Any advice on being at the Atlanta airport the day before Thanksgiving?

[SL6827]

So the day before Thanksgiving my nephew is coming home from the Army for about a week and it will be a great surprise for my parents. We are going to go the Atlanta airport to pick him up. We live about 1.5 hours north of it. Now we have been to the Atlanta airport numerous times but not the day before a major holiday. So I am wondering if there is any advice out there on what we might should consider doing to make the trip there and the wait there enjoyable? His plane "is scheduled" to arrive around 11 a.m.

I am thinking maybe we should get there super early like around 8 a.m. and maybe get through some of the rush hour early or not? Or earlier? I know it will be crowded but I am not sure how we will deal with such crowds. And safety is important. I want to be on guard at all times? Any advice?

 

[AngiTN]

But you aren't flying, right? Not going through security or anything. You won't have any issues aside from parking. There aren't crowds or lines for those waiting for passengers.

 

[kaytieeldr]

There actually might possibly be an issue with parking, as in, there's none available. At this moment, there are spacesj in every open lot - but that could easily change by Wednesday. OP should check here http://apps.atl.com/Passenger/Parking/Default.aspx under current parking, Tuesday night and again Wednesday morning.

Worst case, if the lots are all full, one person drops off the other, then drives to the drop phone lot and wait for the call.

 

[Chief Powhatan]

There actually might possibly be an issue with parking, as in, there's none available. At this moment, there are spacesj in every open lot - but that could easily change by Wednesday. OP should check here

ATL will be crazy that day. You have the right idea though - get there early and be patient. As kaytieeldr mentioned, parking would be my concern. If you arrive early enough, hourly parking "should" be available. Good luck and thanks to your nephew for his service!

 

[spiders]

If you live north of the city then honestly you should consider him taking MARTA and picking him up. MARTA might not be a great transit system but it is good to get from the airport back to the north end.

The thing about Atlanta is that yeah, it is busier than the day before Thanksgiving just like everywhere else but it’s always busy. There’s not too much you can add to an airport that is already ran towards full capacity.

 

[AngiTN]

There actually might possibly be an issue with parking, as in, there's none available. At this moment, there are spacesj in every open lot - but that could easily change by Wednesday. OP should check here http://apps.atl.com/Passenger/Parking/Default.aspx under current parking, Tuesday night and again Wednesday morning.

Worst case, if the lots are all full, one person drops off the other, then drives to the drop phone lot and wait for the call.

This is what we do when we are dropping off/picking up DGD. Even at ATL. Makes more sense all the way around since we want to drop off/pick up at the curb with luggage. No reason for the driver to then drive around and park and walk in.

 

[sethschroeder]

Just find a location close to the airport to grab brunch and wait for your Nephew to give you a call when he lands. You can then make your way over to the cell phone waiting area and pull up to pick him up after he collects his things. Possibly go straight to pick up depending on where you grab brunch.

I mean you could park in hourly parking but you won't be able to get past security anyways to get to the gate or anything.

 

[easyas123]

Just find a location close to the airport to grab brunch and wait for your Nephew to give you a call when he lands. You can then make your way over to the cell phone waiting area and pull up to pick him up after he collects his things. Possibly go straight to pick up depending on where you grab brunch.

I mean you could park in hourly parking but you won't be able to get past security anyways to get to the gate or anything.

Makes sense to me - OP - why not just have him ring you when he is ready to be picked up, drive by - get him - and done.

 

[Spunky946]

I wouldn’t go and hang out at the airport. You can’t get through security, so no sense in parking. I’d plan on getting there 20-30 minutes after he lands. You can sit in the cell phone lot and when he calls, swing past the curb and pick him up.

 

[loves to dive]

Yep, cell phone lot is the way to go. We use it any time any of us are coming in. If we are flying out together, we just call a limo to take us to the airport, easier then driving through Atlanta. We live in Athens, which is north.

 

[RaySharpton]

So the day before Thanksgiving my nephew is coming home from the Army for about a week and it will be a great surprise for my parents. We are going to go the Atlanta airport to pick him up. We live about 1.5 hours north of it. Now we have been to the Atlanta airport numerous times but not the day before a major holiday. So I am wondering if there is any advice out there on what we might should consider doing to make the trip there and the wait there enjoyable? His plane "is scheduled" to arrive around 11 a.m.

I am thinking maybe we should get there super early like around 8 a.m. and maybe get through some of the rush hour early or not? Or earlier? I know it will be crowded but I am not sure how we will deal with such crowds. And safety is important. I want to be on guard at all times? Any advice?

Hi, SL6827.

A lot of good advice from everyone posting.

I don't have any advice for you since I usually travel by my wheelchair using MARTA rail that drops directly inside the Atlanta airport and I live near a rail station.

Here is a link that the Atlanta Journal e-paper recently posted about the busy Thanksgiving Day at the airport if that might help.

Guide to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport

Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport expects a record number of travelers over the busy holiday period, and knowing what to expect can increase your chances of handling the hassles with ease to make it to your destination smoothly.

This year there are a variety of new roadblocks, airline policy changes, and expanded airport amenities. Here’s a guide to the latest updates at Hartsfield-Jackson to help ensure you take to the skies as a savvy traveler.

Airport construction causing frustration for travelers

HOW EARLY SHOULD YOU GET TO THE AIRPORT?


Officials in Atlanta recommend getting to the airport terminal at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights. Hartsfield-Jackson suggests these 5-4-3-2-1 guidelines during busy periods such as holidays:

5: Check out of your hotel 5 hours before departure

4: Turn in your rental car or call Uber or Lyft 4 hours before departure

3: Check bags 3 hours before departure

2: Get in line for security 2 hours before departure

1: Be at your gate 1 hour before departure

You can get updates on parking, security wait times, concessionaires and flight information at the airport’s website atl.com and its iFlyATL app.

PARKING: Off-airport parking shuttle pickups have been relocated from the airport’s ground transportation center to the Terminal North lower-level curbside. Take the escalator to LN1, go out door LN1 on the lower level and turn left, then walk toward the off-airport parking shuttle pickup curbside. The drop-off location for the off-airport shuttles remains the same — at the Terminal North upper level along the outer curb.

Shuttle pickups for airport-run parking have returned to their original spot at the Terminal South curbside.

 

[debster812]

Cell phone lot is the way to go. We do it all the time with DS either at Logan or Ft Myers. He texts us as soon as the plane lands, and they are able to take phones out of airplane mode, that way we know he’s on the ground. He texts us when he’s off the plane, and if he has no checked luggage, we go get him. If he has checked bags, he lets us know when those are in his hands, THEN we go get him.

 

[SL6827]

Thanks sooooo much for all this info. I really had no idea. Boy I am glad I though of asking you guys.