PHLKPHLNormal

Philadelphia International Airport

Philadelphia, United States · North America

Solid mid-tier US hub with good lounge options and transit but variable security and ongoing construction tradeoffs.

Airportist Score

7.3/ 10

Solid

Ease of use7.0
Comfort & amenities7.2
Food & retail7.5
Ground access7.8
Reliability7.0
Lounges7.4

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare PHL with another airport

All airports Official site

PHLKPHLNormal

Philadelphia International Airport

Philadelphia, United States · North America

Solid mid-tier US hub with good lounge options and transit but variable security and ongoing construction tradeoffs.

Airportist Score

7.3/ 10

Solid

Ease of use7.0
Comfort & amenities7.2
Food & retail7.5
Ground access7.8
Reliability7.0
Lounges7.4

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare PHL with another airport

Arrive
2 h
before international flights
Typical security
20 min
editorial average, not live
Best way to city
25 min
SEPTA Airport Line
Lounges
10
4 rated worth it
On time
75%
of departures
Terminals
7
active

All airports

PHLKPHLNormal23°C / 73°F

Philadelphia International Airport

Philadelphia, United States · North America

Solid mid-tier US hub with good lounge options and transit but variable security and ongoing construction tradeoffs.

Airportist Score

7.3/ 10

Solid

Ease of use7.0
Comfort & amenities7.2
Food & retail7.5
Ground access7.8
Reliability7.0
Lounges7.4

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare PHL with another airport

12 photos

Philadelphia International Airport Terminal F Remote Gate Stand in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia International Airport Terminal F at Dawn in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Jet Bridges along Terminal F at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Terminal F Information Board at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

F3 Jet Bridge in Terminal F at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Shuttle Stop in Terminal F at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Seats in Terminal A at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Terminal A Entrance at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia International Airport Terminal A at Sunset in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Window in Terminal A at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia International Airport Terminal A Information Boards in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Walkway in Terminal A at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

PHLGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Arrive 2 hours domestic, 3 international

PreCheck stays the reliable shortcut. A-West and D/E can be faster than the crowded middle checkpoints — use the airside connectors.

Live waits on phl.org; 6–9 a.m. is the worst standard-lane bank.

Terminal

A-West is the premium cluster; F is the long walk

Most terminals connect airside. Budget extra time for Terminal F regional gates and for walking A-West to D/E.

Flagship, Admirals A-West, Centurion and BA Galleries all sit in A-West.

Food

Eat in the A/B/C and D/E connectors

The connectors beat generic gate pizza. If you have lounge access, A-West and the D/E Chase room are the sit-down meals.

Check current vendors on the airport dining pages before you count on a named stall.

Status

Priority Pass is Minute Suites — not Chase Sapphire

Chase Sapphire Lounge remains open for eligible Chase cards (official hours 05:00–22:00). PP/LoungeKey access ended 15 Aug 2026. Do not promise a PP sit-down lounge.

Live English Priority Pass airport page lists Minute Suites and XpresSpa only.

Live conditions

Right now at PHL

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

AA hub connections
Lounge access via PP/Centurion
SEPTA rail to city
Local food options

Watch out for

Morning security peaks
Parking garage closures
F terminal isolation
Variable lounge access limits

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

7.0

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.2

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.5

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.8

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

7.0

Lounges · 10%

Worth-it density and access quality.

7.4

Key stats

Editorial reference figures, not live readings.

Annual passengers

30M+

Terminals

7 active

On-time departures

75%

Typical security

20 min

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for PHL.

Updated Sep 13, 2026

Seven terminals A-East through F, mostly linked airside; American’s East Coast hub
Official 2025 traffic 30,136,790 passengers (25,991,881 domestic + 4,144,909 international)
Live Priority Pass is Minute Suites (A/B link, 24 hours) plus XpresSpa — not Chase Sapphire
Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club left the Priority Pass network on 15 Aug 2026; Chase cardholders keep access
SEPTA Airport Line to Center City $8.75 Key/contactless, $11.00 onboard
PPA garage daily max $32 per 24 hours from 1 May 2026

6 official sources

Full guide

Explore the PHL guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Alternatives

Nearby airports

Passenger airports within about 150 km. Scored airports show their Airportist Score so you can weigh a switch.

