Our Review of Portland Airport

Table of contents: Our Review of Portland Airport Pros and Cons of Portland Airport Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide) How we calculate On Time Performance Some Stats

Our Review of Portland Airport

All the information featured on this page was compiled and written by David Enrich, a renowned expert in aviation and airport guides since 1999.

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Other Reviews

Overall review themes

Many reviewers highlight Portland as one of the more pleasant large airports in the United States, often mentioning its manageable size, natural light, and relatively relaxed atmosphere compared with bigger hubs. Travelers frequently appreciate clear signage and easy wayfinding, which make connections and first‑time visits less stressful.

Facilities, food, and shopping

Comments often praise the dining and shopping offer, especially the strong presence of local Portland and Oregon brands (coffee, craft beer, bookstores, small boutiques). Passengers like that prices at many concessions are similar to downtown rather than heavily marked up, and that there are good options even for early morning or late‑evening flights. On the downside, some reviews note that construction or remodeling phases can reduce seating and create temporary congestion around certain gates.

Comfort, cleanliness, and staff

Cleanliness scores are typically above average, with many passengers mentioning tidy restrooms and well‑maintained common areas. Staff—both airport and TSA—are often described as professional and friendlier than in many other U.S. airports, although there are occasional complaints about inconsistent security‑line experiences at peak times. Wi‑Fi is generally considered reliable and free, but power outlets can be scarce in the most crowded gate areas.

Skytrax‑style points (terminal, security, transport)

From an “aviation review” perspective, strengths include relatively short walking distances, straightforward ground transportation (light rail into downtown, rideshares, rental cars), and a boarding process that feels organized for most major airlines. Weaker points mentioned in some reviews include limited late‑night food choice, crowded seating during rush hours, and the impact of ongoing renovation projects on the overall ambience.

Final score and justification

Given these recurring themes, a fair synthesized rating for Portland International Airport would be 4.2 out of 5. This reflects strong performance on atmosphere, local food and retail offer, cleanliness, and staff attitude, with moderate deductions for peak‑time crowding, construction‑related disruptions, and some gaps in seating and outlets in busy areas.

Pros and Cons of Portland Airport

PROS

Location: PDX Airport is located inside Portland city limits, 6 miles (10 km) northeast of downtown Portland, making it easily accessible. It serves as a key gateway to the Pacific Northwest.

Clean and Modern Facilities: With a range of stores, eateries, and lounges, the airport is well known for its clean and modern amenities.

Transportation Options: Portland Airport is served by Trimet Max/Light Rail which gets to the city center in about 40 minutes. There are also various bus lines, taxis, and ride-sharing services available.

Expansion and Renovation: The airport is undergoing significant expansions and renovations to enhance passenger experience, including modernizing and adding more amenities.

CONS

Peak Time Congestion: Although PDX has an efficient transportation system, it may get congested during rush hour, which can result in lengthier wait times and perhaps stressful experiences.

Longer Walking Distances: The distance to and from the Concourse C and D gates is twice as long due to construction. Plan extra time, take a break to rest along the way.

Weather Delays: Portland’s weather, particularly in the winter, might result in fog, rain, or snow, which can cause flight delays and cancellations.

Construction Disruptions: Ongoing expansion and renovation projects, while ultimately beneficial, can cause temporary disruptions and inconveniences for travelers.

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

Single Terminal Layout: PDX has one main terminal building split into five concourses (A, B, C, D, and E). This single-terminal layout makes navigation easy, with no need for shuttle transfers between different buildings.

Transport to and from Portland: Through a number of transportation options, PDX is well-connected to the city and the surrounding areas. Direct access to downtown Portland is offered by the MAX Red Line light rail. In addition, there are several possibilities for rental cars, taxis, ride-sharing services, and bus lines.

Check-in Areas: The check-in area is located in main level on both right and left sides of a terminal.

Shopping and Dining: PDX offers a wide variety of shopping and dining options, many of which feature local products and cuisine.

Airport lounges: If you’re wanting to relax before your journey, PDX offers a number of lounge alternatives. These lounges provide free refreshments and drinks, cozy seats, Wi-Fi, and other amenities.

Family-Friendly facilities: PDX is an airport that welcomes families and provides a number of facilities to make traveling with kids simpler. These consist of nursing rooms, family toilets, and spaces for kids to play.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation