tennesseestud

I'm flying home with my wife to visit family in the new year!!

We're flying through Detroit on the way out and Atlanta on the way in. Anybody been through immigration in Atlanta? This'll be a new one for me. Is it better or the same as Newark?

We lost Newark to Birmingham, UK a few weeks ago. However we are gaining Nashville to Heathrow in the summer.

MidAtlantic

You will receive a friendly southern welcome. Much better than Newark in my experience. Have a great trip!

tennesseestud

That's what I was hoping for and a cold coke in a glass bottle.

neill

Immigration in Atlanta is a pleasant, modern facility, seems well organized splitting lanes as needed, but I haven't been through EWR immigration in years to know if that's probably the same, i guess they all have to meet current CBP standards.

lansbury

Every time I've come back from Manchester via ATL, ATL immigration has been a zoo. The lines even for US citizens have been horrendous, it's the main reason Mrs L and I got Global Entry. We now avoid ATL and route back another way.

The non US Citizen line each time looked even worse.

DebzinUS

I totally agree ATL is an absolute nightmare. The International terminal is a distance from the main airport terminal, you have to get an airport shuttle for domestic connections. Usually 90mins -2 hrs getting through immigration, customs and back to the main terminal.

Boomhauer

Atlanta is a good airport; much prefer it to NY. But It's been 2 decades since I flew international via Atl...so...

BenK91

Flew into ATL about 3 years ago.


Queues were horrific, we also seemed to be at the back of the queue as two other flights (Air France, can't remember the other one) had got to their gate before us.


By the time a handful of us had got through immigration our bags had been taken off the carousel and placed on the floor which caused a panic.

wtkp0u

Flew into ATL last week. Lines were well organized but long. Global Entry let us breeze through, probably saved 45 mins.

Giantaxe

Washington Dulles was my experience for shambolic immigration/customs. I remember talking to a Delta flight attendant at the baggage carousel and she said she dreaded being routed back internationally through Dulles.

MidAtlantic

I have traveled in and out of ATL frequently for the last 20 years. Yes, it is busy - the world's busiest airport by passenger numbers - but have always had a friendly welcome by immigration and customs folks.

I can't say the same about Newark, JFK or Chicago, my other main points of entry.

yellowroom

This is my experience in September. While lines were not short, the overall experience at ATL was much more pleasant than either Dulles or Philly - which are my usual international arrival airports.

civilservant

I have never had a problem with waiting times at ATL, even when entering on my Visa I was through inspection in less than 30 minutes.

The skytrain can get a little busy at peak times though, and the walk is a long one.

robtuck

Atlanta is set-up to be a hub, so it is easy to transition from terminal to terminal. Not had problems on entering, but I guess time of day would make a difference. The post about needing to get a shuttle is only relevant if you are exiting the airport to get a car - then you do have to get a shuttle to the car rental area in reality, but it's only 20 mins or so from wait until arrival. If you stay airside the internal train is easy to use.

rpjs

I have noticed that the new passport kiosks have made US immigration much faster where they’re available so if ATL has them now that should help.