Incoming Flights to Atlanta Airport: What to Know Before You Land at ATL

If you’re tracking incoming flights to Atlanta Airport (Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, ATL)—whether you live in metro Atlanta, are flying in to visit, or are picking someone up—understanding how arrivals work at this airport makes everything much easier.

Below is a practical, Atlanta-focused guide to incoming flights, arrivals, and what happens after landing at ATL.

Overview: How Incoming Flights Work at Atlanta Airport

Hartsfield-Jackson is one of the busiest airports in the world, with domestic and international flights arriving all day and late into the night.

Key points for any incoming flight:

• Two main sides of the airport
  • Domestic Terminal (North & South)
  • International Terminal (Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal)
• One long central hub: The Domestic Concourse T and Concourses A–F are linked in a straight line, connected by the Plane Train and walkways.
• Arrivals and baggage claim are on the lower level of each terminal.

If you’re watching an incoming flight to Atlanta, your main questions are usually:

• Is the flight on time, delayed, or diverted?
• Which airline and terminal is it using?
• Where should I pick someone up (or go after I land)?

How to Check Incoming Flights to Atlanta Airport

1. Using Airport Flight Information

You can check arrivals for ATL using airline tools or general flight status platforms. Look for:

• Airline name (e.g., Delta, Southwest, United)
• Flight number
• Origin city
• Scheduled vs. estimated arrival time
• Arrival terminal and gate

Most systems display incoming flights under “Arrivals” or “Incoming Flights.”

For in-person status checks, ATL has flight information display boards throughout:

• Near baggage claim
• Just inside terminal entrances
• In Concourses T–F

These monitors update regularly with On Time, Delayed, In Air, Landed, At Gate, or Canceled status.

2. Checking Through the Airline

For the most specific details about an incoming flight:

• Use the airline’s website or mobile app
• Enter flight number or origin and date
• Look for status like “Departed,” “In Air,” “On Approach,” or “Arrived”

Airlines that have heavy incoming traffic to Atlanta include:

• Delta Air Lines (Atlanta is its primary hub)
• Southwest Airlines
• American Airlines
• United Airlines
• Major international carriers arriving from Europe, Latin America, and Asia

Domestic vs. International Incoming Flights at ATL

Domestic Incoming Flights

Most U.S. domestic flights arrive at:

• Domestic Terminal (North or South) for baggage claim and ground transportation
• Concourses T, A, B, C, D, or E for gate arrival

After landing:

1. The plane parks at a concourse gate.
2. Passengers deplane into the concourse area.
3. To get baggage and leave the airport, they follow signs to:
   • Plane Train → Baggage Claim / Ground Transportation
   • Or walk via the underground pedestrian tunnel

Domestic arriving passengers do not go through customs or immigration (unless they’re coming from certain U.S. territories where separate procedures might apply).

International Incoming Flights

International flights to Atlanta may arrive at:

• Concourse F (International Terminal)
• Concourse E (also handles many international arrivals)

After landing from abroad, arriving passengers typically:

1. Go through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (passport control).
2. Collect checked baggage.
3. Go through customs inspection.
4. Exit into the International Arrivals Hall at the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal.

📍 International Terminal Address
Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal
6000 N Terminal Pkwy
Atlanta, GA 30320

For people picking up international passengers, it’s important to note:

• Pickups should be at the International Terminal if the flight arrives there.
• Some international flights that connect onward in the U.S. may have passengers clear customs in Atlanta, then re-check baggage to another destination.

Where to Pick Up Incoming Passengers at Atlanta Airport

Domestic Pickup: North & South Terminals

Hartsfield-Jackson’s domestic side has two main arrival areas:

• North Terminal Arrivals / Baggage Claim
• South Terminal Arrivals / Baggage Claim

Your pickup spot depends on which airline your arriving passenger is flying:

👉 Ask the arriving passenger which airline and terminal is listed on their ticket or itinerary.
When driving in, follow highway signs for:

• “Domestic Terminal – North” or
• “Domestic Terminal – South”

Once there, follow signs for Arrivals / Baggage Claim / Passenger Pick-Up.

International Pickup: Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal

For an incoming international flight that lands at the International Terminal:

• Follow highway signs for “International Terminal”
• You’ll be directed to the separate International Arrivals roadway and passenger pickup area

After customs, arriving passengers step into the International Arrivals Hall, where they can:

• Meet family/friends
• Access ground transportation, taxis, rideshares, MARTA service shuttles, and rental car shuttles

Ground Transportation After an Incoming Flight

Whether you live in Atlanta or you’re visiting, you have several ways to leave ATL after landing.

