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Props to the original designers for thinking ahead. Although it sometimes feels far too overcrowded inside, it’s actually very efficiently designed. Phoenix Sky Harbor International airport is one of those “small town” US airports that got big by accident. A brief overview of the terminal layout at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport If you’re just dying to know how I got here, be sure to read my Southwest Airlines 737-800 review. On my way up to SFO after a relatively short layover here at PHX. There is no dedicated international terminal, so it can be confusing trying to figure out where you need to be. Making international connections in Phoenix is exactly like making a short layover in Detroit. This will save you a lot of confusion once you arrive. When it comes to international flights in and out of the Phoenix airport, the most important thing to remember is this: find out ahead of time which terminal your flights will be arriving and departing from. For example, minimum connection times for international to domestic flights at SFO are about double what they are in Phoenix. If that sounds excessive, keep in mind that there are major International airports in the US (with much more international traffic) that aren’t as efficient as PHX. If a terminal change is necessary, plan for two and a half hours. The Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport doesn’t receive very many international flights on a daily basis, so getting through the customs and immigration process is relatively simple.Īn hour and a half is the minimum connection time you’ll need to go from an international flight to a domestic flight in Phoenix (if you don’t have to change terminals). Therefore, I would advise a minimum one hour layover if you’re connecting to an international flight at PHX if you don’t have to change terminals. The only difference is that you need to allow extra time to be onboard aircraft earlier than you would need to be for a domestic flight. That being said, here are the connection times you can expect: Connecting TO an international flightĬonnecting to an international flight in Phoenix is exactly how it is connecting to a domestic flight. This isn’t a guarantee though, and there’s always a chance that you won’t know what terminal your international flight will be departing from until you arrive at the airport. British Airways usually operates out of terminal 4, while Lufthansa and Air Canada operate out of terminal 3. There is no dedicated international terminal at PHX. Did someone say Cinnabon? What is the minimum layover for international flights in Phoenix? As tempting as it may be to stop and pick up a 2000-calorie Cinnabon before your flight to El Paso, you must keep moving.
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The trick to navigating a tight connection at PHX is to keep moving and avoid distractions. If you’re flying the same airline, you won’t have to change terminals. However, plan for an hour and 40 minutes if you have to change terminals. Use them to your advantage! What is the minimum layover for domestic flights in Phoenix?Īs I already mentioned, 40 minute domestic connections at PHX are a piece of cake if you’re not changing terminals. The moving walkways in the corridors between concourses in Terminal 4 will be a huge help to get you through this airport quickly. If these corridors between the individual concourses in Terminal 4 didn’t exist, you’d be hating life if you had to re-clear a security checkpoint instead. It looks like an awfully long way to walk, but trust me on this. Walking from one end of terminal 4 to the other can be done in less than 10 minutes (at a brisk pace). Walking from one end of Terminal 3 to the other can be done in less than 5 minutes. As a matter of fact, it’s the exact same reason why you can do a short layover in the Orlando airport. And since there are only two terminals at PHX (Terminal 3 and Terminal 4), the chances of you having to re-clear security is almost non-existent if you’re flying the same airline. Once you pass a security checkpoint at the Phoenix airport, you’ll have access to all gates in that specific terminal. The reason why short layovers are ok in Phoenix Tips for making really short layovers at Phoenix.
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How long of a layover do you need in Phoenix for a no-stress connection?.Travel time between all terminals at PHX.A brief overview of the terminal layout at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.Connecting FROM an international flight.What is the minimum layover for international flights in Phoenix?.What is the minimum layover for domestic flights in Phoenix?.The reason why short layovers are ok in Phoenix.
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