The Atlanta Airport Shuttle Service is the best way to get to and from the Atlanta airport under…read morethe following conditions:
1. You are traveling alone.
2. You don't have a ride.
3. You can't or don't want to take MARTA.
4. You don't want to park at or near the airport.
I'm surprised more non-business travelers don't take advantage of airport shuttles in Atlanta. It's cheaper than a cab and it's also less expensive than newer on-demand vehicle services like Uber and Lyft.
If I don't have a ride, I normally take MARTA. If I have extra luggage that I don't want to lug onto MARTA, I use the shuttle service. Often times, the shuttle service functions exactly like a cab, but at half the cost.
I used to ride the old Atlanta Link shuttle service regularly. I was disappointed when it closed, but am now satisfied with the Atlanta Airport Shuttle Service. The two are owned by the same company. The Atlanta Airport Shuttle Service has a contract with the City of Atlanta. I believe you have to be within Atlanta city limits in order to use the shuttle service. The main service areas are Buckhead, Midtown, and Downtown.
Call or check the company's web site to confirm current pricing. Prices at the time of writing this review are as follows:
Buckhead - $16.50 one-way, $29.00 roundtrip
Midtown - $18.50 one-way, $33.00 roundtrip
Downtown - $20.50 one-way, $37.00 roundtrip
Compare those prices to Atlanta taxi flat rate zone prices and it's a no-brainer which service to use:
Buckhead - $42 one-way
Midtown - $34 one-way
Downtown - $32 one-way
The shuttle service gets most of its business from business travelers. However, you don't have to be at a hotel, convention center, or business in order to use this service. They can pick you up at your home. If business is slow and there are no scheduled routes or other pick-ups, the shuttle will take you directly to the airport, just like a cab, Uber, or Lyft would.
You can make a reservation and pay online. You can also make a reservation over the phone. If scheduling a same-day pick-up, I recommend calling. When making a reservation, give yourself extra time just in case the driver does have to make extra stops before reaching the airport. The drivers have credit card scanners on-board so you can pay on the way. There's no tip line on the credit card receipt, so be sure to bring cash to tip the driver.
Reliability is OK. I once scheduled a pick-up in Atlantic Station for 4:50pm on a weekday. The driver did not get to me until about 5:20pm, 30 minutes late. He made up for it, however, by getting me to the airport in less than 25 minutes during rush hour. I was impressed. He taught me some shortcuts to bypass Downtown Connector (75/85) traffic that I will be using myself in the future.
The vans aren't in great condition, but they get the job done. The Atlanta Link had better vehicles. Not sure what happened to that fleet, but the current vehicles seem like a downgrade. In the end, it's fine as long as I get to and from the airport in a safely and timely manner.
The staff I've dealt with have been professional. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask them.