US Airport · Pennsylvania

Philadelphia International (PHL)

Philadelphia International is American Airlines' main East Coast hub for transatlantic and Caribbean flying, serving roughly 31 million passengers a year. The airport's seven terminals (A-East, A-West, B, C, D, E, F) are arranged in a long curve along Essington Avenue and connected airside by a continuous post-security walkway, so you can walk between most concourses without re-clearing security. SEPTA's Airport Line regional rail runs directly into the city, stopping at every terminal and reaching 30th Street Station in about 25 minutes for a flat $7 fare.

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Terminals at PHL

Terminal A-East
American (international), British Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways
Federal Inspection Services for international arrivals. Connected airside to A-West.
Terminal A-West
American (international and select domestic)
American's flagship transatlantic terminal with the Flagship Lounge and Admirals Club.
Terminal B
American (domestic)
Connected airside to C; primarily domestic American mainline.
Terminal C
American (domestic), American Eagle (some)
Connected airside to B and D; large hub-and-spoke domestic operation.
Terminal D
Alaska, Delta, JetBlue, United (some)
Connected airside to C and E; mixed legacy carrier terminal.
Terminal E
Air Canada, Frontier, Spirit, Southwest
Low-cost and Canadian carriers. Connected to D and F airside.
Terminal F
American Eagle (regional)
American's regional jet terminal with its own concourse and shuttle bus connection to other terminals.

Getting to Philadelphia International

Mode Details Cost Frequency
SEPTA Airport Line regional railStops at every terminal and runs to Center City stations including 30th Street, Suburban, and Jefferson. The most reliable way downtown.$7 flat fare to Center CityEvery 30 min
TaxiFlat $30 fare to and from Center City Philadelphia (the zone west of Broad and south of Spring Garden). Pickups on the arrivals level.$30 flat to Center CityOn demand
RideshareDesignated zones on the arrivals level at each terminal. Surge pricing during events at the sports complex.$25-40 to Center CityOn demand
Bus (SEPTA route 37, 108)Connects to South Philadelphia and the 69th Street terminal for Market-Frankford line transfers. Slower than rail.$2.50Every 30-60 min

Parking at PHL

Tier Rate Shuttle Best for
Garages A through F$39/day maxWalk to corresponding terminalShort stays under 3 days
Economy Lot (long-term)$15/dayFree shuttle every 10-15 minTrips of 4 days or longer
Off-airport lots (Tinicum, Essington)$10-14/dayOperator shuttles 10-15 minLowest rates for week-plus trips
Valet$50/dayCurbside drop at terminals A-East, B, and DPremium short trips

Lounges at PHL

American Flagship Lounge
📍 Terminal A-West
Flagship First/Business on qualifying long-haul, oneworld Emerald on long-haul
American Admirals Club
📍 Terminals A, B/C, F
American premium cabin, oneworld Emerald, paid
Amex Centurion Lounge
📍 Terminal A-West (airside, accessible from A-East)
Amex Platinum, Centurion, Business Platinum
British Airways Galleries Lounge
📍 Terminal A-East
oneworld business and first, status
United Club
📍 Terminal D
United Club members, Polaris business, Star Alliance Gold international
The Club PHL
📍 Terminal E
Priority Pass, paid day pass

Top destinations from PHL

Destination Country From
London (LHR)United Kingdom$449Open route guide →
Paris (CDG)France$449Open route guide →
Rome (FCO)Italy$449Open route guide →
Los Angeles (LAX)United States$249Open route guide →
New York (JFK)United States$79Open route guide →
Miami (MIA)United States$169Open route guide →

Airlines at PHL

American Airlines British Airways Lufthansa Qatar Airways Aer Lingus Frontier Airlines Spirit Airlines Southwest Airlines JetBlue Airways Delta Air Lines United Airlines

5 things you didn't know about Philadelphia International

Verified by the CompareFlights team
  1. 1Philadelphia International was originally Hog Island Airport — built in 1925 on land that had been Hog Island Naval Aircraft Station Mustin Field during WWI, with much of the airport's current footprint reclaimed from Delaware River wetlands.
  2. 2PHL is the only US airport with an art museum that's free to access without a boarding pass — the Philadelphia International Airport Museum has rotating exhibits in all five terminals, accessible from the public side of security.
  3. 3The SEPTA Airport Line train to 30th Street Station runs every 30 minutes for $7.75 — among the cheapest big-city airport rail in the US, with sets running directly to the regional Amtrak hub.
  4. 4American Airlines' PHL hub (post-USAirways merger 2013) handles more flights to Europe than any other AA hub except Miami — making Philadelphia the cheapest gateway from many smaller US cities to European destinations.
  5. 5PHL's runway 9R/27L is one of the only commercial runways in the US designed with both a takeoff and landing system optimized for tailwind operations — useful given Philadelphia's prevailing westerlies.

Frequently asked about PHL

Can I walk between all terminals at PHL airside?

Almost. Terminals A-East, A-West, B, C, D, and E are connected by a continuous post-security walkway, so transfers don't require leaving security. Terminal F (American Eagle regional) is separate and reached by a free airside shuttle bus that runs every 5-10 minutes.

How long is the SEPTA train to Center City?

The Airport Line takes about 25 minutes to 30th Street Station and 35 minutes to Jefferson Station downtown. Trains run every 30 minutes for most of the day, with last service around midnight. Buy tickets on board, at terminal kiosks, or through the SEPTA app.

Which terminal does American use at PHL?

American operates from Terminals A-East, A-West, B, C, and F. Long-haul international and the Flagship Lounge are at A-West, with international arrivals processing at A-East. Most domestic mainline departs from B and C; American Eagle regional jets use Terminal F.

Is there a flat taxi rate to Center City?

Yes. Philadelphia's regulated flat fare from PHL to Center City (north of South Street, south of Spring Garden, river to river) is $30, plus tip and tolls if any. The fare applies in both directions and is one of the simpler airport taxi setups in the country.

Nearby airports

Newark Liberty International (EWR)
85 mi NE
United hub, sometimes cheaper transatlantic from north Jersey/NYC region
Baltimore-Washington International (BWI)
100 mi SW
Southwest stronghold, good for budget domestic
Lehigh Valley International (ABE)
60 mi N
Small regional with limited Allegiant/Avelo service
Trenton-Mercer (TTN)
35 mi NE
Frontier hub for niche routes