Portland International Airport – PDX

I seem to be missing the appeal of this Portland landmark, but PDX gets by as a perfectly adequate airport. With a location as distant as JFK, security lines as lengthy as LAX, and limited options for some of my preferred airlines, I’m not feeling the love. Am I spoiled by the easy light rail transport to SEA? Is it unreasonable to expect personable and efficient TSA like at SLC or LGB? Travel’s already enough of an ordeal, even when you enjoy it like I do, but getting through PDX is more tedious than it should be.
The airlines themselves do their job just fine, but when I’m coming back from a bumpy transcontinental flight where Heineken has had to fill the place of my Xanax, only to be greeted by the default Portland honky hippy playing the pan flute to sell his CDs and cassettes, it makes me seriously consider moving back to Seattle.

Awesome simple airport. Lots of restaurants inside and outside of the TSA checkpoint, so choose on either side. There seems to be more inside the TSA checkpoint though. Bangkok Express has good thai food (outside TSA checkpoint)

Very nice and clean looking airport. They have a cool little café called Coffee People which offer a unique variety of beverages, such as Black Forest mocha (!). There are two cafes, one past security and one near the E boarding gates. They also have a few tables near the window which offer a beautiful view of the runway. Make sure to try it out!

Within the past couple of months, I have been in and out of this airport very frequently. I usually fly out in the early mornings so TSA is always short and painless. (It also helps that I know the drill — making sure my laptop is in one plastic container by itself and all my liquids are in a big ziplock bag) Sometimes they pick people at random to do a hand test where they ask you to place your palms of your hands facing upward and they quickly swipe a strip of paper over each hand at test that piece of paper in the machine. I’m not sure what exactly it tests for. Anyways, it takes me usually about 15 minutes from the moment I enter the airport to get to my terminal. I usually fly out of Virgin, Alaska, or United. I am originally from the bay area so I can only compare this airport to SFO. PDX is much much smaller. Not a lot of charging stations for cell phones, iPods, laptops, tablets, etc. I remember scavenging around the terminal to find one outlet located in the pay phone.
Usually, the boarding process is its normal routine but sometimes they would seat people if they are wearing sporting gear. (Trail blazers, Portland Timbers)
Terminals are clean. Workers and TSA are friendly at 6 in the morning. I noticed people have this thing with the PDX carpet. I’m not sure what it means haha but every uses #PDXcarpet.

This airport is so pretty! Love the glass roof at departure and the greenery growing out of the parking structure.
Walking into the airport and checking in luggage at Southwest Airlines was pretty quick. But getting through security was sooo long. I already have A-​list, so I go through a special line to cut through security! But it still tool forever. I don’t know why the belt was moving so slow. I’m sure they’re just being extra cautious, checking everything in the xray, but the belt was pretty much stopped the whole time.
After that, walking to my gate was easy, and you pass so many yummy places along the way. They really need a Blue Star Donuts in here, for tourists like me who didn’t get a chance to try it during our visit here!
As for the gate, I don’t know if its a PDX issue or Southwest Airlines Issue, but we boarded the plane 30 minutes after we were supposed to…

Nice airport | Car rental is downstairs | No problems
I like this airport.
It’s not too small and it’s not too big like SFO, where you feel like a hamster running around a maze trying to find your gate… at somewhere like gate D106. (SFO is nice, don’t get me wrong, haha)
I always appreciate airports that have clean bathrooms and those speed walks.
No problems were encountered on the couple trips I’ve been on passing through here.
Car rental is downstairs.
Most of the car rental places like Dollar is located indoors, but we were booked with Budget and it was a little challenging to find them. If you’re booked with Budget, go to island 2 outside and wait for a shuttle. I think we waited about 5-​ish minutes for the guy to pick us up. The shuttle was super warm because the guy had the heater on, which was NICE because it was cold and rainy outside. The actual car rental location isn’t too far away. It’s about a 5 to 7 min. drive from the airport.

Airport isn’t extremely fancy or anything, but it has a lot of shops/​food places to check out if you’re there waiting for flights. The TSA was a little slow for us, and there wasn’t that many people either. The WIFI here also doesn’t work very well, so that’s a huge downer if you’re stuck at the airport. Also, some of the charging ports don’t work as well.
Overall, the airport is pretty neat, but it would really suck if you’re stuck here, and the wifi was down…

Real, fast and FREE wifi without the idiotic app download/​commercial rigamarole of other airports (Sfo, Lax… ya listening?)
Restaurants that do NOT overcharge and do provide a first or last local taste? (Gotta love Country Cat.)
Modern, light filled airy interior?
Easily accessiblr parking, car rental?
Not too big, not too small, international…
PDX.

