Oct 10, 2013, 9:54 am
Last edit by: Prospero
Please edit or add information to this wiki as necessary.
AA in PHL
Link to downloadable PDF PHL airport map
Philadelphia International Airport
This is a snapshot of post 1 of this thread, and has been revised over time. Feel free to add/modify what is here as needed. This thread originated in the legacy US Airways Dividend Miles forum. Link to older archived posts.
General Information
The airport is located at:
8000 Essington Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19153
Note: The baggage claim for terminal F has relocated to its own building on the arrivals roadway.
Passenger Information Guide: https://www.phl.org/Documents/Passen.../InfoGuide.pdf
Main airport website: http://www.phl.org
Link to contact phone numbers and email addresses for paging, parking, airport police, etc.
Check-In Times
Last confirmed 26 June 2017 (Click for link to source)
The following are recommended by AA:
Terminals
At PHL, AA operates from five terminals:
Ticket Counter Locations, Hours, and Kiosks
Last confirmed 15 January 2018 (Click for link to source)
Ticket Counters are staffed daily:
Note: It is possible to use any AA ticket counter to check in and drop baggage, regardless of your flight's departure terminal.
Security at PHL
Last confirmed 7 October 2017 (Click for link to source)
TSA staffs checkpoints at all PHL terminals. All gates are connected airside, so it may be faster to use a checkpoint that is not associated with your gates.
PreCheck is only available at Terminal A-East, C, and D/E checkpoints.
In the evening and overnight (observed after 11 PM), not all exits may be available. Looks for the visual paging displays (located by most Flight Info Displays and throughout the terminals) for exit closing announcements! Exit B is always open.
How to Change Terminals
Shuttle: AA offers the following shuttle routes:
Walking
ATMs
Bank of America provides 17 ATMs at the airport. A current list may be found here.
Prepaid SIM cards
You can buy prepaid SIM cards in the Airport Wireless stores. Those are airside. Not sure what is available landside as the only "retail" store is a newsstand in the International Arrivals hall.
Parking at PHL
On-site parking is managed by the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA).
Link to current rates.
Estimated parking availability in the garages is available from the Airport's homepage, www.phl.org.
NEW in June 2017: AAdvantage Aviator Cardholders (Barclay's) now have access to reserved parking. See this link for more info.
For off-airport parking lot information,
see this thread...
Where to eat and drink in the airport
There are all manner of restaurants in PHL, from wine bar to bistro to Asian to fast food. In addition to the establishments in each terminal, there is a food court between terminals B and C.
Food options vary throughout the airport, but there is a wide selection. Many open as early as 5:00 am, most are closed by 11:00pm. Due to renovations, there is no longer a 24/7 restaurant behind security. Philadelphia's beverage tax must be collected in city limits, which comprises of everything except Terminal A-West. Pepsi appears to be the preferred soda vendor throughout most of the airport, including Chick-Fil-A and Smashburger in the B/C food court. Coke products are still sold in some parts of the airport, but it may take some searching.
See this link for the current directory.
Terminal B was renovated in 2017-2018 to add iPads to most seats in the gate areas to allow ordering at the gate. A similar arrangement is used in some portions of Terminal F. (link to FT thread)
Admirals Clubs and Other Lounges
Last confirmed 15 January 2018 (Click for link to source)
Admirals Club: Terminal A-East, Lower Level, between gates A4 and A6A.
Open Daily 6:30 am - 10:30 pm
Admirals Club: Terminal A-West, Mezzanine Level, between gates A15 and A16.
Currently closed for renovation. Expected to be rebranded as a Flagship Lounge
Admirals Club: Terminals B and C, Third Floor over Food Court
Open Daily 4:30 am - 10:30 pm
Admirals Club: Terminal F, Upper Level Food Court in the Central Hub
Open Daily 6:30 am - 8:30 pm
British Airways Galleries Club Lounge / First Lounge:Terminal A-West, Gate Level by A14.
Open Daily 3:15 pm to 8:20 pm
Also serves Qatar Airways customers daily from 6:30 am to 10:30 am.
Note: This lounge has been known to disallow non BA passengers, regardless of OW entry rules.
