SEPTA continues its decades-long attempt at making itself more difficult for tourists and visitors to use, apparently.

To the OP: If all you are doing is going to/from the Independence Mall area, you may find that two one-way Regional Rail tickets are all you need. It's painfully unclear on the SEPTA website whether these can be purchased at the airport stations...there is reference to a "SEPTA Key Quick Trip" fare available from an airport kiosk, but it's not clear whether this can be purchased by *anyone* or just those who have previously wedded themselves to the SEPTA Key fare system.

(I wouldn't mind knowing the answer to this myself, as I'm flying into PHL next month and need to connect up to Amtrak at 30th Street.)

At any rate, the OP could ride to Jefferson Station and back for roughly the same price as an Independence Pass.