Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport

Pretty decent airport overall. Check-in lines were practically nonexistent security took only a few minutes to get through and the ground staff from the airline agents to security to the baggage handlers were all remarkably friendly efficient and helpful. I also liked the "simulated desert" decorations while moving between the check-in/baggage claim area and the security area on the second level. Unlike ORD expected delays were well-publicized and the monitors were constantly kept up-to-date. The baggage claim area is a bit drab though at least this time my bags didn't take too long to come through.

PHX is an excellent airport on many fronts with just a few negative aspects. If you plan to transfer at PHX and want to switch airlines you will need to change terminals. This is not obvious but this is because very few people would want to do this since both Southwest and America West/USAirways have their hubs in T4. If you check luggage do not expect to find it waiting for you when you get down to baggage claim. Since PHX is a hub the volume of bags they process is enormous and the speed that passengers can make from the plane to the carousel will always result in a wait for bags. (Hint: Do not check bags!). T2 is very old and it is not attractive to look at. T2 is fast; from the car park to the airplane in fifteen minutes on some occasions including ticketing security and the walk. The T2 parking garage is right next to the terminal and the terminal is an older one full of airlines like TED so you can move right through it. And you will want to as there is no real reason to linger. T3 is fast; from the car park to the aircraft is again quick and easy. T3 is a vintage 1980's terminal but it has some very attractive artwork on the departures level and because of the hub in T4 for Southwest and America West/USAirways the remaining mainline airlines are usually on time and heading for their own hubs. T3 is also clean with plenty of seating although most of the airline clubs are now closed since 9/11. T4 is new clean and efficient. Lines in the ticketing level can be enormous but they move quickly. Security is usually pretty fast in T4 and the lines on the departures level move quickly there also exept on Spring Break. T4 has numerous dining options shoeshine and even art galleries. Passengers can walk from the Southwest side to the America West side without leaving the secure area. The travelators make a transit in T4 fairly painless. Sky Harbor has moved all the rental cars to an off-site condo facility to the southwest of the airport. The busses run very efficiently and they are not operated by the self-important Transit Police like at SJC but rather by helpful folks who want to transport you. The facility itself is huge but easy to navigate. Roads and Signage: The traffic flow around the three terminals is complex but the signs are very clear and accurate. Drivers new to Sky Harbor should be aware that the Rental Car facility is not AT the airport and that the traffic flow at T2 is different from T3 and T4 because it has a different orientation to the runways.

I had the chance to see the Phoenix Airport during a very long layover and found the experience to be quite positive. The Southwest Airlines concourses tended to be a bit crowded but I found the terminal to be admirably well maintained overall - clean shiny and refreshing. All airports should do as well as Phoenix does on basic upkeep. Signage was good inside the Southwest concourses and the shops and eateries were plentiful. Overall it was very pleasant.

I recently flew through PHX airport for the first time. I flew in on America West and was connecting to a United flght. Overall I really enjoyed this airport. Terminal 4 which is where most of America West/US airways flight arrive and depart is spacious lots of shops and easy to navigate. However the major flaw with this airport is transfering to a non America West flight. There were no signs anywhere. I had no idea which terminal to go to or how to get to the other terminals. I asked several airport personnel and simply got a shrug indicating that they had no idea. The screens only show american west flights so that didn't help at all. Finally I found a TSA person who told me which terminal United flies out of and how to get there. Once this was solved the transfer of terminals is pretty easy and efficient. Overall great airport but needs better signage for people transfering to other airlines.

Fly to Phoenix once or twice a year. Baggage always takes forever no matter which terminal you fly into. Recently flew United to SFO and waited at check-in for almost half an hour which wouldn't have been bad if I wasn't the second person in line. When the passenger in front of me thought he had an open agent she closed her station and left even though there was only one other agent that was only checking in first class passengers. She didn't care that no one was checking in the rest of us. The check in area is unbelievably small - I think they expect that planes holding hundreds of passengers don't actually fly out of their airport. Security took almost an hour - we were wound out down the ramp and around the corner towards the baggage carousels. The security agent checked our passports and insisted on additional ID for my husband because his passport had expired but let me right through even though mine was expired too.