American Express Centurion Lounge: Terminal A-West, Second Level by A14 (Over the BA Club).
Open daily 5:00 am to 9:00 pm.
This is currently the only premium lounge at PHL with a shower facility. Shower is back in operation as of 25 May 2018.
The USO lounge is now (late April 2018) located in Terminal E. Showers are said to be available in this lounge as well.
Minute Suites is available airside in the A-East/B connector, and is a Priority Pass lounge. There are no showers.
First 30 minutes free for use by nursing mothers.
Open daily 24 hours.
Wireless in PHL
Airport Wifi was recently upgraded and is free for all passengers.
Where can I smoke at the airport?
Only in designated smoking areas on the pick up roadways outside baggage claim. There is no smoking airside at the airport.
Do I have time to go into Philadelphia?
If your layover is more than three hours (and I’m sure this is debatable), you may have time for a quick trip into the city.
Ground Transportation and How to Visit Philadelphia
The zones mentioned below refer to areas on either side of the baggage claims for each terminal. If you have hired a private car, or meeting with group transportation, it is common they will be waiting at the bottom of the escalators from your terminal. Zones 1-4 are typically on the Arrivals Roadway, Zones 5 through 8 are on the Commercial Roadway, adjacent to the railroad tracks.
It is against airport rules for any driver to solicit you from inside the terminal, but this is difficult to enforce.
AA in PHL
Link to downloadable PDF PHL airport map
Philadelphia International Airport
This is a snapshot of post 1 of this thread, and has been revised over time. Feel free to add/modify what is here as needed. This thread originated in the legacy US Airways Dividend Miles forum. Link to older archived posts.
General Information
The airport is located at:
8000 Essington Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19153
Note: The baggage claim for terminal F has relocated to its own building on the arrivals roadway.
Passenger Information Guide: https://www.phl.org/Documents/Passen.../InfoGuide.pdf
Main airport website: http://www.phl.org
Link to contact phone numbers and email addresses for paging, parking, airport police, etc.
Check-In Times
Last confirmed 26 June 2017 (Click for link to source)
The following are recommended by AA:
- For flights within the United States: 45 minutes before scheduled departure
- For all other flights: At least 60 minutes before scheduled departure
Terminals
At PHL, AA operates from five terminals:
- A-West for Gates A14 to A26
- A-East for Gates A2 to A13
- B for Gates B1 to B16
- C for Gates C16 to C30
- F for Gates F1 to F39
- Most flights in A-West and A-East are transatlantic (TATL) but there will be mainline domestic arrivals/departures and Republic regional flights, especially throughout the morning and early afternoon. If your flight is on an A330 or B767, it will almost certainly be at these gates.
- B and C are mainline domestic, Caribbean, and Canadian flights and also include E-170/E175 and E190 flights. Before the merger, international flights served by B757s would depart from either concourse.
- F is for regional flights (RJs with 50 seats or fewer as well as CRJ-700 and -900s and turboprops operate out of F) both domestic and Canadian.
- oneworld partners (British Airways and Qatar) check-in and gates are in A-West.
- AerLingus check-in and gate is in A-East.
- Alaska Airlines (and Virgin America) use terminal D.
Ticket Counter Locations, Hours, and Kiosks
Last confirmed 15 January 2018 (Click for link to source)
Ticket Counters are staffed daily:
- Terminal A-West: 4:30 AM - 9:00 PM
- Terminal A-East: 3:30 AM - 8:30 PM
- Terminals B and C: 3:30 AM - 9:00 PM
- Terminal F: 4:00 AM - 10:30 PM
Note: It is possible to use any AA ticket counter to check in and drop baggage, regardless of your flight's departure terminal.
Security at PHL
Last confirmed 7 October 2017 (Click for link to source)
TSA staffs checkpoints at all PHL terminals. All gates are connected airside, so it may be faster to use a checkpoint that is not associated with your gates.
PreCheck is only available at Terminal A-East, C, and D/E checkpoints.
