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.
May 22, 2016, 5:37 am
#766
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: AA Executive Platinum; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,662
Hi,
I have a related but slightly different question:
I will be arriving at PHL on an AA service from DUB, having gone through CBP Pre-clearance there, and connecting to an AA service to MCO (all on the same 001- ticket).
Does the above guidance still apply, or will my luggage be checked through to MCO ?
Thanks !
I have a related but slightly different question:
I will be arriving at PHL on an AA service from DUB, having gone through CBP Pre-clearance there, and connecting to an AA service to MCO (all on the same 001- ticket).
Does the above guidance still apply, or will my luggage be checked through to MCO ?
Thanks !
May 22, 2016, 6:13 am
#767
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Bristol
Programs: BA GGL, UA Plat, DL Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,380
Jun 5, 2016, 1:20 pm
#768
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 3
Is it allowed to use a different TSA checkpoint than what is assigned for my gate? For example, going through a C-gate checkpoint for an E departure.
I ask in case the line is long and I can save some time by going through a different lineup. Of course this is assuming the gates are connected - I don't know if it's possible to use an F checkpoint for an E flight, plus whatever time is saved standing in line may be spent in transit between the terminal.
If so, which one would be a good choice on a Sunday, 5 PM? Or is that a time of week where lines are light and not a concern?
Thanks for any guidance. Sorry not a very frequent flier.
I ask in case the line is long and I can save some time by going through a different lineup. Of course this is assuming the gates are connected - I don't know if it's possible to use an F checkpoint for an E flight, plus whatever time is saved standing in line may be spent in transit between the terminal.
If so, which one would be a good choice on a Sunday, 5 PM? Or is that a time of week where lines are light and not a concern?
Thanks for any guidance. Sorry not a very frequent flier.
Jun 5, 2016, 1:38 pm
#769
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: PHL
Programs: AA Plat Pro
Posts: 173
The E/F connector behind security is now open, though I haven't used it yet:
http://www.phl.org/passengerinfo/Pages/Bagrel.aspx
A thru E have long been connected behind security:
http://maps.phl.org/phl/
Not sure about data on congestion vs terminal vs time of day
http://www.phl.org/passengerinfo/Pages/Bagrel.aspx
A thru E have long been connected behind security:
http://maps.phl.org/phl/
Not sure about data on congestion vs terminal vs time of day
Jun 5, 2016, 6:12 pm
#771
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 3
The E/F connector behind security is now open, though I haven't used it yet:
http://www.phl.org/passengerinfo/Pages/Bagrel.aspx
A thru E have long been connected behind security:
http://maps.phl.org/phl/
Not sure about data on congestion vs terminal vs time of day
http://www.phl.org/passengerinfo/Pages/Bagrel.aspx
A thru E have long been connected behind security:
http://maps.phl.org/phl/
Not sure about data on congestion vs terminal vs time of day
Jun 21, 2016, 11:40 pm
#772
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Luckiest people at PHL today!
We arrived fairly late from MBJ after two holding patterns due to weather, 5:20 pm, A-11. Our next flight (to SFO) was due to depart 6 pm. Showing as "on time" departure. Thankfully, AA lies.
Trek. Immigration. Customs. Trek. TSA. To gate - A-11! Yep, same aircraft, still getting serviced. We had to wait ten minutes plus to board, and of course we departed late.
~25 minutes A-11 to A-11. Global Entry, no checked bags, TSA PreCheck. Any one of those not in place, we'd have missed our flight.
We arrived fairly late from MBJ after two holding patterns due to weather, 5:20 pm, A-11. Our next flight (to SFO) was due to depart 6 pm. Showing as "on time" departure. Thankfully, AA lies.
Trek. Immigration. Customs. Trek. TSA. To gate - A-11! Yep, same aircraft, still getting serviced. We had to wait ten minutes plus to board, and of course we departed late.
~25 minutes A-11 to A-11. Global Entry, no checked bags, TSA PreCheck. Any one of those not in place, we'd have missed our flight.
Jun 22, 2016, 7:22 am
#773
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: BSL
Programs: AA (EXP); among others :)
Posts: 2,522
Rather disappointing experience transiting through PHL (FRA-PHL-DFW|-GRU) with an AVIH animal.
I`ve never encountered such utterly clueless, obviously untrained staff who had no idea at all what to do at any other AA airport - hub, even - than at PHL.
