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.
Jul 26, 2014, 4:06 pm
#166
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 20
Grand, thanks! 
It's my first time flying transatlantic by myself so hence the endless questions about silly things :P
I think the flights coming from Dublin that don't have preclearance are ones after 4pm. Other than that I'm pretty sure all other flights are precleared beforehand.
It's my first time flying transatlantic by myself so hence the endless questions about silly things :P
I think the flights coming from Dublin that don't have preclearance are ones after 4pm. Other than that I'm pretty sure all other flights are precleared beforehand.
Jul 30, 2014, 6:04 am
#167
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: Star Alliance G*, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium,
Posts: 3,585
NY Times (July 29, 2014)
PHILADELPHIA — Dana Donofree had half an hour to wait for her flight to Atlanta and decided to use the time by working out — in a terminal at Philadelphia International Airport.
For Those Stuck in the Terminal, An Opportunity to Exercise
Sitting on an exercise bike in Terminal D on a recent morning, Ms. Donofree was cycling at a leisurely pace, wearing jeans and checking her phone as jets taxied outside.
Without becoming sweaty, changing her clothes or paying fees to an airport gym, she was able to exercise while remaining near her departure gate, thanks to a set of newly installed workout machines.
In late June, the airport became the first in the United States to provide three types of low-impact stationary bikes for travelers to use in the terminal, free of charge, while waiting for their flights.
It’s a departure from the sedentary activities normally associated with waiting for a flight — watching television, reading a magazine, even standing on a moving walkway.
“It brings the gym to the concourse in an easy-access and low-impact way to encourage everyone to work in some exercise during their busy travel days,” said Kevin M. Burke, president and chief executive of the North America division of Airports Council International, a trade group for airport operators.
The equipment represents a new development in the growing availability of fitness facilities at American airports like walking paths and yoga rooms, Mr. Burke said in a statement.
But at most of these facilities, travelers seeking a workout must visit nearby hotels or fitness clubs, according to airportgyms.com, a website that lists 188 airport gyms across the country.
New York’s Kennedy International Airport, for example, has three gyms “near airport” while La Guardia Airport, also in New York, has four, according to the website. In California, Los Angeles International Airport has one gym at the Radisson Hotel inside the airport, while another is listed near the airport.
In Asia, Singapore’s Changi Airport has one 24-hour gym in a transit lounge, and another in a transit hotel, according to the airport website. And in Europe, a hotel at Munich’s airport offers a pool, sauna and a fitness center.
Philadelphia’s equipment includes 30 free-standing cycling machines consisting of only a seat and pedals, conspicuously lacking devices that measure heart rate or varies the user’s degree of exertion on more sophisticated machines.
Most of the cycling machines, called sitNcycles, are about the size of kitchen stools, and have replaced white wooden rocking chairs that are positioned near the shops and restaurants of Terminal C. The rocking chairs may have tempted travelers to extend their sitting time before boarding their plane.
Instead, passengers can have a light workout and maybe even unplug from technology for a few minutes.
“It keeps you a little bit active rather than sitting staring at your phone at the gate,” said Ms. Donofree, 32, who was on her way to Atlanta to market a new line of lingerie for breast cancer survivors.
Continue reading the main story
But the cycling machines did not provide enough of a workout for Ms. Donofree, a regular at her local gym in Philadelphia. So she moved to one of the four elliptical exercise bikes that are also available in a pop-up gym that moves between the airport’s terminals every two weeks.
“I did skip the gym this morning because I had to come here to the airport, so I don’t feel so guilty about skipping it now that I’m here on the bike,” Ms. Donofree said. “An extra few calorie burns doesn’t hurt anybody.”
She argued that even the elliptical bike, with its built-in heart rate sensors and backlit LCD display on the handlebars, was still easy to use for regular travelers dressed in their business clothes.
“If it was a treadmill, it might be a little bit more intimidating. But since it’s a bicycle, I can take a bike ride and not get sweaty,” she said. “If I do, big deal, I’m hopping on a plane.”
After the summer, the airport will decide whether to make the fitness equipment a permanent fixture, depending on how it is received by passengers, said Mark Gale, the airport’s chief executive.
“The indications are that they would like to see this on a year-round basis,” Mr. Gale said in an interview.
So far, the equipment has been provided for free by Smooth Fitness and Health, an exercise equipment retailer in nearby King of Prussia, Pa., Mr. Gale said.
