Owais Crawford
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the world's busiest airport, serving more than 100 million passengers annually. It has two terminals: the Domestic Terminal and the International Terminal. The two terminals are connected by the Plane Train, an underground transportation system. Passengers can use the Plane Train to travel between the two terminals, regardless of whether they are flying domestically or internationally. However, international arrivals who need to get to the Domestic Terminal must take an external shuttle bus, which has been described as slow, infrequent, and often overcrowded.
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What You'll Learn
The Plane Train connects the Domestic and International terminals
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is a large and extremely busy airport, transporting over 100 million passengers a year. The airport has 2 terminals: the Domestic Terminal and the International Terminal. The Domestic Terminal is further divided into the Domestic Terminal South and the Domestic Terminal North, with Delta Air Lines occupying the south area and other airlines operating from the north.
The Plane Train is an underground train system that connects the Domestic and International terminals at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The train runs on a 3-mile loop, stopping at Concourses T, A, B, C, D, E, and F, and arrives every 2 minutes. It takes around 10-12 minutes to travel between the Domestic and International Terminals on the Plane Train.
Passengers travelling between the terminals can also opt for the presecurity shuttle service, which takes approximately 12 minutes. However, this shuttle has been described as slow, infrequent, and often overcrowded. In addition, travellers must stand and wait outside in the Georgia heat, which can be very uncomfortable.
The Plane Train is a highly efficient and convenient way to navigate the large Atlanta Airport. It is praised for its speed and ability to transport passengers between terminals and concourses quickly and comfortably. By using the Plane Train, passengers can avoid the long waits and crowds associated with the shuttle service.
It is important to note that passengers arriving on international flights who need to get to the Domestic Terminal are required to use the external shuttle. This is a critical point to consider when planning a trip involving a connection between the international and domestic terminals at Atlanta Airport.
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The shuttle bus is an alternative method
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has two terminals: the Domestic Terminal and the International Terminal. The Domestic Terminal is further divided into the Domestic Terminal North and the Domestic Terminal South. The former is occupied by Delta Air Lines, while the latter is used by other domestic airlines, such as Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and JetBlue Airways.
The Plane Train, an internal terminal train, connects all the concourses and allows passengers to travel from one concourse to another. It is an automated underground train that runs a 3-mile loop between the Domestic Terminal (baggage claim area) and the International Terminal (Concourse F). It stops at Concourses T, A, B, C, D, and E, and a train arrives every 2 minutes. The entire journey from one end of the airport to the other takes under 15 minutes. However, during peak hours, the train can get extremely crowded, and there are no moving walkways to help with the journey to the farthest gates.
It is important to note that the TSA does not care which terminal you use, and the documentation requirements do not change. However, some airlines may not have a check-in desk in the International Terminal, so it is recommended that you call ahead to check.
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The TSA does not care which terminal you use
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the world's busiest airport, serving more than 100 million passengers annually. The airport has two terminals: the Domestic Terminal and the International Terminal. These terminals are further divided into north and south sections, with seven airside concourses in total.
The Plane Train is an internal shuttle train that connects the Domestic and International Terminals. It operates 24/7, with a train arriving every two minutes. The journey between the two terminals takes approximately 10 to 12 minutes.
When it comes to security, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) does not differentiate between terminals. The TSA is concerned with ensuring that all passengers have a valid boarding pass and an accepted form of identification. Thus, regardless of whether you are travelling domestically or internationally, the TSA's documentation requirements remain the same.
Passengers with checked luggage should, however, check with their airline to confirm whether check-in facilities are available at their desired terminal. Additionally, some airlines may not offer services to domestic passengers at the international terminal, so it is advisable to have your boarding pass printed or on your phone, and to call ahead if you need to check bags.
While the TSA does not care which terminal you use, it is worth noting that the international terminal may have shorter security lines, and it is participating in a pilot program using CT scanners instead of traditional X-ray machines. This means that passengers no longer need to remove their electronics from their bags. Nevertheless, the choice of terminal ultimately depends on your personal preferences and the services you require.