MARTA (Atlanta’s Rail System)

The airport is directly connected to MARTA:

• Station Name: Airport Station
• Location: At the south end of the Domestic Terminal, inside the Ground Transportation Center

From there you can ride MARTA trains to:

• Downtown Atlanta (e.g., Peachtree Center, Five Points)
• Midtown (e.g., North Avenue, Midtown station, Arts Center)
• Buckhead and other parts of the city along the Red/Gold Lines

For travelers arriving at the International Terminal, free airport shuttles connect the International Terminal with the Domestic Terminal and MARTA station.

Rideshare (Uber, Lyft)

Rideshare pickup zones are clearly marked at ATL:

• Follow signs for Rideshare / App-Based Rides
• Typically located in designated areas of the Domestic Terminal and International Terminal

Expect:

• Higher demand during evenings, weekends, holidays, and big Atlanta events
• Possible surge pricing during peak times

Taxi Service

Official Atlanta airport taxis queue outside the arrival levels:

• Look for signs to Taxi from the baggage claim area
• Fares to downtown, midtown, or Buckhead often follow general, commonly known ranges, but actual cost depends on traffic and route

Rental Cars

Rental car companies operate out of the ATL Rental Car Center (RCC):

• Accessible via the SkyTrain from the Domestic Terminal
• For International Terminal arrivals, take a shuttle or connect via the Domestic side first

The RCC houses most major rental brands in one complex.

Meeting Arriving Passengers: Timing and Tips

When Should You Arrive at the Airport?

If you’re picking someone up from an incoming flight to Atlanta:

• Monitor the flight status as it approaches ATL.
• Arrive around the scheduled arrival time if the flight is on time, but remember:
  • It usually takes 15–30 minutes after landing for passengers to get off the plane and reach baggage claim.
  • International arrivals may take 30–60 minutes or longer because of customs and baggage.

⏱️ Helpful tip:
Wait in the airport’s Cell Phone Lot until your arriving passenger calls or texts that they are ready at the curb. This avoids circling the terminal.

Cell Phone Waiting Lots

ATL has free cell phone waiting areas near the terminals. Drivers can:

• Park temporarily
• Wait until the passenger calls from baggage claim
• Then drive to the Arrivals curb for pickup

Check airport roadway signs for “Cell Phone Lot” as you approach the terminal.

What Incoming Passengers Should Expect After Landing

If you’re the one arriving in Atlanta, here’s what typically happens:

1. Deplaning and Getting Oriented

• Follow the “Baggage Claim / Ground Transportation” signs.
• If you need a connection, follow signs to “Connecting Flights / Plane Train” instead.

2. Using the Plane Train

The Plane Train is ATL’s automated underground train that connects:

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

If you’re arriving at a distant concourse (for example, E or F) and heading to baggage claim in the Domestic Terminal:

• Board the Plane Train
• Ride to “Domestic Terminal / Baggage Claim” station

3. Baggage Claim

Once at the correct terminal:

• Look for baggage carousels with your flight number and origin city.
• If your bag is delayed or missing, go to your airline’s baggage service office, usually near the carousels.

4. Leaving the Airport

From baggage claim you can access:

• MARTA
• Rideshare zones
• Taxi stands
• Shuttles to hotels, parking, and the Rental Car Center

Special Situations for Incoming Flights at ATL

Connecting Flights in Atlanta

If your incoming flight to ATL is not your final destination:

• Follow “Connecting Flights” signs after you deplane.
• Stay inside the secure area if your bags are checked through.
• Use the Plane Train to reach your next concourse.

For international-to-domestic connections:

• You may need to:
  1. Clear customs and immigration.
  2. Collect your baggage.
  3. Re-check bags at a connection counter.
  4. Go back through security before boarding your next flight.

Allow extra time; many travelers plan for a longer layover in Atlanta when coming from overseas.

Weather Delays and Diversions

Atlanta’s frequent summer thunderstorms or winter weather can affect incoming flights:

• Expect ground holds (planes waiting to depart their origin)
• Holding patterns in the air
• Occasionally, diversions to other airports if conditions are severe

If you’re picking someone up:

• Keep checking the live flight status
• Wait for confirmation that the flight has actually landed before driving to the curb

Quick Reference: Incoming Flights at Atlanta Airport

Key Things to Remember

• Airport Code: ATL
• Official Name: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
• Domestic Terminals:North & South, each with its own arrivals area
• International Terminal:Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal (Concourse F)
• Arrivals Level: Lower level of each terminal, where baggage claim and passenger pick-up are located
• Public Transit:MARTA Airport Station connected to the Domestic Terminal
• Main Uses:
  • Domestic: Most U.S. flights, heavy Delta presence
  • International: Flights from Europe, Latin America, Caribbean, and beyond, handled at Concourses E and F

Whether you’re a local Atlantan heading to the airport to meet family, or a visitor arriving for the first time, understanding how incoming flights at Atlanta Airport flow—terminals, ground transportation, timing, and pickup locations—will make your arrival smoother and less stressful.