Atlanta Airport Arrivals: What to Expect at Hartsfield–Jackson (ATL)

Arriving at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) can feel like a lot, especially if it’s your first time or you’re trying to meet someone there. ATL is one of the busiest airports in the world, but once you know how arrivals work, it’s much easier to navigate.

This guide walks you through every step of an Atlanta airport arrival—from landing and baggage claim to ground transportation, pickups, and local tips.

Key Things to Know About Arriving at ATL

• Two main terminals:
  • Domestic Terminal (West side) – North and South sections
  • International Terminal (Maynard H. Jackson Jr. Terminal) (East side)
• Seven concourses: T, A, B, C, D, E, F, plus a Domestic Terminal check-in area.
• Most Delta domestic flights arrive at concourses A, B, C, and T.
• International arrivals typically arrive at concourse E or F, connected to the International Terminal.
• An underground Plane Train connects all concourses and both terminals.

Where You’ll Arrive: Domestic vs. International

Domestic Arrivals (Within the U.S.)

If you’re flying into Atlanta from another U.S. city:

• You’ll arrive at one of the domestic concourses: T, A, B, C, D, or sometimes E.
• You do not clear customs.
• After deplaning, follow signs for:
  • Baggage Claim
  • Ground Transportation
  • MARTA (if you’re taking rail into the city)

Domestic arrivals funnel into the Domestic Terminal, which is split into:

• Domestic North (often used by United, American, Alaska, and others)
• Domestic South (heavily used by Delta)

International Arrivals (From Outside the U.S.)

If you’re arriving in Atlanta from another country:

• You usually arrive at Concourse E or F, which are connected to the International Terminal (Maynard H. Jackson Jr. Terminal).
• You’ll go through:
  1. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
  2. Immigration / Passport Control
  3. Baggage Claim (International)
  4. Customs inspection before exiting into the arrivals area

If Atlanta is your first entry point into the U.S., you’ll clear customs here before heading to your final destination.

Step-by-Step: What Happens After Your Plane Lands

1. Deplaning and Following Signs

After landing:

• Follow clearly marked signs for Baggage Claim or Ground Transportation.
• If you’re connecting to another flight, follow signs for Connecting Flights and check monitors to confirm your next gate.

2. Using the Plane Train (Underground People Mover)

Many arriving passengers need the Plane Train to reach baggage claim or their connecting gate.

• The Plane Train stops at:
  • Domestic Terminal (T)
  • Concourses A, B, C, D, E, F
  • International Terminal
• Trains run frequently, and the ride between endpoints is only a few minutes.
• Overhead signs and announcements list each stop, both visually and audibly.

If you prefer not to take the Plane Train, there are walkways connecting concourses, but they can be long and are more time-consuming.

3. Baggage Claim Areas

Your baggage claim location depends on which terminal and airline you used.

Domestic Baggage Claim

• Located at the Domestic Terminal.
• Each airline has designated carousels; check:
  • Overhead monitors
  • Screens near each carousel
• After picking up checked bags, follow signs for:
  • Ground Transportation
  • Rideshare
  • MARTA
  • Parking Garages

International Baggage Claim

• Located inside the International Terminal.
• After passport control, you’ll:
  • Retrieve checked luggage from the carousel listed for your flight.
  • Pass through customs.
• If Atlanta is your final destination, you exit into the International Arrivals hall.
• If you’re connecting elsewhere in the U.S., follow instructions for rechecking your luggage after customs.

Meeting Arriving Passengers at ATL

Domestic Terminal Pickup

If you’re picking someone up from a domestic flight:

• Direct them to:
  • Domestic North or South baggage claim, depending on their airline.
• You can:
  • Use the Cell Phone Waiting Lots until they’re outside and ready.
  • Pull up to Arrivals / Lower Level (short-term loading only).
  • Park in a parking garage and meet them inside baggage claim.

Domestic Terminal Address:
6000 N Terminal Pkwy
Atlanta, GA 30320

Look for ground-level signage showing Arrivals and Passenger Pick-up.

International Terminal Pickup

For passengers arriving from abroad:

• They’ll exit the arrival hall at the International Terminal.
• Pickups occur at the curb outside the International Arrivals area.

International Terminal Address (Maynard H. Jackson Jr. Terminal):
2600 Maynard H. Jackson Jr. Blvd
Atlanta, GA 30354

If you’re not sure where to go, confirm whether the flight is domestic or international and check the terminal and concourse on airline or airport flight-status boards.

Atlanta Airport Ground Transportation Options

Once you’ve arrived and collected your bags, you have multiple ways to get into Atlanta or surrounding metro areas.

1. Rideshare (Uber, Lyft, etc.)

Domestic Terminal Rideshare Pickup:

• Follow signs for Rideshare or App-Based Rides.
• For most domestic arrivals, rideshare pickups are typically in a designated Rideshare area outside the terminal or in a specific zone in the parking area, depending on current airport rules.
• The app will give you:
  • A pickup zone/door number
  • Instructions to meet your driver

International Terminal Rideshare Pickup:

• Follow Rideshare signs from International Arrivals.
• Pickup is typically at designated lanes just outside the International Terminal arrivals level.

Have your app open and your phone charged before heading outside.

2. Taxis

Official taxis serve both terminals.