Rich Hebert, president and chief executive of Smooth Fitness, said he approached airport officials to use the space as a testing ground because of its proximity to his company’s base. But he hopes to take it nationwide if it is welcomed by travelers.
For Merhawy Worede, a passenger bound for Málaga, Spain, the exercise bikes offered a welcome opportunity to stretch his legs before taking three flights, including a nonstop leg from New York to Rome.
“For me, being tall, my legs get tight, and I need to be mobile, and you don’t get that opportunity on an eight-and-a-half-hour flight over the ocean,” Mr. Worede, 32, an accountant from Philadelphia, said while riding one of the elliptical bikes. “If I can get loose now, maybe it will help make the trip a little bit more comfortable.”
Steve Ellis, a banker from Pleasanton, Kan., 70 miles outside Kansas City, said he welcomed the opportunity for a gentle workout after having lunch at a food court a few yards away.
“I thought, ‘Why don’t I come over here and exercise and burn off a little bit of what I just ate?’ ” said Mr. Ellis, 65, who was returning to Kansas after a three-day vacation in Philadelphia.
But not everyone was convinced. Ronda Anderson, who was traveling to Los Angeles from Newark with her son Jakobe, 12, said she did not plan to try the exercise bikes, even though Jakobe was pedaling happily while waiting for a flight.
“I don’t want to sweat,” she said.
For Those Stuck in the Terminal, An Opportunity to Exercise
Sitting on an exercise bike in Terminal D on a recent morning, Ms. Donofree was cycling at a leisurely pace, wearing jeans and checking her phone as jets taxied outside.
Without becoming sweaty, changing her clothes or paying fees to an airport gym, she was able to exercise while remaining near her departure gate, thanks to a set of newly installed workout machines.
In late June, the airport became the first in the United States to provide three types of low-impact stationary bikes for travelers to use in the terminal, free of charge, while waiting for their flights.
It’s a departure from the sedentary activities normally associated with waiting for a flight — watching television, reading a magazine, even standing on a moving walkway.
“It brings the gym to the concourse in an easy-access and low-impact way to encourage everyone to work in some exercise during their busy travel days,” said Kevin M. Burke, president and chief executive of the North America division of Airports Council International, a trade group for airport operators.
The equipment represents a new development in the growing availability of fitness facilities at American airports like walking paths and yoga rooms, Mr. Burke said in a statement.
But at most of these facilities, travelers seeking a workout must visit nearby hotels or fitness clubs, according to airportgyms.com, a website that lists 188 airport gyms across the country.
New York’s Kennedy International Airport, for example, has three gyms “near airport” while La Guardia Airport, also in New York, has four, according to the website. In California, Los Angeles International Airport has one gym at the Radisson Hotel inside the airport, while another is listed near the airport.
In Asia, Singapore’s Changi Airport has one 24-hour gym in a transit lounge, and another in a transit hotel, according to the airport website. And in Europe, a hotel at Munich’s airport offers a pool, sauna and a fitness center.
Philadelphia’s equipment includes 30 free-standing cycling machines consisting of only a seat and pedals, conspicuously lacking devices that measure heart rate or varies the user’s degree of exertion on more sophisticated machines.
Most of the cycling machines, called sitNcycles, are about the size of kitchen stools, and have replaced white wooden rocking chairs that are positioned near the shops and restaurants of Terminal C. The rocking chairs may have tempted travelers to extend their sitting time before boarding their plane.
Instead, passengers can have a light workout and maybe even unplug from technology for a few minutes.
“It keeps you a little bit active rather than sitting staring at your phone at the gate,” said Ms. Donofree, 32, who was on her way to Atlanta to market a new line of lingerie for breast cancer survivors.
Continue reading the main story
But the cycling machines did not provide enough of a workout for Ms. Donofree, a regular at her local gym in Philadelphia. So she moved to one of the four elliptical exercise bikes that are also available in a pop-up gym that moves between the airport’s terminals every two weeks.
“I did skip the gym this morning because I had to come here to the airport, so I don’t feel so guilty about skipping it now that I’m here on the bike,” Ms. Donofree said. “An extra few calorie burns doesn’t hurt anybody.”
She argued that even the elliptical bike, with its built-in heart rate sensors and backlit LCD display on the handlebars, was still easy to use for regular travelers dressed in their business clothes.