First, it took 50 minutes for bags and crate to turn up at baggage claim (all passengers coming off 701 were affected), turning this into a tight connection from a comfortable one.
Then, AA would not let us re-check the animal at the bag recheck facility right after customs, although the crate was checked through and properly tagged all the way to DFW. Staff there simply would not accept the crate and agents as well as supervisor insisted that I had to go all the way around the terminal and down to the main departure hall check-in desks. They clearly hadn't seen this before - hard to believe half a year after integrating with AA and adopting AA policies.
This would make me miss my connection as time was running short, but I had no other option than to comply. In hindsight, I should just have put the (properly tagged) crate on the belt myself while ignoring everybody before leaving very quickly...
Staff at the check-in desk were totally overwhelmed with this as well. No one seemed to have any experience with how to handle a passenger connecting with a checked pet. At first they wanted to go through the whole process of checking the animal in again with all the paperwork associated with that (plus collecting the fee a second time).
When we were finally booked on a flight (carefully crafted original connection was long gone at this point) , it was upon me to discover that this flight didn't work as it was operated by an A321 where checked animals are not allowed... so back to the counter again, and getting rebooked on the sole remaining B737 flight of the day - with a 40-minute time window to retrieve the animal, hand it over and then make the trek from A to D in DFW to catch 963 to GRU.
Next up: The agent mistakenly tagged the dog crate all the way to GRU instead of to DFW where it was supposed to go Luckily this was found out and got corrected before the crate was loaded onto the plane - the GA came on board and gave me new tags!.
This PHL experience ended with the flight to DFW being delayed, and everything turned out to be extremely tight in DFW.
AA, it's been 250 days since checked pets were introduced to the pmUS side of the company. Enough time to have staff properly trained and introduce proper procedures for handling AVIH animals one should think.
I can only advise anyone with checked pets to avoid PHL - and especially transferring through PHL - for the time being.
I`ve never encountered such utterly clueless, obviously untrained staff who had no idea at all what to do at any other AA airport - hub, even - than at PHL.
First, it took 50 minutes for bags and crate to turn up at baggage claim (all passengers coming off 701 were affected), turning this into a tight connection from a comfortable one.
Then, AA would not let us re-check the animal at the bag recheck facility right after customs, although the crate was checked through and properly tagged all the way to DFW. Staff there simply would not accept the crate and agents as well as supervisor insisted that I had to go all the way around the terminal and down to the main departure hall check-in desks. They clearly hadn't seen this before - hard to believe half a year after integrating with AA and adopting AA policies.
This would make me miss my connection as time was running short, but I had no other option than to comply. In hindsight, I should just have put the (properly tagged) crate on the belt myself while ignoring everybody before leaving very quickly...
Staff at the check-in desk were totally overwhelmed with this as well. No one seemed to have any experience with how to handle a passenger connecting with a checked pet. At first they wanted to go through the whole process of checking the animal in again with all the paperwork associated with that (plus collecting the fee a second time).
When we were finally booked on a flight (carefully crafted original connection was long gone at this point) , it was upon me to discover that this flight didn't work as it was operated by an A321 where checked animals are not allowed... so back to the counter again, and getting rebooked on the sole remaining B737 flight of the day - with a 40-minute time window to retrieve the animal, hand it over and then make the trek from A to D in DFW to catch 963 to GRU.
Next up: The agent mistakenly tagged the dog crate all the way to GRU instead of to DFW where it was supposed to go Luckily this was found out and got corrected before the crate was loaded onto the plane - the GA came on board and gave me new tags!.
This PHL experience ended with the flight to DFW being delayed, and everything turned out to be extremely tight in DFW.
AA, it's been 250 days since checked pets were introduced to the pmUS side of the company. Enough time to have staff properly trained and introduce proper procedures for handling AVIH animals one should think.
I can only advise anyone with checked pets to avoid PHL - and especially transferring through PHL - for the time being.
Jul 10, 2016, 11:39 am
#775
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: UK (currently)
Programs: BA Gold (and many other greater and lesser distinctions)
Posts: 7,208
I have never travelled through PHL, although it has now become an alternative to MIA as a connecting point for my LHR - GCM trips.
I would be arriving / departing from / to LHR / GCM (the trip could be either or both directions) on BA (for the TATL) sector) and AA (for the PHL - GCM sector), both in J class, with checked bags and a UK passport (with ESTA). What should I expect by way of queues / processing delays ?