Pretty good airport and usually the lines are also fast. They keep checking as to how long the lines are and try to expedite things if lines are getting long.
They have a number of food options and have included a few food cart options also as a true representation of the Portland spirit.
If you are flying to Seattle on the Alaska/​Horizon shuttle, they have an express lane for that. So make sure to use that.
Not a very big airport but has some good souvenir options that open pretty early in the morning. So if you forgot to buy a gift/​token for someone then you might be able to pick it up before your early morning flight.

PDX, the tiny little airport that could!
In fact, I like the airport more than the city. If you’re making a connection here, there’s a couple different breweries and even food carts to choose a meal from.
It’s not too big, but has all the amenities of a larger airport. While the Max train isn’t very useful for getting around the city, you can connect from the airport for $ 2.50 and then take a much cheaper Über ride to your hotel.
PDX is WORLDS better than Sea-​Tac and also its carpet has its own Instagram account. Don’t forget to take a picture of your feet on it, ’cause you know all your friends want to see that.

I have been to Portland, Oregon five times (second visit as a 10-​year old Unilocaler). I cannot believe I have not written a review for this airport. Also I haven’t travel much in recent years. Therefore writing a review for an airport is not one of my strong points; so bare with me.
This airport has three sections with 24 gates each and serves sixteen major airlines to many destinations, mainly the Pacific Northwest and Midwest. It is a smaller airport than SFO or LAX. And getting around the airport is easily accessible.
Security checkpoint is also smaller, but moves very quickly and efficiently. Many of the frequent travelers obviously know the protocol and procedure of getting pass the TSA officials.
For dining, there are your basics like Starbucks, Mickey Dee’s, Panda Express and other local restaurants.
For shopping, there is a Nike store, Brookstone, Made in Oregon for souvenirs and other gift shops newsstands for reading materials and snacks.
In the state of Oregon, there are no tax charged when you purchasing anything, including Portland Airport.
I don’t have a problem with this airport. I just grab my coffee from all airports and do all my shopping and pigging out outside of the airport.

I’ve witnessed the Portland Airport grow up over the years. Finally, I can say, PDX is completely on point, as it offers only local businesses for food options, and some, are the best the city has to offer! Most other airports provide overpriced, low-​quality, chain restaurants. Some more perks are, free WiFi throughout the entire place, new carpet (makes for a cleaner look), very quick TSA queues, security with fun attitudes, easy access by way of light rail, car, motorcycle, or even bicycle, etc.

We didn’t have much time to spend here, however we did get here early and plop down in one spot (a local brew pub) to go through our vacation photos.
What I can say is TAKE THE MAX if it’s the last thing you ever do. Super convenient and neither of us could not believe that it dropped you off literally, at the front steps of the airport. I have not seen that anywhere else so 5 stars on accessibility.
I also love that they had local options. Too many times do I see these «fast casual» options at airports, and this has a few but we loved getting to try out local beers from the city itself while waiting. It was like another experience when we thought our trip was over.
Security was a BREEZE. And by breeze I mean a breeze. Like we breezed through, there was no stopping. Again, I have never seen this before at any airport. It did look like the Canada side had a big line, but ours was empty and we flew out on one of the biggest vacation days of the year.
Also, I need to talk to you about the price. We got a United flight to Cincinnati for $ 119!!! That is like one fancy meal out for us. We could not believe it, and obviously jumped at the opportunity. My advice, fly into here, take the train up to Seattle and or vice versa as it’s way less expensive to fly in and out of here.
The carpet (even the new one) is an icon and it’s just as hilarious as everyone says. They are making shirts, coffee sleeves and just about everything out of it now. Lastly, free wifi for the win and tons of natural light that help ease the pain of being stuck in what usually seems like a concrete bunker. Highly recommend!

I’m sitting in jfk, after a long long night on the cold floor.
I miss you pdx.
I miss your comfortable accommodations, your kind staff second only to Canadians.
I miss your appreciation for beer, coffee, souvenirs and things to read. I miss your only slightly elevated pricing without sales tax.
I miss your way to navigate building.
I miss you.
I’m on my way to see montego bay and then o hare airports, before I come home, but I bet I’ll still love you best.

