Louisiana Travelers Heads Up, Big Changes at Atlanta Airport

(KMDL-FM) All seven of Louisiana's commercial airports offer service to Atlanta, Georgia's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. For Lafayette, Monroe, Shreveport, Lake Charles, and Alexandria, Atlanta is one of the primary destinations served by air carriers that serve those airports.

The airports in Atlanta, Houston, and Dallas serve as major hubs for Louisiana travelers who want to fly beyond those southern cities. If you've ever flown into Atlanta, you can see the huge "Fly Delta Jets" sign installed in lights on a building as you taxi to take off or from landing.

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In Houston, most of the flights from Louisiana are covered by United Airlines. And if you wanted to get to Dallas your best choice might be choosing a regional carrier that operates on behalf of American Airlines.  These connections to major hubs allow travelers from the tiniest Louisiana towns the conveniences of an International Airport via their hometown airport.

The changes we are covering today specifically cover Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta, and since many Louisiana travelers fly into the airport, this big change might not loom quite as large. However, for those who find themselves using Atlanta as their originating airport, there is news that could affect your travel budget.

Louisiana Travelers Should Plan Ahead for This 'Hidden' Cost

To say the "cost is hidden" is not exactly true; it's more of a cost that most people don't factor into their travel budget until they are faced with paying it. The cost I am speaking of is parking your car. If you're gone for more than a day or so, it can really add up.

The rates for the hourly lots at ATL will make a dramatic jump from $3 an hour to $10 an hour. According to Atlanta TV station FOX 5, the price increase is already in effect. That means the "cost of picking up a friend" at the airport likely went from six bucks to twenty bucks because let's face it, it takes two hours to pick someone up from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson.

How Much More Will it Cost to Fly Out of Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport?

Here is a breakdown of all the changes at the different lots around Hartsfield-Jackson. These details can be found in a story on Al.com, but here are some that you might want to know about should you need to park and fly out of Atlanta.

North and South Hourly Parking Lots: $10/hour, $50 Maximum for first day, $75 maximum daily flat rate after first day

International Hourly Deck: $10 for the first hour, $15 per hour after that, $70 maximum on the first day, $100 daily flat rate after that. Just imagine if you went on a 10-day European vacation, your parking tab could cost almost as much as your flight if you parked in this location.

South/North Daily Decks: $30 daily flat rate
South/North Economy Lots: $20 daily flat rate

ATL West Deck: $10 per hour, $30 max per day

ATL Select Lots: Uncovered - $15 daily flat rate, Covered - $20 daily flat rate
Oversized vehicles are $40 daily flat rate, the Domestic Park and Ride Lot $15 daily flat rate

International Park-Ride Lot: $30 daily flat rate

Why Did Parking At Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport Go Up in Price?

Administrators at Hartsfield-Jackson say the price increases are needed to improve and modernize the parking infrastructure. And like everything else, the higher fees will cover the increases in operational costs the facility has been subjected to over the past few months.

One other thing you need to think about before you head to the airport, either in your hometown or Atlanta, do you have the proper identification on you? As of May 7th, you will need a REAL ID or STAR ID or a passport to board a domestic flight in the United States. Fortunately, there are some ways you can avoid using a REAL ID or STAR ID if you don't have one.

You can find a list of those alternatives right here. And once you're on your flight, pay attention and see how many of these you hear during your journey.