- Terminal A West: 5:15 am - 9:25 pm
- Terminal A East: 3:30 am - 8:25 pm (PreCheck 3:30 am - 8:00 pm)
- Terminal B: Open 24 hours
- Terminal C: 4:15 am - 8:15 pm PreCheck ONLY
- Terminal D/E: 3:45 am - 9:25 pm (PreCheck 3:45 am - 8:00 pm)
- Terminal F: 4:15 am - 8:55 pm
In the evening and overnight (observed after 11 PM), not all exits may be available. Looks for the visual paging displays (located by most Flight Info Displays and throughout the terminals) for exit closing announcements! Exit B is always open.
How to Change Terminals
Shuttle: AA offers the following shuttle routes:
- Gate A1 (located between Terminal A-East and Terminal B) to Gate F10
- Gate C16 (located between Terminal C and Terminal D) to Gate F10
- Gate F10 (located in the Terminal F Food Hub) to Gate A1
- Gate F10 (located in the Terminal F Food Hub) to Gate C16
Walking
- Airside: It is possible to walk between all gates in all terminals. There are some moving walkways. "Normal" able-bodied adults can walk between almost any two gates in A, B, or C in about 15 minutes or less and between any two gates in F in about 5 minutes. Walking from F to A/B/C is longer; the distance from the furthest reaches of A-West to F is more than a mile.
- Landside: You must leave the parking garages/ticketing halls to move between terminals before security. An option is to use the SEPTA rail platforms to move between terminals, which are accessible on the walkways to each terminal from the garages, about half-way between TSA and baggage claim.
- Landside: It is also possible to use the Economy Parking Shuttle between terminals
ATMs
Bank of America provides 17 ATMs at the airport. A current list may be found here.
Prepaid SIM cards
You can buy prepaid SIM cards in the Airport Wireless stores. Those are airside. Not sure what is available landside as the only "retail" store is a newsstand in the International Arrivals hall.
Parking at PHL
On-site parking is managed by the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA).
Link to current rates.
Estimated parking availability in the garages is available from the Airport's homepage, www.phl.org.
NEW in June 2017: AAdvantage Aviator Cardholders (Barclay's) now have access to reserved parking. See this link for more info.
For off-airport parking lot information,
see this thread...
Where to eat and drink in the airport
There are all manner of restaurants in PHL, from wine bar to bistro to Asian to fast food. In addition to the establishments in each terminal, there is a food court between terminals B and C.
Food options vary throughout the airport, but there is a wide selection. Many open as early as 5:00 am, most are closed by 11:00pm. Due to renovations, there is no longer a 24/7 restaurant behind security. Philadelphia's beverage tax must be collected in city limits, which comprises of everything except Terminal A-West. Pepsi appears to be the preferred soda vendor throughout most of the airport, including Chick-Fil-A and Smashburger in the B/C food court. Coke products are still sold in some parts of the airport, but it may take some searching.
See this link for the current directory.
Terminal B was renovated in 2017-2018 to add iPads to most seats in the gate areas to allow ordering at the gate. A similar arrangement is used in some portions of Terminal F. (link to FT thread)
Admirals Clubs and Other Lounges
Last confirmed 15 January 2018 (Click for link to source)
Admirals Club: Terminal A-East, Lower Level, between gates A4 and A6A.
Open Daily 6:30 am - 10:30 pm
Admirals Club: Terminal A-West, Mezzanine Level, between gates A15 and A16.
Currently closed for renovation. Expected to be rebranded as a Flagship Lounge
Admirals Club: Terminals B and C, Third Floor over Food Court
Open Daily 4:30 am - 10:30 pm
Admirals Club: Terminal F, Upper Level Food Court in the Central Hub
Open Daily 6:30 am - 8:30 pm
British Airways Galleries Club Lounge / First Lounge:Terminal A-West, Gate Level by A14.
Open Daily 3:15 pm to 8:20 pm
Also serves Qatar Airways customers daily from 6:30 am to 10:30 am.
Note: This lounge has been known to disallow non BA passengers, regardless of OW entry rules.
American Express Centurion Lounge: Terminal A-West, Second Level by A14 (Over the BA Club).
Open daily 5:00 am to 9:00 pm.
