How early to arrive at Atlanta airport: 2 hours domestic, 3 international
ATL says arrive 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 before an international one. Airline cutoffs, checkpoint hours and when to add time.
ATL asks you to arrive at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international one. It says screening is busiest between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. and on the days before and after holidays and long weekends. Its tips page stretches the advice to two to three hours, especially in peak seasons.
What the airlines add
Each airline sets a cutoff or a counter schedule on top of ATL’s rule. Our flights page doesn’t show live gates, but it links each airline’s own page with its check-in counters.
| Airline | Recommended arrival | Cutoffs and counter hours |
|---|---|---|
| Delta | 2 hours before departure | Bags at least 45 minutes before departure, no bags at least 30 minutes, at the gate 15 minutes before |
| Southwest | 120 minutes, domestic and international | Ticket counter opens 120 minutes before the first departing flight |
| JetBlue | 2 hours before departure | Ticket counter 3:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. |
Delta’s 45, 30 and 15 minutes are the latest times it says you can check in or reach the gate, so only ATL’s two hours leaves room for security. Delta also won’t accept checked bags more than six hours before departure, so a very early arrival has a limit too.
Two pages disagree with ATL. Southwest’s page lists 120 minutes for international trips, while ATL says three hours. Southwest adds that it wants your passport checked at its counter at least 60 minutes before an international departure. JetBlue’s page says its TSA checkpoint is open 24 hours. ATL’s table lists only Main as open around the clock. For an international trip, plan on ATL’s longer figure, since you’ll queue at the same checkpoint whichever airline you fly.
When the checkpoint hours decide your time
ATL lists these checkpoint hours:
| Checkpoint | ATL’s hours |
|---|---|
| Main | 24 hours |
| North and South | 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Lower North | 3:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| International Terminal | 4:30 a.m. to midnight |
Two hours before departure gives you these checkpoints for a domestic flight:
| Domestic flight leaves | Two hours before | Open on ATL’s table |
|---|---|---|
| 5:00 a.m. | 3:00 a.m. | Main |
| 5:30 a.m. | 3:30 a.m. | Main and Lower North |
| 6:00 a.m. | 4:00 a.m. | Main, North, Lower North and South |
| 11:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | Main and International Terminal, since North, Lower North and South close at 9 p.m. |
South is PreCheck-only, so unless you’re enrolled you’ll choose among the other three. Our security page lists each checkpoint’s hours and lanes, and our security wait times guide shows how to read the live waits.
For an international flight, three hours before a 7:30 a.m. departure is 4:30 a.m., when ATL lists the International Terminal checkpoint opening. With an earlier departure, that checkpoint isn’t open yet. ATL says passengers can reach all concourses and gates from any checkpoint, and Main is open 24 hours.
Add time for how you get there
ATL publishes no shorter figure than two hours, and it asks for extra time at peak times for parking, rental car drop-off, airline check-in and security. Its tips page says the North and South lower roadways give quicker drop-offs and pick-ups. If you park, ATL’s parking page lists a $20-a-day shuttle lot for the Domestic Terminal with a 3 to 5 minute ride from check-in and arrivals. The ATL West Deck gets a 3 to 5 minute SkyTrain ride. The page also says pre-booking helps you avoid a full lot. Our parking page lists every lot and its published rate, and our guide to full lots covers checking space before you leave.
A traveler without a REAL ID or passport needs more time. ATL says TSA ConfirmID averages 10 to 15 minutes and could take 30 or more, and staff escort you out of the line to do it.
Sources
- Our security page, security wait times guide, parking page and full-lot guide
- ATL’s passenger security page, wait times page, parking page, tips for navigating the airport and holiday travel tips
- Delta’s domestic check-in requirements page, Southwest’s airport information page and JetBlue’s Atlanta airport page