It will be just like a regular domestic connection in ATL. When you check in in PHL, your passport will be confirmed and if any documents are required to enter Italy, they'll check that. When you get to ATL the domestic and international terminals are all connected by the airport "plane train" so no need to take MARTA....it's all inside the airport. Generally, international flights will be out of terminals E/F. To relieve any fears that international connections require anything special at ATL...I often have domestic flights connect out of E/F as well. No biggie!
Thank you! I appreciate it, just super panicked I was going to have to go through some lengthy process in ATL, my lay over is only an 1hr15 minutes so I’ve been super stressed.
No worries! I lived in LEX for a while so connecting in ATL was basically part of any itinerary I had. When you land, just follow signs directing you to the other terminals. It will guide you to escalators that take you down a level to where the Plane Train runs. There are two trains running opposite directions. They run in a straight line with the terminals ordered T-A-B-C-D-E-F. T is closest to baggage claim/airport exit and F is furthest away from the airport exit. Just make sure you get on the side that is going towards E/F...the opposite side will be running towards T. Even if you're connecting the longest distance from T to F, the actual train time will only be around 10-15 min.
One more comment u/millymill215: if you have the same connection through ATL (or any other domestic hub for that matter) coming back from Italy, you WILL want to plan for some extra connection time. On landing from outside the use to the connecting domestic airport, you'll need to go through immigration, pick up any checked bags, go through customs, then re-check in your bags and go through domestic security before going to your gate.
ATL is a very easy airport to navigate, I would suggest downloading the Delta app to your phone. On there you can see what gate your flight from PHL arrives and where the Rome flight is leaving from. They even have a map function which will give you directions to get from your arrival gate to your departure gate.
Have a great trip, my wife and I just had a great vacation to Italy earlier this year. One of our favorite places to go.
Add some extra time when you come back though, I found FCO to be a slightly confusing airport to check in at. It's not the most confusing airport in the world, but it's just different enough that leaving a few extra minutes can reduce travel anxiety
They'll check your passport when you check in at PHL and again at the gate when you board in ATL.
If you're checking bag it should go all the way to Rome without any additional action needed by you. On your return trip you will need to pick it up, clear customs with it, and then recheck it to your final destination.
You will need to go thru passport control in Atlanta once you land. Once you land, just follow the signs towards your gate. Atlanta, in my opinion, is fairly straightforward.
Do NOT get on MARTA. This will take you out of the airport. The Plane Train moves you between terminals.
Huh? They’re flying Philadelphia - Atlanta - Rome. The Atlanta connection will be no different than any other domestic flight connection, no passport control until they land outside the US.
Oh shoot. I never connect out of ATL since I'm based here. I did once and thought I remembered having to go thru a passport check to leave the country.
I flew out of AMS the other day after an initial departure in HAM and had to go thru AMS passport control. Different in Europe?
All good! I can’t speak for Europe at all (all of my internationals are Caribbean/South America) but you had me retracing all my latest trips because I always connect through Atlanta.
When leaving the US they’ll check your passport (and any documents required by the destination country) but there’s no passport control or anything like that until you get where you’re going.
> Different in Europe?
Yep, the US is unique compared to most (all?) other countries I've been to because we don't have exit passport control/immigration for international departures.
Recently flew MCI - JFK - FCO, but the JFK - FCO leg was on ITA Airways (SkyTeam-ish). Not only did we have to go through security again at JFK, but we also had to have paper boarding passes printed (which was a queue that, but for Sky Priority, would have taken us approximately 1.5 hours to get through). Long story short, you should be fine if you're all Delta. Won't be making that mistake again!
It will be just like a regular domestic connection in ATL. When you check in in PHL, your passport will be confirmed and if any documents are required to enter Italy, they'll check that. When you get to ATL the domestic and international terminals are all connected by the airport "plane train" so no need to take MARTA....it's all inside the airport. Generally, international flights will be out of terminals E/F. To relieve any fears that international connections require anything special at ATL...I often have domestic flights connect out of E/F as well. No biggie!
