Atlanta Airport Incoming Flights: How to Track, Meet, and Navigate Arrivals at Hartsfield-Jackson

If you’re trying to keep up with Atlanta airport incoming flights—whether you’re landing at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) yourself or meeting someone at arrivals—this guide walks you through what to expect and how to move around the airport smoothly.

Understanding Incoming Flights at Atlanta Airport (ATL)

Hartsfield-Jackson is one of the world’s busiest airports, so incoming flights are constantly arriving throughout the day and night. Flights arrive into two main areas:

• Domestic Terminal (North & South) – For most U.S. flights
• International Terminal (Maynard H. Jackson Jr. Terminal) – For most non-U.S. flights and some domestic flights that connect to international routes

Every arrival is assigned a gate in one of ATL’s concourses:

• Concourses T, A, B, C, D, E – Primarily domestic and some international
• Concourse F – Main international arrivals area
• Concourse T – Closest to the Domestic Terminal

Passengers then move from their gate to baggage claim and ground transportation based on their airline and whether they flew domestic or international.

How to Check Incoming Flights to Atlanta

1. Use the Airport’s Official Flight Information

To check real-time Atlanta airport incoming flights, most travelers use:

• Airport flight information displays (large screens throughout ATL)
• Airline customer service desks
• Airline mobile apps or customer service phone numbers

You’ll typically want to know:

• Airline and flight number
• Scheduled arrival time
• Updated status (On Time, Delayed, In Air, Landed)
• Arrival terminal and concourse
• Baggage claim carousel number (usually posted close to arrival time)

💡 Tip: If you’re picking someone up, ask them to send a quick message when they land and again when they’re at baggage claim. That timing matters for where you should wait by car.

2. Common Flight Status Terms

You’ll often see:

• “In Air” / “En Route” – Flight is on the way to ATL
• “Landed” / “Arrived” – Plane has touched down, but passengers may still be taxiing
• “At Gate” – Passengers are usually getting off the plane
• “Delayed” – New arrival time usually shown
• “Cancelled” – Passenger should contact airline for rebooking

Where Incoming Flights Arrive: Domestic vs. International

Domestic Arrivals

Most domestic incoming flights to Atlanta:

• Arrive at Concourses T–D (and sometimes E)
• Use the Plane Train (automated underground train) or walkways to reach:
  • Domestic Terminal North – Often Delta and some other airlines
  • Domestic Terminal South – Other major U.S. carriers

Once passengers get off the plane, they follow signs to:

1. Baggage Claim (main level of the Domestic Terminal)
2. Ground Transportation (rideshare, MARTA, taxis, shuttles)

International Arrivals

Most international incoming flights to ATL arrive at:

• Concourse F (Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal)
• Some also arrive at Concourse E

International passengers:

1. Go through U.S. Customs and Border Protection
2. Collect checked bags
3. Clear customs
4. Continue to the International Arrivals Hall and ground transportation

If an international passenger is connecting to a domestic flight, they’ll be directed through customs and then back into the secure area or to the domestic terminal, depending on their itinerary.

Meeting Someone Arriving at Atlanta Airport

Key Meeting Locations

Domestic Terminal:

• North Terminal Arrivals Level – Often used for Delta and some partners
• South Terminal Arrivals Level – Often used for many other airlines
• Designated Passenger Pickup Areas outside the arrivals/baggage claim doors

International Terminal (Concourse F):

• International Arrivals Hall – After customs
• Outdoor Passenger Pickup area directly outside the arrivals level

It’s best to confirm with the arriving passenger:

• Airline
• Whether it’s a domestic or international flight
• Which terminal their airline usually uses (North, South, or International)

Picking Up by Car

For drivers picking up arriving passengers, ATL has:

• Curbside pickup (short stops only, active loading only)
• Cell Phone Lots where you can wait in your car for free until your passenger is ready

Cell Phone Lots at ATL:

• Domestic Terminal Cell Phone Lot
  Located off Camp Creek Parkway, near I-85. Follow signs for “Cell Phone Lot – Domestic.”

• International Terminal Cell Phone Lot
  Located off Maynard H. Jackson Jr. Blvd. Look for signs for “Cell Phone Lot – International.”

