A record number of travelers are expected to pass through Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in 2019, and with holiday travel on the horizon, things are sure to be crowded at one of the world's busiest airports.
And now, a new report finds traveling through Atlanta’s airport may require more than just the ability to navigate a crowd. It could also be more costly than most other airports throughout the country, on everything from a cup of coffee before takeoff to parking your vehicle.
The report, published by the travel site The Points Guy, found Atlanta to be the 13th most expensive on a list of the 50 busiest airports in the country.
To determine which airports are most expensive or most affordable, the report looked at common travel costs such as average price of domestic tickets, baggage-cart rentals, parking fees, how much it costs to take an Uber from the center of the city and how much a cup of coffee costs at a Starbucks, or comparable chain.
“Travelers may not go out of their way just to enjoy a less expensive cup of coffee, but it’s important to remember that the cheapest flights may not be worth it if you find yourself relying on a luggage cart to get to the check-in counter, or if you plan on taking an Uber or Lyft to the nearest city center,” the report reads.
The top 15 most expensive airports, according to the report:
1. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) (Newark, New Jersey)
2. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) (New York)
3. Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) (Dulles, Virginia)
4. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) (San Francisco)
5. LaGuardia Airport (LGA) (New York)
6. Salt Lake City International (SLC) (Salt Lake City)
7. George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) (Houston)
8. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) (Philadelphia)
9. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) (Charlotte, North Carolina)
10. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) (Hennepin County, Minnesota)
11. O’Hare International Airport (ORD) (Chicago)
12. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) (Detroit)
13. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) (Atlanta)
14. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) (Dallas and Tarrant counties, Texas)
15. Bradley International Airport in Hartford (BDL) (Windsor Locks, Connecticut)
» RELATED: Do all your holiday shopping at the Atlanta airport
The report found the most affordable airports in the country to be:
McCarran International Airport (LAS) (Las Vegas)
Orlando International Airport (MCO) (Orlando, Florida)
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) (San Jose, California)
Oakland International Airport (OAK) (Oakland, California)
Airport cost comparisons:
» RELATED:
Most expensive: $447.97 (IAD)
Most affordable: $248.27 (LAS)
Parking
Most expensive: $40 (ORD, LAX, MDW)
Most affordable: $10 (CLT)
Cup of coffee
Most expensive: $3.10 (LGA)
Most affordable: $2.15 (PDX)
