Where do you pick up someone coming in on an international flight into Atlanta airport?
I want to park and meet them inside the airport. Where is the best place to park to be as near as possible to do this? They don't have an American cell phone as they are foreign. Hence the question. I am sure that international baggage claim is not the same as regular baggage claim, because it's inside of the customs area. So someone coming in on an international flight comes out from a different place than you would if you were coming out from a domestic flight. That's why I'm asking the question. Deke, Maybe you're right and I appreciate the help, but I do know for sure that baggage claim for flights from Europe are not the same as regular baggage claim for domestic flights. I flown through Atlanta on international flights at least 50 times and, believe me, it's a separate baggage claim inside of the international terminal before you go through customs (I don't know, but maybe flights from Canada arrive in a different place). I have always connected to other flights and never exited to Atlanta from there, so I don't know where it is from the outside. I'm trying to find a map of the whole airport, but all I can find are maps of the individual terminals. The map I found of the international terminal only has the departure area, not the arrival area. Chris, I did not know that the baggage was transferred to regular baggage claim. Seems strange that they would do that, but thanks for the info. I will tell my friend, so that they will be aware of how it works.
Atlanta - 6 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
You'd park at the hourly parking, regardless of where they're coming in. Once inside the building, you'll not be able to go past the gates unless you have a ticket yourself. You'll be able to meet them at the top of the escalators bringing people from the terminals (including the international terminal) every few minutes, or at baggage claim. Your best bet would be to have each other's cell phones, so that you can coordinate where you're both at once your friend lands. EDIT : The int'l baggage claim is exactly the same. I picked up a friend from Canada two years ago, and the method I described is exactly how I went about locating her. You could also make a sign with your friend's name on it, and wait near the escalators. They will have to come up those before they hit baggage claim or the exits.
2 :
Deke is spot on with his suggestions. Just to clarify the baggage claim thing, since you bring up a good point about customs: Once the person arrives on an international flight, their first stop will be passport control (immigration area), then they proceed downstairs to the international baggage claim area, and take their luggage through customs. Then they put their checked luggage back on a conveyor belt. The luggage will then be moved to the regular baggage claim up in the main airport terminal, near where Deke said you would meet your friend. Next, your friend will go through a security checkpoint screening, just like you typically do when you are arriving to board a plane. After that, they just take the train from there (Concourse E) up to baggage claim. You'll meet them at the top of the arrival escalators (everyone domestic and international ends up at the same main escalators eventually) and then head to baggage claim.
3 :
I just checked the Atlanta airport website and the do have maps of the entire airport. That may be helpful to you.
4 :
Listen to Chris, he's right. Yes, you do get your luggage in the customs area, but then they make you put it on 1 of 2 conveyer belts, either to be put back on a plane or if you aren't continuing to another destination it will go to the baggage claim area where everybody else's goes. Your best bet is to park in hourly and wait at the top of the stairs/escalator with a sign sort of the waiting area. From there you can either go to the north terminal or the south terminal to pick up their luggage.
5 :
Park in short term parking. Meet them at baggage claim. Once they have their bags you can go get the car and drive around and meet them at the curbside pickup so they don't have to carry their bags a long distance.
6 :
Baggage Claim. All passengers must pass through baggage claim to get to ground transportation and exit the airport.
Title : Where do you pick up someone coming in on an international flight into Atlanta airport
Description : Where do you pick up someone coming in on an international flight into Atlanta airport? I want to park and meet them inside the airport. W...