Atlanta: Customs & Immigration

Some passengers find the customs & immigration process intimidating, but ATL has
clear signage and plenty of staff members to direct passengers through the process.
Heres what will happen:

1) DEPLANING. Youll exit your flight at the E or F concourse, and will walk down a
hall to Passport Control. Atlanta bound passengers who arrive at E will continue down
the long sterile hallway to go through customs and immigration at F. The hallway has
moving walkways, but if the 15 minute walk is too much there are also electric carts
you can ride. Connecting passengers will go through C & I at the concourse at which
you land.

2) PASSPORT CONTROL. Some passengers will be given blue declarations forms to

fill out on while on the plane, but this is no longer required of most passengers. You do
not have to fill out a form if you are a US or Canadian citizen or if you traveling on a
Visa Waiver (ESTA) and have visited the US at least once since 2008. Instead, you will
proceed to the automated kiosk to scan your passport and answer questions on the kiosk
display. In the alternative, you can download the TSAs Mobile Passport app, and then
proceed through the Mobile Passport line.

3) BAGGAGE CLAIM. After passport control, proceed to a special smaller baggage

claim area. There is a prominent display sign listing all of the arriving flights, and
advising as to which carousel will contain your luggage. Pick up your luggage. There
are free carts provided so that you do not have to carry it all.

4) CUSTOMS. From baggage claim, enter the customs area, where there will be
customs agentes posted at podiums. As you and your luggage pass through, hand the
customs agent either your print-out from the kiosk or the blue customs form that was
handed to you on the plane and stamped by passport control. Sometimes theyll ask you
a question, but usually they just let you walk right through.

5) BAGGAGE CHECK FOR TRAVELERS WITH CONNECTING FLIGHTS.

- For those passengers catching connecting flights: Next you will enter a baggage check
room. Drop off your bags at the baggage claim carousels assigned to your flight.
Overhead screens will direct you to the appropriate baggage check carousel. After
dropping your bags, proceed to security.

6) SECURITY FOR TRAVELERS WITH CONNECTING FLIGHTS. Those with

connecting flights will then proceed through security. This is as stringent as the security
youd go through when entering any airport, so be prepared to remove your belt, shoes
and anything metal, remove your laptop, and have any liquids in 3oz containers in a
ziplock bag. You can take your carry-on through this security check and keep it with
you. (You may want to pack items that you carried on into your last flight into your
checked bags if you no longer want to tote them around). Except as provided in the
paragraph below, you cannot take liquids of more than 3 oz through security.

7) CONNECTING FLIGHTS. After exiting security, youre free to proceed to the gate
for your connecting flight. If traffic is not high, this process usually takes about 30-45
minutes (less if you didnt check bags), but it can take longer at peak times and if you
are not a citizen/resident. For those arriving in Concourse E, walk through a lobby area
that has currency exchange, and proceed to the escalators. If you are connecting to
another flight that departs from the E Concourse, take the escalator UP to the concourse.
In all other situations, take the escalator DOWN, which will take you to the train that
runs under the airport. For those arriving in Concourse F, follow the signs to the Plane
Train.
 Some more information about ATL

Q: How do I get from the international terminal to the domestic terminal?

A: A free shuttle service is available from the international terminal. Shuttles leave at
the curb outside the international terminal and drop off passengers at the west end of the
domestic terminal. Passengers also can take the Plane Train from the international
terminal to the domestic terminal.

Once you arrive in Atlanta, (and clear customs & immigration if arriving from abroad)
check the overhead screens or your carriers app to determine which Gate (numbered)
and Concourse (lettered) your next flight will depart from. For example, A39 is Gate 39
on the A Concourse.

Even if this information is printed on your boarding pass or was given to you when you
checked in for your first flight, it is important to confirm this once you arrive in Atlanta,
as gate assignments can and frequently do change. If you are already on that Concourse,
just walk to the next Gate. If you are not, follow the signs towards the center of the
Concourse, which direct you to the Plane Train, which you will use to reach the other
Concourses. The Plane Train runs to all Concourses, runs about every 2 minutes, and
takes about 3-4 minutes to run from F to T.