Newbie Question: int'l arrivals @ ATL
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 1
Newbie Question: int'l arrivals @ ATL
Flight is from Rome (FCO) -> ATL -> LGA on Delta. U.S. citizen.
We'll have checked bags. Plans have changed since tix were purchased, so now we just need to get to ATL and take a different flight on a different airline a few hours later. Is the process that we'lll pass through customs, grab bags, and re-check them to final destination? And if so, is there anything preventing us from taking said-baggage to another carrier, as opposed to checking it through to the FD? I'm unfamiliar with DL's policies at ATL. Any help is appreciated.
We'll have checked bags. Plans have changed since tix were purchased, so now we just need to get to ATL and take a different flight on a different airline a few hours later. Is the process that we'lll pass through customs, grab bags, and re-check them to final destination? And if so, is there anything preventing us from taking said-baggage to another carrier, as opposed to checking it through to the FD? I'm unfamiliar with DL's policies at ATL. Any help is appreciated.
#2
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 159
If you land at F, easy just walk out with your bag instead of rechecking.
If you land at E, more challenging as all connecting bags stay on E for the recheck. If they're small enough to go through a TSA scanner and meet carry on restrictions, just take them through security and exit either end of the airport. If not, you'd need to get them short checked to ATL and be prepared with a good reason in FCO for that.
If you land at E, more challenging as all connecting bags stay on E for the recheck. If they're small enough to go through a TSA scanner and meet carry on restrictions, just take them through security and exit either end of the airport. If not, you'd need to get them short checked to ATL and be prepared with a good reason in FCO for that.
#3
Join Date: Mar 2018
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If your FCO--LGA is a R/T ticket you should make sure you're aware that cutting out at ATL will invalidate the rest of the trip.
Otherwise I think n/f has you covered.
Otherwise I think n/f has you covered.
#4
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 16
If you land at F, easy just walk out with your bag instead of rechecking.
If you land at E, more challenging as all connecting bags stay on E for the recheck. If they're small enough to go through a TSA scanner and meet carry on restrictions, just take them through security and exit either end of the airport. If not, you'd need to get them short checked to ATL and be prepared with a good reason in FCO for that.
If you land at E, more challenging as all connecting bags stay on E for the recheck. If they're small enough to go through a TSA scanner and meet carry on restrictions, just take them through security and exit either end of the airport. If not, you'd need to get them short checked to ATL and be prepared with a good reason in FCO for that.
Last edited by shammers; Apr 1, 2019 at 3:06 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
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Posts: 6,362
If the bags are checked to LGA and he lands in E, then the bags will be in E customs. OP will need to claim them there and post customs re-check them in to ATL groundside. This used to be the norm. and I assume it is still no problem, but as I do not check luggage I do not know for certain.
#7
Join Date: Mar 2006
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#8
formerly jackvogt
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Atlanta, GA
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Well either way it will be E or F. No other concourses accept international arrivals that require customs and immigration. Honestly it doesn't matter where the flight arrives anyways. As part of international to domestic connection in Atlanta, you claim your bags and then recheck them to your final destination. In the OP"s case, they would just exit with their bags instead of rechecking them.
#9
Join Date: Jul 2005
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Well either way it will be E or F. No other concourses accept international arrivals that require customs and immigration. Honestly it doesn't matter where the flight arrives anyways. As part of international to domestic connection in Atlanta, you claim your bags and then recheck them to your final destination. In the OP"s case, they would just exit with their bags instead of rechecking them.
#10
formerly jackvogt
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: Delta SkyMiles,
Posts: 822
I don't believe that's correct. There isn't 2 separate baggage claims depending on what concourse your arrive in. It all goes to the same place. There are people who connect on every single flight so they can't differentiate between local and connecting bags. Once you go through immigration and customs, you get "spit out" into the baggage claim area. THEN if you are connecting you recheck your bag and go through a different security checkpoint. So regardless of where the inbound flight arrives, the OP will be able to pick up his/her bags and exit the airport as though they were someone whose final destination was Atlanta.
#11
Join Date: Jul 2005
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From the ATL airport website:
There are also quite a few FT threads about this process.
International shuttle connector:
Because Atlanta-bound passengers cannot access secured areas of the Airport after they pick up their luggage at the International Terminal baggage claim, the Airport has established shuttle services to link passengers at the International Terminal with existing facilities. The international shuttle connector offers direct service from the International Terminal to two locations:
#12
In memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
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I don't believe that's correct. There isn't 2 separate baggage claims depending on what concourse your arrive in. It all goes to the same place. There are people who connect on every single flight so they can't differentiate between local and connecting bags. Once you go through immigration and customs, you get "spit out" into the baggage claim area. THEN if you are connecting you recheck your bag and go through a different security checkpoint. So regardless of where the inbound flight arrives, the OP will be able to pick up his/her bags and exit the airport as though they were someone whose final destination was Atlanta.
Your scenario above is true for MOST airports, but, it DOES NOT work that way at ATL! When they added Concourse F onto the airport, this is the goofy scheme they came up with.
Well either way it will be E or F. No other concourses accept international arrivals that require customs and immigration. Honestly it doesn't matter where the flight arrives anyways. As part of international to domestic connection in Atlanta, you claim your bags and then recheck them to your final destination. In the OP"s case, they would just exit with their bags instead of rechecking them.
Last edited by davetravels; Apr 2, 2019 at 5:47 am
#14
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#15
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There are also 2 different sets of immigration and customs officers.