Common readers could also be bored with me pointing this out, however for these of you who’re new right here, I don’t dwell in New York or Los Angeles. I dwell 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 implies I’ve been flying out of the Atlanta airport for so long as I can keep 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 bored with 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 after they modified the identify). I additionally simply by no means understood them. Positive, safety traces might be lengthy typically, however outdoors of that, the format is smart 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 really fairly nice so far as airports go.
Now, I perceive frequent enterprise vacationers in all probability hate Atlanta as a result of they’re continuously connecting by way of. Nobody likes hanging out in the identical airport for his or her thirtieth layover of the 12 months. These individuals 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. Additionally they knew that it was huge and constructed the aircraft prepare to unravel that drawback.
Again once I nonetheless had a Precedence Go membership by way 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 repeatedly trip out to Terminal F, hand around in the lounge till possibly quarter-hour earlier than my flight began boarding, hop again on the aircraft prepare and get to my gate with out a problem. Typically, I even have my trip drop me off on the worldwide terminal simply to get by way of safety quicker. It’s fast. It’s handy!
And but, when my mother and father went to Italy a couple 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 mother and father 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 determination 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 endlessly to get to your gate. In case you’re used to solely ever flying out of tiny regional airports, I assume the dimensions may very well 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 bored with folks appearing like that’s a giant ask.
In the end, 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. In case you refuse to make use of the aircraft prepare, that’s on you.
