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Portland, OR (PDX) airport

Posted by (Bay Area, California) on

I will depart from PDX at 5pm on a Tuesday with two friends who wear medical devices. We all have TSA-pre but they both need to be manually patted down. So, depending on how busy the TSA checkpoints are, security checks will be time consuming.

I have never been to PDX before. How long are the TSA-pre lines? Is PDX like SEA, where TSA-pre lines are just as long as regular security lines? Last time I was leaving from SEA (on a weekday), it took me 45-50 mins to go through TSA-pre security.

Thank you very much.

Posted by
421 posts

Flew out of PDX about a month ago on a Monday night a bit later than you. I also have TSA-pre and need to be patted down. It was maybe 5-10 minutes tops.

I avoid SEA if at all possible even to change planes - it’s a zoo.

Posted by
3158 posts

PDXis so much easier than SEA!!! We are in the Seattle area and I dread flying out of SEA, even though I do it often and have pre etc. I think SEA leaves a lot of people with PTSD;)

Posted by
38 posts

PDX also is just finishing up a big remodel and it's really well done. Beautiful terminal. Great place to start or end a trip.

OH.
Oh, but wait! No. No, PDX is terrible! Terrible! HORRIBLE lines. You want to avoid it!

I will say the airline lounges tend to be pretty minimal, however. Haven't seen them since the remodel, though.

Posted by
421 posts

Also, you can check flypdx.com which lists TSA and TSA-pre wait times. The distance to Concourse B and E gates is longer due to construction. Way longer. It’s a hike!

Posted by
73 posts

We fly in and out of PDX all the time. The airport is beautiful since the remodeling, and they have really streamlined security check. We don’t use TSA-pre lines. A month ago from the time we walked into the airport and went thru regular security check, took maybe 10-15 minutes.

Posted by
10959 posts

I flew out of PDX in March on a Sunday afternoon with TSA-pre and it was a piece of cake. It shouldn’t take you too long.

Posted by
3183 posts

Oh, but wait! No. No, PDX is terrible! Terrible! HORRIBLE lines. You
want to avoid it!

Definitely don't want the secret to get out :) You're departing at a good time, PDX is busiest in the morning. As noted the flypdx.com page posts live security screening times. This page has a few tips for the new terminal, plus a link to the TSA cares page that your travel partners could request if they have concerns about their screening process - https://pdxnext.com/stories/details/five-tips-for-navigating-new-PDX

As noted, it's a big long walk to some of the gates now due to the remaining terminal work. If you need to take extra time for walking, make sure to build that in to arrival time. And a little time to gawk at the spectacular new terminal and have some local grub - restaurants at PDX are not allowed to charge substantially more than their places in town. I'm fond of Country Cat.

Posted by
11981 posts

The distance to Concourse B and E gates is longer due to construction. Way longer. It’s a hike!

Not any longer! The rest of the ceiling is finished and the detour is no longer needed as of this week, per a news broadcast interview with a PDX official a couple of days ago.

Posted by
3183 posts

Laurel that is great news I obviously missed! They need to update the airport website :)

And I forgot to mention keep a lookout for the therapy llamas that sometimes make an appearance. And take a traditional feet on the carpet photo (more on that story here).

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