ATLANTA LAYOVER
 

MY WIFE AND I ARE ARRIVING AT 7:30 A.M. IN ATLANTA AIRPORT ON A WEEK DAY. WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 4 HOURS BEFORE OUR CONNECTING FLIGHT DEPARTS.

ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT WE CAN DO OUTSIDE OF THE AIRPORT?

Once you get in, deplane, take the train to the exit/terminal/baggage claim area it will 8, then if your flight is 4 hours later, say 11:30, they will want you back at that gate by 10:30, plus you have to go back through security which could take 10 minutes or an hour. So in reality you have a couple hours of real time....You will have to ride Marta into town or get a cab as you are a little South of the city. But once you get all the way up there into the city it will almost be time to come back...maybe someone else has a suggestions....

Don't forget that you will probably want to eat breakfast. That's going to take up some time. If your connecting flight is delayed, you may even want to grab a bite for lunch.

I would just get a good book and try to enjoy the wait. I don't think you really have enough time to plan on anything.

Eat a Chick-Fil-A Chicken and Biscuit in the Delta Terminal and call it a day.

I agree. Stores wouldn't open till 9 anywhere, plus you have traffic, security lines, etc. 4 hours is not a long layover! Get a book of Soduku, catch up on writing, study a language book.

If you are not already a member that allows you in your airlines fancy dancy lounge (I forget what it's called) you may want to consider joining.
...Or rent one of those sleep boxes and take a nap.

I've heard you can pay a relatively small fee for one trip access if you don't want to be a 'regular' member.

I agree that you don't have time to go anywhere. But there's a lot of stores in the Atlanta airport. Take a nice long walk from one concourse to the next (instead of taking the train) and browse the stores in each one.

I agree with the people who tell you to stay in the airport. I am an Atlantan, and I fly a fair amount--it always takes at least 30 minutes to get from your gate to the front doors of the airport and can take up to 15 minutes longer depending on which gate you come in on and how quickly your plane empties. Allow another 30-45 minutes to find your way to the train and into downtown Atlanta. Now it's about 9AM, and you need to be on your way back no later than 9:45AM to be there 1 hour before your flight. I wouldn't risk it, and I know where everything is.

Atlanta's airport is the busiest in the world, and it doesn't take much to create backlogs at security, etc. The airport is huge--visit some of the shops(Coke has a logo products store in the main terminal) and have a leisurely breakfast. If you want to try a "Southern-style" meal, eat at Paschal's on concourse A or in the main terminal. It's cafeteria-style, but they offer eggs, meats, grits, biscuits, etc., and it's pretty good.

Atlanta has a lot to see and do, but even a taste will require more time than you have. Have a great trip!

This might be too late for IrichCream123 but perhaps someone else will benefit.

I think the best place to kill time at the Atlanta airport is in Terminal E (It's the international concourse.) It is rarely crowded and they have interesting permanent and temporary art exhibits.