Getting there by air

It’s time for the holiday rush at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Check out the latest developments for travelers, so you can navigate the Atlanta airport like a pro.

Hartsfield-Jackson expects a record number of travelers over the busy holiday period, and knowing what to expect can increase your chances of handling the hassles with ease to make it to your destination smoothly.

This year there are a variety of new roadblocks, airline policy changes and expanded airport amenities. Here’s a guide to the latest updates at Hartsfield-Jackson, to help ensure you take to the skies as a savvy traveler.

AIRPORT EXPANSION AND MODERNIZATION

■ ROAD CONSTRUCTION:

The airport is constructing a giant canopy over Delta’s Terminal South curbside area, causing some lane closures. The Terminal South upper level outer lanes are closed.

That is creating congestion for motorists approaching the curbside and parking decks and lots next to the terminal. As a result, the airport is allowing cars to load and unload passengers in their lanes, rather than pulling to the curb.

Because of the construction at Terminal South, HartsfieldJackson officials recommend motorists consider using hourly parking or the Terminal North lower level to drop off or pick up passengers, regardless of airline. To get to the Terminal North lower level, stay in the left lane toward the Terminal North parking deck — the lower level entrance is just to the right of the parking deck entrance.

The Terminal South canopy will complement the canopy recently completed over the Terminal North curbside area. It’s part of Hartsfield-Jackson’s $6 billion plan to modernize the terminal and expand the airport.

Allow extra time to navigate through any congestion, slow down on your approach to the terminal and watch for lane closures.

HOW EARLY SHOULD YOU GET TO THE AIRPORT?

Airport and TSA officials in Atlanta recommend getting to the airport terminal two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights.

ALLOW EXTRA TIME BEYOND TWO HOURS TO:

■ Navigate road construction

■ Find parking or take a shuttle to the terminal

■ Check oversized bags

■ Get special assistance

■ Travel with pets/animals (Keep your pet in its carrier and try to avoid any checkpoints with a working TSA dog, since other animals — including service animals — can distract the working dog.)

■ PARKING: Airport long-term parking and off-airport lots can fill up during busy holiday periods. Consider making a parking reservation at the airport or at an off-site parking lot to ensure you get a space, even when lots fill up. You can also check Hartsfield-Jackson parking lot status online.

■ UBER, LYFT PICKUP ZONES:

Due to the road closures for canopy construction, the airport in 2017 relocated Uber and Lyft pickups to designated zones in the domestic terminal North and South economy lots. Warning: The pickup zones are a lengthy walk from the terminal. During busy periods, the pickup zones can get congested with dozens of drivers and cars trying to connect. Officials recommend arriving passengers without checked bags who use Uber or Lyft take the Plane Train peoplemover to the international terminal to be picked up curbside.

■ SHUTTLE DROP-OFFS:

Hartsfield-Jackson has relocated domestic Terminal South shuttle drop-offs for off-airport parking, hotels and regional shuttles to Terminal North, due to the canopy construction.

■ AIRPORT HOURS: This year, Hartsfield-Jackson began restricting access to the airport between the hours of 11 p.m. and 4:30 a.m. During the overnight period, only ticketed airline passengers; people meeting, accompanying or assisting passengers; and “authorized personnel” are allowed in the terminals, parking decks, SkyTrain and rental car center. The policy came after a growing issue of homeless people sleeping in the terminal overnight.

NEW AIRPORT AMENITIES

■ EATERIES: New food and beverage options at HartsfieldJackson this year include: TJ’s Craft Sandwiches — Domestic terminal atrium, near South baggage claim

Shake Shack — Burger chain from New York on Concourse A Bobby’s Burger Palace

— Bobby Flay burger joint on Concourse B

Wendy’s — New location on Concourse B

■ MINUTE SUITES: There are now two Minute Suites locations at Hartsfield-Jackson, one on Concourse B and a new location on Concourse T. The units each have a daybed, pillows, blankets, at TV, desk and chair.

■ SKY CLUB SPA: Delta has opened an Asanda Spa Lounge inside its Concourse E Sky Club.

■ XPRESSPA: XpresSpa now has three locations at Hartsfield-Jackson, including on Concourses A and C and a new location on Concourse D.

■ HUDSON MEGASTORE: A new Hudson store on Concourse F is the largest Hudson store in the world, including boutiques within the store featuring candy, books, convenience items and tech accessories. It replaces Clutch, Luxury Boutique and Sunglass Icon on Concourse F.

■ LACTATION PODS: There are now Mamava pods on six concourses at HartsfieldJackson, including on Concourses T, B, D, E and F, along with F arrivals.

