Complete Guide to the Atlanta International Airport International Terminal

As the busiest airport in the world, Atlanta International Airport, or Hartsfield Jackson Airport, provides both domestic and international flights for its thousands of daily travelers. The international terminal serves over a million passengers every year and is one of the busiest travel hubs in the world. If you're traveling through it soon, check out this guide to learn more about what it offers you and your family.

Concourse List for Atlanta International Terminal

When traveling through Atlanta's International Terminal, you can access two concourses: E and F. Travelers arrive at both concourses on the ground floor and can check in near the main gates. Once here, they can also enjoy several activities that make their visit to Hartsfield Jackson Airport more enjoyable, including:

• High Fashion: Buy fashionable clothes from designers like Michael Kors, Coach, and Tommy Hilfiger to remember your trip forever. Most shops are located in Concourse E.
• Reading Shops: In Concourse F, you can visit Simply Books and CNN International News to buy books, magazines, and other popular reading materials.
• Beauty: Visit several beauty shops, including MAC, The Body Shop, and Kiehls, including makeup and skincare products. Primarily available in Concourse E.
• Sunglass Icon: Anyone traveling to a sunny destination may enjoy visiting this shop in Concourse F. Here, they can buy some new and fashionable glasses. 
• Spanx: Buy shapely leggings that provide comfortable support while flying. Located in Concourse E, this destination is a comfortable place to hang out. 

Throughout the terminal, there are also other shops, restaurants, and activities for anyone who has a little extra time on their trip. Restaurants are focused heavily on Georgia favorites and also include hot dogs, Mexican food, Caribbean cuisine, and even bagels.

Customs and Security In Hartsfield Jackson Airport

After you reserve a parking spot from The Parking Spot and ride our shuttle to Atlanta International Terminal, you must pass through customs and security. In today's hyper-secure world, Hartsfield Jackson Airport provides multiple safety guidelines that make the International Terminal safe for all travelers entering or leaving the airport. These include:

• Customs: Once out-of-country fliers get their bags, they must enter the customs hall and talk with customs agents. They'll ask a few questions and check bags if needed. At this point, departing fliers can expect a few more queries about their traveling experience.
• Security: All fliers will go through multiple security checkpoints, typically just after leaving their plane and before entering their Concourse. Expect metal detectors and some long lines, depending on the time of day. It's important to arrive early to avoid any issues.
• Visiting Passport Control: If arriving from an international flight, passengers must fill out declaration forms and go to Passport Control in their appropriate Concourse. Passengers leaving the country must also do this before they leave but at the end of boarding.
• Baggage Claim: New international arrivals at ATL must collect their baggage in a special claims area specifically for international fliers. People departing from the airport must deposit their bags just before passport control and have them checked at security stations.

What to Expect When Arriving at the International Terminal

Whether traveling through Atlanta International Terminal for business or pleasure, you can expect plenty of security checkpoints, lots of comfortable seating areas, and at least two customs facilities.

Once you get off the plane, you'll get filtered into security and customs pretty quickly, usually down the main hall right outside Concourse E or F. Each Concourse provides multiple screening booths that process thousands of people a day, meaning you usually move rapidly. The sheer number of people can be hard to handle at first, so prepare for that before flying.

What to Expect Departing from Atlanta International Terminal

When traveling from ATL's International Terminal, it's critical to show up at least a few hours early to give yourself plenty of processing time. Just like when arriving from outside the country, you'll have to go through multiple security sections, talk with customs, and travel alongside thousands of others. Even weekend getaways with the family can take hours to process. 

You can easily streamline this experience when you reserve a parking spot with The Parking Spot. We serve Atlanta International Terminal from our ATL 1 location on Camp Creek Parkway. Of course, we also serve all terminals Hartsfield Jackson Airport in general and can provide coupons and deals for regular fliers. The Spot Club benefits frequent travelers, especially if you want to move quickly between your car and the airport with no hassle.

International Services at Hartsfield Jackson Airport

When traveling through Atlanta International Terminal, you can access multiple currency exchange options. These include ATMs, banks, and specialized Travelex hubs. Though options are located throughout almost every Concourse in the airport, most are centered in Concourses E and F. Read the following list if you plan on using these services at Hartsfield Jackson Airport:

• ATMs: There's one currency exchange ATM in Concourse F at the center point. There are also options in Concourses A, B, C, D, and T, though you won't be near them in the international terminal. As a result, it's best to stick closer to the Concourse F center point.
• Banks: Currently, ATL has two banks located only in the Atrium in the domestic terminal, with none in the international terminal.
• Travelex: Travelex has terminals in Concourse E at the customs center, its center point, and Gates E12 and E26. Concourse F provides options in the baggage claims area, at the train/customs level, and at Gate F6.

Supported Airlines When Visiting the International Terminal

Atlanta International Terminal supports multiple airlines, some of which are shared with the domestic terminal in Hartsfield Jackson Airport. These include: 

• Aer Lingus
• Aeromexico Connect
• Air Canada
• British Airways
• China Eastern
• Delta Airlines
• Jet Airways
• Lufthansa
• Qatar Airlines
• Thai Airways
• United Airlines
• Vietnam Airlines
• Virgin Australia

These are just some of the airlines available, with others including Air France, Brussels Airlines, Endeavor Air, Iberia, Sky Regional, and Malaysia Airlines. Consider using Global Entry or TSA Precheck to get through security quickly when flying with these airlines.

