International Check in at Domestic Counter (and vice versa)
Dec 24, 2016, 10:37 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 33
Check-in question for ATL
Flying, on Delta, into ATL on a Wed night, staying overnight at local hotel, then flying, still on Delta, to Cancun on Thursday morning.
Can I check in for the Cancun flight at the domestic terminal ?? or do I have to go to the International terminal.
Will be taking the Sky train from hotel to airport, which drops off a the T concourse end of the airport.
If I must check in a the International Terminal, what is best or quickest way from hotel to that Terminal.
Thanks in advance for all responses, and hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Can I check in for the Cancun flight at the domestic terminal ?? or do I have to go to the International terminal.
Will be taking the Sky train from hotel to airport, which drops off a the T concourse end of the airport.
If I must check in a the International Terminal, what is best or quickest way from hotel to that Terminal.
Thanks in advance for all responses, and hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Dec 24, 2016, 10:41 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2012
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You can check in (on Delta) at either end. However, if the hotel will drop you off at the International side, the experience is much better IMO.
You could take the train to the rental car area then bus to Int'l, but this would not be worth it.
I suspect the hotels will serve the Int'l side but I don't know for sure. Since either side is OK I would just ask when you get there if no one responds with better info.
You could take the train to the rental car area then bus to Int'l, but this would not be worth it.
I suspect the hotels will serve the Int'l side but I don't know for sure. Since either side is OK I would just ask when you get there if no one responds with better info.
Dec 24, 2016, 11:08 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
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Posts: 6,363
Agree with Orca.
BUT, the groundside transportation can also be an issue. Even if the hotel will shuttle you to the east (international) side, you could well lose 15 minutes or so.
If you prefer to stick with the train, just enter the terminal at domestic and survive 10 minutes or so of bumping shoulders with the unwashed masses.
[Monday morning might be different, particularly for those w/o status. TSA can be bad then].
BUT, the groundside transportation can also be an issue. Even if the hotel will shuttle you to the east (international) side, you could well lose 15 minutes or so.
If you prefer to stick with the train, just enter the terminal at domestic and survive 10 minutes or so of bumping shoulders with the unwashed masses.
[Monday morning might be different, particularly for those w/o status. TSA can be bad then].
Dec 24, 2016, 2:41 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2006
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If you're taking the train, just check in on that side. As others have indicated, check-in on the international side only makes sense if you have transit that drops off directly on the international terminal curb in front of check-in.
Security is generally better at the far end of the terminal, not the center, and the Sky Priority line is usually going faster than PreCheck for most of Monday mornings. Thursdays? You may have better luck.
Does the Cancun flight leave out of E or F?
Security is generally better at the far end of the terminal, not the center, and the Sky Priority line is usually going faster than PreCheck for most of Monday mornings. Thursdays? You may have better luck.
Does the Cancun flight leave out of E or F?
Dec 24, 2016, 4:08 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2011
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If you're taking the train, just check in on that side. As others have indicated, check-in on the international side only makes sense if you have transit that drops off directly on the international terminal curb in front of check-in.
Security is generally better at the far end of the terminal, not the center, and the Sky Priority line is usually going faster than PreCheck for most of Monday mornings. Thursdays? You may have better luck.
Does the Cancun flight leave out of E or F?
Security is generally better at the far end of the terminal, not the center, and the Sky Priority line is usually going faster than PreCheck for most of Monday mornings. Thursdays? You may have better luck.
Does the Cancun flight leave out of E or F?
Dec 24, 2016, 6:38 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 33
Thanks for all the answers.
Is it worth taking the International shuttle from the Sky Train rather than fight security ??
The flight to Cancun departs at 8:00am, so I would be going through security at approx 6:00am-6:30am. How is it at that time at the domestic end of the Terminal ???
Is it worth taking the International shuttle from the Sky Train rather than fight security ??
The flight to Cancun departs at 8:00am, so I would be going through security at approx 6:00am-6:30am. How is it at that time at the domestic end of the Terminal ???