Compare PHL vs ILG

All airports Official site

PHLKPHLNormal23°C / 73°F

Philadelphia International Airport

Philadelphia, United States · North America

Solid mid-tier US hub with good lounge options and transit but variable security and ongoing construction tradeoffs.

Airportist Score

7.3/ 10

Solid

Ease of use7.0
Comfort & amenities7.2
Food & retail7.5
Ground access7.8
Reliability7.0
Lounges7.4

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare PHL with another airport

Arrive
2 h
before international flights
Typical security
20 min
editorial average, not live
Best way to city
25 min
SEPTA Airport Line
Lounges
10
4 rated worth it
On time
75%
of departures
Terminals
7
active

PHLGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Arrive 2 hours domestic, 3 international

PreCheck stays the reliable shortcut. A-West and D/E can be faster than the crowded middle checkpoints — use the airside connectors.

Live waits on phl.org; 6–9 a.m. is the worst standard-lane bank.

Terminal

A-West is the premium cluster; F is the long walk

Most terminals connect airside. Budget extra time for Terminal F regional gates and for walking A-West to D/E.

Flagship, Admirals A-West, Centurion and BA Galleries all sit in A-West.

Food

Eat in the A/B/C and D/E connectors

The connectors beat generic gate pizza. If you have lounge access, A-West and the D/E Chase room are the sit-down meals.

Check current vendors on the airport dining pages before you count on a named stall.

Status

Priority Pass is Minute Suites — not Chase Sapphire

Chase Sapphire Lounge remains open for eligible Chase cards (official hours 05:00–22:00). PP/LoungeKey access ended 15 Aug 2026. Do not promise a PP sit-down lounge.

Live English Priority Pass airport page lists Minute Suites and XpresSpa only.

Live conditions

Right now at PHL

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

AA hub connections
Lounge access via PP/Centurion
SEPTA rail to city
Local food options

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

7.0

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.2

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.5

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.8

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

7.0

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for PHL.

Updated Sep 13, 2026

Seven terminals A-East through F, mostly linked airside; American’s East Coast hub
Official 2025 traffic 30,136,790 passengers (25,991,881 domestic + 4,144,909 international)
Live Priority Pass is Minute Suites (A/B link, 24 hours) plus XpresSpa — not Chase Sapphire

Full guide

Explore the PHL guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

PHLGuide

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

A-West to D/E is a 10–15 minute airside walk.
B/C to F needs extra time — walk or the posted shuttle, never assume a short hop.
Parking garages feed A/B/C/D; follow current PPA closure signs.
maps.phl.org is the live wayfinding tool.

PHLGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Arrive 2 hours domestic, 3 international

PreCheck stays the reliable shortcut. A-West and D/E can be faster than the crowded middle checkpoints — use the airside connectors.

Live waits on phl.org; 6–9 a.m. is the worst standard-lane bank.

Terminal

A-West is the premium cluster; F is the long walk

Most terminals connect airside. Budget extra time for Terminal F regional gates and for walking A-West to D/E.

Flagship, Admirals A-West, Centurion and BA Galleries all sit in A-West.

Food

Eat in the A/B/C and D/E connectors

The connectors beat generic gate pizza. If you have lounge access, A-West and the D/E Chase room are the sit-down meals.

Check current vendors on the airport dining pages before you count on a named stall.

Status

Priority Pass is Minute Suites — not Chase Sapphire

Chase Sapphire Lounge remains open for eligible Chase cards (official hours 05:00–22:00). PP/LoungeKey access ended 15 Aug 2026. Do not promise a PP sit-down lounge.

Live English Priority Pass airport page lists Minute Suites and XpresSpa only.

Live conditions

Right now at PHL

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Security wait times

A current security estimate is not available. Check the official airport site or MyTSA before travel.

MyTSA

Official airport site TSA screening guide

Operational status

Normal operations

No Flighty-reported operational issues for this airport.

Status update: 20:02 EDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 17, 00:52 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

AA hub connections
Lounge access via PP/Centurion
SEPTA rail to city
Local food options

Watch out for

Morning security peaks
Parking garage closures
F terminal isolation
Variable lounge access limits

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

7.0

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.2

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.5

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.8

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

7.0

Lounges · 10%

Worth-it density and access quality.