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The International Terminal has a pilot program using CT scanners
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has two terminals: the Domestic Terminal and the International Terminal. The Domestic Terminal is further divided into the Domestic Terminal North and the Domestic Terminal South. The International Terminal has a pilot program using CT scanners, which are widely used in the medical sector. CT scanners take hundreds of images of an object at slightly different angles and use this data to create 3D rotatable images. This helps operators detect prohibited items in a passenger's carry-on luggage.
The Domestic and International Terminals at ATL are connected by the Plane Train, which runs every two minutes and takes approximately 12 minutes to travel between the terminals. The Plane Train is located underground and connects the terminals and seven airside concourses filled with shops and restaurants. Passengers can pass through security in either terminal, regardless of their flight, provided they have a valid boarding pass.
If you are flying from the International Terminal, it is important to check whether your airline has check-in facilities at the terminal. Some airlines only offer check-in at the Domestic Terminal. Additionally, if you are arriving at the International Terminal and need to get to the Domestic Terminal for ground transportation, you can take the Plane Train or a shuttle. However, the shuttle is reported to be unreliable, with long wait times and sporadic departures.
CT scanners are being increasingly adopted by airports worldwide, with over 120 airports already deploying them. Atlanta International Airport is one of the airports that has started using CT scanners, along with Rome, London City, and New York/LaGuardia. These scanners improve security by providing more accurate imaging of carry-on baggage, allowing for the detection of prohibited items.
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The Domestic Terminal has north and south sections
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has two terminals: the Domestic Terminal and the International Terminal. The Domestic Terminal is divided into two sections: the Domestic Terminal North and the Domestic Terminal South. Delta Air Lines occupies the Domestic Terminal South, with its own baggage claim area and curbside check-in. Other airlines, such as Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and JetBlue Airways, operate from the Domestic Terminal North, which also has its own baggage claim area and check-in facilities.
The two terminals are connected by the Plane Train, an automated underground train that runs a 3-mile loop between the Domestic Terminal (baggage claim area) and the International Terminal (Concourse F). It operates 24/7, with a train arriving every 2 minutes, and it takes around 10-12 minutes to travel between the two terminals. The Plane Train also connects all seven concourses (T, A, B, C, D, E, and F), which are filled with shops, restaurants, and departure gates.
In addition to the Plane Train, passengers can also walk between concourses via the mall, which features moving sidewalks and art exhibits. Walking from Concourse A to Concourse F takes approximately 35 minutes. However, it is important to note that the Plane Train cannot be used to travel from the International Terminal to the Domestic Terminal. Instead, passengers must use the external shuttle bus, which has been described as slow, infrequent, and often overcrowded. Therefore, it is recommended to plan for at least 45-60 extra minutes when using the shuttle.
The Domestic Terminal has three security checkpoints: the main checkpoint, the north checkpoint, and the south checkpoint. After clearing security, passengers arrive at Concourse T. Gates are marked according to their concourse, for example, T14 is in Concourse T. All concourses, except Concourse T, have gates on both sides, with odd-numbered gates on the eastern side and even-numbered gates on the western side. Each concourse is about half a mile long, and it takes approximately 5 minutes to walk from the halfway entry point to the farthest gate.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, a domestic flyer can use the International Terminal to go through security and then take the Plane Train to their gate. However, if you have checked luggage, you need to check whether your airline has check-in facilities at the International Terminal.
The Plane Train is an internal shuttle train that connects the Domestic and International Terminals. It operates 24/7, arrives every 2 minutes, and takes approximately 10-12 minutes to travel between the two terminals.
Yes, there is a presecurity shuttle service that links the two terminals. However, this shuttle has been described as slow, infrequent, and often overcrowded.
International operators such as British Airways, Lufthansa, and Qatar Airways fly from the International Terminal. Delta Air Lines also operates international flights from Concourse F, which is part of the International Terminal.
The International Terminal offers lounges, food courts, charging stations, flight display screens, and restrooms. There are also two parking lots for hourly and short-term parking.