• Domestic Terminal Taxi Stand:
  Lower level, outside baggage claim, at the Ground Transportation Center.
• International Terminal Taxi Stand:
  Outside the International Arrivals hall, clearly signed.

Taxis usually operate on a metered fare, sometimes with flat rates to certain central Atlanta destinations.

3. MARTA (Atlanta’s Rail System)

If you’re going to Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, or some nearby neighborhoods, MARTA is often one of the simplest and most predictable options.

• MARTA station is located inside the Domestic Terminal at the west end, near baggage claim.
• Follow signs for MARTA from Domestic Arrivals.
• Two main rail lines (North-South) run directly from the airport to:
  • Downtown Atlanta (Five Points station)
  • Midtown
  • Buckhead
  • Up to North Springs or Doraville depending on the line

Important notes:

• MARTA access is only directly connected to the Domestic Terminal.
• If you land at the International Terminal, you can:
  • Take the free shuttle from the International Terminal to the Domestic Terminal, then
  • Enter MARTA from there.

4. Hotel Shuttles

Many Atlanta-area hotels near the airport and some downtown hotels offer complimentary or paid shuttles.

• At the Domestic Terminal, follow signs to the Ground Transportation area and look for the Hotel Shuttle zones.
• At the International Terminal, hotel shuttles may be less frequent; some hotels instruct guests to take the free inter-terminal shuttle to the Domestic Terminal to meet the hotel shuttle.

Always check with your hotel in advance for:

• Pickup location (Domestic vs. International terminal)
• Operating hours
• Identification of the shuttle (logo, color, etc.)

5. Rental Cars

ATL has a separate Rental Car Center (RCC).

• To reach it, use the SkyTrain, an automated people mover:
  • From the Domestic Terminal, follow signs for Rental Cars or SkyTrain.
  • The SkyTrain connects:
    • Domestic Terminal
    • Rental Car Center
    • Select nearby hotel/office stops
• At the Rental Car Center, you’ll find major rental brands in one consolidated facility.

If you arrive at the International Terminal, you may:

• Take a free shuttle directly to the Rental Car Center or
• Take the International-to-Domestic shuttle, then the SkyTrain.

Getting Between Terminals

Because ATL is large and split between Domestic and International terminals, knowing how to move between them is helpful.

Terminal-to-Terminal Options

• Plane Train (inside security):
  • If you’re already past security and just connecting between concourses or terminals, use the Plane Train.
• ATL shuttle buses (outside security):
  • Free shuttle service runs between the Domestic Terminal and the International Terminal.
  • Shuttles operate regularly; follow signs for International Shuttle or Terminal Shuttle.

This matters most if:

• You arrive on a domestic flight and need to meet someone at the International Terminal, or vice versa.
• You park at one terminal but fly in or out of the other.

Parking for Arrivals

If you plan to park and go inside to meet someone:

Domestic Terminal Parking

Options typically include:

• Hourly / Short-Term Parking:
  Closest to the terminal, best for greeting arriving passengers at baggage claim.
• Daily Parking Garages:
  Slightly longer walk or shuttle ride; better for longer stays.

Follow signs on N Terminal Pkwy and S Terminal Pkwy for:

• North Economy / North Hourly
• South Economy / South Hourly

International Terminal Parking

At the International Terminal:

• International Hourly Parking – close to the terminal; good for meeting flights.
• International Park-Ride Lots (if available) – require shuttle service but usually cost less.

Always give yourself extra time for parking and walking, especially at busy times of day.

Helpful Arrival Tips Specific to Atlanta

• Peak congestion times:
  Early mornings, late afternoons, and Sunday evenings are often busiest. Expect more traffic at arrivals curbside and in baggage claim.
• Weather considerations:
  Atlanta’s thunderstorms, especially in summer, can cause delays and gate changes. Check flight status frequently on arrival days.
• Local traffic:
  If you’re heading into the city by car, be prepared for heavy traffic on:
  • I-85 (north-south corridor near the airport)
  • I-75, I-285, and routes into Downtown/Midtown
• Time to Downtown:
  Without traffic, the airport is roughly:
  • 10–20 minutes by car to Downtown
  • 20–30 minutes to Midtown
  • 30+ minutes to Buckhead
    MARTA travel times are often more predictable than driving during rush hour.

Quick Reference: Atlanta Airport Arrival Overview

If You Live in Atlanta: Smart Arrival Strategies

For Atlanta residents meeting flights:

• Use the Cell Phone Lot instead of circling the terminal.
• Confirm which terminal your guest is arriving at and whether the flight is domestic or international.
• If your guest is flying internationally but clears customs elsewhere (for example, connecting through another U.S. city), they may arrive at the Domestic Terminal like any domestic flight.

For locals returning home:

• Consider whether MARTA is more efficient than a ride or parking, especially if you live near a rail station.
• If you parked at the airport, remember:
  • Domestic parking is on the west side.
  • International parking is on the east side.
    Use terminal shuttles if you landed at a different side than where you parked.

Arriving at Atlanta’s Hartsfield–Jackson Airport is straightforward once you know how the terminals, concourses, baggage claim, and transportation fit together. Whether you’re flying in, returning home, or meeting someone, understanding how arrivals work at ATL will make your time on the ground in Atlanta much smoother.