West - Long wait at PHX...where?

My Sis in law is arriving 4 hours or so ahead of me...had thought I could guest her at USClub, but no, turns out I have to be there first. A day pass is $50, seems kind of steep.

I remember the terminal as being pretty decent with complimentary wi-fi, so told her just to find a comfy place to hang out...but she is concerned about leaving her luggage. (yes, I know :p, but she doesn't travel much).

If she heads to baggage claim, is there decent place to sit? Grab a snack? Or should she make her way on her own (perish the thought) to the rental car facility and wait there?

For those of us who travel, this seems crazy, but it is a big deal to her, so any info provided is much appreciated.

TIA

Hi,

For four hours there is not tat much to do in baggage reclaim nor in the check in area although the general concourse area before going through security has lots of shops and restaurants.

I would not go directly to the car rental facility as there is nothing to do there ( apaprt from rent cars) and there are no snack bars ( only vending machines IIRC).

I would ( assuming she comes in at T4) -pay for a US airways club pass ( not sure about the luggage being on the belt though -it maight be taken to the baggage office after a while)

or

collect the luggage an d then head back to the departures level and have a meal and look around the shops ( IIRC there is a small free gallery there also)

Regards

TBS

As she cannot get back through security, I am assuming you mean there are shops and restaurants on the ticketing side of TSA?

Thanks for your help....

Yes, there lots of nice options landside.

Thank you everyone, I will let her know.

Hi,

A map of T4 can be found here which may help;

http://skyharbor.com/mapsfoodshops/terminalFour.html

Regards

TBS

Is your sister able to just pick up the rental car for you? If so, I'd say she just does that, hangs out at a local Starbucks, then swings back to PHX to pick you up. While I live in the area and fly through PHX all the time, I'd rather not spend any extra time there if I didn't have to. Depending on day of week/time of day, traffic probably wouldn't be an issue (if you stick to the airport road it probably wouldn't be bad even if during rush hour).

This thread over in the US forum may be of some assistance also:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/us-airways-dividend-miles/960712-us-guide-phx-phoenix-airport.html#post11860390

While that might indeed save time overall, I found driving in/through PHX to be confusing the first time or two.

Is your sister able to just pick up the rental car for you? If so, I'd say she just does that, hangs out at a local Starbucks, then swings back to PHX to pick you up. While I live in the area and fly through PHX all the time, I'd rather not spend any extra time there if I didn't have to. Depending on day of week/time of day, traffic probably wouldn't be an issue (if you stick to the airport road it probably wouldn't be bad even if during rush hour).

This thread over in the US forum may be of some assistance also:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/us-airways-dividend-miles/960712-us-guide-phx-phoenix-airport.html#post11860390

good idea, but no. Thanks for the link though!

While that might indeed save time overall, I found driving in/through PHX to be confusing the first time or two.

+1. And although I have been there more than once, I am not there often, and it always takes a day or so to get situated again!

Phoenix is one of the easiest cities to drive in (except for the bad traffic). it's all on a grid. If it were me, I'd head out for some Mexican food, then come back and pick you up. 4 hours at PHX can feel like forever.

Phoenix is one of the easiest cities to drive in (except for the bad traffic). it's all on a grid. If it were me, I'd head out for some Mexican food, then come back and pick you up. 4 hours at PHX can feel like forever.

Perhaps, but again, it is not possible for her to get the car.....

Phoenix is one of the easiest cities to drive in (except for the bad traffic). it's all on a grid.

Agree re the city, but I find driving at the airport (thus "PHX" ;)) with all its twists and turns and trying to figure out where to find someone at the massive US complex to be confusing and sometimes intimidating.

good idea, but no. Thanks for the link though!





If nothing else, why not have her take the shuttle to the light rail. Catty-corner from where that bus drops (at the 44th St/Washington light rail stop), there's a Ruby Tuesday. She could go there, have a nice lunch, hang out, and wait for you to come pick her up in the rental car. There's an Aloft hotel next to it, so possibly free WiFi.

I'd be cautious about leaving luggage unattended for that long myself. There's been all kinds of stories on our news of people going and taking luggage from the carousel, and really there's next to nothing near baggage claim at T4.

Agree re the city, but I find driving at the airport (thus "PHX" ;)) with all its twists and turns and trying to figure out where to find someone at the massive US complex to be confusing and sometimes intimidating.

There's one road through PHX/Sky Harbor airport. Yes, there are a couple of places to turn off, for long term parking, for the US and WN maintenance hangars, and to u-turn after each terminal. But otherwise, it is a pretty nice road, and I know many people who use that as a through road during rush hour (perhaps I'm guilty of doing that myself).
Compared with other airports of that size, PHX really isn't so confusing.

Agree re the city, but I find driving at the airport (thus "PHX" ;)) with all its twists and turns and trying to figure out where to find someone at the massive US complex to be confusing and sometimes intimidating.
I used to drive a limo there, so for me, it's not bad. Can see for the first timer that it might possibly be confusing. Signage is pretty good.

I always recommend people go upstairs to arrivals to be picked up. Much less traffic and easier to find people.

OK, new twist. Turns out she is really on United! Sigh....

And I appreciate everyone's ideas for "off airport" entertainment, but that is not going to happen!

The landside options for a pleasant place to wait just got grimmer.

OK, new twist. Turns out she is really on United! Sigh....

And I appreciate everyone's ideas for "off airport" entertainment, but that is not going to happen!

It really isn't difficult to take the bus to the light rail, there's signs above all of the baggage claim belts, "take the silver bus to the rail."


The landside options for a pleasant place to wait just got grimmer.

Exactly, other than some chairs, I know of nothing in T2 worthy of more than a couple of minutes to wait that's inside and not in the secure area. Not only that, but after the place clears out, and security sees her there for 20+ min, she may get asked to leave.


I really don't see any options given here as difficult (other than perhaps trying to re-clear security, which would require a gate pass, and not sure how checked bags would be handled).

If nothing else, and money is no object, just rent a limo for her to give her a grand tour of the area until you arrive. The limo driver can wait with a sign that has her name, drive her wherever, then pick you up when you arrive.
Or the limo can just drop her off at your hotel, she can check-in and be settled by the time you get there.

Or even just a cab to the hotel?

I don't know whether this would work at PHX, but IF security would let her back in with a Red Carpet Club pass, that's a pleasant place to pass the time.

UPDATE:
Just a quick note -
She was 1/2 hour late or so landing at T2, got her luggage, took the bus over to T4, had lunch, hit a couple shops, called home, and she was fine.

Which reminded me - we spend so much time in airports they are no longer of much interest to us. But when you are a Ma Kettle, there is enough to see and do in a large airport to pleasantly pass a few hours.

Having said that, she made it clear that T4 was far preferable to T2! :D

thanks to everyone for your assistance.

Having said that, she made it clear that T4 was far preferable to T2! :D


That goes without saying. ;) T4 landside has more eating options. Overall it has a better atmosphere for just hanging out.