I mostly use Term 4 (for America West) though I've done a few out of Term 2 and 3. Though not remarkable PHX is actually a pretty good airport - maybe even great by US standards because of it's overall efficiency. I've seen many long lines at check-in's which are usually a function of how many agents an airline wants to make available. Even at peak holiday times I don't think the Am. West lineup has ever taken longer than 30 - 40 minutes and if you arrive early (or just luck out perhaps) you often walk right up to the counter without wait...I'd say this happens about half the time I travel. Other airlines may not be quite so fast judging by their lines. Security lines appear very long at times but in fact they move quickly. A lineup stretching 300 feet can actually clear through in only 15 minutes. Even better (at least for Terminal 4) you can go through security at either of the two A gate entrances or the B gate (3 total) whichever is shortest and use post-security moving walkways to go back to your assigned gate. Many people don't know this or even when told are afraid to thinking they'll be going from one long line to another. After 20 or so trips in the last few years I've never seen all 3 security points busy -- you can almost literally walk right through if you're willing to move the least busy. Land-side and air-side restaurant shops are generally good in both areas although the last year construction is closing off several land-side stores. There is a severe shortage of chairs/tables in the land-side of Term. 4 which is too bad as the Oaxaca (sp?) restaurant there is a must for me but I have often had to stand and eat or kindly ask others if I may share their table something I'd rather not have to do. The T3 & 4 shops are typical "airport" but decent and there's lots of coffee bars sit-down licensed restaurants and the aforementioned moving walkway lets you explore the rather large Terminal 4 relatively quickly even when lugging your carry-on around. I often leave extra time on trips just so I can do this. Knock-on-wood I've never had a baggage error checked-in through PHX so in fact I almost never carry-on anymore. The T4 B gate is international but it's stores aren't remarkable - the duty free is nothing amazing. Fortunately you are a people-mover ride away from all the A gate stores without having to go through security again. PHX doesn't have the ambiance of other airports I've been to like Honolulu nor the clean look of Vancouver but it is not unattractive and does quite well at what's important...getting you checked in accurately and quickly. Restrooms are always clean. Airline employees roam the floor just to be there for people asking questions - they are actually partly responsible for why security moves so quickly too as they work with the TSA.. When looking at efficiencies and amenities combined I certainly prefer it over Las Vegas McCarran or SeaTAC. Read about Wash. Dulles and LAX Terminal 4 just to see frustrating an airport can be and you'll have some idea of what a good one is like.

The worst part of PHX is the baggage system on arrivial. It takes very very long for bags to arrive from aircraft -- even lightly loaded aircraft. This is true at each of the three terminals (2 3 4) and does not depend on which airline one travels. If you have the misfortune of arriving at terminal 4 then be prepared to also be harrassed by poorly trained staff who insist on checking bag tags -- but when asked they have no idea why they check bag tags other "than its my job." Apparently it is not a security factor; if it was one would think that the checkers would know that that is the reason they do it. But they don't and they are rude besides. But the wait for the bags to come of the flight is even more disturbing.

PHX is a decent enough airport although signage could be improved. The TSA baggage screeners were kind enough to put locks on my cases after they'd screened them which impressed me. The tiny Duty Free store for international flights is astonishing too - not every airport can be like LHR but it could be quite a source of revenue for the airport operators and/or City of Phoenix to sell more duty free goods.

Travelled thru PHX twice now. Both times were arrival and return to LHR. Very quick (for USA) immigration and everything well signed. At hire car within 35 minss of landing on a full 747-400. Airport is clean and tidy and all staff friendly. Security was unobtrusive other than when proceeding to gate and then thorough. Only downside was the lack of any decent Duty Free and catering was limited (and expensive).

Phoenix is an overly large airport. Ive flown through all three of the terminals- The America West one looked every bit as big as O'Hare the ATA one was nice and medium sized. The United Terminal however is little better than a shack. The car rental facility used to be right at the Terminal but they've moved it since - this was a pain last time we were there since Air Force One had just landed and all traffic was kept in the airport until the President had departed. Not a bad airport as long as you're not in whatever terminal United uses but if you are flying United don't expect much.