Yep — 5 stars — and for an airport. Other than my home airport of Salt Lake City I think this is only the second time I’ve done that. I know for many, airports are just a stressful place with a huddled mass of folks all trying to get to their destination, and while that’s of course true, PDX helps make that process a little easier and calmer than most and believe me I’ve been to many many airports in my time.
This is certainly one of the easiest airports to get in and out of, which when you’ve just spent 6 hours on a previous flight is a big deal! That may have just been the luck of the draw, but it was nice because some places you’re walking 3 city blocks with your carry-​on luggage when switching flights. Seriously, this is a well laid out and very open airport.
Amenities are top notch, there’s everything here, restaurants, gift shops, book shops, you name it, and everything is well kept up and clean, including the restrooms.
Bottom line, if I’m heading Westwards and the Delta Airline Gods shine light down on me and I can get convenient and decently priced flights, PDX is my West coast international gateway of choice from now on.

This is a very cozy straight forward airport. No confusion, very clean, and friendly.
It’s always nice to leave and then come back home to this airport. Has lots of indoor restaurants and shops to enjoy.

Clean airport, easy to get around, multiple food options — even a kiosk where you can purchase locally distilled spirits for gifts back home!
But it’s still an airport with sometimes long security lines, waiting for baggage, etc. so five stars just ain’t happening.

Decent airport that is easy to get around. I have only flown Alaska Airlines which is in Gate A.
Plenty of Starbucks in this airport which are not usually too busy although I usually depart in the late afternoon. t had an ice cream sundae at Burgerville which was reasonable and noticed food trucks that have different types of ethnic food that smells really good.
The people seem friendly here that work here and are usually available to help. I like when I fly round trip Sacramento — Portland I don’t have to check my bags but they store them on the bottom of the plane and I don’t have to fit them in the tiny compartment above my seat. I still like the Sacramento airport better now that they have a large selection of local restaurant’s.

Favorite part about flying into this airport?! The view before landing! You see the green, forest-​y area with beautiful, huge houses. most likely mansion and it was just breath taking!
People are so nice here, the bathrooms are clean which even had jacket hook, plenty of stores to do some shopping/​window shopping at, no sales tax, filled with music (some musicians playing their piece), and don’t forget to mention the rotating food carts inside the terminal.
If you are going towards the A, B, C gates, the lines at security gets pretty long so make sure you allow yourself plenty of time. Plenty of Starbucks after the ABC gates as well.
And yes, I left with a pink box. No shame.

Portland Airport is the smoothest airports I have been too. It’s a nice in and out.
Let me explain:
I came here as I was on vacation spending two days in Portland. I flew from Oakland to Portland and arrived super early in the morning. During the time I arrived it wasn’t that busy but I can tell that when I exited the airplane this airport was such a nice and relaxing environment.
First thing I noticed was the fancy vintage carpets. Have you seen them? Make sure to take pictures of it when you get the chance.
The bathrooms are SUPER clean and there were workers in their cleaning as I was entering. Tons of stalls and to top it off… they also have a jacket hook on the wall… FANCYYYY!
The food places here are BOMB! Stanford’s, Mo’s, Roses, Rogue Brewing and Gustavs.
Make sure to check out C concourse to eat at Mo’s Seafood and Chowder. Besides chowder and fried fish they have a Tuna or Shrimp Melt on garlic bread.
This airport provides amazingly good free Wi-​Fi and plenty of power outlets. They also have power outlets outside of the airport so you can charge your phone while you are waiting for your ride.
This airport is super pet friendly for all the pet lovers out there. The relief area is on the first floor, through the last doors on the left side of the airport.
I hear this airport was voted America’s Best Airport and I see why now! Ita clean, nice and modern. For all the beer drinkers I have heard that this airport is the best in when it comes to craft beer availability (and affordability). (WINK WINK).
I really like the look inside and the Portland cuckoo clock is CLASSIC!
Portland airport also offers a big selection of organic and gluten free products as well! (Check it out)
A decent light rail line right into the city Take the light rail (MAX Red Line) straight downtown. No transfers. $ 2.50.
WAY TO GO PORTLAND! I’M IMPRESSED!