The winter storm hitting Georgia has prompted hundreds of flight cancellations at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Friday, which could leave some travelers stuck with an unplanned stay in Atlanta.
To navigate the unexpected upheaval of plans, it helps to be aware of some possible courses of action — depending on time and resources available.
For those whose flights out of Hartsfield-Jackson were canceled and who won’t be able to fly out until the next day or later, here are some things to know:
Airport hotels
There are dozens of hotels near Hartsfield-Jackson, and many have free shuttles. They are listed on the airport’s website under Ground Transportation.
However, airport-area hotels can fill up quickly when there are mass flight cancellations that leave travelers looking for last-minute lodging near the airport. And shuttle service could be affected by the weather.
Still, there are plenty of other options.
MARTA into the city
There is a Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) train station inside the domestic terminal of the Atlanta airport, where passengers can take the rail service into downtown Atlanta, Midtown, Buckhead and other areas around metro Atlanta.
That means travelers stuck in Atlanta for more than a day can book hotels near any MARTA station and get there with a $2.50 train trip.
Note that MARTA is operating on a less-frequent weekend schedule Friday, due to the inclement weather. That means trains may be operating every 20 minutes.
MARTA stations at Medical Center, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs are also in the Perimeter business district north of Atlanta.
SkyTrain
There’s a free SkyTrain at Hartsfield-Jackson that goes to the Gateway Campus.
At the Gateway Campus is a Marriott, a Renaissance hotel, a SpringHill Suites and an AC Hotel. There’s also a Home2Suites and Tru by Hilton nearby.
But these hotels, with their convenient connection to the airport, tend to get booked up quickly during flight disruptions and some were already fully booked for Friday night.
The SkyTrain also takes passengers to the airport’s Rental Car Center and the Georgia International Convention Center.
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