Transferring between terminals at Philadelphia Airport

May 13, 2011 5:02 AM

I'm flying into Philadelphia Airport next month. I arrive at Terminal A, and my connecting flight is 2 hours later at Terminal F. From the online map it looks like these 2 terminals are very far apart- how does one get from terminal to terminal? I have 2 hours between flights, during which time I have to get my luggage, clear customs, and check in for my connecting flight. Should I be concerned about having enough time?
posted by shelayna to Travel & Transportation around Philadelphia, PA (6 answers total)

The terminals aren't actually that far apart (maybe a 20 minute walk from A to F?), but there's a free shuttle bus that goes directly from Terminal A to Terminal F. Re: time, it depends on how early you have to check in to the connecting flight, but by and large you'll be fine. I live in Philly and have flown into and out of PHL a dozen or so times (maybe even 20ish?), several times internationally at Terminal A, and getting luggage and getting through customs has always been really efficient compared to other airports I've experienced. There are also usually genuinely helpful staff members waiting for your arriving flight to help you get where you're going. Good luck!
posted by The Michael The at 5:13 AM on May 13, 2011 [1 favorite]

I've done that dance half a dozen times. Two hours is enough time that you'll end up seeing every square foot of Terminal F or having a decent little nap at the gate before your connecting flight.
posted by Etrigan at 6:03 AM on May 13, 2011 [1 favorite]

Totally doable, especially with the shuttle bus. I travel through Philly quite often, and I've made much tighter connections (albeit without having to clear customs).
posted by pie ninja at 6:28 AM on May 13, 2011

Since you have to clear customs, you should not hop on the shuttle at A-1 when you get off your flight, as you would miss collecting your bag and they won't put it on your next flight. You'll need to collect your bag outside A, then go back through security, either at the A terminal or at B/C (the other USAirways gates), then take the shuttle over to F terminal. Two hours should be enough as long as your bag made it on your flight to Philly (and your flight arrives on-time).
posted by jshort at 7:22 AM on May 13, 2011

If you're unlucky clearing customs at Philly, yes it can take up your entire layover. I haven't flown internationally through Philly in five or six years, but the last time I did I ended up having to run to make my flight.

Of course, I think that can happen anywhere. Barring weirdness with your flight (or with flights before you coming in late, so they all arrive at the same time, that's what happened in my case), you should be fine.
posted by nat at 7:57 AM on May 13, 2011

Since you have to clear customs, you should not hop on the shuttle at A-1 when you get off your flight, as you would miss collecting your bag and they won't put it on your next flight. You'll need to collect your bag outside A, then go back through security, either at the A terminal or at B/C (the other USAirways gates), then take the shuttle over to F terminal.

That isn't how it works at all. When you land, you will be in the international section and you will not be able to access the bus or the rest of the airport until you successfully clear immigration, get your luggage and then clear customs and recheck your bags and rescreen. All this takes place within the international terminal in the A concourse. You can not get on the bus or indeed access the rest of the airport until you have completed the security dance. Once you have rechecked your bags, you are still airside in the sterile side of the terminal and can proceed directly to the shuttle (or walk if you have time to kill). Two hours is normally more than enough time.

A US guide to PHL on the flyertalk board is an excellent overview of the PHL airport and addresses this question and more. It is specific to US Airways in spots, but most of the information would not matter no matter what carrier you are on. Although I can not imagine a possible A to F connection that isn't US.
posted by Lame_username at 11:27 AM on May 13, 2011