PORTLAND, Ore. — Thanksgiving is just a few of weeks away, and it also comes with the start of the holiday travel season, from Nov. 26 to Dec. 2, which is considered to be one of the busiest times of year, especially at the Portland International Airport (PDX).
From turkey, traditions and TSA checkpoints, if you’re flying over the November holiday, Allison Ferre with the Port of Portland shared some tips as well as the travel forecast for PDX.
Ferre said that PDX is preparing to welcome upwards of 350,000 arriving and departing travelers — a 3.5% increase from 2023. Peak days are also expected to be the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, which falls on Nov. 27 followed by the Sunday, falling on Dec. 1; each anticipating nearly 57,000 travelers.
In order to help have a smooth holiday travel experience at PDX this season, here are five tips that Ferre shared with KGW for viewers to help keep in mind ahead of Thanksgiving.
- Arrive early: It's recommended to arrive two hours early for domestic flights and two-and-a-half hours early for international travel, keeping in mind if you're looking to check bags, park, shop or grab a bite to eat. Ferre also said there’s rush hour at the airport from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Check parking before you leave for the airport: Ferre said there is often high demand for parking over the holidays. Checking FlyPDX.com/parking, which shows a live count of available parking spaces before you leave your home can help. This also helps with knowing if a particular garage you seek is at or near capacity. Ferre also recommends utilizing the newly expanded MAX Red Line as another way to get in and out of the airport quickly.
- Get familiar with the new PDX: If you haven’t traveled through the newly renovated PDX, you might want to take a minute to visit FlyPDX.com/map to familiarize yourself with the updated layout. Ferre said while there are still two main security checkpoints and the concourses are the same, there's longer walks for those traveling out of Concourses B and E because of ongoing construction.
- Map out the family-friendly features: If you're traveling with kids, PDX has four lactation rooms, two kids play areas and a Sensory Room for kids who need a safe space to regulate their senses. Ferre said free sensory bags are available at the Travel Oregon Welcome Center in baggage claim, along with the TSA supervisor desks for any travelers with sensory needs.
- Learn about the resources available: There are several features added this year to help people with different needs navigate the airport. Recent additions include the expansion of GoodMaps, a free audio-visual guidance app to support travelers who are blind, low-vision, deaf or hard of hearing, as well as a new hearing loop system in baggage claim to deliver clear, amplified sound to travelers with hearing aids or cochlear implants. A list of all the resources is available at here.