This is currently the only premium lounge at PHL with a shower facility. Shower is back in operation as of 25 May 2018.
The USO lounge is now (late April 2018) located in Terminal E. Showers are said to be available in this lounge as well.
Minute Suites is available airside in the A-East/B connector, and is a Priority Pass lounge. There are no showers.
First 30 minutes free for use by nursing mothers.
Open daily 24 hours.
Wireless in PHL
Airport Wifi was recently upgraded and is free for all passengers.
Where can I smoke at the airport?
Only in designated smoking areas on the pick up roadways outside baggage claim. There is no smoking airside at the airport.
Do I have time to go into Philadelphia?
If your layover is more than three hours (and I’m sure this is debatable), you may have time for a quick trip into the city.
Ground Transportation and How to Visit Philadelphia
The zones mentioned below refer to areas on either side of the baggage claims for each terminal. If you have hired a private car, or meeting with group transportation, it is common they will be waiting at the bottom of the escalators from your terminal. Zones 1-4 are typically on the Arrivals Roadway, Zones 5 through 8 are on the Commercial Roadway, adjacent to the railroad tracks.
It is against airport rules for any driver to solicit you from inside the terminal, but this is difficult to enforce.
- Rental Cars: Both On- and Off-Airport agencies use company shuttle busses to their respective lots. Pickup is outside baggage claim, Zone 2.
- SEPTA Regional Rail's Airport Line travels between each of the PHL terminals, Penn Medicine (formerly University City) and three Center City stops. This train runs every half-hour (currently every hour on weekends due to pandemic related service reductions) and takes about 20 minutes to get to 30th Street Station. Train fare is $6.50 from Quick Trip machines at the airport stations or Ticket offices at Center City stations (cash or credit/debit card) or $8 cash only (change is available) on board to Center City. Fare is $8.50 from machines or ticket offices or $9 cash on board to all other Regional Rail stations. If you are traveling to one of the three Center City stops, be sure to hold on to your ticket as you now need it to exit through the kiosks at those stations.
- SEPTA Bus: Two city buses also serve the airport ($2.25 cash fare; exact change only). Bus berths are at Zone 1.
- Center City Taxi: Accessed at Zone 5. A base flat-rate $28.50 + up to $3 in passenger charges (based on number of passengers 12+) is in effect for all fares to and from the airport and the Center City area. This area encompasses: Fairmount Ave (North), South Street (South) Delaware River (East) and University City/ 38th Street (West).All cabs are supposed to accept Credit Cards, verify with your driver at the start of the trip.
- Metered Taxi: Metered rates are in effect for all destinations not in the Center City zone. Tolls and other surcharges may apply. All cabs are supposed to accept Credit Cards, verify with your driver at the start of the trip.
- Uber and Lyft both operate at the airport, follow their directions provided to request a ride.
AA Guide: PHL / Philadelphia International Airport - MCT, Connection, MCT, etc.
Jan 23, 2014, 11:54 am
#32
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SEA
Posts: 3,953
You dislike PHL due to lack if airside connection to terminal F but you rate DCA as the "best"? DCA connections between piers is among the worst of any airport! Up and down metal stairs in bad weather to get to the bus? At least at PHL the steps are indoors to prevent accidents in bad weather.
One more positive about PHL, though, is not having to walk on the tarmac to a CRJ. I do truly hate Gate 35A at DCA, but I've been able to avoid it - I think I've only done it twice.
I might dislike DCA more if I had to go between piers more often, or if I was a regular at 35A.
Jan 23, 2014, 12:11 pm
#33
Join Date: May 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, UA *S, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Exp, IHG Plat, National EE, Sixt Plat
Posts: 648
Feb 10, 2014, 1:53 pm
#34
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AA Gold, FB Gold, ITA Volare Executive
Posts: 3,294
F'd for Canada
I've never flown international out of F, but it now occurs to me that the absurdly-priced no-first-class regional jet to YUL must be leaving from Terminal F.
Other than having a passport with me, is there anything that I need to think about ahead of time? I would like to imagine that I could get to the terminal an hour ahead of time, as I do for other domestic flights, but please clue me in if there is something I am not thinking about. For example, I know that PreCheck is not a given, but is it still possible on PHL-YUL ? TIA ....
