Common readers could also be uninterested in me pointing this out, however for these of you who’re new right here, I don’t stay in New York or Los Angeles. I stay in Atlanta. Like, Atlanta Atlanta, not Cumming or Alpharetta. I can actually see the Financial institution of America constructing from the place I’m sitting proper now. I additionally grew up in Georgia, which suggests I’ve been flying out of the Atlanta airport for so long as I can bear in mind. Granted, I didn’t do a variety of flying till I used to be in my 20s, however Hartsfield-Jackson is my airport, and I’m uninterested in folks saying it sucks.
To be clear, this isn’t something new. I’ve been listening to complaints about Hartsfield-Jackson since earlier than it was Hartsfield-Jackson (and hooo boy did those self same folks additionally complain once they modified the identify). I additionally simply by no means understood them. Positive, safety strains could be lengthy generally, however outdoors of that, the format is sensible and is straightforward to navigate, there’s a aircraft prepare that shortly carries you between terminals, and also you’ve bought loads of eating choices shut to each gate. It’s truly fairly nice so far as airports go.
Now, I perceive frequent enterprise vacationers most likely hate Atlanta as a result of they’re continuously connecting by means of. Nobody likes hanging out in the identical airport for his or her thirtieth layover of the yr. These persons are allowed to complain. who’s not allowed to complain, although? The individuals who don’t take the aircraft prepare. It’s a significant worldwide airport. It’s going to be huge by design. In addition they knew that it was huge and constructed the aircraft prepare to resolve that drawback.
Again after I nonetheless had a Precedence Cross membership by means of a bank card, the one lounge I had entry to was within the worldwide terminal all the best way on the finish of the road. I’d commonly trip out to Terminal F, hand around in the lounge till perhaps quarter-hour earlier than my flight began boarding, hop again on the aircraft prepare and get to my gate with out a problem. Generally, I even have my trip drop me off on the worldwide terminal simply to get by means of safety quicker. It’s fast. It’s handy!
And but, when my dad and mom went to Italy a number of years in the past, their flight bought modified from the worldwide terminal to one of many others. One of many {couples} that was touring with my dad and mom referred to as them frazzled as a result of it was taking so lengthy to stroll to the brand new gate. WHAT?!?! That’s a completely unhinged resolution that additionally makes completely no sense. Strolling between terminals is one thing you do since you need to stretch your legs or kill time, not as a result of it’s environment friendly.
They’re not the one ones to do that both. Go on any Reddit thread the place the Atlanta airport comes up, and also you’ll see remark after remark about how terrible it’s and the way it takes perpetually to get to your gate. For those who’re used to solely ever flying out of tiny regional airports, I suppose the dimensions might be intimidating, however that’s not Atlanta’s drawback. And also you positively don’t want two hours at a minimal to make your layover. You simply must take the aircraft prepare, and I’m uninterested in folks appearing like that’s an enormous ask.
Finally, we’re nonetheless speaking about an airport right here, so it’s by no means going to be a beautiful expertise. The very best you possibly can normally hope for is that your expertise is first rate sufficient. Allegedly, the Centurion Lounge is fairly cool, however I wouldn’t know as a result of I’ve by no means been. Nonetheless, having flown out of and thru extra airports than I can depend within the final 10 years, I can let you know Atlanta is much from the worst. For those who refuse to make use of the aircraft prepare, that’s on you.
