When doing a trasfer in ATL, do I have to go out and check in again?

Question

I'm going to LAX from Barcelona stopping in ATL. Do I have to go out (with or without Baggage?) and check in again?

Answer 1

All of these answers are generally ok, some are misguided. The only time you would have to check in again in Atlanta is if your connection time is more than 6 hours. You can do this at any of the airlines gates or ticket counters on the concourse. Im assuming you are flying Delta with the route you have posted. As a former Delta employee, please keep in mind that the baggage limits have changed within the US. While you are allowed to still check 2 and carry 2, the weight limits have decreased from 70 lb down to 50 lb. Coming in from out of the country, it may still be a 70 lb limit, but be advised when you return to BCN, you will have to limit each bag to 50lb each. Check the airlines website for your country and it will clear that up for you.

If you wish to lock your bags, please do so. Make sure you get TSA locks. They have master keys for every kind of lock that is approved by the TSA. You can find them in any airport or at most stores in the travel section.

In Atlanta, once you clear customs, you may already have your connection boarding pass. Check the monitors as the gates can and do change in the course of time during your flight from BCN. You will never have to leave the secured area once you arrive. The Atlanta airport, while fairly large, can be intimidating, but its easy to navigate. International Terminal is the last concourse so, you only have one way to go on the train if you have to change concourses. There are a lot of domestic flights that go out of E Concourse where International arrival and departures occur. Below is the website for the Atlanta Airport. Type in your flight numbers to see where the gates are as if you were arriving today. Most of the time, the gates are pretty standard every day, but can change from time to time. That way you will be familiar with the lay out and have an idea of where to go when you get there. Just always check the monitors.

Keep in mind to pack anything in your carry on that you will need upon arrival, medication, keys, a change of clothes and toiletry items. After working in baggage service many times, International Re-check is sometimes where bags can get delayed. So, make sure you keep anything you will need for the first night should your luggage be delayed. Also, print extra copies of your itinerary and place them inside your luggage where they will be easily found, write on them your home address, phone number and any other contact information as well as where you will be staying in LA, phone number and a cell phone if you have one. This helps to identify your luggage should the outer ID tag or destination tags are removed in transit. Also, if your connection is less than 6 hours, your luggage will be checked through to LA, otherwise it will be short checked only to Atlanta and you will recheck it when you clear Customs.

Answer 2

You do not have to check in again. You will only need to check in once at your starting location.

When returning to the US from Barcelona, you will have to take your baggage out to be checked by customs at the first US airport you land in. So if you're coming back from Barcelona and stopping in ATL before going to LAX, you will have to go through customs in ATL

Answer 3

Technically yes because you have to go from the domestic terminal to the international terminal. You will get a transfer on your itinerary so the gate personel know you were on a flight from LAX but for security reasons they won't check your passport and all that other **** until you get to ATL.

Some suggestions: I assume you are flying Delta so you should be able to check your bags all the way through from LAX. Do it. The odds of luggage getting lost are smaller than you think; but don't put any valuables in your checked luggage just in case. Only one carry-on per person. Although, they are usually pretty lenient on letting you carry a carry-on and a briefcase, backpack or purse. Just keep in mind that if you have two, you will get picked and both bags will be searched. No sharp objects and if you have medications, make sure they are in original Rx containers or have copies of the labels made. Wear comfy shoes (no steal toes). Also you are only supposed to have two pieces of checked luggage per person no more than 50 pounds each. The weight limit may have gone up but I am positive that they will be pretty strict on the number of pieces. Also, no locks on your luggage. If you want to make sure things are secure use zip ties and if they get broken then you know it got searched.

Answer 4

You will have to clear customs in Atlanta. If you are on the same airline, or an airline alliance, it's not likely that you'll actually have to check in again. Typically, when you exit Customs, you're still in a "secure area" of the airport. Once you've cleared customs, you'll probably put your luggage back on another belt in Customs, and it will be taken to your connecting flight to LAX. You'll then go straight to the gate.

If your gate is in another terminal, ATL has a nice little train that runs underneath the terminals and taxiways to get you from one terminal to another.

Have a great trip!

Answer 5

usually if your airline is not changing you don't need to check-in anywhere. just get off the one gate, then look at a board and find your next gate and go there!
if you are changing airlines, then you get off the one plane, then check a board for the gate and terminal for your next flight and go there.
you will most likely have to go through security again, but no check-in like you're original check-in.
your baggage will be transferred for you, so just worry about you and your carry-on.
oh, since you're coming from spain, then you will probably go through customs in ATL. just follow the signs when you get off the plane and the rest of the passengers. go through customs, then find a board and go to your next gate.

once there, you can ask someone at the desk at your gate if you're in the right place...they are friendly if you are friendly:) they can redirect you if you are in the wrong place.

i've been in lots of airports and had lots of lay-overs...it's not so hard once you get the hang of it.

if your gate says C4 and that's the gate your plane is leaving from, then that's all you need to know, pretty much.
the airports are set-up so you're not going to go somewhere you don't belong.

take care and have a safe trip!

Answer 6

no, when you check in to leave Barcelona you'll get your tickets for all of your flights including your transfer flights. All you do is go to your gate when you get through customs when you get off at ATL so don't leave the terminals. You'll go from an international terminal, to a domestic one

Answer 7

In all my travels when I've had a layover, usually what you do is get off the plane, walk to the gate for your next flight, sit and wait. You don't have to worry about your baggage because it is transferred by the ground crews. There is no security passes to do since you are already in a "secure" area.

Answer 8

You will fly into the international terminal, where you will claim your bags and go through customs. Once you have done that, airport security will take your bags and re-check them for you and you will take the necessary shuttle to your terminal. While you do have to claim your bags temporarily, you don't have to re-check them yourself nor do you have to go through security again. Have a great trip!

Answer 9

Usually when connecting on international flights, you do have to go through customs at the first airport and then re-check your luggage to your destination. However, I suggest you check with your airline to be certain.

Answer 10

No, a transfer will require you to switch planes, you checked in baggage will be taken care of automatically.