Pittsburgh Airport?

[AndreaDM]

Can anyone tell me about the Pittsburgh airport? We usually fly out of CAK and if we get there an hour before we have wayyyyy more than enough time to check in and get to our gate. I've flown out of PIT, but it's been at least 5 or 6 years. We have an 8 am flight to Tampa (in Jan.) so we're spending the night at an airport hotel the night before. Do we really need to be at the airport by 6 am?

 

[mhconley]

I have flown out of PIT on business recently on early Friday and Saturday morning flights. I recommend getting there at least 90 minutes before your flight. Also - the security lines look much worse than they actually are - they move pretty fast.

Martin

 

[AndreaDM]

Thanks, we'll plan on leaving the hotel at 6 then, it should give us plenty of time.

 

[kamms]

We prefer to be at the airport at least two hours ahead of time, but then we are a little gun shy since my wife missed a business flight years ago. We like to get there early, grab a bite to eat and then relax at the gate. There is nothing like that feeling of relaxation knowing that in a short time you will be on the plane heading for MCO and WDW. It will really help that you are staying in a hotel close to the airport and don't have to fight the traffic on the Parkway West, but personally, I would still try to be in the land side terminal as close to 6 as possible. Have a great trip!

 

[AndreaDM]

We are actually flying into Tampa to board a cruise which is almost as good as going to WDW. We are so used to flying out of CAK which is 10 min. from our house, but for some reason the flights to Tampa are more than twice what they are out of PIT.

 

[Mary T in PA]

We usually drive over and stay in the Hyatt airport hotel so we are already at the airport the night before...when we went down 3 weeks ago, we had a 7am flight and it was on SW, so I wanted to makes sure I was at the gate with a bit of time.

It was a bit busy, but we flew out on a Thursday morning and both security areas were open, so we went thru alternate security and is located on the same level as the airline checkin counters (upper level from the parking lot). We got thru very quickly.

When it was all said and done, it took us a good 40min from the time we left our hotel room until we arrived at the gate and ready to board.

 

[mhconley]

alternate security and is located on the same level as the airline checkin counters (upper level from the parking lot).

The difficult to find alternate security area is supposedly open 4-8 AM and 2-6 PM. It was not open on a recent Saturday.

The Hyatt Regency is a great choice as it is a moving walkway away from the terminal. I've also stayed within 5 miles off both University Blvd and the Steubenville Pike and made it to the terminal within 5-10 minutes every time; that's in early morning 6 AM traffic.

Martin

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

The difficult to find alternate security area is supposedly open 4-8 AM and 2-6 PM. It was not open on a recent Saturday.

The Hyatt Regency is a great choice as it is a moving walkway away from the terminal. I've also stayed within 5 miles off both University Blvd and the Steubenville Pike and made it to the terminal within 5-10 minutes every time; that's in early morning 6 AM traffic.

Martin

The old "E" gates. I've seen the lines longer over there than if you would have just waited in the regular terminal. Undoubtedly, I tend to pick the wrong line to get in all the time.

I'd go with being there atleast 90 minutes early. You just never know. I try to get there closer to 2 hours if I can, take some time to get something to eat and relax before the flight. Nothing worse than feeling rushed!

 

[AndreaDM]

We are staying at the HI Express near the airport. I checked out the Hyatt but their Park & Fly package only includes 3 nights of parking and we need 8 nights.