping for deals that don’t exist and making connections at airports within an hour’s drive.
From Atlanta, I’ve booked good fares and no layovers to Baltimore and — surprise! — Flint, Mich.. But I’m hitting Berkeley for a few days that makes me stop in Los Angeles for many, many hours with Scrabulous and a good book.
Jim Tharpe, the AJC airport writer, tells me Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the world’s busiest airport — busier than Chicago O’Hare, busier than London Heathrow — with 89 million people a year going through it.
If you’re new to this airport…well, it’s quite a trip.
Look below for some travel tips from Tharpe and others. And leave yours in the comments section. What’s your favorite way of dealing with the world’s busiest airport, our very own little Hartsfield-Jackson?
A co-worker just pointed out the AJC’s spiffy airport page. Yea for information.
The airport is easily accessible by MARTA. Totally worth dragging my luggage down McLendon Ave.
Only about 25 percent of passengers using the airport begin or end their flights in Atlanta. Tharpe says we have a saying: “If you die in the South, it doesn’t matter whether you’re headed to heaven or hell, you’ll still have to change planes in Atlanta.” Know what that means? If your long lost sister/friend/roomie is stuck here for five hours, you can go meet them there for grab a meal or a drink.
Some flights are pretty cheap. The AJC releases cheap Web deals every Wednesday. Bozeman, Montana, here I come!
The airport has two security checkpoints — the main 22 gates at the atrium and the T-gate checkpoint, with 3 gates, near the Lufthansa ticket counter. Haven’t tried it, but the airport will send you text messages or emails about wait times, if it’ll help.
The longest security wait times are in the morning from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. or so and in the late afternoon. To avoid crowds, try mid-morning or early afternoon. (Should’ve checked that advice BEFORE booking flights into Oakland…)
The airport has about 30,000 parking places, but there are also “many, many” privately run lots off Camp Creek Parkway that offer huge parking areas and frequent shuttles to and from the airport.
A new, $1.5 billion international terminal is under construction, and Delta Air Lines, the airport’s major carrier, now counts international travel as 35-40 percent of its business. An important quirk: if you’re flying international into the country, wrangling your bags takes longer. Give yourself some time.
The airport employs 55,000 or so people and is the major economic engine for the metro Atlanta and much of the Southeast. But it has vending machines that dispense pretty much everything, including iPods.
Permalink | Comments (27) | Post your comment | Categories: Getting Around
Comments
By Hartsfield
June 5, 2008 7:56 AM | Link to this
First thing is drop the stupid hyphenated name. It’s Hartsfield. Period.
By Jeff
June 5, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this
I’ve only flown 5 times in my life, all in the past 7 years, and I spent time in Hartsfield (I agree with the first poster on that) on all of them. (Last one was Albany-Phoenix, but had to change planes in ATL. All others my origin/final destination was ATL, at least as far as the flight itself was concerned.)
As far as how to handle Hartsfield: Bring a book, get there early, and hang out in the general area of your terminal (at least on the same concourse). I typically get to the airport at LEAST two hours before my flight - at ANY airport, including Albany - and have never had any troubles as far as pre-flight issues go. (Whoever I flew with to San Antonio for Spring Break 2003 put me on one plane and my bags on the next one, buit that is the only issue I’ve had at ALL outside of normal delays.)
As far as airports in general, I’ve been to some interesting ones, and Hartsfield is NOT one of them. Hartsfield is PERFECT for businessmen/people in a hurry, not so good for tourists (which I tend to be, at least in the airport, no matter what I’m doing in the town itself).
By been there, done that
June 5, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this
Yep.. it’s Hartsfield..
some things you just shouldn’t change… and Atlanta has changed enough.. it’s not even southern anymore.
as the song says.. Let it Be, let it be
By been there, done that
June 5, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this
Yep.. it’s Hartsfield..
some things you just shouldn’t change… and Atlanta has changed enough.. it’s not even southern anymore.
as the song says.. Let it Be, let it be
By MP
June 5, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this
It’s just the Atlanta airport to me. Why do we (they) always get hung up on naming stuff.
For the numbers of people who move through there it is phenomenal. Unfortunately the TSA idiots as well as too many airline/airport employees with an attitude and no brains, makes getting on a flight more miserable and concerning than it should be.
By Allie F.