✅ Best practice:
Have your passenger call or text after they have their luggage. Then you drive from the cell phone lot to the specific terminal curbside. This avoids circling and reduces the chance of getting asked to move by security.

Navigating the Terminals and Concourses

How Passengers Move After Landing

Once your flight lands in Atlanta:

1. Deplane at your assigned gate
2. Follow signs to “Baggage Claim” or “Ground Transportation”
3. Use the Plane Train to reach:
   • Domestic Terminal (for Concourses T–D, and some E)
   • International Terminal (Concourse F and some E)
4. Exit at your terminal and follow signs upstairs or downstairs to baggage claim and arrivals

Plane Train Basics

The Plane Train is an automated underground shuttle connecting:

• Domestic Terminal (T)
• Concourses A, B, C, D, E, F (International)

Trains run frequently, and signs clearly show which direction leads to which concourses and terminals.

Baggage Claim and Ground Transportation for Incoming Flights

Baggage Claim Areas

Domestic Terminal Baggage Claim:

• On the lower/arrivals level
• Divided between North and South
• Overhead monitors show which carousel is assigned to each flight

International Terminal Baggage Claim:

• Located after customs
• Only arriving international passengers can enter
• Friends and family must wait in the International Arrivals Hall outside customs

Ground Transportation Options

After collecting luggage, incoming passengers at ATL can access:

• Rideshare pickup zones (usually a designated area in ground transportation)
• Taxis – Official taxi stands at each terminal
• Hotel shuttles – Many Atlanta hotels run airport shuttles
• Rental cars – At the Rental Car Center connected by the SkyTrain
• MARTA (public transit) – Rail service from the Domestic Terminal

Getting to and from Atlanta Airport Arrivals

MARTA for Incoming Flights

MARTA is often the simplest option if you’re arriving and heading into Atlanta without a car.

• Rail Station:
  Directly connected to the Domestic Terminal (at the end of the Airport station on the Red and Gold lines)
• From there, you can travel to:
  • Downtown Atlanta
  • Midtown
  • Buckhead
  • North Springs, Doraville, College Park, and more along the Red/Gold lines

If you arrive at the International Terminal, you can:

• Take the free shuttle bus to the Domestic Terminal and MARTA station
• Or arrange rideshare/taxi directly from the International Terminal

Driving Directions to ATL Arrivals

Domestic Terminal Address:

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
6000 N Terminal Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30320

• Accessible from I-85 (North or South)
• Follow signs to Domestic Terminal – North or South

International Terminal Address:

Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal
2600 Maynard H. Jackson Jr. Blvd
Atlanta, GA 30354

• Best accessed from I-75
• Follow signs for “International Terminal” (not Domestic)

Quick Reference: Where Will My Flight Arrive?

Use this simple overview to get oriented; always verify details with your airline or flight status:

Tips for Smooth Atlanta Airport Arrivals

• Give extra time in bad weather ⏱️
  Weather anywhere along the route can delay incoming flights to Atlanta, especially thunderstorms and heavy rain common in Georgia.

• Clarify “terminal” vs “concourse”
  Passengers land at a concourse (A, B, C, etc.), then travel to a terminal (Domestic North/South or International). People meeting arrivals should focus on the terminal.

• For older adults or first-time flyers
  Encourage them to follow signs carefully and ask uniformed airport staff if they’re unsure. ATL staff are used to helping travelers navigate the airport.

• If bags are missing
  The arriving passenger should speak directly with their airline’s baggage service office near baggage claim, or use the airline’s app or phone support.

• For tight connections
  If your incoming flight is going on to another destination, gate agents at your arrival gate can advise on the quickest way to reach your connecting gate.

Key Airport Contacts and Info

General Airport Information (Hartsfield-Jackson)
Main Address: 6000 N Terminal Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30320
Main Information Line: Often listed under “Airport Information” on official directories and signage within the terminal.

City of Atlanta – Aviation Department
Manages Hartsfield-Jackson operations and general airport oversight.

For flight-specific questions (delays, cancellations, gate changes), the airline operating the flight is usually the best direct contact, either via its customer service line or mobile app.

Understanding how incoming flights at Atlanta airport are handled—where they arrive, how passengers move through the airport, and where to meet them—makes travel days much easier, whether you’re flying into ATL yourself or picking someone up in the city.