Portland, Oregon Part 1: PDX Airport

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Entry posted by thecitiescenter · June 30, 2014

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Hello and welcome to your tour of An Alternate Universe: A tour of cities around the world (in a slightly different universe from our own).

We will be visiting many cities on our tour. In many ways, these cities resemble those of the same name in our own universe. However, there are slight differences. Feel free to point out these differences at any time during your tour, if you notice them .

Let the journey begin!

Welcome to Portland!

We start our tour in Portland, Oregon, USA. Also known as the City of Roses, Portland is the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Oregon, with an estimated population of 609,456 within it's city limits, and approximately 2.3 million within the greater Portland metropolitan area.

Air Arrivals

If you're arriving by air, you will be flying into Portland International Airport (PDX). PDX airport is located in the northeast quadrant of the city, along the Columbia River, which acts as the natural border between the states of Oregon and Washington. PDX is owned and operated by the Port of Portland. PDX has approximately 50+ gates for commercial aircraft of various sizes. There are two main runways (Runway 10L/28R and Runway 10R/28L). The airport is served by major US-based airlines such as American, Delta, US Airways and United, low-cost carriers such as Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines and Virgin America, regional carriers such as Horizon Airlines and SeaPort Airlines, specialty airlines such as Hawaiian Air and Canadian carrier Air Canada Jazz. The airport also serves as a hub for Seattle-based Alaska Airlines.

PDX has one main terminal and four primary concourses (A, C, D, and E). Your arriving concourse will depend on where you are arriving from, and what airline you are flying. All check-in counters are located in the main terminal, level 2. Baggage claim for all airlines (except non-Canadian international arrivals) are located on level 1 of the main terminal. All flights originating from Canada are treated as domestic arrivals, since passengers pre-clear US Customs & Immigration in Canada.

The rental car center is located on level 1 of the short term parking garage located directly across the primary roadway from the main terminal. PDX is a completely smoke-free airport, and there is free WiFi throughout the facility for passengers to use. There is a food court and shops located in the "Oregon Marketplace" in the non-secure area of the main terminal. PDX is unique among airports in that it requires restaurants and food services to charge the same prices as their non-airport locations.

Concourse A is served by Alaska Airlines and Alaska's subsidiary regional carrier Horizon Air. Horizon Air is the exclusive carrier for Concourse A, with the majority of these flights arriving/departing from/to airports in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, Nevada, California and the Canadian province of British Columbia. Concourse A features a small waiting area, restrooms, and Laurelwood, a local restaurant and brewery. There are no jetways in Concourse A, and passengers must walk out onto the tarmac to embark/disembark from planes. Arriving passengers can proceed directly to baggage claim in the main terminal building, level 1 to collect their checked baggage.

Concourse C is served by Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, US Airways and Southwest Airlines. All "C gates" feature jetways. Concourse C features multiple waiting areas, the Alaska Airlines Boardroom, multiple restrooms and multiple shops and restaurants (including "Made In Oregon", Starbucks, Gustav's Pub & Grill, McDonalds, Coffee People, Baskin Robbins and Big Town Hero). Arriving passengers can proceed directly to baggage claim in the main terminal building, level 1, to collect their checked baggage. Concourse C features moving walkways to make the journey a little bit easier on the feet. There is also a secured concourse connector that allows passengers in Concourse A & C to access Concourse D & E without having to go through TSA security screening again.

Concourse D is served by Delta Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines and Virgin America. All "D gates" feature jetways. Concourse D features multiple waiting areas, the Delta SkyClub, multiple restrooms and multiple shops and restaurants (including Burgerville, "Made In Oregon", Starbucks, Columbia Sportswear, Coffee People, Rose's Restaurant & Bakery and Rogue Ales Public House). Arriving passengers on domestic flights can proceed directly to baggage claim in the main terminal building, level 1, to collect their checked baggage. Concourse D features moving walkways to make the journey a little bit easier on the feet. There is also a secured concourse connector that allows passengers in Concourse D & E to access Concourse A & C without having to go through TSA security screening again.