Service & Help Desks Serving Atlanta International Terminal

Service and help desks in the international terminal include general passenger information, business support, rental car centers, passenger security, and guest relations support. Guest relations includes over 70 Customer Experience Representatives or CXRs scattered throughout the airport at help desks and throughout other important areas of this sprawling facility. 

Passengers can also contact the call center between 7 am and 11 pm by calling (800) 897-1910 or (404) 530-7300. Here, they can talk with customer service representatives, learn more about the many amenities of the airport, and even plan important elements of their trip. This includes help with lost and found items and visits to the in-depth media center in the airport.

Lost and Found Near Hartsfield Jackson Airport

If you lose anything while traveling through Atlanta International Terminal, it's essential to visit the Passenger Airlines at ATL site. Here, you can learn more about this process, including filling out a Lost Item Report. You can also visit the domestic terminal across from the American Airlines ticketing area between 8:30 am and 5 pm Monday through Friday to learn more. 

If you happen to lose your luggage, visit this site to contact your airline directly. Hartsfield Jackson Airport does not handle lost baggage and relies on its partner airlines to handle this process for them. Look through the list of detailed international carriers, find their contact number, and call them to discuss your lost luggage. They'll help make this process easier.

Accessibility / ADA For ATL International Terminal

Whether you're only briefly traveling in Atlanta or plan on visiting the area to check out its many sights, it's important to travel comfortably. For example, people who need wheelchairs or other accessibility support should contact Atlanta International Terminal ahead of time to set up a wheelchair rental. Call your airline in particular before visiting Hartsfield Jackson Airport. 

The international airport also provides services like TSA Cares, which includes support for various disabilities and medical conditions. There are also wheelchair charging stations, adult changing stations, sensory rooms, nursing mother rooms, and other support systems spread throughout the international terminal that will make your travel a lot more comfortable.

How Much Time You Have at Atlanta International Terminal

When visiting Atlanta for summer vacation or simply getting out of the country for a business trip, you should arrive at least 2-3 hours early for all international trips. The reason for this is simple: processing time. Atlanta's international terminal is far busier than the domestic one (which only requires about 90 minutes of processing), and you'll need all that time to get through.

Furthermore, getting there earlier gives you time to walk through the airport, check out some beautiful artwork, grab a bite to eat, and relax before you take off. Even if you're traveling with kids, it's best to show up a bit early so that you're not so rushed. Thankfully, Hartsfield Jackson Airport has some fun activities for kids, including shopping areas and electronic charging zones, to keep them occupied.

Planning Trips with Kids Through Hartsfield Jackson Airport

Traveling through Atlanta International Terminal with kids can be a rough experience. Long security lines and lots of waiting can really wear out most children. It’s important to bring along entertainment for your little ones, including phones, tablets, books, magazines, and travel games. Keep a handy charging cord available to ensure they don’t run out their battery. 

If you have little ones, it’s probably a good idea to ask about strollers, carts, and other vehicles in the international airport. It’s a large, sprawling area, and very young kids might get easily worn out and upset. When all else fails, you can take the Plane Train a few times to show them the sights of the airport, get them where they need to go and keep them engaged.

Pet Relief Areas For the International Terminal

Pet travel can be challenging for both owner and animal, especially for relief pups and cats. Thankfully, Hartsfield Jackson Airport provides multiple pet relief areas. These include outdoor areas (the 1,000-square-foot dog park near the Domestic Terminal) as well as pet relief areas near Gates E14 and F7. These indoor zones include grassy turf areas, snacks, ground-level drinking founts, pet supplies, and cleaning tools like waste bags to keep the area clean.

Airport Shuttle Systems Through Atlanta International Terminal

Hartsfield Jackson Airport provides multiple shuttle systems throughout the international terminal. These provide connections to other facilities in the airport, such as the domestic terminal, parking area, and MARTA services downtown. These shuttles also provide transportation to hotels, convention centers, and other local areas throughout Atlanta.

Furthermore, the underground Plane Train (operating every two minutes and handling over 200,000 passengers a day) can get you swiftly throughout the facility in just a few minutes. The ATL Sky Train connects passengers to the rental car center. Once here, you can book a trip to places throughout Atlanta, including the popular Buckhead region.

Long Layover Activities While at Hartsfield Jackson Airport

When facing a long layover at Atlanta International Terminal, it's important to keep yourself occupied and avoid boredom. Bored kids at Hartsfield Jackson Airport and its bustling international terminal are likely to get into mischief. Sitting around too long without doing something can also make your travel far less enjoyable. Here are a few activities to consider:

• Visit Lounges: Concourse E has a Sky Club lounge where you can get a shower, relax, and even take a nap. Concourse F has the Delta Sky Club and The Club at ATL, both of which feature observation decks, showers, good food, spacious seating, and bars. 
• Get Something to Eat: Concourses E and F have multiple dining options, including bars and lounges, coffee shops, The Pecan Bistro, Jekyll Island Seafood Company, and other unique areas that aren't always easy to find outside the airport.
• Relax in a Spa: When you and your kids have had enough walking around terminal corridors, you can relax at XpresSpa. Here, you can get hands-on treatment from professionals, including back massagers, nail polish changes, and other unique services.

Traveling Successfully Through Atlanta International Terminal

Use this information when moving through Hartsfield Jackson Airport and its international terminal to ensure that you have an enjoyable experience. You should also reserve a parking spot with The Parking Spot ahead of time to speed up your processing time. Every step when traveling with ATL requires advanced planning, so download our app and handle your reservations easily to get quick and efficient transportation to and from your vehicle.