“If it was a treadmill, it might be a little bit more intimidating. But since it’s a bicycle, I can take a bike ride and not get sweaty,” she said. “If I do, big deal, I’m hopping on a plane.”
After the summer, the airport will decide whether to make the fitness equipment a permanent fixture, depending on how it is received by passengers, said Mark Gale, the airport’s chief executive.
“The indications are that they would like to see this on a year-round basis,” Mr. Gale said in an interview.
So far, the equipment has been provided for free by Smooth Fitness and Health, an exercise equipment retailer in nearby King of Prussia, Pa., Mr. Gale said.
Rich Hebert, president and chief executive of Smooth Fitness, said he approached airport officials to use the space as a testing ground because of its proximity to his company’s base. But he hopes to take it nationwide if it is welcomed by travelers.
For Merhawy Worede, a passenger bound for Málaga, Spain, the exercise bikes offered a welcome opportunity to stretch his legs before taking three flights, including a nonstop leg from New York to Rome.
“For me, being tall, my legs get tight, and I need to be mobile, and you don’t get that opportunity on an eight-and-a-half-hour flight over the ocean,” Mr. Worede, 32, an accountant from Philadelphia, said while riding one of the elliptical bikes. “If I can get loose now, maybe it will help make the trip a little bit more comfortable.”
Steve Ellis, a banker from Pleasanton, Kan., 70 miles outside Kansas City, said he welcomed the opportunity for a gentle workout after having lunch at a food court a few yards away.
“I thought, ‘Why don’t I come over here and exercise and burn off a little bit of what I just ate?’ ” said Mr. Ellis, 65, who was returning to Kansas after a three-day vacation in Philadelphia.
But not everyone was convinced. Ronda Anderson, who was traveling to Los Angeles from Newark with her son Jakobe, 12, said she did not plan to try the exercise bikes, even though Jakobe was pedaling happily while waiting for a flight.
“I don’t want to sweat,” she said.
Jul 30, 2014, 7:56 am
#168
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: US CP, SPG Plat., HH Gold
Posts: 342
PHILADELPHIA — Dana Donofree had half an hour to wait for her flight to Atlanta and decided to use the time by working out — in a terminal at Philadelphia International Airport.
For Those Stuck in the Terminal, An Opportunity to Exercise
Sitting on an exercise bike in Terminal D on a recent morning, Ms. Donofree was cycling at a leisurely pace, wearing jeans and checking her phone as jets taxied outside.
Without becoming sweaty, changing her clothes or paying fees to an airport gym, she was able to exercise while remaining near her departure gate, thanks to a set of newly installed workout machines.
In late June, the airport became the first in the United States to provide three types of low-impact stationary bikes for travelers to use in the terminal, free of charge, while waiting for their flights.
It’s a departure from the sedentary activities normally associated with waiting for a flight — watching television, reading a magazine, even standing on a moving walkway.
“It brings the gym to the concourse in an easy-access and low-impact way to encourage everyone to work in some exercise during their busy travel days,” said Kevin M. Burke, president and chief executive of the North America division of Airports Council International, a trade group for airport operators.
The equipment represents a new development in the growing availability of fitness facilities at American airports like walking paths and yoga rooms, Mr. Burke said in a statement.
But at most of these facilities, travelers seeking a workout must visit nearby hotels or fitness clubs, according to airportgyms.com, a website that lists 188 airport gyms across the country.
New York’s Kennedy International Airport, for example, has three gyms “near airport” while La Guardia Airport, also in New York, has four, according to the website. In California, Los Angeles International Airport has one gym at the Radisson Hotel inside the airport, while another is listed near the airport.
In Asia, Singapore’s Changi Airport has one 24-hour gym in a transit lounge, and another in a transit hotel, according to the airport website. And in Europe, a hotel at Munich’s airport offers a pool, sauna and a fitness center.
Philadelphia’s equipment includes 30 free-standing cycling machines consisting of only a seat and pedals, conspicuously lacking devices that measure heart rate or varies the user’s degree of exertion on more sophisticated machines.
Most of the cycling machines, called sitNcycles, are about the size of kitchen stools, and have replaced white wooden rocking chairs that are positioned near the shops and restaurants of Terminal C. The rocking chairs may have tempted travelers to extend their sitting time before boarding their plane.
Instead, passengers can have a light workout and maybe even unplug from technology for a few minutes.
