Inside Atlanta Airport (ATL)

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The Montgomery Advisor has an interesting article on when to buy airline tickets. A bit late for this Thanksgiving (sorry,busy) but just as useful for Christmas.

Business and leisure-travel passengers alike often choose Atlanta or Birmingham over Montgomery as their departure city because of lower fares and a better choice of carriers.

A local economist, however, warns that you need to look at all your travel costs to determine if you’re really saving that much money.

For example, the Delta flight that cost $346 from Montgomery to Washington is only $203 from Atlanta to Washington. But you still need to add driving and parking expenses, advises economist Keivan Deravi, who works for Auburn University Montgomery.

If you do, that $203 ticket actually ends up costing $390.50.

Here’s the math: At 150 miles each way to Atlanta, it costs about $133.50 to drive, using the federal reimbursement rate. At $9 a day in the park-and-ride — the cheapest lot at the Atlanta airport — the bill for Tuesday through Sunday is $54. Add $203 to $187.50, and that $346 fare out of Montgomery looks pretty good.

And that formula doesn’t factor in the value of time.

The airlines, according to Deravi, are very good at pricing tickets to take the advantage out of traveling to another city.

“They have extremely clever and intelligent people working the price schemes out,” he said.

The only sure way to get a better price in this chaotic game of airfares is to buy tickets well in advance, local travel agents said.

You can still fly for Christmas, but you’re running out of time, said Jeanine Eissler, manager of the Montgomery office of All Seasons Travel.

“If people will be flexible, they can still travel over the holidays,” Eissler said, “but the prime dates are truly very, very tough to get.”

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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has an interesting statistic about flying a certain Delta partner via ATL… last summer you had a 50% chance of being delayed. I can attest, this regional partner is the reason I drive more now.
Ouch.

Here’s the article highlight…

If you traveled on Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines this summer, you had almost a 50-50 chance of being late — the highest delay rate in the industry. On top of that, you also faced the highest odds of having your baggage lost.

 ASA’s problems are also Delta Air Lines’ problems. ASA customers fly on tickets sold by Delta and in planes painted with Delta colors — so Delta naturally gets the blame if they have problems.

More Delta customers also find themselves on ASA, whose 358 daily flights out of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport account for about one in six Delta passengers. That number has grown rapidly as the bigger carrier shifted more domestic flying to regional partners as part of its Chapter 11 restructuring.

“Am I happy with it? No, not at all,” said Joe Kolshak, Delta’s executive vice president of operations. “These aren’t ASA customers. They are Delta customers. We sell Delta tickets.”

It has been so bad, Kolshak said, that ASA has missed out on millions of dollars in performance incentives under its contract with Delta. Kolshak keeps a digital camera handy to document problems he can forward to ASA’s managers.

Hotel Phone
AmeriSuites 404-768-8484 /1-800-747-8483
Atl Airport Marriott 404-766-7900 / 1-800-228-9290
Best Western Airport East 404-479-1100 / 1-800-733-0298
Clarion Suite Atl Airport 770-996-0000 / 1-800-228-5150
Comfort Inn Atl Airport Central 1-800-543-6431
Comfort Inn 404-761-6500
Comfort Inn & Suites (Old National Hwy.) 404-684-9898
Country Inn & Suites 404-767-9787 / 1-800-456-4000
Country Inn & Suites Airport South 770-991-1099 / 1-800-578-7878
Courtyard by Marriott North 404-559-1043 / 1-800/321-2211
Courtyard by Marriott South 770-997-2220 / 1-800/321-2211
Crown Plaza 404-768-6660 / 1-800-227-6963
Days Inn Atl Airport East 404-768-6400 / 1-800-325-2525
Days Inn Atl Airport West 1-800-329-7466
Days Inn Atl Airport Central 404-767-1224 / 1-888-315-2378
Days Inn Jonesboro 770-968-4700 / 1-800-329-7466
Diplomat Inn 404-762-5566 / 1-800-252-7466
Doubletree Club 404-763-1600 / 1-800-222-8733
Druiry Inn & Suites 404-761-4900 / 1-800-378-7946
Econo Lodge 1-800-555-Econo
Embassy Suites Airport 404-767-1988 / 1-800-362-2779
Fairfield Inn 404-761-8371 / 1-800-228-2800
Hampton Inn Atl Airport 770-996-2220 / 1-800-426-7866
Hampton Inn - Southlake 770-968-8990 / 1-800-426-7866
Hilton Atl Airport 404-767-9000 / 1-800-445-8667
Holiday Inn Airport North 404-762-8411 / 1-800-465-4329
Holiday Inn Express 1-800-465-4329
Holiday Inn Select 404-763-8800 / 1-800-465-4329
Howard Johnson Express 404-766-0000
LaQuinta Inn 404-768-1241 / 1-800-Nu-Rooms
Microtel Inn 770-994-3003 / 1-888-771-7171
Radisson Hotel Airport 404-761-4000 / 1-800-333-3333
Ramada Plaza 404-768-7800
Ramada Inn Airport South 770-996-4321 / 1-800-228-2828
Ramada Limited Airport East 404-768-7799 / 1-800-272-6232
Red Roof Inn Airport North 404-209-1800
Renaissance Concourse 404-209-9999
Residence Inn by Marriott 404-761-0511 / 1-800-331-3131
Sheraton Gateway 770-997-1100 / 1-800-325-3535
Sheraton Inn 404-762-5141
Sleep Inn Atl Airport 770-996-6100 / 1-800-753-3746
Studio 6 Extended Stay Airport 404-762-5566 / 1-888-897-0202
The Westin Atl Airport 404-762-7676 / 1-800-222-3000
Wellesley Inn Atl Airport 404-762-5111 / 1-800-446-4656

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Yes, I actually read press releases… here’s some rate info from the Marriott at the airport.