Dec 24, 2016, 9:48 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2006
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My experience (perhaps someone who has tried it recently will correct) has been that unless it's a car dropping me, the shuttle bus (presumably from the rental car area) is a worse bet than heading to the main entrance. But where are you starting from?-- that may matter, if there's a reasonable option other than the SkyTrain.
Dec 25, 2016, 7:57 am
#8
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Hotel shuttles generally I find only drop off at the main terminal. Some will bring you if asked, but IME that's the exception.
If you have luggage I'd just checking and do security at the main terminal. Otherwise I believe theres an airport shuttle that runs between the two. However if it's running, it'll be a set schedule if I remember correctly. I normally only transit and don't exit security. Thus it's been over a year since I checked in for a flight there.
If you have luggage I'd just checking and do security at the main terminal. Otherwise I believe theres an airport shuttle that runs between the two. However if it's running, it'll be a set schedule if I remember correctly. I normally only transit and don't exit security. Thus it's been over a year since I checked in for a flight there.
Dec 25, 2016, 4:24 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2006
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Atlanta Airport check in options (International or Domestic)
Hi all
I figured this was covered here already, but a search wasn't fruitful.
Can someone traveling internationally on Delta (first stop an international city) check in at the domestic ATL terminal? Or are they forced to the international terminal?
Everything I read says that you 'should' go to the international terminal. And I know that for any international airline check in it is a must. But not clear about airlines that have check in facilities in the domestic terminal.
I'm asking because we have a group leaving at the same time but with different destinations. I understand they prefer you use the international terminal, but wondering if they will send you away from Domestic or not.
Thanks
I figured this was covered here already, but a search wasn't fruitful.
Can someone traveling internationally on Delta (first stop an international city) check in at the domestic ATL terminal? Or are they forced to the international terminal?
Everything I read says that you 'should' go to the international terminal. And I know that for any international airline check in it is a must. But not clear about airlines that have check in facilities in the domestic terminal.
I'm asking because we have a group leaving at the same time but with different destinations. I understand they prefer you use the international terminal, but wondering if they will send you away from Domestic or not.
Thanks
Dec 25, 2016, 4:27 pm
#10
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Dec 25, 2016, 5:08 pm
#12
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Dec 25, 2016, 10:16 pm
#13
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Again YMMV, someone else may have done that more recently.
Dec 26, 2016, 7:59 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2007
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Posts: 640
Most ATL airport area hotels don't shuttle to the international terminal. I once asked a shuttle driver why and was told that this was for two reasons:
1) Unlike the domestic terminal, the international termnal doesn't have dedicated staging area for shuttle pickup/dropoff, and
2) The hotel would have to double their shuttle vehicles and drivers to cover opposite ends of the same airport.
Mrs. WWGuy and I travel to the Caribbean via ATL a couple of times a year and overnight in ATL hotels going each way. As mentioned above the international check-in and security experience is much better in the international terminal.
A $20 bill covers taxi fare and nice tip for short fare from either terminal to local hotels.
1) Unlike the domestic terminal, the international termnal doesn't have dedicated staging area for shuttle pickup/dropoff, and
2) The hotel would have to double their shuttle vehicles and drivers to cover opposite ends of the same airport.
Mrs. WWGuy and I travel to the Caribbean via ATL a couple of times a year and overnight in ATL hotels going each way. As mentioned above the international check-in and security experience is much better in the international terminal.
A $20 bill covers taxi fare and nice tip for short fare from either terminal to local hotels.
Dec 26, 2016, 2:38 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2012
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I think my original advice was sound, for ANY DL flight at ATL- if you can get to INTL easily, do so (hotel shuttle, rental car shuttle, or as one poster suggested, taxi). Yes it's a long drive but usually seems worth it, especially after 2PM when pre-check opens.
The added benefit is that you are at the F SC.
Do not bother leaving main terminal to go to the INTL terminal, it won't be worth it.
The added benefit is that you are at the F SC.
Do not bother leaving main terminal to go to the INTL terminal, it won't be worth it.