Other than having a passport with me, is there anything that I need to think about ahead of time? I would like to imagine that I could get to the terminal an hour ahead of time, as I do for other domestic flights, but please clue me in if there is something I am not thinking about. For example, I know that PreCheck is not a given, but is it still possible on PHL-YUL ? TIA ....
Feb 10, 2014, 4:48 pm
#35
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: PHL
Posts: 3,113
I've never flown international out of F, but it now occurs to me that the absurdly-priced no-first-class regional jet to YUL must be leaving from Terminal F.
Other than having a passport with me, is there anything that I need to think about ahead of time? I would like to imagine that I could get to the terminal an hour ahead of time, as I do for other domestic flights, but please clue me in if there is something I am not thinking about. For example, I know that PreCheck is not a given, but is it still possible on PHL-YUL ? TIA ....
Other than having a passport with me, is there anything that I need to think about ahead of time? I would like to imagine that I could get to the terminal an hour ahead of time, as I do for other domestic flights, but please clue me in if there is something I am not thinking about. For example, I know that PreCheck is not a given, but is it still possible on PHL-YUL ? TIA ....
PreCheck is now possible on international itineraries, though of course there is no PreCheck line at Terminal F'ed. In my limited experience, the line there is rarely long, so going through PreCheck at C or D/E and taking the shuttle may not save you much time, if any, though it will probably save you a trip through the millimeter-wave machine.
Feb 10, 2014, 5:58 pm
#36
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Boston Suburbrs
Programs: AA ExPlat, IHG Spire Amb
Posts: 1,205
Since YUL is international, you will need to check in and check bags (if you are doing so) no later than 60 minutes before the flight. If you have already checked in online and have no bags to check, you should be fine.
PreCheck is now possible on international itineraries, though of course there is no PreCheck line at Terminal F'ed. In my limited experience, the line there is rarely long, so going through PreCheck at C or D/E and taking the shuttle may not save you much time, if any, though it will probably save you a trip through the millimeter-wave machine.
PreCheck is now possible on international itineraries, though of course there is no PreCheck line at Terminal F'ed. In my limited experience, the line there is rarely long, so going through PreCheck at C or D/E and taking the shuttle may not save you much time, if any, though it will probably save you a trip through the millimeter-wave machine.
Feb 10, 2014, 9:12 pm
#37
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Lifetime Plat, SPG Plat, AMEX Plat, Hertz PC, Travels too Much Platinum
Posts: 3,290
I just got F'd, and they had pseudo precheck. They put an orange sticker on my boarding pass and I was permitted to keep my shoes on. I assume I could have left my baggie in my bag, but I predicted that they wouldnt know which was my precheck bag as it went through the xray so I took it out.
Feb 15, 2014, 8:58 pm
#39
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Feb 16, 2014, 12:43 am
#40
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: YYZ/YHM/BUF
Programs: AA Plat, HH Gold, MR Plat
Posts: 4,212
PHL is a lot more reliable than pre-2006, but Terminal F is like a whole other universe. I'm convinced that the bottom of the barrel workers are deliberately assigned to work there. If you sit at a gate and just watch the employees walk around the terminal, it's actually very entertaining!
Feb 16, 2014, 6:20 am
#41
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: AA - Plat, HHonors - Diamond, IHG - Plat, Marriott - Gold, National - Exec, Amtrak - Select, NEXUS
Posts: 1,075
When I observe the employees at Terminal F, I know I'm watching what happens when an employer makes it clear the employees aren't respected - the employees strive to do just enough to keep their job and nothing more.
Reference:
http://www.amren.com/news/2010/11/naacp_voluntari/
Last edited by pa3lsvt; Feb 16, 2014 at 11:29 am Reason: fix quote
Feb 16, 2014, 7:17 am
#42
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: PHL
Posts: 3,113
Mar 8, 2014, 4:40 pm
#43
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,973
SEPTA train questions
I've searched this thread for mentions of the SEPTA train, and don't think this is addressed. First, it looks like the fare should be updated to $8 in post #2.