Thank you! I appreciate it, just super panicked I was going to have to go through some lengthy process in ATL, my lay over is only an 1hr15 minutes so I’ve been super stressed.
No worries! I lived in LEX for a while so connecting in ATL was basically part of any itinerary I had. When you land, just follow signs directing you to the other terminals. It will guide you to escalators that take you down a level to where the Plane Train runs. There are two trains running opposite directions. They run in a straight line with the terminals ordered T-A-B-C-D-E-F. T is closest to baggage claim/airport exit and F is furthest away from the airport exit. Just make sure you get on the side that is going towards E/F...the opposite side will be running towards T. Even if you're connecting the longest distance from T to F, the actual train time will only be around 10-15 min.
One more comment u/millymill215: if you have the same connection through ATL (or any other domestic hub for that matter) coming back from Italy, you WILL want to plan for some extra connection time. On landing from outside the use to the connecting domestic airport, you'll need to go through immigration, pick up any checked bags, go through customs, then re-check in your bags and go through domestic security before going to your gate.
Thankfully my returning lay over is 3 hours and 45 minutes, wish I could’ve got the same going but apparently I like to live life on the edge
ATL is a very easy airport to navigate, I would suggest downloading the Delta app to your phone. On there you can see what gate your flight from PHL arrives and where the Rome flight is leaving from. They even have a map function which will give you directions to get from your arrival gate to your departure gate. Have a great trip, my wife and I just had a great vacation to Italy earlier this year. One of our favorite places to go.
That’s awesome! I didn’t know about the map feature, I haven’t flown delta in a few years and wondering why I ever switched. Their app is top tier.
Add some extra time when you come back though, I found FCO to be a slightly confusing airport to check in at. It's not the most confusing airport in the world, but it's just different enough that leaving a few extra minutes can reduce travel anxiety
Yes!! I have my pick up arranged for 4 hours prior to my departure. I always get airport anxiety I love to arrive early and do absolutely nothing
You may want to go to FCO’s duty free shop while you wait. I had a little bit of a wait on the way to CPH and enjoyed it.
They'll check your passport when you check in at PHL and again at the gate when you board in ATL. If you're checking bag it should go all the way to Rome without any additional action needed by you. On your return trip you will need to pick it up, clear customs with it, and then recheck it to your final destination.
You will need to go thru passport control in Atlanta once you land. Once you land, just follow the signs towards your gate. Atlanta, in my opinion, is fairly straightforward. Do NOT get on MARTA. This will take you out of the airport. The Plane Train moves you between terminals.
Huh? They’re flying Philadelphia - Atlanta - Rome. The Atlanta connection will be no different than any other domestic flight connection, no passport control until they land outside the US.
Oh shoot. I never connect out of ATL since I'm based here. I did once and thought I remembered having to go thru a passport check to leave the country. I flew out of AMS the other day after an initial departure in HAM and had to go thru AMS passport control. Different in Europe?
All good! I can’t speak for Europe at all (all of my internationals are Caribbean/South America) but you had me retracing all my latest trips because I always connect through Atlanta. When leaving the US they’ll check your passport (and any documents required by the destination country) but there’s no passport control or anything like that until you get where you’re going.
Ah, that's definitely what I was thinking about then. Thanks for correcting me! Apologies to the OP for some bad information!
That’s what we’re all here for - learning new things every day! I’m sure you’ll be correcting me in short order 🍻
> Different in Europe? Yep, the US is unique compared to most (all?) other countries I've been to because we don't have exit passport control/immigration for international departures.
me being stupid and thinking marta is the plane train
Easy mistake to make :) have a great trip!
Thank you!!
Recently flew MCI - JFK - FCO, but the JFK - FCO leg was on ITA Airways (SkyTeam-ish). Not only did we have to go through security again at JFK, but we also had to have paper boarding passes printed (which was a queue that, but for Sky Priority, would have taken us approximately 1.5 hours to get through). Long story short, you should be fine if you're all Delta. Won't be making that mistake again!