June 5, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this
As a frequent flyer now living in Atlanta; this airport is HELL! You have to arrive two (2) hours prior to your flight to get through security. NYC - 45 minutes most mornings. Who ever designed this facility should be shot. There is seldom a parking place. The TSA agents are the most arrogant, least helpful and rude I have encountered anywhere. They don’t care! And, between the tram and the length of the concourses, it is totally inconvenient, especially if you have to change gates….almost impossible to make a flight. Another example of Atlanta’s hubris planning.
By KLK
June 5, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this
ATL has to be the worst airport in the world to use. It is major acrobats to get thru the rat maze to your gate. If one is elderly or handicapped, it is even worse. Use the Lufthansa security screen area as mentioned in the Blog as the line can be shorter. Travel light and don’t take so much crap with you. Wear comfortable shoes that are easy to take off and make it easy to walk the airport. When you are flying DL, don’t get too comfortable at your Concourse as they may change your gate, which may be on another Concourse. This is my major pet peeve at ATL. Starting out at Concourse A and having to rush to E is no fun! I usually check in online and don’t check a bag. That saves major time so all I have to do is visit security, get on train, and go to my gate. As for parking, we come off of 285, so we go straight to the park/ride lot. We never check airport parking as it is usually full. Writer, understand you are going to Berkeley. I was there last week & found it to be a dumpy town. Cal is a wonderful school, but located in a gross town. Totally disappointed.
By The J Train
June 5, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
I used to rant about the Atlanta airport until I flew through O’Hare. Now all is forgiven.
By JD
June 5, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this
I wouldn’t consider myself a frequent flyer but I’ve been to a few different airports. Hartsfield is amazing considering the mob of humanity that continuously passes through it. The fact that Marta has a dedicated train station is a fact I took for granted until I recently flew in and out of LaGuardia. The facilities are also much nicer than at LGA. LGA doesn’t even have a bar after security. I tend to fly better with a buzz.
It is a huge place and I can see where it may be hard for some to get around in. TSA is gonna be a pain anywhere but in my rather limited experience, flaying in and out of ATL has been pretty hassle free.
By av8or
June 5, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
i think we should change the name to hartsfield jackson king obama muhammed pearson grady franklin aaron coca cola field.
By JeremiahWright
June 5, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
Just stick with “Hartsfield”. Quit giving into Atlanta politicians who have to attach a black man’s name to everything. What a racist, white-hating city.
By Shaye Breed
June 5, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this
Wow… the negativity surprises me. Atlanta’s is a pretty darn well-run airport, especially considering the size and volume of travelers. I fly “frequently” (for someone who rarely flies for business), and so does my husband, and aside from the sometimes rude screeners and occasional unhelpful airline employees, which you’ll find anywhere, I’ve never really had any issues.
My tips: Not checking baggage and limiting myself to one carry-on plus a purse, taking Marta to and from the airport, checking in online, and checking the airport Web site for wait times and any issues have worked very well for me.
I wonder how many complaining have been to many other international airports. Go to Paris and then see if you still want to compain about Atlanta. :P No, it’s never going to be a quick, in-and-out trip—this is not Ft. Lauderdale but the world’s busiest airport. It’s better IMO than Gatwick (stinky) or Frankfurt (crazy security set up so you can’t buy water before your flight) or Stockholm (nothing open when you get there for early flights), better than Philly (insane walks, confusing signage, RUDE people), Midway, O’Hare, or Detroit. Outside of Amsterdam-Schipol (well-connected to transport, good signage, stuff to do while you wait), and the small airports here that are so quick to get through, Atlanta’s airport is much better than most of them to me.
By Jjack
June 5, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this
Most of the TSA people act like they are even better than BOE of clayton Cty.
By Jjack
June 5, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this
Most of the TSA people act like they are even better than BOE of clayton Cty.
By Reality
June 5, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this
Why is that people feel so important because they complain.
By On the fly
June 5, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this
I have to say that I fly out of HJIAP on a weekly basis to many cities across the U.S. and this airport is set up in a rather simple way. Yes it is huge but it is also the busiest in the world. Unless there was a major travel disruption I have never waited more than 45 minutes to get through even when the line snaked outside. You need to pick better days and times to fly rather than a Monday at 7am.
By Corey
June 5, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this
Stop your belly aching. From 1608-1970 everything in America was named after someone white. From 1970 forward a few buildings, roads, schools etc have been named after someone black, and the hicks go balistic. Southerners, give it a rest!