We'll be meeting people for lunch in the Reading Terminal Market area during an 8-hour layover before going to Italy. Am I reading correctly that there are no machines or booths for getting train tickets at the airport, and one is generally expected to buy them onboard? Since $32 for two round trips would be a big portion of the U.S. cash I'm planning to have, I was thinking of buying them online, with enough notice to have them mailed, if that can be done by credit card. I also see references to it calling for the Zone 4 weekday fare at all times, even though this will be on a weekend. The fare quoted on the Shop SEPTA site for that category is $6.50, so would we also have that savings with an online purchase?
We'll be meeting people for lunch in the Reading Terminal Market area during an 8-hour layover before going to Italy. Am I reading correctly that there are no machines or booths for getting train tickets at the airport, and one is generally expected to buy them onboard? Since $32 for two round trips would be a big portion of the U.S. cash I'm planning to have, I was thinking of buying them online, with enough notice to have them mailed, if that can be done by credit card. I also see references to it calling for the Zone 4 weekday fare at all times, even though this will be on a weekend. The fare quoted on the Shop SEPTA site for that category is $6.50, so would we also have that savings with an online purchase?
Mar 8, 2014, 5:05 pm
#44
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 226
I've searched this thread for mentions of the SEPTA train, and don't think this is addressed. First, it looks like the fare should be updated to $8 in post #2.
We'll be meeting people for lunch in the Reading Terminal Market area during an 8-hour layover before going to Italy. Am I reading correctly that there are no machines or booths for getting train tickets at the airport, and one is generally expected to buy them onboard? Since $32 for two round trips would be a big portion of the U.S. cash I'm planning to have, I was thinking of buying them online, with enough notice to have them mailed, if that can be done by credit card. I also see references to it calling for the Zone 4 weekday fare at all times, even though this will be on a weekend. The fare quoted on the Shop SEPTA site for that category is $6.50, so would we also have that savings with an online purchase?
We'll be meeting people for lunch in the Reading Terminal Market area during an 8-hour layover before going to Italy. Am I reading correctly that there are no machines or booths for getting train tickets at the airport, and one is generally expected to buy them onboard? Since $32 for two round trips would be a big portion of the U.S. cash I'm planning to have, I was thinking of buying them online, with enough notice to have them mailed, if that can be done by credit card. I also see references to it calling for the Zone 4 weekday fare at all times, even though this will be on a weekend. The fare quoted on the Shop SEPTA site for that category is $6.50, so would we also have that savings with an online purchase?
If you purchase tickets in advanced at a staffed ticket office (there are no ticketing machines for Septa regional rail yet) the ticket is only $6.50. Those ticket offices are located at ANY of the three Philadelphia Center City stations (Market East, Suburban, or 30th St.)
Here's the nice "bonus" if you buy your $8 ticket into the city from the conductor. When you get to the city you can then take your on-board purchase receipt and goto a staffed ticket office to purchase a RETURN ticket to the airport at the discounted price of $6.50. The ticket office will "credit" you the on board purchase ($1.50) - so you will only pay $5.00 for the return portion of your trip back to the airport. And yes, they take all major credit cards at the staffed ticket offices.
Info on the fare credit program - http://www.septa.org/fares/ticket/credit.html
Hours for Market East - http://www.septa.org/stations/rail/market.html
Mar 8, 2014, 9:24 pm
#45
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,973
Thanks, that's interesting and may be the way to go, but am I seeing right that tickets can also be purchased as Zone 4 Weekday tickets at shop.septa.org (allowing time to receive them in the mail)?
As a historical curiosity, I remember taking the airport train from Market East in 1988, and I definitely bought the ticket from a machine. There was a $4 fare, and the machine gave me in change the first Susan B. Anthony dollar coin I ever handled. Were the machines discontinued, or was it a different operating authority?
As a historical curiosity, I remember taking the airport train from Market East in 1988, and I definitely bought the ticket from a machine. There was a $4 fare, and the machine gave me in change the first Susan B. Anthony dollar coin I ever handled. Were the machines discontinued, or was it a different operating authority?