Luggage vs Shuttle to car rental at the airport

Question

Greetings, Travelers!

We have to take the shuttle train from the terminal to the rental car pickup at Hartsfield Airport.

We have a lot of luggage--are we able to take the luggage carts on the shuttle...or should I go get the car while my wife waits with the luggage and I come with the car to pick her up at the terminal?

We use duffel bags that fit in the trunk of the car...we don't have rolling luggage.

Thanks!

Ye Olde Travel-Junkie 3PO

Answer

Hi Ye Olde Travel-Junkie 3PO! Great question! Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has a shuttle system that connects the terminals to the rental car center, and it’s a fairly smooth process. However, when it comes to handling luggage, there are some things to keep in mind.

Regarding your specific question about luggage carts: unfortunately, you can’t take the luggage carts on the shuttle train. The shuttle is designed for passengers, and the luggage carts are typically meant to stay within the terminals. Since you mentioned that you don't use rolling luggage and use duffel bags that fit in the trunk, your situation should be a little easier.

Here are a couple of options to consider:

Option 1: One person goes to the car rental, the other stays with the luggage

Given that you have a lot of luggage, a simple solution would be for one of you (probably you, since you’re picking up the car) to go directly to the rental car center while your wife waits with the luggage at the terminal. This way, she doesn’t have to worry about carrying everything and can stay with the bags while you pick up the car and drive it back to pick her up.

Option 2: Use a smaller luggage solution or duffel bags

If you'd prefer to keep things more streamlined, you could consider packing a smaller rolling luggage bag (just a carry-on size) or smaller duffels with wheels for ease of transport. This would make it easier to manage the luggage on the shuttle and while navigating through the airport. This way, you could both take your bags with you on the shuttle and go together.

Option 3: Consider taking a cab or rideshare to the car rental center

As an alternative, if you don’t mind spending a little more, you could take a cab or rideshare (like Uber or Lyft) directly to the rental car center, bypassing the shuttle entirely. This could be a convenient option if the luggage is cumbersome and you prefer not to take the shuttle with it.

Overall, your best bet seems to be for one person to handle the car rental while the other waits at the terminal with the luggage. It’s a common approach at airports with separate rental car facilities. If your duffels fit in the trunk, this will make the trip even easier once you get the car!

Hope this helps, and have a great trip!

Luggage vs Shuttle to car rental at the airport

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