I am a very cautious traveller and tend to allow a min of 3 hours (and actually don't mind 4 hours) in MIA for this type of connection, to cater for delayed inbound flight, unforeseeable CBP delays, slow baggage reclaim, etc, etc.
Is PHL a more traveller friendly experience than MIA for someone in my position, and what would be the recommended practical likely worst case connection time through PHL (allowing for non US passport and the need to collect and re-check bags) ?
I have the option of CLT as another international to international transfer point on AA, with all the same considerations. Is one better than the other, or should I just stick to the tried and tested MIA routing (bad as it is, I do at least know what to expect !) ??
I would be arriving / departing from / to LHR / GCM (the trip could be either or both directions) on BA (for the TATL) sector) and AA (for the PHL - GCM sector), both in J class, with checked bags and a UK passport (with ESTA). What should I expect by way of queues / processing delays ?
I am a very cautious traveller and tend to allow a min of 3 hours (and actually don't mind 4 hours) in MIA for this type of connection, to cater for delayed inbound flight, unforeseeable CBP delays, slow baggage reclaim, etc, etc.
Is PHL a more traveller friendly experience than MIA for someone in my position, and what would be the recommended practical likely worst case connection time through PHL (allowing for non US passport and the need to collect and re-check bags) ?
I have the option of CLT as another international to international transfer point on AA, with all the same considerations. Is one better than the other, or should I just stick to the tried and tested MIA routing (bad as it is, I do at least know what to expect !) ??
Last edited by Frequentflyer99; Jul 10, 2016 at 11:51 am
Jul 11, 2016, 6:11 pm
#776
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 480
I have never travelled through PHL, although it has now become an alternative to MIA as a connecting point for my LHR - GCM trips.
I would be arriving / departing from / to LHR / GCM (the trip could be either or both directions) on BA (for the TATL) sector) and AA (for the PHL - GCM sector), both in J class, with checked bags and a UK passport (with ESTA). What should I expect by way of queues / processing delays ?
I am a very cautious traveller and tend to allow a min of 3 hours (and actually don't mind 4 hours) in MIA for this type of connection, to cater for delayed inbound flight, unforeseeable CBP delays, slow baggage reclaim, etc, etc.
Is PHL a more traveller friendly experience than MIA for someone in my position, and what would be the recommended practical likely worst case connection time through PHL (allowing for non US passport and the need to collect and re-check bags) ?
I have the option of CLT as another international to international transfer point on AA, with all the same considerations. Is one better than the other, or should I just stick to the tried and tested MIA routing (bad as it is, I do at least know what to expect !) ??
I would be arriving / departing from / to LHR / GCM (the trip could be either or both directions) on BA (for the TATL) sector) and AA (for the PHL - GCM sector), both in J class, with checked bags and a UK passport (with ESTA). What should I expect by way of queues / processing delays ?
I am a very cautious traveller and tend to allow a min of 3 hours (and actually don't mind 4 hours) in MIA for this type of connection, to cater for delayed inbound flight, unforeseeable CBP delays, slow baggage reclaim, etc, etc.
Is PHL a more traveller friendly experience than MIA for someone in my position, and what would be the recommended practical likely worst case connection time through PHL (allowing for non US passport and the need to collect and re-check bags) ?
I have the option of CLT as another international to international transfer point on AA, with all the same considerations. Is one better than the other, or should I just stick to the tried and tested MIA routing (bad as it is, I do at least know what to expect !) ??
Personally, I think MIA is one of the worst airports I have been to, whether connecting or originating.
The connection in CLT wasn't terrible, and was certainly better than MIA. However, I hate how crowded CLT can get at peak times. Lounges, gate areas, walk ways, etc all become very crowded and sometimes nearly impossible to move.
PHL, it's a mixed bag. When it's good, it's good. When it's bad, it's really bad. Your comfort connection times are definitely long enough. I've heard people making intl-domestic connections in less than an hour, and I'd believe it. I believe the BA flight lands at a good time, so you shouldn't have much trouble with CBP.
That being said, I prefer shorter flights after a long leg, and you already know MIA well. If the flight and connection times, and fares are still agreeable to you, I see no reason to change. There's something to be said about familiarity with an airport.
