Atlanta Airport Arrivals (ATL)

Flight Arrivals at Atlanta Airport

If you arrive at Atlanta Airport on an international flight, you will land at the International Terminal. Arrivals are on the first floor of this terminal, which is accessible by escalators. It’s important to note that any personal belongings or electronic items that you’re travelling with, such as cameras and laptops, may be checked again at this point.

During the passport control process, you will need to follow the designated signs for U.S. or non-U.S. citizens. U.S. citizens and some visa holders can avoid lines by using APC's (or Automated Passport Control machines). Plus, if you use an APC, you won’t need to complete a Customs Declaration Form. If this doesn’t apply to you, you should have your passport and Customs Declaration Form ready to show to the officer when going through Passport Control. Here, you may be asked about the purpose of your trip and have your picture or fingerprints taken. You should inform the CPB officer if you have anything to declare.

When arriving at ATL, whether for a vacation in Georgia or for a layover, you can rest assured that there are services and provisions to meet your needs there. You’ll instantly be able to connect to the free WiFi at ATL, so that you can contact friends and family straight after your flight. If you’re out of battery, no problem - you can also access charging points at the airport. Most of these are in airline lounges, the details of which can be found on our Flight Departures page.

Upon your arrival, if you want to freshen up then you can do so at Delta Sky Club. If you don’t already have a membership, then you can easily buy a day pass or annual membership when you get there. Delta Sky Clubs can be found in all Concourses, but you should be aware that showers are only located in the clubs at Concourses E and F.
If you didn’t sort out your travel currency before flying, you don’t need to worry. You can find multiple currency exchanges and ATM's located in the Atrium and dotted around the Concourses.

In order to rent a car at Atlanta airport, you should go to the RCC, or Rental Car Center, which is situated just a couple of minutes away from ATL. You can get there easily via SkyTrain and is in operation at every time of day. 13 different hire car brands are available here, so that you can easily find the car and company to suit your needs.

Alternatively, it is cheap and simple to get a metro from the airport to your destination, with MARTA transit system. MARTA is the ninth largest transit system in the U.S., having trains, buses and paratransit vehicles. These provide around 420,000 passenger journeys in Atlanta, Fulton and DeKalb counties every day. MARTA is that main way that both tourists and locals get around Atlanta. There is a station situated at Atlanta Airport, meaning that it’s a convenient option for anybody flying into ATL. This is mentioned in more detail on our pages about transit to and from ATL.