Atlanta Airport vs JFK

I've never been through JFK but I regularly connect through ATL and it's very easy. Head downstairs to the Plane Train and you can be at any terminal in just a couple of minutes.

I don't have much experience with ATL but it's a big airport that handles a lot of traffic, like JFK. I'd base this choice on fares and schedules, not the airport itself. You must already know to leave a good time margin for your connections coming and going, maybe a little longer if you're not familiar with the airport.

I always go via Atlanta (usually two round trips a year, so four times a year), and like Mary, find it very easy. The terminals are all connected underground by the train, and they are all straight in a row, so very easy to get between.

The one recommendation I would have is if you are going to eat at the airport before your flight, do it in one of the domestic terminals before going on to the international terminal. There are a LOT more choices in the domestic terminals.

Are you starting/ending in San Diego? If so, I'd try hard to avoid connecting at either JFK or ATL - or any other east coast airport, for that matter. I understand that SAN probably doesn't have tons of nonstop options to Venice, but I'd look hard at a short hop to another west coast hub (for you, LAX or maybe SFO, possibly even SEA or YVR), then catch a flight there either directly to Venice (if you can, though stil not a lot of options) or someplace else in Europe as close to Venice as possible. If you connect in eastern North America, it breaks up your long trip into two trips that are still pretty long (long enough to feel like it's taking you forever), but not long enough to actually get solid sleep on the way. I'd rather maximize a single long flight (from the west coast) to Europe, even if that adds a short leg at the beginning or end (maybe even if it adds both). Avoid connections in eastern North America, those expose you to higher risks of airport melt-downs, missed connections, and other delays before you even get to Europe. If something goes sideways once you reach a connecting airport in Europe, then you will have many more (and less disruptive) options to make it to your destination without losing a day in transit as things get sorted out. I know, it may be harder to find that flight or it may cost a little more, but for me, I'd try hard to do it, and skip the connection at JFK or ATL if at all possible. Might still be worth it - just a suggestion. Good luck.

I enjoy flights in and out of both airports - Atlanta for the last 50 years and JFK for the last 18 years. Living in New England I use JFK almost exclusively for originating international flights bound for Europe and Atlanta for flights to South America and points south in Africa. Most are nonstop or require a single connection. I head in the direction of the least expensive flight with the shortest travel time. My family lives in Georgia so I’ve flown in and out of Atlanta at least 30 or more times in the last 12 months. It is a breeze to connect through. You can walk or ride between terminals. JFK is great if your connecting flights are in the same terminal. The AirTrain that connects the terminals is not on the secure side so if you have to change terminals you may have to go through security an additional time. Some airlines’ transfers are facilitated by secure side buses thus eliminating this security check but I’ve never had to use them.

Atlanta is very, very easy. Yes, it is big and busy, but the plane train between terminals makes it a piece of cake. Speaking of food, if you are departing from the international terminal (and you should be) and want something to eat before your flight, eat in on of the other terminals. The restaurants in the international terminal are not, in my opinion, good choices. Trust me, you don't want a Varsity Chili Dog before a long flight.

I lived in Atlanta 10 years, so it's like my home airport. I'm still surprised it works so well.

There are a few U.S. airports that I avoid like the plague, and one of those is JFK. ORD is another with very bad memories, and one I never will fly through. I'm also not a Charlotte airport fan when connecting to overseas flights.

We've been flying out of Huntsville--finding some reasonable airfares. It has relatively little air traffic for a city of this population. And the security staff is fast and even nice to travelers.

I never have any problems with JFK. I am originally from NY so know it pretty well.
But now I do avoid Atlanta after a terrible experience there due to huge crowds. We finally gave up trying to buy any food due to extremely long lines. Such a mob scene. A very uncomfortable 3-4 hour layover.

ATL used to be my nemesis airport (multiple missed connections and running to catch flights) until I figured out that it was mostly my choice of layover time and not the airport per se. Give yourself 2 hours minimum on the way, coming home more. I'd also check the timeliness of your options in a site like https://www.flightaware.com/ - not a perfect predictor, but if a flight is consistently late that would suggest picking a longer transfer. As others have said it's pretty easy to navigate the airport. Food choices are for sure better in domestic terminals.

I would always choose ATL over JFK. Unfortunately, fares, especially first class, are much cheaper from JFK.
EDITED: I also think the food choices are better at ATL, if you have a long layover. And yes, I'm referring to the food in the domestic terminals.

I too avoid JFK and agree that ATL is super easy especially the international terminal.

