All about Atlanta Hartsfield Airport (ATL) Smoking Areas

Many smokers are looking for ways to get a quick break during long layovers before their Aer Lingus flight (or others). They may do this just before boarding, especially at busy airport traffic hubs. Smokers must use the outdoor allotted smoking area in the ATL Airport, located after the domestic & international terminals. If you smoke, then you can access these zones before & after security as long as you enter and exit the secure zone. Preparing in advance for these smoking locations may relieve some travel stress for nicotine-dependent travelers who must navigate the large terminal. Go through this article thoroughly to get all the information on the rules and areas for smoking in ATL to avoid issues later.

Indoor Smoking Rooms and Lounges: Is it Allowed?

From January 2, 2020, the smoking lounge at Atlanta Airport & rooms have been closed due to a city rule. The law restricts all smoking and vaping activities anywhere within the airport facility. The airport is now completely smoke-free inside, consistent with Atlanta’s commitment to protecting the public’s and employees’ health, safety, and welfare. Be it is any passenger on any airline’s flight, like Air New Zealand, cannot smoke indoors.

• Before they were closed, this airport had many indoor smoking lounges & rooms throughout its concourses. These got ventilated, enclosed spaces for smoking. 
• There were approximately 17 lounges of this type within the airport. Thus, the rule required that these lounges get used for some other purpose. 

ATL’s Outdoor Smoking Areas

The only locations allowed for smoking at Atlanta International Airport are very specific outdoor smoking zones outside each domestic & international terminal. Persons under the age of 18 may not smoke in any of these outdoor smoking zones.

Atlanta Airport’s Smoking Rules

ATL has smoke-free and vape-free indoors, allowing smoking only in areas outside the terminals. Check out the crucial rules you must know about to avoid any surprises later:

• Smoking or vaping has been banned in all terminals, concourses, lounges, restrooms, bars, gates, etc. 
• All forms of smoking and/or vaping, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, e-cigarettes, vapes, etc., are prohibited.
• People can only smoke in the specific areas outside each terminal neighboring the domestic and international terminals.
• Access to selected smoking areas by persons under 18 years old is restricted.
• If you are past security check, then you must exit the terminal to use the outdoor smoking areas and re-clear TSA security to return.
• No lounges or restaurants offer indoor smoke-free areas.
• The airport authority will implement/collect civil &/or criminal penalties, as applicable, for violations.

Is Tobacco Allowed Inside ATL?

This airport does not allow the use of tobacco products in its indoor areas. No tobacco products may get used in any area inside the terminals. The airport prohibits the use of tobacco products or electronic cigarettes (vaping) in all indoor areas. It includes airport buildings, terminals, concourses, gates, lounges, bathrooms, restaurants, and bars of ATL.

Where to Buy Cigarettes & Tobacco at Atlanta Airport?

People can purchase cigarettes & other tobacco products at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. But they are not as plentiful as they used to be, & there are different options depending on your type of travel & location within the airport, mentioned below:

Duty-Free Stores

These stores are the direct source for purchasing cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco-related items at duty-free prices. If traveling internationally or stopping over in the international terminal, you should visit this store. Always keep your boarding pass & passport with you if required by the location of the duty-free sale.

Newsstands, Convenience Stores, And Other Retail Shops

Many sources show that cigarettes are available for purchase in several locations. It includes newsstands, convenience stores, and other retail locations in the domestic concourses. Tobacco purchased through these retail locations will not be duty-free. They will cost more than they would outside the airport in a normal convenience store. 

Can Connecting Travelers Smoke Without Exiting Security?

It is not possible to smoke inside ATL. To participate in smoking or vaping activities, you must go outdoors to a designated smoking zone that is at least twenty-five feet from exits.

• To get to a smoking area during your connection, you will need to leave the secure area and go outside to one of the smoking zones noted above.
• Then you will need to clear security again before returning to your gate or concourse. 
• This process usually takes time to complete, based on how long the security line is, how far you have to walk, and how crowded the area is.

What Happens If Someone Break the Rules?

Strict enforcement and penalties are in place for violations of the no-smoking rule at this airport to help execute the smoke-free air law indoors.

• Any time someone smokes or vapes inside the airport, it is a violation.
• The penalty for a person found to be in violation of this law is a civil penalty. Usually, this gets issued as a fine.
• If the authorities find a person to be in violation of the ordinance, a civil fine of up to $200 may get charged.
• Along with the civil fine, there are other implications like detention time, missed flights & other trouble on already planned activities. If there are multiple violations, the penalties will increase beyond the civil fine.
• This implementation applies to both passengers and visitors. 

Avoid Violating Any Anti-Smoking Rule At ATL: Tips

Before traveling from Atlanta Airport with any airline like Spirit Airlines (or any other) as a smoker, these tips will help you out. 

1. To save yourself time by not having to re-clear through security after going outside, plan your smoke breaks before screening whenever possible.
2. Make sure you have a satisfactory time between flights to allow for an outdoor smoke break.
3. To prepare for your outdoor smoking break, make sure you know where the designated outdoor smoking areas are before arriving at the airport. 
4. Use nicotine replacements for ample periods of time. Purchase nicotine gum, patches, lozenges, or pouches from either the shop or the pharmacy located inside the airport. 
5. Meet your smoking needs upon landing, whenever possible & before your next flight, by smoking at the airport or before your flight. 
6. ATL airport staff can assist you in finding an outdoor location. Ask the staff directly or at the information desk.
7. There is no indoor smoking or vaping anywhere within the airport. If the people at the airport break these laws, then they have to pay a fine of up to $200 imposed by the Atlanta Police Department. 

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