In conjunction with the holiday special, travelers may take advantage of the convenient Park Here-Fly There special, which includes one night’s hotel stay and seven days of parking in addition to complimentary airport transportation.

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) November 17, 2006 — Cozy up at the Atlanta Airport Marriott this holiday season with hot holiday specials starting at $84 per night. Conveniently located near the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the Atlanta airport hotel has rate specials for Thanksgiving and Christmas this winter.

The Atlanta Airport hotel package includes room rates of $84 from November 22-26, and rooms rates of $79 from December 21-25.*

In conjunction with the holiday special, travelers may take advantage of the convenient Park Here-Fly There special, which includes one night’s hotel stay and seven days of parking in addition to complimentary airport transportation. Rates start at $205 for weekdays and $105 for weekends.*

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There’s an article in the Citizen about traveling through Atlanta airport. I have posted the tips below. The full article is here.

1. If you plan to travel with liquids, gels or aerosols in your carry-on bag remember 3-1-1. All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in travel-sized containers weighing 3-ounces or less.Containers must be placed in a 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag. Only 1 bag is permitted per traveler. It must be removed from your carry-on and placed in the security bin for x-ray screening. Remember 3-1-1 to speed your screening process. Each time TSA searches a carry-on it slows down the line. Practicing 3-1-1 will ensure a faster and easier checkpoint experience.

2. Prescription medications, baby formula and milk are allowed in quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint.

3. The Airport advises passengers traveling domestically to arrive at least 90 minutes prior to their scheduled departure, and up to 2 hours prior to departure for international travelers. Come early and be patient. Heavy travel volumes and the enhanced security process may mean longer lines at security checkpoints.

4. For assistance, look for Airport Customer Service representatives wearing teal green jackets or HOST volunteers wearing red sweater vests.

5. Register at www.atlanta-airport.com for continuous updates on wait times at the security checkpoint using the free online Trak-A-Line service. Users can have information forwarded to their PDA, cell phone or pager.

6. Call 1-877-ATL-PARK to get the status of road conditions and availability of parking before arriving at the Airport.

7. Motorists within a 10-mile radius of the facility can tune their car stereo to AM 830, the Airport’s radio station for current pricing information.

8. Receive regular flight information using the free Trak-A-Flight service. Register at www.atlanta-aiport.com. Users can have information forwarded to their PDA, cell phone or pager.

9. Call ahead to your respective airline to request special arrangements as necessary for young children, the elderly and pets.

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Long Term Parking

So you want to park at the Atlanta airport, but you’re going to be gone for a few days and you don’t want to spend the outrageous amount of money that on site parking will cost?

Well, before you venture too far away from the airport itself, your faithful blogger is required to inform you that there are approximately 31,000 parking spots on premises at the airport.

But no one can blame you for wanting to save some money on long term parking, so here are the off-site parking lots run by private companies.
(Tip: When you return to Atlanta, (if you return) you get back to your car by catching a bus in the purple bus lane.)

Park Air Express (404) 762-0966

Pre-Flight Airport Parking (404) 767-8000

Park Atlanta (404) 761-7711

Park ‘N Fly Atlanta (404) 763-3185

Park ‘N Fly Plus (404) 761-0364

Park ‘N Go (404) 669-9300

Park ‘N Ticket (404) 669-3800

The Parking Spot (404) 761-3300

Prestige Parking (404) 559-4475

*** Please Remember: take your valuables, anything attractive like a radar detector, and if you’re really paranoid the registration and insurance cards out of your car before you lock it up. Also, in case you didn’t read the posting about on-site airport parking, if you have a camera phone try to take a picture of the nearest sign telling you where you parked your car. You’ll be glad you did.

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So you want to park at the Atlanta airport….
Well, we will get to the where in a second. First, know that parking is available at Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) 24/7, even if no flights are scheduled. Also, the on-airport garages accept cash and every single credit card you have (yes, even Diners Club and Carte Blanche. Honest.).

Like most airports, automatic dispensers will give you your ticket at the entrance to each parking area, not a real person. However you will give your ticket to a cashier when you leave. Be nice to them, they have a hard job and they’re just as tired as you are.

Every parking area has numbered, color-coded signs to help you locate your car when you return. The ticket color also corresponds to the parking area. Be sure to note the level, section, and row when you park.

If you have a camera phone, this is an excellent time to use it by taking a picture of the nearest sign telling you where you parked. You may want to make this the background for your phone for the duration of your trip. Either way it’s easier than trying to remember it, and if you’re like most businesspeople you don’t actually use your camera for much anyway. I know I don’t.
As your faithful blogger I am required to inform you that you can get parking information by calling (404) 530-5010 or tuning in to airport radio 830 AM WQO. However I have not really found these to be very useful.

Where to park

Economy Lots
The North and South Economy Lots are located adjacent to the parking decks and the West Economy Lot is located at the west end of the main terminal beyond the Ground Transportation Center. More about the GTC shortly.

Daily Lots
Daily Parking Lots are located adjacent to the Airport’s Main Terminal.
Hourly Lots
If you are picking up or dropping someone the most convenient parking will be the lots located in front of each terminal (naturally).

Park-Ride Lots
The airport Park-Ride Lots offer convenient services to the main Terminal. Once you have parked your car in these lots, a free shuttle bus service will pick you up at your car and quickly transport you to the main terminal.

If you used a park & ride, then you get back to your car when you return (if you return) via shuttle at the Ground Transportation Center. Just follow all the signs pointing down