US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - PHL morning check-in logistics 11/01/03

Even though I fly all over the place, this Saturday am will mark the very first time I have ORIGINATED out of PHL (for a 8am flight to FPO).

A few questions for those of you PHL gurus out there. I am staying at the Sheraton Suites just down the road from the airport. Given your knowledge of the airport situation, what is a reasonable time for me to leave the hotel for a 8am flight? Keep in mind it is a Saturday.

(Like all of you, I don't want to bust my butt to get there 2 hours early and then sail through security and have to sit for 90 minutes......)

Many thanks in advance ---

I fly out of PHL an average of 2-3 times a month, usually on the peak time of Monday morning.

I never plan to get to the airport more than an hour in advance, and I usually have 15 minutes or more to spend in the club before I head to the gate.

On the (very) off chance that security is backed up in B/C on a Saturday morning, walk over to terminal F. There's so little O/D traffic at F that it's never ever backed up, and it's less than a 10 minute walk over. Then you can take the shuttle from the center of F over to C16 (runs every couple of minutes) and walk to your gate.

To get to F, best suggestion is to get to C by walking past the ticket counters, then up and over to the train platform connecting C and D. D-E-F are all connected outside of security.

Note that I have never actually needed to do this, but it's my backup plan.

You might also check the morning of your departure to see what gate you're departing. You might be leaving from A-West, the new Intl. terminal. Some morning flights use that concourse. But, someone here can better answer if the ticket counters at A-West are open in the morning.

If you have to check in at B/C, take a look up to the pedestrian bridges for B and C that go over the roadway. If you see the line(s) going back to the parking garages, just walk down to A and enter there since you'll already have your tix in hand.

Or, stay on the shuttle and follow the previous advice to check-in at F. If you have bags, though, give it more time since your bags will have to make their way from F down to the A/B/C terminals.

Saturday morning is primetime for a bunch of Caribbean flights. Tours, groups, cruise passengers etc. and once-a-year travelers with luggage to check and security to clear... Think about it.

Hopefully, this being the "low" season to the islands, you won't encounter long lines. While you might not need to be there a full two hours ahead, you should, however, plan accordingly, IMO.

Also note that the Sheraton Suites shuttle leaves on a somewhat-scheduled time.

Thank folks!