7.4

Key stats

Editorial reference figures, not live readings.

Annual passengers

30M+

Terminals

7 active

On-time departures

75%

Typical security

20 min

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for PHL.

Updated Sep 13, 2026

Seven terminals A-East through F, mostly linked airside; American’s East Coast hub
Official 2025 traffic 30,136,790 passengers (25,991,881 domestic + 4,144,909 international)
Live Priority Pass is Minute Suites (A/B link, 24 hours) plus XpresSpa — not Chase Sapphire
Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club left the Priority Pass network on 15 Aug 2026; Chase cardholders keep access
SEPTA Airport Line to Center City $8.75 Key/contactless, $11.00 onboard
PPA garage daily max $32 per 24 hours from 1 May 2026

6 official sources

Full guide

Explore the PHL guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

PHLGuide

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

A-West to D/E is a 10–15 minute airside walk.
B/C to F needs extra time — walk or the posted shuttle, never assume a short hop.
Parking garages feed A/B/C/D; follow current PPA closure signs.
maps.phl.org is the live wayfinding tool.

Ground transport guide

City-transfer, rideshare, train, and parking guidance from the markdown guide.

From Ground Transport & Parking

SEPTA Airport Line: about 25 minutes to Center City (University City, 30th Street, Suburban, Jefferson). Official fares from the airport: Center City $8.75 Key/contactless, $11.00 onboard; Eastwick $5.00 / $7.00 onboard; other stations $8.75 Key/contactless or $13.00 onboard. Tap on and tap off.
SEPTA bus/Metro base fare $2.90; Key/contactless includes two free transfers within 2 hours.
Rideshare and taxi: 20–40 minutes to Center City depending on I-95 / Schuylkill traffic.
PPA garage (philapark.org, rates from 1 May 2026): $5 first half hour stepping up to $32 per 24 hours. Economy lot is the cheaper shuttle product — check philapark.org for live closures.

Ride to Philadelphia

Pickup at PHL. Where the app supports it, dropoff is set to Philadelphia city center for a live price.

To city center

Philadelphia

~11 km

Typical fare

$32

From Uber/Lyft or taxi notes

On-demand apps

Uber → city Lyft → city

Fixed-price transfers

GetTransfer quotes Kiwitaxi quotes

Compare prepaid private transfers to Philadelphia — useful overnight, with luggage, or when you want a locked-in fare before you land.

FastestCheapest

SEPTA Airport Line

Direct Regional Rail to Center City; Zone 4→CC is $8.75 with Key/contactless.

Time to city

25 min

Cost

Tip: Tap on and off. On-board cash is $11.00 to Center City.

SEPTA Routes 37/108/115

Local buses from PHL with transfers; Bus/Metro base fare $2.90.

Time to city

40-60 min

Cost

Tip: Key/contactless includes two free transfers within 2 hours.

Best for luggage

Uber/Lyft or taxi

Door-to-door from arrivals.

Time to city

20-40 min

Cost

Tip: Use the designated rideshare lot; garage upper levels max $32/24h (May 2026).

Security wait times

A current security estimate is not available. Check the official airport site or MyTSA before travel.

MyTSA

Official airport site TSA screening guide

Operational status

Normal operations

No Flighty-reported operational issues for this airport.

Status update: 20:02 EDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 17, 00:52 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

PHLGuide

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

A-West to D/E is a 10–15 minute airside walk.
B/C to F needs extra time — walk or the posted shuttle, never assume a short hop.
Parking garages feed A/B/C/D; follow current PPA closure signs.
maps.phl.org is the live wayfinding tool.

PHLGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Arrive 2 hours domestic, 3 international

PreCheck stays the reliable shortcut. A-West and D/E can be faster than the crowded middle checkpoints — use the airside connectors.

Live waits on phl.org; 6–9 a.m. is the worst standard-lane bank.

Terminal

A-West is the premium cluster; F is the long walk

Most terminals connect airside. Budget extra time for Terminal F regional gates and for walking A-West to D/E.

Flagship, Admirals A-West, Centurion and BA Galleries all sit in A-West.

Food

Eat in the A/B/C and D/E connectors

The connectors beat generic gate pizza. If you have lounge access, A-West and the D/E Chase room are the sit-down meals.

