How early should I arrive at ATL for my flight?
2 hours for domestic flights, 3 hours for international — adjust based on bag check, security, and concourse walking time.
For domestic flights at Hartsfield-Jackson, arrive 2 hours before scheduled departure. This allows roughly 30 minutes for parking/transportation/baggage claim, 30 minutes for check-in (longer if checking bags), 20–40 minutes for security (5–10 with TSA PreCheck), and 20–30 minutes to reach your gate via the Plane Train and walk.
For international flights at the International Terminal, arrive 3 hours early. International check-in includes more thorough document verification, baggage screening, and security processes. The Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal has its own dedicated security checkpoint, parking, and ground transportation.
During peak periods (Sunday afternoons, Friday evenings, holiday weekends), add 30 minutes to these recommendations. Spring break, Thanksgiving week, and the week between Christmas and New Year's typically see security wait times double the average.
If you have TSA PreCheck and aren't checking bags, you can comfortably reduce arrival time to 90 minutes for domestic and 2 hours for international. Adding Clear membership reduces these further by approximately 15 minutes.