767-332ER From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 2030 posts, RR: 12 Posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 2016 times:
So, ATL is the busiest passenger airport in the world, seeing about 85 million passengers per year. What are your thoughts/views/opinions about the airport (if you've flown into ATL)? Please state what things you like, don't like, would like improved, etc...I am just curious as to what everyone's views are.
Regards
Twinjets...if one fails, work the other one twice as hard!!!
1337Delta764 From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 5774 posts, RR: 2 Reply 1, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 2008 times:
ATL has an excellent design for a hub, both in terms of terminal design and runway layout. Unlike ORD, ATL doesn't have any intersecting runways. The linear terminal design of ATL is also one of the best designs for a hub, much better than DFW. The terminal design of DFW was designed more for O&D traffic.
The Pink Delta 767-400ER - The most beautiful aircraft in the sky
HT From Germany, joined May 2005, 6473 posts, RR: 27 Reply 2, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 2007 times:
International arrivals with ATL being the final destination:
The procedure in place strikes me as odd, but I can understand it from a op' point-of-view:
- Go through immigration
- pickup luggage
- clear customs & USDA-inspection
- put your previously checked luggage onto conveyor belt
- go through security
- board train to Main hall
- pickup luggage a second time
Immigration was a breeze when arriving on a working day, but was overcrowded with too few booths staffed on weekend.
Train system was broken down after my first arrival (international) at ATL, leading (in combination with long queues at security) that I boarded the rental car shuttle bus exactly 2 hours after emerging from the aircraft ...
DL's check-in for international flights looked somewhat outdated, with the AF counter (both for flights in Business Class to CDG) no too much better.
And another strange thing: Although those counters are next to eachother, for the AF-flight my luggage just disappeared behind the PSA, while for the DL-flight I had to drag my luggage to a make-shift screening line. Difference in between those experiences was only a few weeks (late 2005 / early 2006).
That check-in area for international Business Class pax surely was not adequate especially considering that ATL is DL's most important airport (and vice versa). I'm trying to avoid being arrogant here, but I have to say that european carriers AF, KL, LH and SK do have (much) more adequate facilities at their main hubs for checking-in C-class pax (no to speak of the treatment that longhaul First Class pax receive by LH at FRA ...).
For my late afternoon resp. evening departures, security checks were a breeze.
I haven't seen all councourses yet, but upon my last departure the food court in "E" was under reconstruction (no indication of this was visible prior to arriving at concourse E) and I had to take the train back to "B" in order to get some food after a day full of work.
DL's lounge for International B/E-pax is quite nice !
Rental car shuttle had problems to battle its way through traffic last time.
My experiences &
-HT
Carpe diem ! Life is too short to waste your time ! Keep in mind, that today is the first day of the rest of your life !
DeltaGuy767 From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 633 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 1998 times:
I do a lot of flying through ATL because of my loyalty to DL, and I can say that it has the optimal design for a hub. No intersecting rwys. like ORD, makes it much more attractive especially when the wx turns rough as it is known to do in the Southeast. The Concourse setup is ideal for a hub-spoke system, and DL has found ways to make ATL very streamlined, like Metro-North Railroad did with Grand Central Terminal in New York, in the 90's. Although I haven't traveled Internationally though ATL, nor checked in though there, I can't offer any insight to those areas. I think that Rwy. 10/28 will offer greater flexibility, and decrease delays for DL and ATL as a whole.
57AZ From United States of America, joined Nov 2004, 2550 posts, RR: 2 Reply 5, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 1980 times:
ATL is by far the best US commercial airport. Very well designed from the start with the parallel runways and terminals making traffic flow seemless. Standard layout of Terminals A, B, C, D and E make them easy to navigate through.
"When a man runs on railroads over half of his lifetime he is fit for nothing else-and at times he don't know that."
DeltaGator From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 6341 posts, RR: 16 Reply 7, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 1974 times:
Seeing that it is my home airport I like it and while it is large it is also wasy to get around. If you get lost in ATL it is because you are clueless with directions and following signs.
Good terminal layout
Good runway layout
Tons of nonstops throughout the US and Europe on Delta
They confine smokers to the "Terrarium" where the walls are brown from smoke and every looks miserable. Very funny to people watch through the hazy windows.
My only beefs are that the concourses are a little bit narrow compared to DEN or CVG so it can get a bit crowded in there. There aren't moving sidewalks on the concourses but I need the excercise so no big deal there.
Quoting HT (Reply 6): Quoting 57AZ (Reply 5):
ATL is by far the best US commercial airport.
Just out of curiosity: What's your review of DEN ?
DEN doesn't win for me because of one simple reason...they don't have walkways connecting the concourses underground like ATL.
