Has anyone had recent experience at Atlanta Airport returning from an international flight? We came back from Crete last September and it took a long time getting through Immigration and Customs even though we have Global Entry. We are coming in on Virgin Atlantic and have 1 hour and 33 minutes to make a connecting flight to Savannah.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
8100 posts
Even someone's recent experience really tells you nothing, your previous experience at Atlanta is about as good as anything. Atlanta is a very busy place, but being primarily Delta, I think incoming International flights tend to be spread out, plus they probably have fewer direct Europe flights than their other hubs like JFK. I would look at 1.5 hours as tight, but completely doable, a bit tighter with checked bags, and if they do not have a separate Precheck/SkyPriority line at security. If things are crazy, they also will accommodate those with tight connection.
With Virgin Atlantic, I assume this is all on one itinerary with Delta, they will get you on the next flight if there is a problem, and there are lots of flights between ATL and SAV, 8-10 a day usually. Your other option is to change to a later flight...safe, but frustrating if you breeze through immigration to sit and watch your original flight head home while you wait another couple hours.
Posted by
Paris
10253 posts
I think what Paul says makes the most sense.
I came through Atlanta in December from Paris with an onward flight to Tulsa, and I don't have Global Entry, and I made it fine. I had an hour and 40 minutes, and I imagine there are many fewer flights on to Tulsa than there are to Savannah. (And I always check bags -- heck, I was coming home for Christmas, so of course I had checked bags!)
Posted by
ATL, USA
537 posts
I just came back from London on Monday and ATL is my home airport. Global Entry kiosks were widely available; the line for those without GE was fairly long but moved quickly. By the time I got through passport control, my bag was there. Because I never transfer there, I don't know how that works, but there is a separate line for transfer passengers and typically you drop off your bag right after you've claimed it and gone through passport control.
The longest point of the whole process was the walk from the plane to passport control. It was 10-15 minutes, but I think it depends on where your plane ends up, because that's not always been the case for me.