At the west end of Concourse D is the Governor Victor G. Atiyeh International Concourse, named after former Oregon Governor Victor G. Atiyeh, also known as "Trader Vic" for his work in launching international tourism and trade initiatives during his tenure as governor. This section of the airport was completed in the early 1990's, originally built to serve as Delta Airlines' Asia Gateway. During the 1990's, there were non-stop international flights on Delta Airlines, serving Portland-Tokyo, Portland-Seoul, Portland-Taipei, Portland-Nagoya and Portland-Fukuoka on Delta's L-1011 and MD-11 aircraft. The flights typically continued on to Delta's main hub in Atlanta, as aircraft in the 1990's could not fly non-stop between Atlanta and Asia, without stopping for fuel.

Unfortunately, due to the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, new technology eliminating the need to make fuel stops between Atlanta and Asia and complaints about passenger treatment at the immigration facility at PDX, Delta discontinued all non-stop flights from Portland to Asia in 2001. The last flights were Portland-Tokyo and Portland-Nagoya in March of that year.

Other than flights to Vancouver, BC, Canada, PDX did not have any international non-stop flights between 2001 and 2003. In 2003, Lufthansa announced that it would begin non-stop service between PDX and its Frankfurt, Germany hub. Shortly after, Northwest Airlines began non-stop flights between PDX and Tokyo/Narita and PDX and Amsterdam. Mexicana Airlines began service between Portland and Guadalajara and Mexico City, Mexico. All three airlines utilized the Victor G. Aityeh International Concourse.

Today, there are two international non-stop flights: Portland-Amsterdam (AMS) and Portland-Tokyo/Narita (NRT), both on Delta Airlines. The AMS route is served by A330-300 aircraft during the summer months, and Boeing 767-300ER aircraft during the winter months. The NRT route is served by Boeing 767-300ER aircraft year-round.

Passengers arriving on these two flights are immediately routed downstairs to Level 1 of the Victor G. Atiyeh International Concourse, where they proceed to US Immigration passport control. After clearing passport control, international passengers pickup their checked bags at one of two dedicated carousels before proceeding to US Customs. After clearing customs, passengers have two options. Passengers connecting to domestic flights re-check their bags on Level 1, proceed to Level 2 and are re-screened by TSA. Passengers whose final destination is Portland, are routed with their bags, out to the International Arrivals Shuttle Bus Stop. A shuttle takes these passengers to the international arrivals greeting area in the non-secure section of the main terminal.

Concourse E is served by United Airlines, United Express and locally-based SeaPort Airlines. Concourse E features multiple waiting areas, restrooms, and Laurelwood Brewery Restaurant.. All Concourse E arriving passengers can proceed directly to baggage claim in the main terminal building, level 1, to collect their checked baggage. Concourse E features moving walkways to make the journey a little bit easier on the feet. There is also a secured concourse connector that allows passengers in Concourse D & E to access Concourse A & C without having to go through TSA security screening again. Most Concourse E gates feature jetways. However, some gates do not, primarily those serving United Express, Air Canada Jazz and SeaPort Airlines.

On to the Town...

Once you've collected your baggage and made all the necessary restroom stops, you'll want to figure out how to get into town. There are two main options. For those wishing to rent a car, you can proceed across the main roadway from the main terminal to level 1 of the short term parking garage. Here you will find the Rental Car center. PDX is nice in that most rental car facilities are located within walking distance of the airport terminal, so you don't need to hop on a rental car shuttle bus (unless you are renting from Alamo, Budget or Thrifty).

For those who wish to take public transit, there is a MAX Light Rail station located on the south side of the main terminal building, adjacent to Concourse A. The MAX Light Rail system has served Portland since 1986. The airport is served by the Red Line, which connects PDX Airport with Downtown (City Center) and the suburb of Beaverton.

Next up on the tour will be a ride on the Red Line from PDX Airport to City Center, as well as a driving tour from PDX Airport to City Center (with a couple stops in between).

To Be Continued...