By No choice
June 5, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
Actually, given the number of passengers, and designation as the world’s busiest airport navigating Hartsfield is not bad.
That said, as a very frequent flyer, the negatives include trying to drive to the airport (stay off MARTA at night!!), security check lines, and waiting and waiting for baggage to arrive. An airport north of Atlanta would be ideal and well worth the investment!!
By jim
June 5, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this
When you compare HARTSFIELD Airport wtih OHare, LAX, Boston Logan, Newark, and Dallas, it really is pretty easy to navigate and get to your gate. Once the the CLEAR system is up and working, the average business traveller should once again be able to check in and get to your gate pretty fast.
By Sam
June 5, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this
Secruity experts tell us that the best security is that which happens closest to the potential infraction. Given that, I long for the days when the equipment becomes cheap enough that it can be moved out to the gates (imagine being able to really pick someone up from the airport the way it ought to be done again!). Centralized security does tend to be a bottleneck, but I think Atlanta does a better job of sorting through it than do many others, thanks to the huge number of lanes, which are only VERY rarely closed.
By Sam
June 5, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this
Secruity experts tell us that the best security is that which happens closest to the potential infraction. Given that, I long for the days when the equipment becomes cheap enough that it can be moved out to the gates (imagine being able to really pick someone up from the airport the way it ought to be done again!). Centralized security does tend to be a bottleneck, but I think Atlanta does a better job of sorting through it than do many others, thanks to the huge number of lanes, which are only VERY rarely closed.
By queen
June 5, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this
We do need another airport north of the city, for all of us losers from the burbs that get bad rap for having made big choices like big houses and big cars. Your big lines would be less big. I actually agree with these big mouths.
We can call it Big Old Jet Airliner Carry Me to my Home Field but Make Sure my Pilot is Unhyphenated and Hot.
By JeremiahWright
June 5, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this
When something is named after a white guy, keep it that way. Hartsfield brought the airport here. He means more than Jackson. Name something else after Jackson. It’s insulting to change the name. For God’s sake, there’s even a Billy McKinney highway. “J-E-W-S”.
By Julie
June 5, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this
Air travel stinks anywhere. And in my opinion, the RE-naming of roads, airports buildings, etc is what irritates the Southerners most. We don’t really care what race something is named after, just stop changing things that already have names. Name new stuff after whoever you want and leave the old stuff named as it is.
By Brian
June 5, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this
Man, all these complainers sure must not travel by air much. Granted Hartsfield is far from perfect and there are prlenty of things I would change about it.
I fly alot to places all over the world. Have any of you ever flown in or out of LaGuardia in NYC, Minneapolis St. Paul (now there’s a walking man’s airport), O’Hare in Chicago, Dallas Fort Worth, Newark, LAX, Mexico City, Charles DeGaulle in Paris? All these airports have alot of traffic just like Hartsfield and they suck, really bad.
Considering the sheer size of the place and how many people fly through the airport each day, it flows pretty good, and you don’t have to do a ridiculous amount of walking. (just a fair amount) Once they get the international terminal up and running, the biggest flaw about the airport will be fixed.
For those of you who are complaining about the security checks, write your congressman. The handful of big airports in this country that use private companies to do the screening instead of the TSA have shorter waits per person and catch more contraband when Homeland Security does secret checks. Imagine how bad the TSA would be if the Democrats got their way and forced all the TSA screeners to unionize. They’ve tried to since they took over Congress in 2006.
If you want to see a private company in action and a well run screening process, fly out of San Francisco. I flew out of there a couple of years ago, and it was a breeze compared to any other big airport I’ve flown out of since 9/11/01. The airports screeners are about the only thing that hippie town does right in terms of anything the government can be involved in.
By queen
June 5, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this
I’ll wait in a big line anyday as long as it is for safety. It is important and we shouldn’t complain. I think TSA and most airlines do a great job. On 9/11, I was 1 mile from the Pentagon and 9 months pregnant, in the middle of chaos and not sure how to get out and get home, I admire those who do try and make it safer for everyone today. Don’t complain about having to get there 2 hours early. It is a different world.
By zodiaclove
October 9, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this
hola I can’t agree with what you wrote really…. please explain further a bit more for me :d
cheers