I agree. The gate areas are always borderline "Mumbai", and the gate agents use their soothing voices to ensure you feel like you're in siome sort of juvenile correctional facility.

However...

If I was expending limited resources, I would have on my list of priorities facilities that are true hinderances to a smooth network, like JFK. Next would come improving the on-board experience, such as by providing better service, better seats (i.e. the CozySuite seats that have mysteriously dropped off the radar screen), more internet service, etc. Highest on my list would be to bring the small end of the network in-line, probably by eliminating the 50-seat fleet, and (as long as I'm dreaming) folding the surviving DCI carriers into mainline, to offer a streamlined product. Let's not forget that passengers spend most of their time in airplanes, and most of our flights are operated by the JV. Where the onboard service, against all odds, is even worse.

As you can see, we don't disagree that ATL could be much better. I just don't feel improving it is very high on the list. I'd rather dollars be spent on areas that offer a better ROI.

Like my paycheck.