Flying from Portland International Airport for the holidays? Be prepared for a lot of company at what Travel + Leisure magazine for the last four years has named America’s Best Airport.
“It will be busy. Really busy. Yes, busier than last year,” writes Kama Simonds, who handles media relations for the airport operator, the Port of Portland.
A record 884,000 passengers are expected to fly PDX in the 16-day-period around the holidays, with Nov. 27 and 28 to be the peak Thanksgiving travel days. About 60,000 people are expected each of those days — enough to fill more than 330 of Alaska Airlines’ largest jets.
As usual the top tip is to arrive well in advance of your flight. Plan to arrive at least two hours before scheduled your departure, and an extra 30 minutes if you’re flying internationally, have kids, or have disabilities or medical conditions that require extra care when flying.
Here are six other tips from Simonds and the airport crew:
1. Park it
Check for parking availability before coming to the airport. Between the valet service and short-term, long-term and economy lots, there are many options. Electric vehicle charging stations are available in the PDX economy lot as well as the short-term parking garage. If you’re picking up travelers, use the free cellphone waiting area and coordinate a meeting spot with your family and friends when they arrive to avoid roadway congestion. (Sometimes the departures level is less busy than arrivals.)
2. Potty your pet
PDX has a pet-relief area. Located on the south end of the Concourse Connector, this space allows a convenient post-security location for your four-legged friend. As a reminder, in the interest of pet safety and passenger comfort, non-service animals should remain in their carriers at all times while in the terminal.
3. Coffee connoisseurs
Stumptown Coffee opened this summer just past the south security checkpoint. This fall, Peet’s Coffee & Tea opened on Concourse D and in baggage claim; Portland Roasting opened just past the north security checkpoint and on Concourse C. Next week, Portland Roasting will open a location pre-security in the north ticket lobby and Starbucks will open two new airport locations before St. Nick comes to town. Overkill? Nope. PDX travelers consume 6,250 cups of coffee before 8 a.m. daily.
4. Get the holiday spirits (and eats)
PDX is the first airport in the world with a spirits tasting room. Opening Monday, House Spirits Distillery’s new facility on Concourse C will offer the company’s entire portfolio of spirits for sampling and purchase. Travelers can also shop at the eye-catching new Timberline Lodge store on Concourse D. By year’s end, Caper’s Farm-to-Table Market, Kenny & Zukes Delicatessen and Market, Vino Volo, and the remodeled Soundbalance and Made in Oregon stores on Concourse C will also open at PDX. There’s no shortage of shops if you’re in search of a holiday gift that offers a taste of Oregon.
5. Win a trip
“Winter Wanderland” offers a chance to win tickets to London. The theme, appearing throughout the terminal, celebrates the seasonal holidays and offers travelers a chance to win a travel certificate for two tickets on Delta Air Lines’ nonstop service to London’s Heathrow Airport, which begins May 26.
6. Construction is child’s play
PDXNext, a suite of major improvement projects to provide comfort and convenience, operational efficiency, and safety and security, is underway. The airport anticipates opening new security exit lanes soon. Mid-December should see the opening of a children’s play area on Concourse D.
For the latest airport news and information, visit www.pdx.com, or @flyPDX on Twitter, or the airport’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/flypdx. You can also follow the airport on Instagram: @pdxairport.