“It keeps you a little bit active rather than sitting staring at your phone at the gate,” said Ms. Donofree, 32, who was on her way to Atlanta to market a new line of lingerie for breast cancer survivors.
Continue reading the main story
But the cycling machines did not provide enough of a workout for Ms. Donofree, a regular at her local gym in Philadelphia. So she moved to one of the four elliptical exercise bikes that are also available in a pop-up gym that moves between the airport’s terminals every two weeks.
“I did skip the gym this morning because I had to come here to the airport, so I don’t feel so guilty about skipping it now that I’m here on the bike,” Ms. Donofree said. “An extra few calorie burns doesn’t hurt anybody.”
She argued that even the elliptical bike, with its built-in heart rate sensors and backlit LCD display on the handlebars, was still easy to use for regular travelers dressed in their business clothes.
“If it was a treadmill, it might be a little bit more intimidating. But since it’s a bicycle, I can take a bike ride and not get sweaty,” she said. “If I do, big deal, I’m hopping on a plane.”
After the summer, the airport will decide whether to make the fitness equipment a permanent fixture, depending on how it is received by passengers, said Mark Gale, the airport’s chief executive.
“The indications are that they would like to see this on a year-round basis,” Mr. Gale said in an interview.
So far, the equipment has been provided for free by Smooth Fitness and Health, an exercise equipment retailer in nearby King of Prussia, Pa., Mr. Gale said.
Rich Hebert, president and chief executive of Smooth Fitness, said he approached airport officials to use the space as a testing ground because of its proximity to his company’s base. But he hopes to take it nationwide if it is welcomed by travelers.
For Merhawy Worede, a passenger bound for Málaga, Spain, the exercise bikes offered a welcome opportunity to stretch his legs before taking three flights, including a nonstop leg from New York to Rome.
“For me, being tall, my legs get tight, and I need to be mobile, and you don’t get that opportunity on an eight-and-a-half-hour flight over the ocean,” Mr. Worede, 32, an accountant from Philadelphia, said while riding one of the elliptical bikes. “If I can get loose now, maybe it will help make the trip a little bit more comfortable.”
Steve Ellis, a banker from Pleasanton, Kan., 70 miles outside Kansas City, said he welcomed the opportunity for a gentle workout after having lunch at a food court a few yards away.
“I thought, ‘Why don’t I come over here and exercise and burn off a little bit of what I just ate?’ ” said Mr. Ellis, 65, who was returning to Kansas after a three-day vacation in Philadelphia.
But not everyone was convinced. Ronda Anderson, who was traveling to Los Angeles from Newark with her son Jakobe, 12, said she did not plan to try the exercise bikes, even though Jakobe was pedaling happily while waiting for a flight.
“I don’t want to sweat,” she said.
For Those Stuck in the Terminal, An Opportunity to Exercise
Sitting on an exercise bike in Terminal D on a recent morning, Ms. Donofree was cycling at a leisurely pace, wearing jeans and checking her phone as jets taxied outside.
Without becoming sweaty, changing her clothes or paying fees to an airport gym, she was able to exercise while remaining near her departure gate, thanks to a set of newly installed workout machines.
In late June, the airport became the first in the United States to provide three types of low-impact stationary bikes for travelers to use in the terminal, free of charge, while waiting for their flights.
It’s a departure from the sedentary activities normally associated with waiting for a flight — watching television, reading a magazine, even standing on a moving walkway.
“It brings the gym to the concourse in an easy-access and low-impact way to encourage everyone to work in some exercise during their busy travel days,” said Kevin M. Burke, president and chief executive of the North America division of Airports Council International, a trade group for airport operators.
The equipment represents a new development in the growing availability of fitness facilities at American airports like walking paths and yoga rooms, Mr. Burke said in a statement.
But at most of these facilities, travelers seeking a workout must visit nearby hotels or fitness clubs, according to airportgyms.com, a website that lists 188 airport gyms across the country.
New York’s Kennedy International Airport, for example, has three gyms “near airport” while La Guardia Airport, also in New York, has four, according to the website. In California, Los Angeles International Airport has one gym at the Radisson Hotel inside the airport, while another is listed near the airport.
In Asia, Singapore’s Changi Airport has one 24-hour gym in a transit lounge, and another in a transit hotel, according to the airport website. And in Europe, a hotel at Munich’s airport offers a pool, sauna and a fitness center.
