Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta Internationa – TSA Wait Time Report (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take to get through security at Atlanta International airport? ›

It's important to note that wait times at security checkpoints can fluctuate depending on the volume of travelers. It is strongly suggested that passengers arrive at Hartsfield International Airport at least 3 hours before departure time for a smooth pre-check process.

Passengers should plan to arrive at the airport at least two hours prior to scheduled domestic departures and three hours prior to international departures. Wait times at the screening checkpoint vary throughout the day.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has once again been crowned the busiest airport in the world, serving a whopping 104.6 million travelers in 2023.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) currently recommends travelers arrive 2 hours before scheduled Domestic Flights and 3 hours for International Flights. More information and travel tips are available from the TSA at www.TSA.gov.

If you are an average traveler with no special security clearances, some familiarity with the airport, and especially if you are checking a bag, being at the airport two hours early is the recommended time.

How long should it take to clear customs in Atlanta? Anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours depending on how busy it is.

Most airlines recommend arriving at least two hours before domestic flights and at least three hours before international flights.

This is because international flights can have additional check-in requirements, like passport verification, that need to be completed before you receive your boarding pass. Further, international flights tend to begin their boarding process 15 to 30 minutes earlier than domestic flights due to the larger plane size.

If you're flying from the International Terminal, you can pass through security in the Domestic Terminal, and vice versa, providing you hold a valid boarding pass.

Busiest Days/Times: Mondays before 9:00 AM and Fridays 3:00-5:00 pm. TSA screening times vary, depending on departure times. Mid-day; they range from 20-30 minutes, but you can do a same-day check of screening line times at: http://www.atlanta-airport.com/Passenger/Waittimes/Default.aspx.

Why is Atlanta International Airport the busiest in the world? ›

Delta's hub in Atlanta drives the large volumes of passengers connecting through the airport, increasing flight options for local travelers and attracting companies and residents to Atlanta who need easy access to fly around the country and the world. That, in turn, increases demand for flights from other airlines.

International flights require longer connections as you will often have to go through immigration and customs upon arrival. For international layover flights booked on one airline, two hours is often recommended to make your connection.

International flights: Add 30 minutes

Traveling internationally is a longer process than traveling domestically: a valid passport and travel documents are required, deadlines for checked luggage are earlier, you have to wait for customs, and flights typically board earlier.

Yes. TSA PreCheck® is available when you depart from a U.S. airport to a foreign country, and for domestic, connecting flights after you return to the United States.

An hour is tight for a domestic connection - for an international departure they will have started boarding already before you even deplane from SAN. We always recommend at least 2 hours for any connection involving an international flight at ATL.

Security wait times have been a major customer service issue at the world's busiest airport amid a ramp-up in travel since the depths of the pandemic and a recent construction project to upgrade screening equipment at the domestic terminal that reduced capacity at the checkpoints.

Always follow your airline's guidance on how early you need to be at the airport before your flight. As a general guide, you will need to have checked in and be ready to go through security at least 2 hours before your flight departure time.