Check current vendors on the airport dining pages before you count on a named stall.

Status

Priority Pass is Minute Suites — not Chase Sapphire

Chase Sapphire Lounge remains open for eligible Chase cards (official hours 05:00–22:00). PP/LoungeKey access ended 15 Aug 2026. Do not promise a PP sit-down lounge.

Live English Priority Pass airport page lists Minute Suites and XpresSpa only.

Live conditions

Right now at PHL

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Security wait times

A current security estimate is not available. Check the official airport site or MyTSA before travel.

MyTSA

Official airport site TSA screening guide

Operational status

Normal operations

No Flighty-reported operational issues for this airport.

Status update: 20:02 EDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 17, 00:52 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

AA hub connections
Lounge access via PP/Centurion
SEPTA rail to city
Local food options

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

7.0

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.2

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.5

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.8

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

7.0

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for PHL.

Updated Sep 13, 2026

Seven terminals A-East through F, mostly linked airside; American’s East Coast hub
Official 2025 traffic 30,136,790 passengers (25,991,881 domestic + 4,144,909 international)
Live Priority Pass is Minute Suites (A/B link, 24 hours) plus XpresSpa — not Chase Sapphire

Full guide

Explore the PHL guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

PHLGuide

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

A-West to D/E is a 10–15 minute airside walk.
B/C to F needs extra time — walk or the posted shuttle, never assume a short hop.
Parking garages feed A/B/C/D; follow current PPA closure signs.
maps.phl.org is the live wayfinding tool.

Ground transport guide

City-transfer, rideshare, train, and parking guidance from the markdown guide.

From Ground Transport & Parking

SEPTA Airport Line: about 25 minutes to Center City (University City, 30th Street, Suburban, Jefferson). Official fares from the airport: Center City $8.75 Key/contactless, $11.00 onboard; Eastwick $5.00 / $7.00 onboard; other stations $8.75 Key/contactless or $13.00 onboard. Tap on and tap off.
SEPTA bus/Metro base fare $2.90; Key/contactless includes two free transfers within 2 hours.
Rideshare and taxi: 20–40 minutes to Center City depending on I-95 / Schuylkill traffic.
PPA garage (philapark.org, rates from 1 May 2026): $5 first half hour stepping up to $32 per 24 hours. Economy lot is the cheaper shuttle product — check philapark.org for live closures.

Ride to Philadelphia

Pickup at PHL. Where the app supports it, dropoff is set to Philadelphia city center for a live price.

To city center

Philadelphia

~11 km

Typical fare

$32

From Uber/Lyft or taxi notes

On-demand apps

Uber → city Lyft → city

Fixed-price transfers

GetTransfer quotes Kiwitaxi quotes

Compare prepaid private transfers to Philadelphia — useful overnight, with luggage, or when you want a locked-in fare before you land.

FastestCheapest

SEPTA Airport Line

Direct Regional Rail to Center City; Zone 4→CC is $8.75 with Key/contactless.

Time to city

25 min

Cost

Tip: Tap on and off. On-board cash is $11.00 to Center City.

SEPTA Routes 37/108/115

Local buses from PHL with transfers; Bus/Metro base fare $2.90.

Time to city

40-60 min

Cost

Tip: Key/contactless includes two free transfers within 2 hours.

Best for luggage

Uber/Lyft or taxi

Door-to-door from arrivals.

Time to city

20-40 min

Cost

Tip: Use the designated rideshare lot; garage upper levels max $32/24h (May 2026).

Security wait times

A current security estimate is not available. Check the official airport site or MyTSA before travel.

MyTSA

Official airport site TSA screening guide

Operational status

Normal operations

No Flighty-reported operational issues for this airport.

Status update: 20:02 EDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 17, 00:52 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

Know before you go

Right now at PHL

Who this airport works for

Why this score

Explore the PHL guide

Getting There

Lounges

Traveler Tips

Amenities

Water

Reviews

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Right now at PHL

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Getting There

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Know before you go

Right now at PHL

Who this airport works for

Why this score

Explore the PHL guide

Getting There

Lounges

Traveler Tips

Amenities

Water

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Know before you go

Right now at PHL

Who this airport works for

Why this score

Explore the PHL guide

Getting There

Lounges

Traveler Tips

Amenities

Water

Reviews