West - PDX...what a pleasant surprise

Not knowing what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised at this airport. Just did a connection there to catch the NW/DL PDX - AMS flight. Not only was the airport attractive, shops of good quality, the customs process (not surprisingly for such a small intl' gateway) was extremely painless and downright pleasant.

Since I have never been north of San Francisco, I'm definitely planning a little weekend trip back up there to check out the rest of the city.

The city PDX has a very decent ground transport system, and a is a beer heaven (if you like beer), and excellent food too.

My only minor gripe is that the PDX airport is rather sprawled out... and US comes in at the very end of it. It's a haul!

HTSC

Not knowing what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised at this airport. Just did a connection there to catch the NW/DL PDX - AMS flight. Not only was the airport attractive, shops of good quality, the customs process (not surprisingly for such a small intl' gateway) was extremely painless and downright pleasant.

Since I have never been north of San Francisco, I'm definitely planning a little weekend trip back up there to check out the rest of the city.

I spent a weekend there last year and can't wait to get back again this Fall. Great dining, beer, Powell's Used Books (has to be seen to be believed), a true walking city, people watching galore. I think you'd really enjoy it.

As to the airport, I agree that it is a long walk to get from US to the rest of the terminal. Also, as the light rail stops running at midnight, if the late PHX-PDX flight gets delayed you can get stuck riding a $40 cab ride downtown.

PDX is great. I have only ever had three real bad things to say about the place:

Traffic is horrible. Granted, the Army Corps of Engineers didn't flatten the city like they did Seattle and it has a lot of hills, but you can tell when you hit Washington. Actual highways that flow.

You can't pump your own gas. I'm an adult. I should be able to do this.

They need to raise the speed limits to 65. The highway speed limit is 55 and I'm sure the police rely heavily on speeding tickets to pay their bills. There are a ton of them to give speeding citations.

PDX is great. I have only ever had three real bad things to say about the place:

Traffic is horrible. Granted, the Army Corps of Engineers didn't flatten the city like they did Seattle and it has a lot of hills, but you can tell when you hit Washington. Actual highways that flow.

You can't pump your own gas. I'm an adult. I should be able to do this.

They need to raise the speed limits to 65. The highway speed limit is 55 and I'm sure the police rely heavily on speeding tickets to pay their bills. There are a ton of them to give speeding citations.

PDX Also has free wireless throughout which is great AND in the A terminal a Laurelwood Brewery and D terminals a Rogue Brewery so you get some beer too. ^

As for pumping your own gas...I moved here from another part of the country and not gonna lie: It's nice.

The freeways outside the city are 65.

As for pumping your own gas...I moved here from another part of the country and not gonna lie: It's nice.

I'm not gonna lie either. I love it.

I live across the river in Washington and I get gas in Portland at every available opportunity. That and, usually, Portland can sometimes be a good 10-15 cents cheaper (depending on where you go...I usually go to Jubitz to get gas since it's on my way home from Portland State) than Washington.

As for the speed limits...*insert whistling smiley here*...I commonly do 60-65 in Portland, which usually seems to be the flow of traffic.

Another great thing about PDX is the wide selection of bottled Oregon wines available INSIDE security. You can buy there (normal retail prices, no sales tax) and take them on your flight for consumption at your destination. Just make sure that you don't have a connection that involves re-clearing security.

Another great thing about PDX is the wide selection of bottled Oregon wines available INSIDE security. You can buy there (normal retail prices, no sales tax) and take them on your flight for consumption at your destination. Just make sure that you don't have a connection that involves re-clearing security.

If I had a bottle of good Oregon wine on me I don't know if it would make it to my destination before consumption occurred ;)

I'm not gonna lie either. I love it.

I live across the river in Washington and I get gas in Portland at every available opportunity. That and, usually, Portland can sometimes be a good 10-15 cents cheaper (depending on where you go...I usually go to Jubitz to get gas since it's on my way home from Portland State) than Washington.

As for the speed limits...*insert whistling smiley here*...I commonly do 60-65 in Portland, which usually seems to be the flow of traffic.