Philadelphia’s equipment includes 30 free-standing cycling machines consisting of only a seat and pedals, conspicuously lacking devices that measure heart rate or varies the user’s degree of exertion on more sophisticated machines.
Most of the cycling machines, called sitNcycles, are about the size of kitchen stools, and have replaced white wooden rocking chairs that are positioned near the shops and restaurants of Terminal C. The rocking chairs may have tempted travelers to extend their sitting time before boarding their plane.
Instead, passengers can have a light workout and maybe even unplug from technology for a few minutes.
“It keeps you a little bit active rather than sitting staring at your phone at the gate,” said Ms. Donofree, 32, who was on her way to Atlanta to market a new line of lingerie for breast cancer survivors.
Continue reading the main story
But the cycling machines did not provide enough of a workout for Ms. Donofree, a regular at her local gym in Philadelphia. So she moved to one of the four elliptical exercise bikes that are also available in a pop-up gym that moves between the airport’s terminals every two weeks.
“I did skip the gym this morning because I had to come here to the airport, so I don’t feel so guilty about skipping it now that I’m here on the bike,” Ms. Donofree said. “An extra few calorie burns doesn’t hurt anybody.”
She argued that even the elliptical bike, with its built-in heart rate sensors and backlit LCD display on the handlebars, was still easy to use for regular travelers dressed in their business clothes.
“If it was a treadmill, it might be a little bit more intimidating. But since it’s a bicycle, I can take a bike ride and not get sweaty,” she said. “If I do, big deal, I’m hopping on a plane.”
After the summer, the airport will decide whether to make the fitness equipment a permanent fixture, depending on how it is received by passengers, said Mark Gale, the airport’s chief executive.
“The indications are that they would like to see this on a year-round basis,” Mr. Gale said in an interview.
So far, the equipment has been provided for free by Smooth Fitness and Health, an exercise equipment retailer in nearby King of Prussia, Pa., Mr. Gale said.
Rich Hebert, president and chief executive of Smooth Fitness, said he approached airport officials to use the space as a testing ground because of its proximity to his company’s base. But he hopes to take it nationwide if it is welcomed by travelers.
For Merhawy Worede, a passenger bound for Málaga, Spain, the exercise bikes offered a welcome opportunity to stretch his legs before taking three flights, including a nonstop leg from New York to Rome.
“For me, being tall, my legs get tight, and I need to be mobile, and you don’t get that opportunity on an eight-and-a-half-hour flight over the ocean,” Mr. Worede, 32, an accountant from Philadelphia, said while riding one of the elliptical bikes. “If I can get loose now, maybe it will help make the trip a little bit more comfortable.”
Steve Ellis, a banker from Pleasanton, Kan., 70 miles outside Kansas City, said he welcomed the opportunity for a gentle workout after having lunch at a food court a few yards away.
“I thought, ‘Why don’t I come over here and exercise and burn off a little bit of what I just ate?’ ” said Mr. Ellis, 65, who was returning to Kansas after a three-day vacation in Philadelphia.
But not everyone was convinced. Ronda Anderson, who was traveling to Los Angeles from Newark with her son Jakobe, 12, said she did not plan to try the exercise bikes, even though Jakobe was pedaling happily while waiting for a flight.
“I don’t want to sweat,” she said.
Jul 30, 2014, 8:16 am
#170
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
Finally used F since the renovations last weekend flying EWR-PHL-RDU. It's a definite improvement and I wished I hadn't come through at 10 PM so I could have enjoyed some dinner. The bus set up was really well done and even at the late hour there were staff on hand (friendly ones too if you can believe it) directing passengers onto the buses.
That said, B is still a dump. I wanted to charge my phone but the only outlet I found was being used by a giant fan. Oh and I saw a mother and her child try to buy some pretzels at Auntie Anne's only to be told by the manager "no more pretzels". The manager was herself, eating a pretzel dog while talking to them
That said, B is still a dump. I wanted to charge my phone but the only outlet I found was being used by a giant fan. Oh and I saw a mother and her child try to buy some pretzels at Auntie Anne's only to be told by the manager "no more pretzels". The manager was herself, eating a pretzel dog while talking to them
Jul 30, 2014, 10:42 am
#171
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: Chick-Fil-A Red, Wawa, Red Cross blood donor
Posts: 4,826
Originally Posted by Dana Donofree
“If it was a treadmill, it might be a little bit more intimidating. But since it’s a bicycle, I can take a bike ride and not get sweaty,” she said. “If I do, big deal, I’m hopping on a plane.”
