Has anyone skipped the final leg of a return international trip in ATL terminal E recently with checked baggage? I know in the new terminal F, travelers can pick up their luggage and walk out. Is this possible in terminal E too? Can I pick up luggage, clear customs, and exit into terminal E? I think I might have to clear TSA security to enter terminal E with my suitcases. I wonder if the x-ray machines are big enough?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ericATL
Has anyone skipped the final leg of a return international trip in ATL terminal E recently with checked baggage? I know in the new terminal F, travelers can pick up their luggage and walk out. Is this possible in terminal E too? Can I pick up luggage, clear customs, and exit into terminal E? I think I might have to clear TSA security to enter terminal E with my suitcases. I wonder if the x-ray machines are big enough?
thanks
I haven't done this in ATL, but it should be possible. All international checked baggage into the US has to be cleared through customs by the owner before connecting (unless mis-connected, etc.). After clearing customs, remove bag tags and exit terminal.
Will not work unless bags are tagged to ATL. After Customs you must re-check all bags. Bags checked to ATL will be sent to baggage claim; other bags will be sent to the outbound aircraft.
This because all passengers must, because of the airport configuration, go through TSA "security" even if they are planning on leaving the airport. And TSA will not permit checked bags through.
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In Terminal E, you pick up your checked luggage, go through Customs, put your luggage back on a conveyor belt, get checked by the TSA, and then get on the train which will take you to Baggage Claim.
It is impossible to enter Terminal E without a TSA check. If your checked luggage has nothing in it which would be banned in carry on, you could probably bring through the TSA with you, but there would be no real advantage -- it will arrive at Baggage Claim almost as quickly as it would with you lugging it.
If your flight arrives on Concourse E and your bags are tagged to another airport beyond ATL, you must go through the FIS in Concourse E, as this is where your luggage will arrive. You will be forced to recheck your bags unless they are small enough to pass as carryons; oversized luggage isn't permitted to enter the security checkpoint. Since the opening of Concourse F, there is no longer a way to send your checked luggage from the E FIS to baggage claim; all ATL-bound passengers are directed to Concourse F.
If your layover in ATL is more than six hours in length, per the contract of carriage, you can have your luggage tagged to ATL, which would allow you to proceed to Concourse F regardless of your arrival gate. Since all ATL-bound passengers and bags are directed to the FIS in Concourse F, your bags would show up on a carousel in F. There is an exit to landside at the Concourse F FIS, so you would be able to leave the airport, bags in hand, without a problem.
If your flight arrives on Concourse F, regardless of how your luggage has been tagged, you can use the landside exit without issue. All non-precleared international flights arriving on Concourse F have passengers and bags directed to the F FIS, regardless of final destination.
Realistically, if you want to exit at ATL, who is going to stop you? Just ask someone how to exit the airport with your bags. May not be the easiest process, but someone should be able to make it work. For every person like you trying to do a hidden ticketing, there is someone else who legitimately has a change in plans, or wants to meet someone outside of security to give them a gift from their checked bag, or wants to leave their checked bag with a friend since they are coming back, etc.
Realistically, if you want to exit at ATL, who is going to stop you? Just ask someone how to exit the airport with your bags. May not be the easiest process, but someone should be able to make it work. For every person like you trying to do a hidden ticketing, there is someone else who legitimately has a change in plans, or wants to meet someone outside of security to give them a gift from their checked bag, or wants to leave their checked bag with a friend since they are coming back, etc.
A red flag for a hidden city review. Do this once and unlikely anybody will care. Do it twice or more and you can expect the parade of horribles detailed throughout FT (frozen account, zeroed out, etc).
Thanks. Does anyone have an idea on how to exit landside from Concourse E? No larger suitcases through the security checkpoint?
I don't believe TSA cares about how big your suitcase is. I've seen people bring through 25" ones at DTW. As long as you don't have prohibited items in your luggage, I believe you will be okay.
Thanks. Does anyone have an idea on how to exit landside from Concourse E? No larger suitcases through the security checkpoint?
If your bags could get through the security checkpoint you could simply take the train back to the terminal (ticketing/baggage claim) & be on your way, just as ATL pax used to do. Take the tags off your bags showing your 'final' destination prior to the line to re-clear security & be mindful of liquids or other prohibited items that may be in your bag. I once had a TSA agent try to stop me from taking a bag thru the check point because it had the ATL bag tag on it, which I tore off on the spot. He didn't seem pleased but I kept walking. This was prior to F concourse.
As said, break the hidden city rules at your own risk.
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If you arrive in E: remove your bag tag when you clear customs. Tell the recheck agent your final destination is Atlanta. They don't ask additional questions. Your bag goes to the South baggage claim.
If you arrive in F, leave with your bags.
Hidden-city ticketing: Don't make a habit of it and you'll be fine.
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The rebooking baggage issue is not a big deal. ATL still has to allow bags at E customs to be checked back to groundside for many reasons.
One could argue that an untagged bag at E would raise a red flag, But given the near certainty of significant F/E screwups going on I suspect they would just ignore this.
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When you're making plans, be aware that international arrival at E versus F isn't guaranteed. Whatever you do should be robust with respect to your flight arriving at the "wrong" terminal at ATL.
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When you're making plans, be aware that international arrival at E versus F isn't guaranteed. Whatever you do should be robust with respect to your flight arriving at the "wrong" terminal at ATL.
I'm told the Concourse E immigrations/customs area doesn't open until 1:00 p.m. OP didn't state the departure city, but earlier flights would be processed through Concourse F.
