Roberta Aguirre
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is one of the world's busiest airports, serving thousands of travellers daily. The airport has two terminals: the Domestic Terminal and the International Terminal. The Domestic Terminal is further divided into the Domestic Terminal South and the Domestic Terminal North. The International Terminal is accessible from Interstate 75 at Exit 239 and has a separate entrance from the Domestic Terminal. When travelling from the International Terminal, it is recommended to arrive a few hours early to allow for processing time, which includes security checks, customs, and baggage claim. Passengers travelling outside the United States should check in at the International Terminal, while those flying within the country should check in at the Domestic Terminal. A free shuttle service is available for passengers travelling between the International and Domestic Terminals, but it has received mixed reviews for its frequency and capacity. Alternatively, passengers can utilise the Plane Train, an underground train system that connects all terminals within the secured area. However, it is important to note that the Plane Train cannot be used to travel from an international arrival to the Domestic Terminal; in such cases, the external shuttle bus is the recommended option.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of terminals | 2 (Domestic Terminal and International Terminal) |
| Domestic Terminal divisions | Domestic Terminal South and Domestic Terminal North |
| Transport between terminals | Plane Train, SkyTrain, shuttle bus |
| Transport to Rental Car Center | SkyTrain |
| Transport to Domestic Terminal Ground Transportation Center | Shuttle bus |
| Transport to/from parking | Shuttle bus |
| Transport to MARTA | Shuttle bus |
| Concourse access from International Terminal | E and F |
| Concourse access from Domestic Terminal | T, A, B, C, D, E, F |
| Security | Multiple checkpoints |
| Customs | Yes |
| Currency exchange | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
The Plane Train connects the Domestic and International Terminals
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is a large and extremely busy airport, transporting over 108 million passengers in 2024. It has two terminals: the Domestic Terminal and the International Terminal. The Domestic Terminal is further divided into Domestic Terminal South and Domestic Terminal North. There are also seven airside concourses with shops, restaurants, and departure gates. The airport is laid out like a fishbone, with the Domestic Terminal as the head, the International Terminal as the tail, and the concourses as the ribs.
The Plane Train is an automated people mover system located at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. It connects all of its terminals and concourses. The system is currently operated and maintained by Alstom and operates in the secure area of the airport, connecting the two landside terminals with its seven airside concourses. The Plane Train operates within the airport's Transportation Mall, which consists of three underground tunnels running through the center of the airport. The trains operate in the two outer tunnels, while the middle tunnel contains a pedestrian pathway with moving walkways. The system has eight stations: one at each of Concourses A, B, C, D, E, and F (International Terminal), and two in the Domestic Terminal—one at Concourse T and the other at Concourse A.
The Plane Train provides quick and easy transfers for passengers, with departures every 2 minutes. It is accessible to wheelchair users and can be reached via elevators to access the underground tunnels. During peak hours, the trains stop at the eastbound side of the Concourse F platform, unload, and then proceed to a cross-over track to return to the westbound side of the platform. During off-peak hours, trains use the cross-over track before reaching the platform and arrive/depart from the westbound Concourse F platform.
Passengers can use the Plane Train to connect between the Domestic and International Terminals, but only if they have passed through security. A free shuttle service is also available between the two terminals, which takes approximately 12 minutes.
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The International Terminal has its own entrance
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has two terminals: the Domestic Terminal and the International Terminal. The International Terminal has its own entrance, separate from the Domestic Terminal. The International Terminal entrance is accessible from Interstate 75 at Exit 239.
The Plane Train is an automated underground train that runs a 3-mile loop between the Domestic Terminal and the International Terminal. It operates 24/7 and arrives every 2 minutes. It is accessible only to passengers who have passed through security. A free shuttle service is also available from the International Terminal, dropping passengers at the west end of the Domestic Terminal. However, the shuttle is described as slow, infrequent, and often overcrowded.
Passengers travelling outside of the United States should check in at the International Terminal, while passengers flying within the US should check in at the Domestic Terminal. If you are flying with checked luggage, you need to check whether your airline has check-in facilities at your chosen terminal.
The International Terminal serves over a million passengers every year. It is advised that travellers through this terminal arrive a few hours early to allow for processing time, including security and customs checks.
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There are multiple security checkpoints
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 South and the Domestic Terminal North. There are three security checkpoints in the Domestic Terminal: the main checkpoint, the north checkpoint, and the south checkpoint.
