7 AM Wed. Flight out of PHL - How Early to Get There?

[PSUGuy]

We plan on driving straight to PHL from NorthEast Pa for a 7 am AirTran flight, parking in the PHL outdoor lot. At what hour should I arrive to drop off wifey and the luggage? Is 5 am, a 2 hr lead, good enough? Too early?

Thanks in advance.

 

[TinkTink78]

I arrive between 5 and 5:30am, park at an offsite parking lot (a lot cheaper, and less aggrivation then PHL parking) And make it in plenty of time.

 

[DeadHead]

I would arrive between 5 -5:30 a.m.. TSA checkpoint at Terminal D has been redone with 14 lanes and when we flew on AirTran this past May, 10 of the 14 were open at 5:30 when we arrived and made it very easy to get through security.

 

[TinkTink78]

I would arrive between 5 -5:30 a.m.. TSA checkpoint at Terminal D has been redone with 14 lanes and when we flew on AirTran this past May, 10 of the 14 were open at 5:30 when we arrived and made it very easy to get through security.

Yes that was a very nice perk!!!

 

[Disneyhappy]

I arrive between 5 and 5:30am, park at an offsite parking lot (a lot cheaper, and less aggrivation then PHL parking) And make it in plenty of time.

Ditto- I travel frequently out of PHL for work and pleasure and there is never any consistency with security line wait times. They have recently opened the new security area which has been very effecient the last 3 times I flew out of PHL this summer so far. That is a good sign. I would also use curb side check in as it goes much faster than inside. I would still err on the side of caution and try to get there closer to 5 rather than 5:30. You can always eat breakfast it you have extra time.

One other hint if you are flying home from MCO and are returning a rental car. After dropping off the retental car, you walk into the ticketing area of the airport. In July, we needed to check baggage and the line was huge. After standing in line for 15 miuntes (with it looking like it would take another 30 mintues just to check in our baggage) it dawned on me to check curbside check in. That line was long but not as long. We waited maybe 5 minutes and had out luggage checked. When we walked back in the airport, we notice that the gentleman in front of us still had quite a ways to go.

 

[DonnaL]

I would also say by 5:30 a.m. at the latest is good, especially if it's just the two of you......we usually allow an extra half hour if we have the whole family with us. The new TSA checkpoint at Terminal D is great.....we were there in January the day after it opened and then again, this past May. You should breeze thru there in no time. As far as parking, I would look into one of the lots other than the airport lot. We've been using Colonial Airport Park for about five years now......they're located south of the airport at the Essington exit........once you exit 476 to 95N you're only on 95 for about 2 miles to the exit.....follow signs to Essington (East) for about two blocks ..turn left onto Industrial Highway and go about a mile.....Colonial is on the right.....they've got 24 hour shuttle service (free), shuttle picks up right at your car, lot is very well lit, they've had some of the same drivers for the five years we've been using them and they're all friendly guys. They usually have a coupon on their website for $1 per day discount ........I think in May it cost us about $7.50/8.00 per day.

 

[EPCOT is a verb]

We've been using Colonial Airport Park for about five years now......they're located south of the airport at the Essington exit........once you exit 476 to 95N you're only on 95 for about 2 miles to the exit.....follow signs to Essington (East) for about two blocks ..turn left onto Industrial Highway and go about a mile.....Colonial is on the right.....they've got 24 hour shuttle service (free), shuttle picks up right at your car, lot is very well lit, they've had some of the same drivers for the five years we've been using them and they're all friendly guys. They usually have a coupon on their website for $1 per day discount ........I think in May it cost us about $7.50/8.00 per day.

I'll second the recommendation for Colonial. We fly 3 or 4 times a year and always use Colonial.

 

[scimom]

I live just outside of Wilkes-Barre and fly out of Philly 5 or 6 times a year. It's exactly 2 hours from my driveway to Colonial Parking entrance, so I usually leave here at 5 for a 7 a.m. flight. Colonial always has shuttles waiting and I'm usually to the airport, through check-in and security and in the terminal sitting down by 5:30. I give Colonial a big thumbs up too! Definitely use the coupon on the site and they usually have the 7th day free if you're there a week.

Barb

 

[PSUGuy]

Thanks for the replies. We used Winner this March and were pleased, I was just concerned that at 5 am they might not be fully staffed and there might be delays. This is the reason I planned to drive my own car, drop of wifey and the luggage and just park at PHL. The fewer moving parts in a plan, the better I like it. I'll probably shoot for a 5 am arrival time and just park it myself. We've had breakfast near the gate a few times and that works for us, but on those previous occasions we were doing the sleep 'n fly thing out of the Ramada, this will be our first time driving straight from home to a flight out of PHL.

