Hartsfield-Jackson guides in ‘100 days of summer’

Airport announces tips to prepare passengers for the year’s busiest travel season

ATLANTA — Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport officials anticipate more than 1.6 million passengers will pass through the facility this Memorial Day Weekend (May 25 through May 28). Total passenger traffic for the holiday weekend is expected to rise by 3 percent over the same period last year.

The Airport is well-prepared for the increased volume of passengers during the “100 days of summer” and is offering simple tips to make travel convenient and pleasurable.

1. Arrive at the Airport early.

•         Traveling internationally? The Airport now has a new front door to the world. All international flights will arrive at and depart from the international terminal complex, which is accessible off Interstate 75.www.atlanta-airport.com/internationalterminal

•         Plan to arrive 90 minutes before domestic flights and two hours before international flights.

•         Check security wait times online at www.atlanta-airport.com, or register for Trak-a-Line to receive real-time wait times via email or to your mobile device.

•         Sign up for Trak-a-Flight, the Airport’s free service that delivers updated flight information to email accounts, PDAs or mobile devices.

2. Save time by parking at the Airport.

•         Hartsfield-Jackson offers ample, convenient parking, with more than 33,000 on-site parking spaces in the hourly, economy, daily, and Gold and Park-Ride lots. The lots are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

•         More than 11,000 on-site Park-Ride spaces offer additional convenience and accessibility. They also are a bargain at just $9 per day at the domestic terminal and $12 per day at the international terminal.

•         There are more than 40 express-pay stations inside both terminals and throughout the on-site parking decks that allow travelers to pay for parking in cash or by credit card before returning to their vehicles.

•         Call 1-877-ATL-PARK or go online at www.atlanta-airport.com for updates on parking availability in all lots.

3. Renting a vehicle? Follow the signs to ground transportation.

•         All rental car companies, customer transaction counters and vehicles are at the state-of-the-art rental car center.

•         Follow the ground transportation signs and enjoy a scenic, five-minute ride on the ATL SkyTrain to the center.

4. Be prepared.

•         Avoid wearing anything metal that will set off security sensors.

•         The Transportation Security Administration asks travelers to follow the 3-1-1 rule for carry-on baggage: 3-ounce bottles or less (by volume); one quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; and one bag per passenger placed in the screening bin.

•         Wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off.

•         Be careful on the escalators if children are wearing rubber or plastic shoes or flip-flops.

5. Shop, dine and explore.

•         Hartsfield-Jackson has plenty of shopping options, including several top-name luxury stores, such as Ermenegildo Zegna and Salvatore Ferragamo. Shops at the international terminal include The Body Shop, Coach, Pandora and Tommy Hilfiger.

•         Grab a bite to eat! This summer, Hartsfield-Jackson is continuing to open new restaurants. During the transition, some food and beverage locations will be closed, but there always will be open locations on each concourse. Please pardon the progress and visit www.iflyatl.com to find a list of dining options on your concourse.

•         Find summertime needs — including sunscreen and books for the beach — at multiple stores.

•         Explore what Atlanta and Georgia have to offer by visiting Georgia-themed stores, including Piedmont Park TravelMart, G. Garvin LowCountry Kitchen, and Savannah’s Candy Kitchen.

•         Need a technical gadget? There are several outlets throughout the Airport.

6. Relax.

•         If there is time for a little pampering before or after a flight, head to XpresSpa, a full-service spa on concourses A and C.

•         Minute Suites on Concourse B offers passengers private rooms to nap, relax or work.

•         Hartsfield-Jackson’s compelling art program displays more than 250 eclectic, internationally focused pieces throughout the facility.

For more information about events and happenings, please visit the Airport’s website, www.atlanta-airport.com.

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