Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl Airport (PHX) Flights & Information

Phoenix is the fifth largest city in the United States and its airport is equally impressive. Welcoming more than 48 million annual passengers, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) consistently ranks among the 15 busiest airports in the country. Use these expert tips for easier travel next time you fly through PHX.

PHX terminal numbering

To avoid confusion, it’s helpful to know there are only two terminals at Phoenix Sky Harbor, despite their labels. While there were once Terminals 1 and 2, today there are only Terminals 3 and 4. Both terminals service domestic and international flights, but Terminal 4 is largely dominated by American Airlines and its alliance partners. The majority of other airlines operate from Terminal 3.

Terminals 3 and 4 are not connected airside, so you’ll need to pass through security again if you’re changing terminals on a layover. You won’t know ahead of time if that will be the case, so I recommend budgeting at least two hours for any connection here, to ensure you’ll arrive in time for boarding even if you have to switch terminals.

Short security lines

Phoenix Sky Harbor processes a tremendous number of daily passengers, but you don’t need to worry about this backing up security lines here. PHX is so skilled at handling large volumes of passengers that you’re unlikely to wait more than 10 minutes at any security checkpoint in either terminal. Still, both terminals also have TSA PreCheck lanes to expedite security for members. Using this, I’ve never even waited five minutes for security at PHX.

Terminal 3 has just one checkpoint, so there isn’t much to consider here, but if you’re in Terminal 4 you can game the system even further to wait as little as possible. There are four checkpoints open throughout the day at Terminal 4, and PHX displays live wait times for them all online. Because you can reach all terminal gates from any point airside, you’re free to hop in the shortest security lane.

CLEAR is also available in both terminals, but I don’t use it here, even though I’m a member. With these short lines, I’ve found that CLEAR actually takes longer than simply hopping in the PreCheck lane and showing my ID to a live agent.

Public transportation at Phoenix Sky Harbor

PHX is quite close to Downtown Phoenix, so the commute is quick and inexpensive no matter which method you choose. To take public transportation from the airport, hop on the free PHX Sky Train and take it to 44th Street Station, the last stop. From there you have two options and they each carry the same low fare.

Light rail will take you from 44th Street Station directly into Downtown Phoenix in under 20 minutes. From here you can alternatively take the Route 1 bus to downtown, and this will take a similar amount of time unless there’s heavy traffic. If you have minimal luggage, these are solid options, but keep in mind you’ll likely still need to take a car from the bus or train station to your accommodation.

Getting to and from PHX by car

While I usually recommend public transportation for airport pick-ups and drop-offs in most cities, Phoenix is an exception. With the airport so close by and so few decent public transportation options directly linking the airport to downtown, I always take a car here. It’s not nearly as expensive as it is elsewhere, and it’s generally faster. The drive can take as little as 10 minutes – about half what public transportation will take.

Taxis offer a flat rate fare from Phoenix Sky Harbor to Downtown Phoenix, and it’s a tremendous deal. There’s a taxi queue directly outside each terminal, and both Yellow Cab and VIP Taxi are required to honor the same flat rate. If you’re going somewhere other than downtown, all fares are metered but both companies continue to charge the same rates.

The only drawback to taxi service at PHX is that there can be a long line for this inexpensive service. If you encounter one and don’t have the time to wait, consider rideshare services like Uber or Lyft. Your ride will come quicker, but be warned that these fares are often considerably higher at PHX. During surge pricing, I’ve seen rideshare fares as much as four times the taxi rate.

Airport lounges

For early arrivals or more comfort during layovers, there are many lounges at Phoenix Sky Harbor. As a hub for American Airlines, it’s no surprise that Terminal 4 has three Admirals Clubs to accommodate the airline’s many daily passengers here. United and Delta both host airline clubs in Terminal 3, and there’s a Centurion Lounge in Terminal 4 for qualifying American Express credit card holders.

If you don’t have qualifying credit cards, tickets, or memberships, you can purchase day passes to many lounges at PHX. Both United and American sell passes if you’re flying on the respective airlines or their alliance partners, but I recommend opting for one of the Escape Lounges regardless.

There’s an Escape Lounge in both terminals, and the day pass rate is considerably cheaper than either airline offers, plus you can hold a ticket for any airline to enter. There’s an additional discount if you book your lounge access at least 24 hours in advance too. With this, the cost is essentially half the fee of the American Airlines Admirals Club and the perks are just as good.

It's worth noting that none of the lounges at PHX currently accept Priority Pass, including the Escape Lounges. While some Escapes do welcome Priority Pass members, these two don’t. For active-duty military members and their accompanied family members, there’s a USO lounge outside of security on level two of Terminal 4. If you use this, just be sure to leave with enough time to pass through security before reaching your gate.

Pet relief areas

There are a total of nine pet relief areas at PHX – far more than most airports of similar size (or larger) – and two are especially cool. Though they’re both outside of security, PHX has created two outdoor dog parks for pups to catch a bladder break and stretch their legs after flights. I always take my dog here to relax a bit before journeying on to our hotel. There’s one per terminal.

Don’t worry about potty breaks inside security either. There are plenty of indoor relief areas in the concourses at each terminal.

Things to do during a layover at PHX

If you have a layover of three hours or more, it’s a great opportunity to check out a local museum, park, or restaurant. With the airport so close to the city itself and so inexpensive to reach, grab a cab and head into town. I recommend the Arizona Science Center or the Heard Museum, but remember to head back to the airport at least an hour before your flight time.

If you prefer to avoid cars and potential traffic, you can still catch a local museum. Take the free Sky Train to 44th Street Station and walk about ten minutes to the S’edav Va’aki Museum to explore the archeological remains of a prehistoric village and an accompanying museum filled with Hohokam artifacts.

If you’d rather stay within the airport, there are still a couple of unique things to see and do at PHX.

First, explore the Sky Harbor Museum exhibits. This airport museum mounts art and history exhibits using a collection of more than 900 pieces that tell the story of the Phoenix area. You’ll find exhibits in both terminals and while some are permanent, I appreciate the temporary exhibits that keep me coming back for new things to see when I return to the airport.

Before sitting for hours on your next flight, it’s good for both your mind and body to get some light exercise if possible. If you’re in Terminal 4, take advantage of the fitness trail on level three (where the gates are). It’s really just a walking path that runs for about a mile, so there’s nothing intense to worry about.

The path is well marked on the floor and along the way you’ll find bonus info about staying healthy on the go. Avoid the mistake I made by understanding that this is not a loop path. If you walk the full mile, you’ll need to walk a full mile back, so be sure to give yourself enough time to return to your gate before boarding.

Free Wi-Fi at PHX

Wi-Fi at Phoenix Sky Harbor is both free and unlimited, and it’s quite strong throughout all public areas of the airport. Better still, my favorite related feature of this airport is the abundance of charging outlets located throughout, allowing you to stay fully charged on all devices while you use that free internet.