"If you can't delight in the misery of others then you don't deserve to be a college football fan."
HT From Germany, joined May 2005, 6473 posts, RR: 27 Reply 8, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 1968 times:
Quoting DeltaGator (Reply 7): DEN doesn't win for me because of one simple reason...they don't have walkways connecting the concourses underground like ATL.
Point taken. If DEN's train system breaks down they are in major trouble.
However, the main connecting walkway at ATL could use a makeup: Some better lighting and better air-con could do wonders.
And I'm having a modest remodelling in mind here, not some super-duper fancy lighting system like in DTW's McNamara-terminal (connection to that concourse from where the regional flights leave) ...
-HT
Carpe diem ! Life is too short to waste your time ! Keep in mind, that today is the first day of the rest of your life !
Isitsafenow From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 4984 posts, RR: 26 Reply 9, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 1963 times:
Prior to the Olympics, the Cylons from Battlestar Galactica were running the concourse trains. I miss them.
(think about it)
safe
If two people agree on EVERYTHING, then one isn't necessary.
1337Delta764 From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 5774 posts, RR: 2 Reply 10, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 1951 times:
Quoting Isitsafenow (Reply 9): Prior to the Olympics, the Cylons from Battlestar Galactica were running the concourse trains. I miss them.
(think about it)
safe
Are you talking about the train's voice? Currently it is a female voice for the following concourses:
Concourse T as in Tango
Concourse A as in Alpha
Concourse B as in Bravo
Concourse C as in Charlie
Concourse D as in David (Yes, David, not Delta. It makes sense since most flights in Concourse D are not Delta)
Concourse E as in Echo
The Pink Delta 767-400ER - The most beautiful aircraft in the sky
N231YE From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 6 days ago) and read 1945 times:
Quoting HT (Reply 8): some super-duper fancy lighting system like in DTW's McNamara-terminal (connection to that concourse from where the regional flights leave) ...
Tell me about it, I feel like some sort of drug addict walking through it with the overload of lights, colors, and sounds (oh my!). Anyways, its very intersting...
DeltaGator From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 6341 posts, RR: 16 Reply 13, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 1925 times:
Quoting Isitsafenow (Reply 9): Prior to the Olympics, the Cylons from Battlestar Galactica were running the concourse trains. I miss them.
I miss them as well. But we couldn't have all these world visitors coming here and not be able to understand the voice. If they still ha them I'm sure you would find some starving Brit still on there screaming "Where do I get off?!"
Quoting HT (Reply 2): International arrivals with ATL being the final destination:
The procedure in place strikes me as odd, but I can understand it from a op' point-of-view:
- Go through immigration
- pickup luggage
- clear customs & USDA-inspection
- put your previously checked luggage onto conveyor belt
- go through security
- board train to Main hall
- pickup luggage a second time
It is off but they do it because you can come from Intl Arrivals right into the concourses and for whatever reason they don't want all that big luggage wandering through them. Once the new international terminal is built that won't be the case anymore.
"If you can't delight in the misery of others then you don't deserve to be a college football fan."
HT From Germany, joined May 2005, 6473 posts, RR: 27 Reply 14, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 1918 times:
Quoting DeltaGator (Reply 13): t is off but they do it because you can come from Intl Arrivals right into the concourses and for whatever reason they don't want all that big luggage wandering through them.
The reason is pretty clear: You have had access to your previously checked luggage and there could have taken any prohibited objects (read. sharp objects) out of it.
The design of ATL's train system does not foresee a "sterile" car, so all pax need to be security checked and this clearly does include seperating them from the (potentially dangerous) checked luggage.
Quoting DeltaGator (Reply 13): Once the new international terminal is built that won't be the case anymore.
Can you remind me of the schedule for this ? IIRC, the terminal is supposed to be loacted to the east of concourse E with its own access from I-75 or I-285 ?
-HT
Carpe diem ! Life is too short to waste your time ! Keep in mind, that today is the first day of the rest of your life !
DeltaRules From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 3623 posts, RR: 11 Reply 15, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 1906 times:
I really like ATL. The layout is great, as people have said above. I also like how the Concourses are all basically the same layout, so you roughly know where everything is in each of those concourses (food court, some shops & train access in the middle, lower numbered gates South & higher numbers North). It always seems to be a nice airport to connect through.
I like Concourse E a lot. I've only flown into/out of there once, but I've taken the train down there & walked around on long layovers & it's really nice.
The only problems I have with ATL are how narrow Concourse D is & how crowded DL's sections of C & D are. I deplaned off a Comair flight in D in July & had to pick my way around people on my way to the train.