Passengers travelling outside the United States should check in at the International Terminal, while those flying within the country should check in at the Domestic Terminal. However, regardless of the terminal you are travelling from, you can pass through security in either terminal as long as you hold a valid boarding pass. This means that if you are travelling internationally, you can clear security at the Domestic Terminal and take the Plane Train to the International Terminal. Similarly, if you are travelling domestically, you can clear security at the International Terminal and then take the Plane Train to the Domestic Terminal.
The Plane Train is an automated underground train that runs a 3-mile loop between the Domestic Terminal (baggage claim area) and Concourse F (International Terminal). It operates 24/7, arrives every 2 minutes, and connects all concourses (T, A, B, C, D, E, and F). However, it is important to note that you can only use the Plane Train to travel between the Domestic and International Terminals if you have already cleared security. If you need to travel between the terminals before clearing security, you must use the external shuttle bus, which has been described as slow, infrequent, and often overcrowded.
The security process at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport includes multiple security checkpoints. All passengers will go through these checkpoints, typically just after leaving their plane and before entering their concourse. Passengers can expect metal detectors and long lines, depending on the time of day. It is recommended to arrive early to avoid any issues.
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The shuttle bus is slow and crowded
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the busiest airport in the world, serving thousands of travellers daily. It has two terminals: the Domestic Terminal (further divided into North and South) and the International Terminal. The Domestic and International Terminals are connected by the Plane Train, an automated underground train that runs a 3-mile loop between the two terminals and arrives every 2 minutes. It is praised for its efficiency, but it can get crowded during peak hours.
However, if you are travelling from the International Terminal to the Domestic Terminal, you must take an external shuttle bus. This shuttle service is free and available from the curb outside the International Terminal, dropping passengers off at the west end of the Domestic Terminal. Unfortunately, this shuttle is often slow, crowded, and infrequent, with travellers reporting long waits and full buses. The shuttle is the only ground connection between the public areas of the Domestic and International Terminals, so it is prone to airport traffic.
If you are travelling without checked luggage, you can bypass the shuttle by using the Plane Train. The Plane Train operates within the airport's secured area, so you must have a valid boarding pass to use it. Keep in mind that the Plane Train can only be used to travel between terminals if you are past security.
To summarise, while the shuttle bus service at ATL is free, it tends to be slow, crowded, and infrequent. If possible, consider using the Plane Train instead, which is faster and more efficient, especially if you are travelling without checked luggage and have a valid boarding pass.
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You must check-in at the correct terminal
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is a large airport with a high volume of passengers, so it is important to allow plenty of time to navigate it and clear security. The airport has two terminals: the Domestic Terminal, which is divided into the North and South terminals, and the International Terminal. The Domestic and International Terminals are connected by the Plane Train, an automated underground train that runs 24/7 and arrives every 2 minutes. The Plane Train can only be used by passengers who have already cleared security.
Passengers travelling internationally should check in at the International Terminal, while those travelling domestically should check in at the Domestic Terminal. If you are travelling with checked luggage, you must check whether your airline has check-in facilities at your desired terminal. If you are travelling internationally, you will need to go through customs and security, and it is recommended that you arrive at the airport a few hours early to allow for processing time.
The Domestic Terminal has three security checkpoints: the main checkpoint, the north checkpoint, and the south checkpoint. After clearing security at the Domestic Terminal, you will arrive at Concourse T. Each concourse has gates on either side, with odd-numbered gates on the east and even-numbered gates on the west. Concourse T serves gates T1 to T21 and is operated by Delta, WestJet, United, and other carriers.
If you find yourself at the wrong end of the airport, you can take the free shuttle bus to get to your desired terminal. The shuttle leaves from outside the International Terminal and drops off passengers at the west end of the Domestic Terminal. However, the shuttle has been described as slow, infrequent, and often overcrowded, so it is recommended to take the Plane Train if possible.
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Frequently asked questions
You can use the free shuttle bus service from the International Terminal, which drops off passengers at the west end of the Domestic Terminal. Alternatively, you can take the Plane Train, which is an automated underground train that runs every 2 minutes and connects all terminals.
It is recommended that you arrive at least a few hours early to give yourself plenty of time for processing. You will have to go through multiple security sections, talk with customs, and navigate the airport alongside thousands of other people.
The Plane Train is praised for its speed and efficiency, whereas the shuttle bus is often criticised for being slow, infrequent, and overcrowded.
Yes, as long as you have a valid boarding pass, you can pass through security in the International Terminal and then take the Plane Train to your gate. However, if you have checked luggage, you need to check whether your airline has check-in facilities at the International Terminal.
