Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)

Overview

Philadelphia International Airport has two international terminals and five domestic ones. The terminals house over 160 restaurants and shops and the airport is one of the busiest airports in the world and the main gateway to one of America's most culturally rich and diverse cities - Philly, or Philadelphia.

The immigration counters at Philly Airport are often understaffed, so if you're travelling at peak periods then allow yourself enough time for queues and delays. Once you've dealt with the queues, the airport has a range of services on offer, including shoeshine facilities and a great art programme.

Location

The airport is located seven miles (11km) from downtown Philadelphia.

Getting to the city

The most popular transport is SEPTA which provides a high-speed rail service between the airport terminals and central Philadelphia and is the fastest connection to the city centre. Fares cost US$7 one way. Philadelphia Trains depart every half-hour between 6am and midnight and the journey takes about 20 minutes. SEPTA also connects to the Greyhound Bus Terminal and Amtrak at 30th Street Station. Bus Routes 37 and 108 run to downtown. Taxis are available day and night, charging a flat rate for transport to the city centre at $28.50. Taxis are found on Commercial Transportation Roadway at zone 5. Shared shuttle vans are also available in zone 7. Call: +1 215 937 6958 for ground transport information or go to their desk on arrivals at each baggage claim area. They can arrange for limousine passage departing from zone 6.

Time

GMT -5 (GMT -4 from March to November).

Contacts

Tel: +1 215 937 6937.

Car rental

Car rental agencies represented at the airport are Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz and National. Information phones are available at all baggage claim areas for each of the on-airport car rental agencies.

Transfer between terminals

Philadelphia International Airport consists of six terminals (A, B, C, D, E, and F), which are connected by free shuttle bus services.

Facilities

ATMs can be found in the main concourse of each terminal and Travelex offers currency exchange and flight insurance. There are numerous restaurants, cafes and fast-food outlets throughout the airport. A shopping centre called Philadelphia Marketplace is located in the connecting link between terminals B and C, featuring numerous shops and eateries. There are also duty-free shops available in terminals A and E and wireless Internet throughout the airport.

Parking

Short-term parking at Philadelphia International Airport costs $4 for half an hour and $2 per 30 minutes thereafter going up to a flat rate of $40 after 3.5 hours. Long-term parking has similar hourly rates, but the daily rate is just $20. The Economy Lot costs just $11 per day and is connected to the terminal via a free shuttle service.

Departure Tax

None.

Website

www.phl.org

Airlines

Direct flights to Philadelphia International Airport can be booked from cities across the United States as well as a number of major airports worldwide. Some airlines with flights to and from Philadelphia International Airport include Air Canada, AirTran, American Airways, American Eagle, Frontier Airlines, British Airways, Caribbean Airlines, Delta, Frontier Airlines, Lufthansa, United, Southwest and US Airways.

Internet

Complimentary wi-fi is available throughout the airport.

Business Lounges

A number of workstations are scattered throughout the terminal. The UPS store between Terminal A and B offers photocopying, faxing and mailing facilities as well as Internet stations.

Philadelphia International Taxis: the taxi fares above are intended as a guideline only.