Portland International Airport Offers Tips For a Smooth Holiday Journey

The busiest holiday period, Dec. 15th-Jan. 3rd, should see nearly 800,000 passengers traveling through PDX.

Photo: City of Portland

(PORTLAND ) - The Port of Portland expects more holiday travelers than ever this year at Portland International Airport (PDX), and has a few tips to make travel easy.

In the week surrounding Thanksgiving, an estimated 320,000 passengers will travel through PDX -- a 2 percent increase over 2005.

During the busiest forecasted holiday days -- Nov. 22nd, 26th and 27th, and Dec. 22nd and 26th-28th -- PDX will serve approximately 48,000 travelers each day, compared to the normal daily average of 38,000 this time of year.

The trend mirrors all-time record travel figures last fiscal year, when PDX served more than 14 million passengers.

When to Arrive:

Passengers are advised to arrive at the airport two hours before their flights during the busy morning times to allow ample time for check-in and security processes.

Travelers are encouraged to consult with their airlines for advice on how early to arrive at other times of day.

Travel Tips:

Those who have not traveled recently will benefit by reviewing travel tips available on the PDX website at www.flypdx.com and the toll-free information line at (877) PDX-INFO.

Both resources provide flight arrival and departure information, security and parking information, and other facts about PDX.

Security Requirements:

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) also offers travel tips, and a complete list of items prohibited on flights on its Web site at www.tsa.gov.

Please note:

New security regulations restrict liquids, gels and aerosols in carry-on bags. A passenger can take containers of up to 3 ounces if all are included in a single, one-quart, clear, plastic zip-top bag that is presented to screeners at the security checkpoint.

If in doubt, please put liquids in checked luggage.

Prescription medications, baby formula and milk are allowed in quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in a zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint.

Leave gifts unwrapped, as the TSA may need to unwrap gifts for inspection.

Concourse Connector:

If lines look long at one of PDX’s two security checkpoints, travelers can use the other security checkpoint. Spanning between PDX’s Concourse C and

Concourse D, the airport’s Concourse Connector means that travelers can now use either security checkpoint to get to any gate in the airport, saving them time in many cases.

The Concourse Connector also makes for easy flight connections between south gates (A, B, C) and north gates (D, E), without requiring any additional security check.

Cell Phone Waiting Area:

The popular cell phone waiting area is available again now through Jan. 3rd.

Motorists can park in the special parking lot, wait for a call from a friend announcing their arrival, and then quickly pull up to the airport terminal to pick-up the traveler.

By using the cell phone waiting area, motorists can avoid traffic congestion on airport terminal roadways.

Signs approaching the airport on Northeast Airport Way and Northeast 82nd Avenue will guide motorists to the lot located just off 82nd on Northeast Air Cargo Road.

Motorists must remain in their vehicles at all times while in the lot, and can use the lot for free for a maximum of 30 minutes.

To further avoid traffic congestion when picking up passengers after 8:30 PM, use the “arriving flights/outer roadway”.

Quick Way to Pay in ALL Parking Lots:

Travelers can use credit cards to make quick entries into and speedy exits out of all PDX parking facilities, including the economy parking lots.

When entering a lot, a traveler can insert a credit card into the ticket machine, instead of pulling a parking ticket.

When leaving the parking facility, the traveler need only reinsert the same credit card into the machine at the exit gate.

The machine automatically charges the appropriate fee to the credit card, prints a receipt, and opens the gate.

This payment system augments Quick Pay automated parking payment machines available for motorists using the parking garage and long-term parking lot.

Parking Availability:

The PDX economy and long-term parking lots may near capacity on particularly busy holiday travel days.

Ample space is expected in the short-term parking garage.

Travelers should allow extra time to find a parking space when arriving at the airport.

Travelers can get regularly updated information on parking availability at www.flypdx.com and (877) PDX-INFO.

Take TriMet’s Airport MAX Red Line:

Thanksgiving season is the Airport MAX Red Line's busiest time of year as holiday travelers find the trains an easy way to get to and from PDX.

The Red Line runs between PDX and Beaverton Transit Center every 15 minutes, every day from about 5:00 AM until midnight.

The Red Line is an easy transfer for Blue and Yellow line riders. The cost is $2.

To plan your trip, go to trimet.org or call (503) 238-RIDE. weekdays between 7:30 AM and 5:30 PM.