Quoting Isitsafenow (Reply 9): Prior to the Olympics, the Cylons from Battlestar Galactica were running the concourse trains. I miss them.
(think about it)
Do you mean the male voice they had before the current female one? They still have it outside the trains saying "Careful, doors are closing & will not reopen." I liked that one better than what they have now. If that's not it, I never got to hear the "Battlestar Galactica" voice...would be interested to, though!
Quoting N231YE (Reply 4): CVG is very confusing in my opinion.
CVG's Concourse B reminds me of ATL, just more open.
QXatFAT From Israel, joined Feb 2006, 2401 posts, RR: 5 Reply 16, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 1897 times:
Well I havent gone threw a whole lot at ATL but I always love having that place as my connecting city to GRU. I fly SFO-ATL-GRU and I really like the International Terminal. Seeing that great 767 right there at the gate with all of my Brasilian friends . Customs is not that bad of a deal for me. Last time I went threw customs at ATL I was in a wheel chair . My dad was bringing me back from BVB because I got a virus that caused my legs to not function anymore. So my dad had to buy a plane ticket the next day to fly out of FAT all the way to BVB. Total 36 hours! But everyone was so nice there. Seriously the best airport for my connecting flights in my eyes. The only other one I like more is SFO.
Gunsontheroof From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 3462 posts, RR: 11 Reply 18, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 1894 times:
I've been through ATL several times and have nothing bad to say about it. It's easy to get in and out, easy to make connections, and aside from the relative lack of airline variety, fun to arrive and depart at (especially when you have another plane off your wing on approach).
OttoPylit From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 19, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 1885 times:
The one thing I could change about ATL if I could?
Back when Maynard Jackson was mayor of ATL, he arranged it that all vendor contracts in ATL went to minorities. Therefore, ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that I may buy in ATL has a portion of the royalties going to his wife and his estate. And I just don't want that. I have no respect for him, or for any Atlanta mayor, other than William B. Hartsfield, and will never refer to the airport by any other name than Atlanta William B. Hartsfield International.
Other than that, change nothing, except maybe get rid of the orange paneling on the outside for something more...well, non-70's.
San747 From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 4936 posts, RR: 13 Reply 20, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 1877 times:
I've never had a problem transiting through it, even when there was construction going on... I actually found it simpler than DFW...
QXatFAT From Israel, joined Feb 2006, 2401 posts, RR: 5 Reply 21, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 4 days ago) and read 1872 times:
Quoting HT (Reply 17): Hopefully you recovered from this already ?!
Was it a lengthy process ?
Yes I recoverd already. I do have scars on my legs though were certain areas were slightly cut open so they could extract the virus that was in my blood. It was nasty process for me getting better. I will spare you the story. The process of me being in a wheel chair and crutches for awhile as well was 3 months no walking and 1 month in crutches.
September11 From United States of America, joined May 2004, 3623 posts, RR: 23 Reply 22, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 1865 times:
Alitalia744 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 4658 posts, RR: 45 Reply 23, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 1863 times:
only thing i would change about ATL is the width of the concourses. other than that, the airport works like gravy, wavy gravy that is
DeltaGator From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 6341 posts, RR: 16 Reply 24, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 1850 times:
Quoting HT (Reply 14): The reason is pretty clear: You have had access to your previously checked luggage and there could have taken any prohibited objects (read. sharp objects) out of it.
The design of ATL's train system does not foresee a "sterile" car, so all pax need to be security checked and this clearly does include seperating them from the (potentially dangerous) checked luggage.
You are correct. I realized that after I hit post and never went back to fix it.
Quoting HT (Reply 14): Can you remind me of the schedule for this ? IIRC, the terminal is supposed to be loacted to the east of concourse E with its own access from I-75 or I-285 ?
Schedule? Who knows? It is on indefinite hold right now I think. Access should be from I-75 somewhere along the Aviation Blvd exit.
Quoting DeltaRules (Reply 15): Do you mean the male voice they had before the current female one?
No. You might be too young to remember it. It was gone a year or so before the Olympics. It really did sound like a Cylon.
Quoting OttoPylit (Reply 19): Back when Maynard Jackson was mayor of ATL, he arranged it that all vendor contracts in ATL went to minorities.
You gotta love Atlanta and the reverse discrimination. The City Too Busy to Hate?...right. The City Too Bigoted to Renegotiate Contracts If It Takes Money Out of my Family's Pocket is more like it.
"If you can't delight in the misery of others then you don't deserve to be a college football fan."
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From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 2030 posts, 
From Germany, joined May 2005, 6473 posts, 
From Israel, joined Feb 2006, 2401 posts, 
. Customs is not that bad of a deal for me. Last time I went threw customs at ATL I was in a wheel chair 
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