Jul 30, 2014, 11:57 am
#173
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,485
When I do find an outlet that is already being used, no one has ever objected to me unplugging their item, then plugging in, and plugging their item into the surge protector. It has 3 outlets and 2 USB's...and quite often someone else (or more) will ask if they can use it.
Jul 30, 2014, 12:44 pm
#174
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: US Airways Gold, Marriott Platinum, SW A List
Posts: 1,575
Ever since I've begun carrying a mini surge protector in my backpack, I've yet to have an issue finding a place to charge. If not the gate I'm assigned to, there is usually another gate or somewhere nearby.
When I do find an outlet that is already being used, no one has ever objected to me unplugging their item, then plugging in, and plugging their item into the surge protector. It has 3 outlets and 2 USB's...and quite often someone else (or more) will ask if they can use it.
When I do find an outlet that is already being used, no one has ever objected to me unplugging their item, then plugging in, and plugging their item into the surge protector. It has 3 outlets and 2 USB's...and quite often someone else (or more) will ask if they can use it.
Jul 31, 2014, 6:19 am
#175
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 carry both that and the travel power strip. Minor weight penalty but worth it for the convenience.
Aug 13, 2014, 2:59 am
#176
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 1
First-time International Traveller
Hey Guys,
I’m going to be passing through PHL next Tuesday so I just want to double-check that I’m right on what to do.
I’ll be flying US Airways out of LHR to PHL, and then connecting to MDT (Harrisburg), with checked baggage. The flight is scheduled to land in PHL at 15:25 and the connection time is 2h25m.
If I’m right, I’ll arrive in Terminal A-West, and once I proceed through Immigration & Customs, I’ll recheck the baggage at Connections, and then go through to Departures. Now my first question is, when I proceed through to Departures via Connections, will I still be air-side. I.E. Will I have to pass security again?
After that, I believe I need to take the shuttle from A-East (A1) to Terminal F. And then I’ll head to the gate to board. Would my connection time be ok? (I’d imagine immigration will be the longest part, given I’m a non-US citizen.)
On the return trip to LHR, I do have a few questions. Notably, will I have to recheck in my bags once I arrive at PHL? I’m guessing the answer is no, as it’s a domestic from MDT to PHL. So am I right to assume that after dropping the bags off at MDT, I won’t have to interact with them until I arrive at LHR?
Finally, as with the above, once arriving at Terminal F, and then taking the bus to A-East, will I have to pass through security to get into A-West?
My return flight departs PHL at 22:15, and by return connection is 2h36m. But I’d assume security would be a little quieter given the later hour.
Sorry for the long post, but I just wanted to double-check the above with people in the know.
Thanks in advance,
Daniel
I’m going to be passing through PHL next Tuesday so I just want to double-check that I’m right on what to do.
I’ll be flying US Airways out of LHR to PHL, and then connecting to MDT (Harrisburg), with checked baggage. The flight is scheduled to land in PHL at 15:25 and the connection time is 2h25m.
If I’m right, I’ll arrive in Terminal A-West, and once I proceed through Immigration & Customs, I’ll recheck the baggage at Connections, and then go through to Departures. Now my first question is, when I proceed through to Departures via Connections, will I still be air-side. I.E. Will I have to pass security again?
After that, I believe I need to take the shuttle from A-East (A1) to Terminal F. And then I’ll head to the gate to board. Would my connection time be ok? (I’d imagine immigration will be the longest part, given I’m a non-US citizen.)
On the return trip to LHR, I do have a few questions. Notably, will I have to recheck in my bags once I arrive at PHL? I’m guessing the answer is no, as it’s a domestic from MDT to PHL. So am I right to assume that after dropping the bags off at MDT, I won’t have to interact with them until I arrive at LHR?
Finally, as with the above, once arriving at Terminal F, and then taking the bus to A-East, will I have to pass through security to get into A-West?
My return flight departs PHL at 22:15, and by return connection is 2h36m. But I’d assume security would be a little quieter given the later hour.
Sorry for the long post, but I just wanted to double-check the above with people in the know.
Thanks in advance,
Daniel
Aug 13, 2014, 4:26 am
#177
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,485
Hey Guys,
I’m going to be passing through PHL next Tuesday so I just want to double-check that I’m right on what to do.