 

[Chuck-PA]

We have arrived as late as 6 am and still made it for our flight at 7 am.
But we were nervous thinking we were going to miss it. This was before the new security area.

I would definitely do curb side check in. Less to lug around.

I would check out the airport parking fees, I think they are high compared to the parking around the airport such as Winner, Colonial, Fasttrack, etc...

We use Fasttrack and it takes less than 10-15 minutes to get to the terminal we are going to.

 

[jobie61]

Im not sure Airtran has curbside checkin anymore.
I think they got rid of the curbside checkin with the bagagge fees. But not positive.

Bill, please post when you get back about the curbside checkin process. It was always so easy with curbside checkin. I hope they havent gotten rid of it.

Thanks, and have a good trip.

 

[PEANUT1]

I would arrive at 5am...I am always early. Also, we dont park onsite anymore. We park offsite at Winner...it is only a couple of miles from the airport. You drive to winner at 5am...they drive you to the airport in your car and hold you car til you return. You can find coupons so it only costs 7$ a day. When you arrive home, you call them when you receive your luggage and they pick you up.
http://www.philadelphia-airport-parking.net/ you don't need to make a ressie..just show up.

A few times when we have done the long term parking we have watied forever for a shuttle. One night my husband waited an hour to get a shuttle while I was inside with 2 sleepy children..no fun.

oops..i just saw that you used winner before..they will be fully staffed..I wouldn't worry about it..also it is like 5$ cheaper a day than the airport lot.

 

[pamjb]

Thanks for the replies. We used Winner this March and were pleased, I was just concerned that at 5 am they might not be fully staffed and there might be delays. This is the reason I planned to drive my own car, drop of wifey and the luggage and just park at PHL. The fewer moving parts in a plan, the better I like it. I'll probably shoot for a 5 am arrival time and just park it myself. We've had breakfast near the gate a few times and that works for us, but on those previous occasions we were doing the sleep 'n fly thing out of the Ramada, this will be our first time driving straight from home to a flight out of PHL.

Bill,

I have often left on the 7 am SW flight. I usually arrive at Winner at about 5:30 am. I have always been the only one there and there are at least 2 drivers waiting to take me to the terminal. Winner is a little cheaper than the airport parking. At least enough for a brew(or two) at the Rose & Crown.

 

[PSUGuy]

Bill,

I have often left on the 7 am SW flight. I usually arrive at Winner at about 5:30 am. I have always been the only one there and there are at least 2 drivers waiting to take me to the terminal. Winner is a little cheaper than the airport parking. At least enough for a brew(or two) at the Rose & Crown.

I'm starting to lean in this direction, Winner was good to us last time. After a short while in the R&C I'll be leaning a little more!

 

[Letsbgoofy]

Winner told me to call if we have an early flight so that they are expecting us. I love their service - wish they had something like it at Newark.

 

[pamjb]

I always check http://www.longtermparking.com/penn.htm for any discounts. Winner is always the cheapest. Economy parking at PHL is $11 a day.

 

[Goofy22]

We used Winner last year and were very happy with them! We are using them again this year! MY rate is $7 something I can't remember the exact amount right now I don't have the paper in front of me! But definitely better than the airport parking . We fly out in 17days! 7am from PHL on Airtran! and I was wondering the same exact thing as I have never flown out this early in the am! We are going to my sisters house in Phila the night before so we will only have like a 20 min ride to the Airport in the am!

 

[PSUGuy]

Once again, thanks to all for your input, this thread has caused me to change my plans. I started out with the firm notion that dropping off wifey and the luggage and self-parking was the quickest and easiest thing to do and my sole intention in starting this thread was to know how early I had to drive up to the concourse entrance. After reading the replies we've decided to use Winner again, I'll just make sure to call ahead as we reach the end of the Pa Turnpike on our way down.

 

[pamjb]

 

[richmo]

I've done the 7:00 flight out of PHL on SW a couple of times myself. I actually prefer leaving that early because you get more time at Disney and you don't have to worry about the morning rush hour in Phila. Actually, you can't leave too much later for a 9:00 or 10:00 flight, since you can't count on the traffic.

Anyway, I agree with others that I'd try to park about 5:00, whether its in Economy or offsite. I used FastTrack self park the last time I was there and was pleased with the service.