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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.
#947
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: USA
Programs: AA EXP, UA GLD, Bonvoy Titan, HH Dia, WoH Exp
Posts: 2,673
I appreciate this clarification and tip. On a recent BA (international) to AA (domestic) connection at PHL, I was able to use Precheck in A after leaving customs. I do not know the PHL airport well enough to say it was A-East or A-west, but it was open during a mid-afternoon connection.
Good to know that both the upcoming FL and Amex lounges will have showers. For an international hub airport, it seems this was long overdue.
Actually, the upcoming Flagship Lounge and AMEX Centurion Lounge (above the BA Lounge) will both have showers. The 5500 Sq Ft AMEX Lounge (https://thepointsguy.com/wp-content/...yout-plans.jpg <click image to increase size>) can be accessed with a Platinum card or for a single entrance fee (if space available).
#948
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Planet Earth
Programs: SPG, AA, B6. No longer "still CO to me" with account spent down. RIP CO.
Posts: 653
Safe to assume that LGA-PHI and PHI-ROC both are in F? I have an hour and only carry on so not terribly worried, but I never love PHI connections.
#949
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,379
PHL connections to LGA or ROC are likely in terminal F. What aircraft? Terminal F is actually quite nice.
#950
Join Date: May 2009
Location: PHL
Posts: 2,842
#951
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Planet Earth
Programs: SPG, AA, B6. No longer "still CO to me" with account spent down. RIP CO.
Posts: 653
American Airlines 4805
American Airlines 4791
Both Piedmont/Eagle noted as ER4 in reservation
My issue with PHL is less F and more flying out of the way and making a one hour flight a four hour, but I really wanted to go out of LGA for convenience so it's the price you pay.
Thanks!
#952
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,950
Hah! And there was no way I could have gotten that correct from the thread title. Fail.
American Airlines 4805
American Airlines 4791
Both Piedmont/Eagle noted as ER4 in reservation
My issue with PHL is less F and more flying out of the way and making a one hour flight a four hour, but I really wanted to go out of LGA for convenience so it's the price you pay.
Thanks!
American Airlines 4805
American Airlines 4791
Both Piedmont/Eagle noted as ER4 in reservation
My issue with PHL is less F and more flying out of the way and making a one hour flight a four hour, but I really wanted to go out of LGA for convenience so it's the price you pay.
Thanks!
#954
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Planet Earth
Programs: SPG, AA, B6. No longer "still CO to me" with account spent down. RIP CO.
Posts: 653
Bizarrely, no. At least not for a stupid amount of money ($371 o/w. I got the whole RT for $191). Could have done from EWR, but that was no better than JFK for the outbound-actually worse with the Penn issues of late. I could get the return nonstop on Delta but for that I want to go into JFK (closer to work) and JetBlue that was easy.
Thanks all!
#955
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,435
Yeah, it gets harder each year to get a decent flight into BUF, SYR, and ROC. I go there a lot for business, and the cost goes up as the availability goes down. I miss the good old days when Eastman Kodak made ROC a huge international business hub.
#956
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Charlotte
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum Elite, AA Platinum Pro, Hertz Presidents
Posts: 1,214
Orange shirt @ PHL at TSA Pre line at terminal B shouted at me, "That's a Tumi, it don't fit, you gotta check it". I had never been challenged about my bag before, but I have the 20" continental Tumi, and it indeed was too fat when it's on it's side, it goes above the dotted line of the sizer. I hadn't been aware of this, but I know it fits fine in the overhead bins. I then, walked over to the C security checkpoint, and had no issues. And thankfully the line was short too. They had TSA Pre- lite there. (leave shoes/jakcet on, liquids, laptops out).
She was very rude, but she was right.
EDIT: Forgot to add, when I questioned her, and asked me if I was concierge key.
If I was, does that mean, my bag wouldn't have to comply? Is this an AA policy?
She was very rude, but she was right.
EDIT: Forgot to add, when I questioned her, and asked me if I was concierge key.
If I was, does that mean, my bag wouldn't have to comply? Is this an AA policy?
#957
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Texas
Programs: AA Exec Plat, Starwood Platinum
Posts: 244
I had the same experience with my wheeled tumi bag - as it was about .5 inches too wide. They have caught on to this and know which bags are too wide as one at the bottom of the stairs started yelling at me and I just blew by her and her friend at the top stopped me from entering the checkpoint.
I have actually stopped taking this bag to philly as a result of the b checkpoint folks - and take a duffle bag.
I have actually stopped taking this bag to philly as a result of the b checkpoint folks - and take a duffle bag.
#958
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,435
#960
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,379
Correct - not TSA folks, but contracted folks who monitor bags against airline sizers as you enter the TSA line. They are located at each terminal near TSA - usually one or two near lane entrances. At PHL terminal B/C they also place someone at the bottom of the escalators near check-in. Which sizes are present at each terminal is based on the airlines using that terminal.
They also "assist" you in reading your boarding pass for Pre-Check status and correct lane to enter. I've seen them in many airports but PHL is most aggressive with enforcement.
They also "assist" you in reading your boarding pass for Pre-Check status and correct lane to enter. I've seen them in many airports but PHL is most aggressive with enforcement.