I’ll be flying US Airways out of LHR to PHL, and then connecting to MDT (Harrisburg), with checked baggage. The flight is scheduled to land in PHL at 15:25 and the connection time is 2h25m.
If I’m right, I’ll arrive in Terminal A-West, and once I proceed through Immigration & Customs, I’ll recheck the baggage at Connections, and then go through to Departures. Now my first question is, when I proceed through to Departures via Connections, will I still be air-side. I.E. Will I have to pass security again?
After that, I believe I need to take the shuttle from A-East (A1) to Terminal F. And then I’ll head to the gate to board. Would my connection time be ok? (I’d imagine immigration will be the longest part, given I’m a non-US citizen.)
On the return trip to LHR, I do have a few questions. Notably, will I have to recheck in my bags once I arrive at PHL? I’m guessing the answer is no, as it’s a domestic from MDT to PHL. So am I right to assume that after dropping the bags off at MDT, I won’t have to interact with them until I arrive at LHR?
Finally, as with the above, once arriving at Terminal F, and then taking the bus to A-East, will I have to pass through security to get into A-West?
My return flight departs PHL at 22:15, and by return connection is 2h36m. But I’d assume security would be a little quieter given the later hour.
Sorry for the long post, but I just wanted to double-check the above with people in the know.
Thanks in advance,
Daniel
I’m going to be passing through PHL next Tuesday so I just want to double-check that I’m right on what to do.
I’ll be flying US Airways out of LHR to PHL, and then connecting to MDT (Harrisburg), with checked baggage. The flight is scheduled to land in PHL at 15:25 and the connection time is 2h25m.
If I’m right, I’ll arrive in Terminal A-West, and once I proceed through Immigration & Customs, I’ll recheck the baggage at Connections, and then go through to Departures. Now my first question is, when I proceed through to Departures via Connections, will I still be air-side. I.E. Will I have to pass security again?
After that, I believe I need to take the shuttle from A-East (A1) to Terminal F. And then I’ll head to the gate to board. Would my connection time be ok? (I’d imagine immigration will be the longest part, given I’m a non-US citizen.)
On the return trip to LHR, I do have a few questions. Notably, will I have to recheck in my bags once I arrive at PHL? I’m guessing the answer is no, as it’s a domestic from MDT to PHL. So am I right to assume that after dropping the bags off at MDT, I won’t have to interact with them until I arrive at LHR?
Finally, as with the above, once arriving at Terminal F, and then taking the bus to A-East, will I have to pass through security to get into A-West?
My return flight departs PHL at 22:15, and by return connection is 2h36m. But I’d assume security would be a little quieter given the later hour.
Sorry for the long post, but I just wanted to double-check the above with people in the know.
Thanks in advance,
Daniel
--when passing through PHL on your inbound, you'll do (in this order I believe):
* Immigration
* Claim bags
* Customs
* Re-check bags
* Clear security
--your connection time sounds OK, so long as everything is on time and there's no extra delays. just to be sure, I wouldn't dally too much along the way. hustle as soon as you can when you're off the plane, try to get to the front of the line for immigration. hopefully your checked bag(s) won't take too long, etc. if you can wait, use the restroom and eat after you're safely over in Terminal F
--on your return MDT-PHL-LHR, you are correct, you don't need to reclaim bags. they'll get transferred to your LHR flight.
--no need to reclear security on the return, so long as you take the bus from Terminal F to either A or B. the bus will keep you on the secure side of things.
it is possible to exit security and walk, but it isn't necessary.
--again, so long as everything is on time, your return connection should be fine. there's restaurants between C and B, as well as a few over in A. I always like to see where my new gate is before I start to think about that.
Aug 17, 2014, 4:10 pm
#178
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Jamison, PA
Programs: AA Platinum Pro
Posts: 288
I'm going out of terminal F on Monday morning. I think I read there is a per check lite but not official pre-check. I was just wondering if it would be worth it to go thru per check at C and then take the shuttle over to F, because of Monday morning crowds???
Aug 17, 2014, 4:18 pm
#179
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,379
What time Monday morning? Line gets busy ~ 6:10 am ebbs and flows until 7:30 am. Honestly it is mostly business travelers so the line moves fast at F on Monday morning.
Aug 17, 2014, 5:25 pm
#180
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Jamison, PA
Programs: AA Platinum Pro
Posts: 288