■ BANK CLOSED: Wells Fargo has closed its branch in the domestic terminal, but still has ATMs throughout the terminal and concourses. Next year, SunTrust is due to open a branch in the domestic terminal and replace Wells Fargo ATMs. But the new SunTrust rollout at Hartsfield-Jackson is not expected to be complete in time for the holidays.

AIRLINES

■ HIGHER BAG FEES: Delta has increased its checked baggage fees to $30 for a first checked bag and $40 for a second checked bag. That’s up $5 from the previous fees. United, American and JetBlue have also put in similar baggage fee increases.

■ NEW ANIMAL RULES: Delta now limits each passenger to one emotional support animal, and prohibits pit bulls as service or support animals on flights. Delta also requires those traveling with emotional support animals or psychiatric service animals to submit forms online 48 hours in advance and to use the full-service check-in counter at the airport. Southwest also now limits each passenger to one emotional support animal, which must be either a cat or a dog.

■ FREE IN-FLIGHT MOVIES:

Southwest now offers all of its in-flight movies for free, in line with what Delta and some other carriers offer. Passengers on Southwest can watch movies for free on their smartphone, iPad, tablet or laptop on planes equipped with Wi-Fi. Delta passengers can watch free movies on their devices or on seat-back screens.

AIRPORT SECURITY

■ SECURITY LINE CHOICES: Standard, PreCheck and Clear

■ STANDARD: Standard TSA lines require travelers to remove their coats, shoes and belts; take permitted liquids out of carry-ons and remove large electronic devices including tablets and laptops from bags. There are three checkpoints in the domestic terminal — Main, South and North. The international terminal has its own security checkpoint.

TSA CHECKPOINT HOURS Domestic Main: 24 hours Domestic North and South: 4 a.m.-8 p.m. International: 5 a.m.-12:30 a.m.

■ TSA PRECHECK: TSA PreCheck offers expedited screening, with the chance to keep your shoes, belts and jackets on and leave liquids in your suitcase. It costs $85 for five years. You can sign up online and schedule an appointment at a PreCheck enrollment center. There is a registration center in Hartsfield-Jackson’s domestic terminal and one on Concourse A.

PRECHECK LANE HOURS

Domestic Main: 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Domestic North: 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.

International terminal: 6:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

>>Early PreCheck memberships expiring: Travelers who were among the first to enroll in TSA PreCheck may soon see their five-year memberships expire. That’s because TSA opened enrollment centers for PreCheck in late 2013, after previously allowing travelers to opt in through airline frequent flier programs. Atlanta was among the first airports to get an enrollment site, in January 2014. Those who are up for renewal will get notices via mail or email, and you can check online to see if you are close to expiring by entering your Known Traveler number, date of birth and last name. Global Entry and other trusted traveler programs have separate systems.

■ CLEAR: Biometric ID technology firm Clear operates security lines at the Main checkpoint and South checkpoint at HartsfieldJackson, selling $179 annual memberships for access to special airport security lines that are often shorter. Delta offers discounted Clear memberships to SkyMiles frequent fliers.

There is a Clear PreCheck line that offers benefits of both Clear lines and PreCheck expedited screening at the main checkpoint with an entrance from the South hallway. There is a Clear standard line at the South checkpoint for non-PreCheck travelers.

■ FOOD SCREENING: Although it’s not required, TSA recommends passengers remove food items and powdered items from their bags and put them into the bin to declutter X-ray images and reduce the need for manual bag checks.

■ TSA SMART LANES: The Transportation Security Administration now has 22 automated screening lanes spread across the domestic security checkpoints. That means most of the security lanes at the domestic terminal are smart lanes, which require a different process for travelers. The “smart” automated screening lanes are aimed at speeding the process of security screening, but they can take some getting used to. If you are at an automated screening lane with larger bins and metal conveyors, here’s what you need to know:

1

If you’re next in line and any of the five bin-loading stations opens up, proceed to it. Don’t just wait behind the person in front of you if there is an empty station available. 2

Everything goes in a bin, including a roll-aboard suitcase for example. The bins are 25 percent larger, but be aware that oversized carry-on luggage won’t fit in the bin. 3

Push the bin onto the conveyor belt, which will automatically move it into the X-ray machine. Then walk through the checkpoint — you don’t have to wait for the person in front of you to finish. 4

If a bin’s contents need to be manually screened, it is automatically bumped over to an alternate conveyor belt for an officer’s inspection. If your bin clears the X-ray machine, retrieve your belongings on the other side as usual. Then, put your bin on the stack at the end of the lane, where it will be automatically returned to the front of the line via a lower-level conveyor belt.