AND an Elephant's Deli, for portable non-gross food options. And for some reason, the last Coffee People in Portland. Why is that still there?
Other airport questions: Does anyone remember the name of a kids' book (some sort of mystery/suspense thing) set in PDX? Maybe some kids get stranded at the airport, and... terrorism, or something?
More: Good Dog/Bad Dog, Powells (pre-security AND post-security), awesome kids play area, and the last chance to fill your water bottle with good Bull Run water before you have to drink nasty inferior water. And that time they had the handmade bike display was rad.
how about that every vendor is required to ahve prices similar to that which you find in town, meaning that the laurelwood brewery even has happy hour pricing on their beer.
Oh and you can buy a sealed up growler of rogue beer and take it with you on the plane as long as your final destination doesn't involve a transfer through security you can arrive with great oregon beer.
For a while I went between PDX and Narita a lot, and between those two places I ended up with the skewed and wholly non-realistic idea that airports were nice, efficient places. To keep perspective, I've had to remind myself of Dallas, where I was once trapped overnight and made a rotund Texan very angry by taking the lord's name in vain. Also, a bird flew into a radar and made bad things happen.
@Alison- I have no idea. The only kid's book about airports that I can think of is Fly Away Home, about a homeless dad and his son living in an airport.
I flew from PDX to LaGuardia (indirectly) a few weeks back and, yeah, it's a pretty stark contrast. Another thing to like: it's no longer under constant construction.
Another thing PDX has over many other airports is a wealth of accessible electrical outlets, at least in the more freshly-renovated terminals. Such a boon for business travelers.
Not sure if this is unique to PDX or not, but I LOVE the free motorcycle parking right at the terminal. Rewards fuel conservation AND light packing in one fell swoop!
@Joe Streckert: The Asian airports I've been to are more-or-less wonderful places; they always make me wonder why PDX wins awards. Oh yeah...it's being compared to all those crappy U.S. airports. Not that I'm dissing it. @econoline: I wasn't aware that Rogue growlers could be carried on...good to know! Some airlines (Delta at least, I believe) have policies against bringing on outside alcohol, though...might be worth checking first.
@Alison: Shit! You are totally right! I remember the entire plot without looking but apparently not the author's name. I think I read almost all her books. View from the Cherry Tree, anyone?
One thing I remember from "What Could Go Wrong" is that you can't buy gum at PDX because of the carpet. I've never even checked if it's true or not, I just accepted it as fact and have bought gum elsewhere prior to traveling since.
Also, the clues in the crossword! TSA really ought to check people's crosswords when they go through security.
SEA has better restaurants, but PDX is a mellower place. That said, it would have been nice if they put the MAX on the other side of Airport Way: then you could park in Economy and ride the train to the terminal.
PDX airport deserves this. It's the fastest security check anywhere, everything is clean, there are good food options, and the books at the Powell's are the same prices as the downtown store - how cool is that?
In the earlier part of the decade I emailed the airport about the lack of signs for the "express line" at the security check. The airport was busy and I kept seeing people wait in the express line only to find out as they got closer that they were in the wrong line. The airport people emailed me back and actually discussed the issue at their weekly meeting. Even if they didn't do anything, I was happy enough for a nice non-bot response.
I love that you can see both security check points from that one spot. Then all I have to do it pick the shorter line and take the terminal connecter hall if needed.
tidbit: when starbucks basically was closing down all the coffee people shops the port of portland put their foot down---well, port only allows so many storefronts for the same franchise, so a local business lady bought the coffee people shops and they have remained as is. pretty awesome. the port needs to get more actual airlines in there (bye bye lufthanza, mexicana, big sky....oh so sad to see them go, plus all the empty gates), but they do a great job with the concessions. my only sadness; why no burgerville???!
I'm a huge fan of biking to PDX but am under the impression that the only people who have access to the secure bike parking are airport employees. I've used the parking directly adjacent to it and commented on it here:
Is there something I'm missing? I've never had a problem parking my bike at PDX but would love to not have to wonder/hope when I return from a week's trip out of town if my ride home is still there.
fyi-i was told by an airport employee that if you park at the airport, and forget where you parked your car, you can contact security and they will tell you where your car is. i guess they inventory all the cars in the lot by their license plates.
Other airport questions: Does anyone remember the name of a kids' book (some sort of mystery/suspense thing) set in PDX? Maybe some kids get stranded at the airport, and... terrorism, or something?
Also the nice lady in the swanky remodeled barbershop trimmed my hair for free last time I flew.
But the best thing really is flying home and seeing Mt Hood in all its glory out of the left window.
Oh and you can buy a sealed up growler of rogue beer and take it with you on the plane as long as your final destination doesn't involve a transfer through security you can arrive with great oregon beer.
@Alison- I have no idea. The only kid's book about airports that I can think of is Fly Away Home, about a homeless dad and his son living in an airport.
Not sure if this is unique to PDX or not, but I LOVE the free motorcycle parking right at the terminal. Rewards fuel conservation AND light packing in one fell swoop!
http://www.amazon.com/Could-Wrong-Willo-Da…
Also, the clues in the crossword! TSA really ought to check people's crosswords when they go through security.
The only other airport I've liked as much was Detroit's.
You can buy gum at PDX. I've done it. It's chewy.
http://bikeportland.org/2005/09/28/my-ride…
Is there something I'm missing? I've never had a problem parking my bike at PDX but would love to not have to wonder/hope when I return from a week's trip out of town if my ride home is still there.