I’ve done both and prefer Atlanta. When I have a long layover at JFK, it is such a boring spot to be waiting. But, I usually go with the amount of time for a layover & the price. I don’t want to be stuck in either one with a missed flight.

Are you starting/ending in San Diego? If so, I'd try hard to avoid connecting at either JFK or ATL - or any other east coast airport, for that matter.

Following up on this. If you want to fly Delta (obvious from your history) from San Diego to one of the large Northern European airports then Minneapolis is the clear choice: directly on the way as the crow flies, more nonstops from San Diego than either NY or Atlanta, no need to catch a 7 am flight from SAN to get a late afternoon flight to Europe, and ensuring the transatlantic flight is over 8 hours for sleeping, Also MSP for SkyTeam (like United @ Dulles) has dedicated security for domestic connections after international arrivals which is a perk, no need to exit the secure area and join the general security line near ticketing with those just starting their journeys. Never used ATL so that may be possible there also.

This doesn’t work for Italy though. I just did a Delta connection outbound at JFK and it was simple, the domestic arrivals and international departures are mingled on the same stretch of concourse.

This video is only 8 months old. I WOULD NOT subject myself to this, it’s incredibly far to walk, like 15 times the typical walking distance for an international arrival, easily 1000 times farther walking than a Minneapolis international arrival where immigration is at the end of the jetway. Honestly I think the 1 Atlanta walk shown in the video is longer than my last 40 international arrivals combined.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CKYhbDjXTZA

Currently looking at either JFK or ATL for a Lima return connection, would choose JFK over what is shown in this video.

I live in Atanta.

Our immigration officers seem determined to make return to the US painful. Also prepare to walk for about 30 minutes

I connected at JFK this summer. It was much nicer imho

We’ve had some very confusing connections at JFK. The signage is terrible. Atlanta, on the other hand, is easy. The terminals are all connected by a train, or you can walk it. It can be a very long walk, but if you’re not in a hurry, a walk feels pretty good after bein cooped up on a plane.

We’ve had some very confusing connections at JFK

Currently anyway all the Delta flights use Terminal 4, one long concourse with the domestic and international flights co-mingled so beyond effortless to connect outbound, a 1-10 minute walk left or right. There are basically no domestic connecting passengers on Delta at JFK, those connecting domestically in New York on Delta are over at LaGuardia. Haven't done the inbound direction but I suspect a person would have to walk on the lower level all the way back to Terminal entry for the immigration process, but then just re-enter the same concourse at the main security check. There's no need for signage, at least flying Delta, when all the Delta flights are in the same building. Having everything in one building is a lot better than having to take a train or shuttle to another building, or walk to another building which if the video is correct is required at Atlanta.

The plane train in ATL works very well-there's no reason to walk between terminals.

Carol, I agree about the officers at Atlanta. It's like they're trying to be unpleasant.

After finding another Atlanta international arrival video also talking about a long (0.6 mile) walk to customs

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DF8vJmCplcI

I was perplexed about the opposite experiences posted here and shown in the videos. Then I realized that some international arrivals do not disembark at the international terminal but in Terminal E. Those passengers can’t take the train because they haven’t gone through immigration. They have to do the Long Walk underground in a secure corridor to get to the International Terminal where they clear immigration, only then are they able to access the train.

But you can’t access the plane train until you go through immigration

We have signs telling you it’s up to a half hour walk from your plane to our surly immigration agents

The one recommendation I would have is if you are going to eat at the airport before your flight, do it in one of the domestic terminals before going on to the international terminal. There are a LOT more choices in the domestic terminals.

Interesting information. Didn't know that. Usually with major airports, it's the international terminals that have the better shops and better food options.

Hi CJ,

I was felled by jet lag at the start of my last RS tour, so I've changed the way I fly over.

I minimize jet lag from the west coast by flying to JFK and spending the night at the TWA hotel at terminal 5.

Then I take a day flight overseas, British Air has one. (Boston also has one, plus some good hotels right in the terminal, but you asked about JFK). Then we sleep upon arrival, and are good to go the next morning. Yes it takes an extra day, but so does getting over jet lag.

I don't think this is an option from Atlanta.

Someone suggested that you use Seattle as a hub from San Diego. It's a great idea for returning. The international terminal in Seattle is new and efficient and wonderful and fast, especially if you have Global Entry.

Then I take a day flight overseas, British Air has one.

There are 3 from JFK: BA, Virgin Atlantic, and American. Chicago and Boston also have one each. Many can get early am flights to connect to these day flights, a person doesn't have to live just in these 3 cities to take advantage.