It is nice to have lower taxes :cool:

But the nerve of someone else pumping my gas :mad:

It was sooo weird to encounter this for the first time a couple years back...

Not knowing what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised at this airport. Just did a connection there to catch the NW/DL PDX - AMS flight. Not only was the airport attractive, shops of good quality, the customs process (not surprisingly for such a small intl' gateway) was extremely painless and downright pleasant.

Since I have never been north of San Francisco, I'm definitely planning a little weekend trip back up there to check out the rest of the city.

PDX is a great airport to connect in... its a bit of a hike to the QX gates.... but it has a decent AS BR and NW WC to utilize ^

Also, the live music they frequently have is very :cool: both in the B/C atrium area and outside in the lobby across from Powell Books. No sales tax is also awesome, and regular prices, no increases-

Now about the liquor laws and the limitations for Airline Lounges... :td:

PDX is a great airport to connect in... its a bit of a hike to the QX gates.... but it has a decent AS BR and NW WC to utilize ^

Also, the live music they frequently have is very :cool: both in the B/C atrium area and outside in the lobby across from Powell Books. No sales tax is also awesome, and regular prices, no increases-

Now about the liquor laws and the limitations for Airline Lounges... :td:

Wait one minute...granted I know you can't self serve cocktails in the BR, but where else can you grab a beer at Rogue Brewery coming off of an NWA flight and then get to the QX terminal to enjoy one more gate side at Laurelwood Brewery...LOVE it. And the BR has Alaska Amber, and beckoa, I know you appreciate that right?

Wait one minute...granted I know you can't self serve cocktails in the BR, but where else can you grab a beer at Rogue Brewery coming off of an NWA flight and then get to the QX terminal to enjoy one more gate side at Laurelwood Brewery...LOVE it. And the BR has Alaska Amber, and beckoa, I know you appreciate that right?

Amber and Kona Brewery Island Lagar :D (Its brewed for bottling in PDX :D)

So yes...

But I do enjoy spirits too, and for some reason PDX has an obscure restriction... (Thankfully once airborne :p)

Not knowing what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised at this airport. Just did a connection there to catch the NW/DL PDX - AMS flight. Not only was the airport attractive, shops of good quality,

Since I have never been north of San Francisco, I'm definitely planning a little weekend trip back up there to check out the rest of the city.

Glad you had such a pleasant discovery at my sweet hometown !

However, as a P-town resident and frequent traveler on the non-stop PDX-AMS route, the only point I unfortunately have to disagree on with you is:

the customs process (not surprisingly for such a small intl' gateway) was extremely painless and downright pleasant.

Every time I return from AMS (or beyond) the Immigration & Customs process is extremely laborious and exhausting after a 10-hour (or much longer connecting -) flight since you have to be transported by shuttle from the aircraft, hauling your own luggage, and be converted to a separated holding area for customs, and afterwards waiting up to 90 minutes or longer to get thru the CBP-line with a separate LH flight arriving from FRA at around the same time.

Unfortunately arriving as non-citizens at PDX can also mean: "DePortland" because INS agents at PDX often used to scrutinize people greatly - mostly for no reason at all.

I went thru PDX last week and enjoyed sampling the Wine by Joe (Dobbes Winery). :D

The one thing that I didn't like was the extremely aggressive and obnoxious Delta credit card freaks. Way over the line!

with a separate LH flight arriving from FRA at around the same time.



Won't have to worry about that anymore.

I went thru PDX last week and enjoyed sampling the Wine by Joe (Dobbes Winery). :D

The one thing that I didn't like was the extremely aggressive and obnoxious Delta credit card freaks. Way over the line!

LOL-

Just keep talkin on your cell phone as you pass... Its like the Sirens of Ancient Greece, trying to wreck you into their podium ;)

But then... you reach the Sky Club :cool:

LOL-

Just keep talkin on your cell phone as you pass... Its like the Sirens of Ancient Greece, trying to wreck you into their podium ;)

But then... you reach the Sky Club :cool:

Great analogy!!!! And, the Sky Club was, indeed, very nice.