Pittsburgh, PA Airport Questions...

[VelvetGloves]

Good day!

In less than two weeks, my husband and I are flying out of Pitt for our first ever solo trip, his surprise to me.....he's awesome . Anyway, enough gushing, back to the problems at hand. My family is driving us down, and they were planning on hanging out with us until we can board our plane. How far can they follow us? If we all want to eat together at the airport, can we check in at our flight counter then get back together? I haven't been in an airplane since I was six or seven, so I obviously have no idea what we have to do when we get the airport. Also, how much is parking for a few hours while my family is inside with us? We are flying AirTran if that makes any difference.

Thanks for any and all answers!

VelvetGloves

 

[safetymom]

There is the airside and the landside terminals. There really isn't anyplace to eat on the landside except for Au Bon Pain. There is a nice food court area and restaurants in the airside terminal but they wouldn't be able to go there because they don't have a ticket.

$1.00 / 1st hour
$3.00 / ea. addl. hr. for short term parking

$1.50 / hour
$9.50 / daily max for long term parking

It is just a longer ride on the people mover up to the landside terminal but if they are just going to be there for a short time I would park in short term parking.

http://www.pitairport.com/HomePageServlet

You might want to take a look at the airport website.
That used to be my home airport until I moved to Orlando. There is lots for you to do before your flight in the airside terminal. We used to go shopping at the airport before they closed it off to only those with tickets.

 

[Threeriversdisneyfan]

Short Term parking is the right move, however here is a couple tips.

Pull up to departures (look for AirTran), the travelling party get out and start the sky cap process,( this will save you from hulling all your lugage across the parking lot and road) next continue to the AirTran check-in. The non-taveling party park in SHort term and then all meet up before security.

No promises but try this at the security scanner, start to have all parties go through security, they will stop you the non-traveller and they will say "only ticketed passangers" Aplogize and say the last time you travelled was years ago and you thought everyone could see people board the plane. At this point they might issue a "gate pass" to the non-travellers, if not ask for one. Still no luck, have the non-traveller say "i promised (insert closest nearest relative) I would see them to the plane." If you have kids in your party use the them to say it. "Who could say no to that?" It may work or not.

Otherwise its a quick kiss and hug at the door because the scanners are only 100 ft from the door.

Good luck

 

[safetymom]

I don't suggest trying to get the TSA agents to let the unticketed family members through. You could always try for a gate pass when you check in at the ticket counter but chances are that won't work either.

What a lot of business travelers do is purchase fully refundable tickets and have their meeting in the airport. Then they go back and have them refund the money. They had their meeting in the airport without a lot of hassle.

 

[Twende]

I would stop at a resturant somewhere before the airport and have a nice meal and say most of your goodbyes there. At the airport go to the departures and just have them drop you off.

We have been caught in many a very long security line at Pittsburgh airport and twice have had to wait over 4 hours. Both of those times we missed the plane! One of these was the Monday after Thanksgiving and the lines were 4 wide stretched all the way to the hotel!

I now always allow at least three hours before my flight there. If things are more than that long I know I will have to reschedule for another day.

I have never had any luck getting unticketed people past security there. So you might as well save the parking fees and just say good bye at the departure drop off. This leaves you free to get rid of your checked luggage and make your way to the security lines. Be prepared to partially disrobe to get through it. We aways have to take off jackets or suit coats, belts, shoes and any metalic things. And at times there is a second security scan at the gate. I had to that one one time too. What a riot! Beware of underwire bras! Wear a sports bra with no wires if you can!

Pay close attention to the lists of what you can and can not take in your checked and your carry ons. They are very strict!

Once you clear the security gates you get on the short little train thing and it takes you to the flight gate side of the airport. There are places to eat and shop there so you do have something to do while you wait.

I have never been able to predict the security line wait. When I really give myself hours, I have been able to walk up and within 20 minutes get through it and when I have more than 4 hours before a flight, I have missed a flight because the line was so long!

Any way leave early and have a great trip!