Portland International Airport

I have had the opportunity to fly into the Portland international Airport, http://www.flypdx.com/, several times over the years to meet with different clients and I am struck each time by how much the folks who run this airport really get it. I mean it; they know how to do travel right.


When walking into PDX the airport just feels different. It feels as if they have systematically removed panic and rudeness from within the walls of the airport. I have a feeling if you were to run into a terminal frantically looking for your airline, hoping desperately you still had time to make your flight you may be politely approached by an airport employee who says, “Sir, you are going to have to exit the airport until you have sufficiently calmed down”. Although this may never happen I am sure the "Calm Police" are there, learking just around the corner. 

The airport is roomy and has just the right amount of shops and restaurants to meet your needs. The restaurants in this airport are not your normal fair. You won’t find a Friday’s or a chilies with food you have tasted hundreds of times. What you will find is local restaurants like The Laurelwood Brewing Company who serve excellent food and great beverages. If you are in the Portland Airport and find yourself in the Horizon terminal I highly recommend stopping at Laurelwood http://www.laurelwoodbrewpub.com/.
Putting the restaurants, shops and overall atmosphere aside it is the accommodations which really set this airport apart. This airport is set up for the laptop packing, cell phone toting traveler with outlets and seating everywhere. This is certainly not LAX where you could get shanked while trying to control the last available power outlet. At PDX every seat in the main part of the airport has multiple outlets to plug in your equipment. Most restaurants have outlets by or under the tables not to mention the free live music playing in the main atrium.

Most travelers passing through this airport will never have the opportunity to take advantage of these amenities, however if you ever find yourself with a lengthy lay over and no airline club to harbor you I believe you will be pleasantly surprised at how fast your time will go in an airport where they clearly and consciously think of the traveler first.

Travel safe and I will see you in the airport.