International flight with a connecting flight from ATL

Question

Hello,

I'm a EU citizen and I will be visiting Alabama next month, however I have some questions since I have a connecting flight in both the EU and the US.

On the way there, I will be going from Prague to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Atlanta, and then Atlanta to Huntsville - from what I'm aware, when I get to Atlanta, I will need to pick up my checked luggage and also go through US customs, then re-check my luggage again, go through security and all that fun stuff, is that correct?

What I'm wondering is, how it will be on the way back to Europe - will I need to pick up my checked baggage in ATL and go through customs again, or is my luggage gonna go straight to Europe and I won't be needing to go through customs?

I'm asking because of the connection time in ATL, I found one with a layover of 2 hrs 35 minutes, will I be able to get on to the connecting flight to Amsterdam?

Thank you in advance!

Answer

For your trip, here's how the process generally works for both your inbound and outbound flights through Atlanta (ATL), and answers to your questions:

On Your Way to Alabama (Arriving in ATL):

Yes, when you arrive in Atlanta from Amsterdam, you will need to pick up your checked luggage and go through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This is a requirement for all international arrivals.
After you clear customs, you will drop your luggage off at a re-check counter for your connecting flight (Huntsville, in your case). You don't have to go through security again at this point unless you have to change terminals.
Then, you’ll head to the security checkpoint before your next domestic flight (ATL to Huntsville). This process is standard for connecting international to domestic flights in the U.S.

On Your Way Back to Europe (Departing from ATL):

On your return flight, you will not need to pick up your checked luggage in Atlanta after arriving from Huntsville. Your luggage will be checked all the way through to Amsterdam, so it will go directly to your connecting flight without needing to clear customs in Atlanta.
However, you will still need to go through security at ATL for your international flight, as there are separate security checks for international departures.
Because you’re connecting to a flight to Amsterdam (an international destination), you won’t need to go through U.S. customs on the way back, since you already completed that process when you arrived in the U.S.

Will 2 hours 35 minutes be enough time for your layover in ATL?

In general, 2 hours 35 minutes should be sufficient for a layover in Atlanta for international to international connections, especially if both flights are operated by the same airline or are part of a codeshare agreement. This will give you enough time to get from your domestic flight to your international gate.
However, ATL is a large airport, so it’s always a good idea to check if your arrival gate and departure gate are in the same concourse or if you need to take the SkyTrain to another concourse. If the gates are in different terminals, it may take more time, so be prepared for that.
For peace of mind, always check with your airline about the minimum connection time required, especially for international connections. If you have a very tight connection, they may be able to assist you in ensuring you make your flight.

Final Tips:

Keep an eye on your flight’s arrival time and check with airport staff if you need directions for your connection.
If you have any concerns about your layover time, consider checking into the possibility of upgrading your seat for priority boarding on the connecting flight or asking your airline about expedited connections for international transfers.

Safe travels, and enjoy your trip!