Jul 12, 2016, 3:29 am
#777
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: between MUC and NUE
Programs: BA Gold, LH Senator
Posts: 422
Due to AA's flight time changes I'm now on a 2:20 hours connection at PHL in September. Inbound from FRA (AA701) arriving at 1:55PM, outbound to LAS (AA735) departing at 4:15PM. Travelling in Y with checked bags, German passport with ESTA. Emerald, so should be able to use fast track.
I'm a little concerned cos I read a lot about long TSA lines nowadays. I had originally booked a longer layover (ca. 4 hours) but AA recently put me on the shorter connection. Am I beeing overanxious or should I call AA and try to get a longer connection time?
I'm a little concerned cos I read a lot about long TSA lines nowadays. I had originally booked a longer layover (ca. 4 hours) but AA recently put me on the shorter connection. Am I beeing overanxious or should I call AA and try to get a longer connection time?
Jul 12, 2016, 10:22 am
#778
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: PDX
Programs: AA Ex Plat, Alaska MVP Gold 75K, Hertz Gold 5*
Posts: 197
Due to AA's flight time changes I'm now on a 2:20 hours connection at PHL in September. Inbound from FRA (AA701) arriving at 1:55PM, outbound to LAS (AA735) departing at 4:15PM. Travelling in Y with checked bags, German passport with ESTA. Emerald, so should be able to use fast track.
I'm a little concerned cos I read a lot about long TSA lines nowadays. I had originally booked a longer layover (ca. 4 hours) but AA recently put me on the shorter connection. Am I beeing overanxious or should I call AA and try to get a longer connection time?
I'm a little concerned cos I read a lot about long TSA lines nowadays. I had originally booked a longer layover (ca. 4 hours) but AA recently put me on the shorter connection. Am I beeing overanxious or should I call AA and try to get a longer connection time?
Jul 13, 2016, 1:17 am
#779
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 226
A heads-up that in additional to the expected delays with increased traffic around the Democratic National Convention at PHL from July 23-30 (convention itself is July 25-28). The non-union/contracted baggage handlers, wheelcheair attendants, and plane cleaners just voted to strike during this same period.
http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...g_the_DNC.html
http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...g_the_DNC.html
Jul 13, 2016, 8:09 am
#780
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: The greatest wee nation on earth.
Programs: Iron Maiden FC, GE, Rapidly falling down the Tiers to oblivion.
Posts: 2,604
I have never travelled through PHL, although it has now become an alternative to MIA as a connecting point for my LHR - GCM trips.
I would be arriving / departing from / to LHR / GCM (the trip could be either or both directions) on BA (for the TATL) sector) and AA (for the PHL - GCM sector), both in J class, with checked bags and a UK passport (with ESTA). What should I expect by way of queues / processing delays ?
I am a very cautious traveller and tend to allow a min of 3 hours (and actually don't mind 4 hours) in MIA for this type of connection, to cater for delayed inbound flight, unforeseeable CBP delays, slow baggage reclaim, etc, etc.
Is PHL a more traveller friendly experience than MIA for someone in my position, and what would be the recommended practical likely worst case connection time through PHL (allowing for non US passport and the need to collect and re-check bags) ?
I have the option of CLT as another international to international transfer point on AA, with all the same considerations. Is one better than the other, or should I just stick to the tried and tested MIA routing (bad as it is, I do at least know what to expect !) ??
I would be arriving / departing from / to LHR / GCM (the trip could be either or both directions) on BA (for the TATL) sector) and AA (for the PHL - GCM sector), both in J class, with checked bags and a UK passport (with ESTA). What should I expect by way of queues / processing delays ?
I am a very cautious traveller and tend to allow a min of 3 hours (and actually don't mind 4 hours) in MIA for this type of connection, to cater for delayed inbound flight, unforeseeable CBP delays, slow baggage reclaim, etc, etc.
Is PHL a more traveller friendly experience than MIA for someone in my position, and what would be the recommended practical likely worst case connection time through PHL (allowing for non US passport and the need to collect and re-check bags) ?
I have the option of CLT as another international to international transfer point on AA, with all the same considerations. Is one better than the other, or should I just stick to the tried and tested MIA routing (bad as it is, I do at least know what to expect !) ??
As for strikes at PHL, they must have known I am coming since striking seems to be the in thing in Scotland these days. (Going to canada via phl for a larf next week, and yes AA schedule changes screwed everything up...).