Portland Airport (PDX) Flights & Flight Status

Portland Airport, which is commonly referred to by its code PDX, got a major upgrade recently with an inspired new main concourse that’s just the first phase of its renewal. Built primarily with timber, it boasts greenery and trees throughout, wide open spaces, sweeping views of the ramp, and dozens of fantastic local shops and dining outlets. I think it sets a new standard for American airport design. It’s also easy to use, and they’ve revived the famous PDX carpet, a much-loved local icon. Here’s everything you need to know.

What to expect at PDX

Currently part of PDX remains a construction site as they continue with the second phase of its renovation. But the bulk of the main terminal area is complete. That’s where everyone enters, checks in and goes through security before fanning out to the older concourses where the gates are located.

Check in desks have been set up in a refreshing and modern way, where because of their design and layout the feeling is comparable more to walking around an Apple Store than an airport terminal in the traditional sense. Good signage will lead you to your airport counters if you need to drop a bag – and if not it’s mere steps to one of two security checkpoints which have ample space. I haven’t seen them crowded.

Also adding to the feeling of ease and comfort are the helpful and friendly customer service employees stationed around the concourse and ready to answer any questions or help you find your way. I even witnessed one simply wishing people a great day and a welcome to Portland. Between that and the timber construction filled with natural light, it’s great vibes at PDX.

An airport restaurant worth visiting for

Try to arrive at PDX with a little bit of time (or just come here for fun) because taking pride of place just above the main concourse is the Loyal Legion Beer Hall, which is a great place to sit, have a bite and gaze out at the amazing view of the concourse below or the planes on the other side. It has many great local beers to choose from, but even if that’s not your thing it’s still worth checking out because of the commanding views, good service and delicious food.

Terminal layout & finding your way around

PDX is very easy to navigate because it’s really just one main terminal with a handful of concourses (each with several gates) radiating out from that in different directions. There are four concourses to be exact: B, C, D and E.

From the main terminal you just check which concourse you’re departing from (the letter in your gate number will tell you) and then you either go through security on one side or the other. And you needn’t worry where you end up really because it’s all pretty convenient and each concourse has some good shops and places to eat. And if you happen to want to get to the other side of concourses, don’t worry, there are pathways to do it.

Food & retail outlets

Thanks to all their recent improvements and investments, I think PDX might now be the best airport in the US for finding good quality shopping and dining, at reasonable prices from local brands and eateries. If you’re just passing through the airport you can still get a reasonably good taste of what Portland and the Pacific Northwest has to offer, and that’s a very nice thing.

You’ll find multiple local breweries that are also offering food, clothing shops from big-name Pendleton to smaller local start-ups, lots of really great souvenirs from local shops ranging from Big Foot shirts to artsy knick knacks. It’s all a perfect little microcosm of Portland.

Other handy services & perks

You can tell they’ve put thought into making PDX a user-friendly place. You’ve got practical touches like conveniently placed indoor pet relief areas past security. You also have whimsical additions such as live music stations throughout where you’ll often find someone playing a tune.

Art at the airport

It’s not new for airports to place art installations around the terminals, but PDX has quite an extensive selection and most of it is inspired by and produced in the local area. Something I recommend to people if you have a bit of time is to go around trying to spot them all. The PDX website offers a handy list.

Lounges

PDX has four lounges and they’re all airline-specific offerings: there’s an “Alaska Express” lounge, an Alaska mainline lounge, a Delta Sky Club and a United Club. None are going to knock your socks off and the United Club is especially unspectacular but they do the job of giving you a quiet space with some free snacks and drinks.

Tip: the Alaska Express lounge in concourse B is actually a temporary lounge with a small seating capacity that’s operating while a new one is built. The Alaska lounge over in C is bigger and mostly better, for now. Except that C can get pretty full and if it does, it could be worth going to see how the crowds are at the B lounge. They also have some special snack boxes over there that you won’t find at the other lounge.

Wi-Fi

Unsurprisingly PDX offers good quality, free Wi-Fi that doesn’t require you to jump through any hoops. Simply find the “flypdx” network, agree to the conditions, and you’re in.

Getting to and from PDX

PDX is fantastic for getting to and from overall, especially by US standards. It’s reasonably close to the city – usually about a 20 minute drive. It’s also well-connected by the Trimet Red Line light rail, which is great especially if there’s any traffic or if you’re on a budget.

Taxi

If you’re like me you’ll probably be calling an Uber or Lyft upon collecting your bags. It’s good to know that at PDX you won’t be heading straight outside to meet your ride. Instead you’ll need to head down one level, via escalator or elevator, and walk about five minutes and then go back up one level to a dedicated area in the Short-Term Garage P1. So count on 5-10 minutes to get over there.

Note that if you’ve booked a black car or anything outside of ride-hailing apps, you’ll be met just outside of baggage claim on Level 1. That does add some convenience, but it’ll also probably be more expensive.

Public transport

The Trimet light rail can be found an easy walk from baggage claim, just follow signs. You’ll be heading to your right if you’re facing away from the bag claim and towards the road outside. It’s a quick ride into town. Note that it’s good to keep awareness of your surroundings while on public transport here. However I would say it’s perfectly safe to ride, especially outside of odd hours.

Rental cars

The PDX rental car center is also easily reached on foot from the terminal – basically directly across from baggage claim. There you’ll find all the usual suspects and a straightforward process to get a car and be on your way. Especially if you have time to explore the nature surrounding Portland, this can be a great option – and even in a lot of the city, as long as you’re not right downtown, it’s pretty convenient and not much hassle to have a car to get around.

What to do on a layover

If you have anything more than 4 hours or so between flights I’d say it could be well worth a hop into town. The trick there is choosing the right part of town so your quick visit can be worthwhile. There are many guides to the best neighborhoods in Portland online but suffice to say you have a lot to choose from.

One section that I like to head to is along Hawthorne Blvd, mostly the stretch of it to the west of Cesar Chavez Blvd. The wider area is very walkable and nice to explore. Head up to nearby Laurelhurst Park for some greenery.

Alternatively if you want to spend your layover seeing proper nature, you have many options. If you have several hours to kill you can make it to the gorgeous Oregon coast in about 90 minutes, or Mt. Hood is about the same in the other direction. For something requiring less time on the road though, head to Washington Park or Forest Park which are found on the west side of the city and are totally stunning as well.

Airport hotels

PDX has the usual range of airport hotels, mostly the big chains, and none are particularly amazing. None of them are directly within the airport either, unfortunately. However all else being equal, I’d recommend the Hyatt Place for a quick stop. As a bonus it’s right next to a Trimet station, so if you want to head into town, it’s an easy option!