Any experience into and out, specifically anticipated wait times for security? I'm considering returning from GA via Birmingham instead of ATL; I'd rather spend the extra hours in the car alone driving instead of waiting in a line.

It's been several years, but it was easy in and out. We did have a Seinfeld like moment picking up the rental car, but that's not an airport specific issue.

I guess my last trip was pre-covid, but it's always been easy. I think I'd consider just about any place before ATL.

Where in Georgia? If you're not flying Southwest, consider Columbia, SC. Small airport, maybe 8 gates total. Pretty easy to get in and out

Probably been 10 years since we went through Birmingham. Not a bad airport, but in a bad part of town. Was not fun stopping g to gas up the rental on the way back in

When I went to Athens for baseball last May, I flew to Greenville-Spartanburg. It's similar to Columbia and Birmingham. Another option to consider.

I am batting .500 on good experiences through Birmingham. One time was fine. The other time was right after 9/11 on the first day they implemented the "every bag must be connected to a passenger" policy. I rolled into the airport very late and went to the counter to check my bag. The counter tried to get me to take it carry on and gate check it. I couldn't because I had knives and other sampling tools that I knew they wouldn't let me through security with.

When I got to security, I was the last person going through for the night for the last flight and they decided to milk the clock a bit by taking as long as humanely possible to search everything I had with me. I would not have been surprised to see them get out the rubber gloves and KY. When they finally let me go, I arrived to the gate in time to watch the plane back away. The gate agents were semi-apologetic until I asked them how to get the bag back that I had checked. Oops. So much for every bag connected to a passenger...

They did spring for my hotel room, but there was no way to get a clean set of clothes since I was riding the hotel shuttle to the hotel and back.