Here’s a detailed guide to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)—no pictures:
Location: 3 miles (about 5 km) east of downtown Phoenix Wikipedia+15Airports Data+15Eater Phoenix+15
Opened: 1928 (first flight operations began in 1929) Wikipedia
Size & Traffic: Covers ~3,400 acres with 3 parallel concrete runways and 106–120 active gates across Terminals 3 & 4 iFly+4The Parking Spot+4Eater Phoenix+4
Passenger Volume: Around 52 million passengers in 2024, averaging ~120,000 passengers and 1,200 flights per day
Terminals 3 & 4 are currently active; Terminal 2 is a smaller facility primarily for United
Major Carriers: American Airlines (hub), Southwest, Frontier, Delta, United, Spirit, JetBlue, Hawaiian, Volaris, WestJet, British Airways, Condor, and others The Parking Spot+1Wikipedia+1
PHX Sky Train®: A free, driverless people-mover running 24/7 with 3 phases linking:
44th Street/Washington Valley Metro Rail station
Terminals 3 & 4
Rental Car Center
Trains arrive every 3–5 minutes Reddit+13Wikipedia+13Visit Phoenix+13Airports Data
Valley Metro Rail & Bus: Connects at the 44th Street/Washington station; bus routes 1, 32, 44 also serve it Visit Mesa+2Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2
Rideshare & Taxis: Available curbside 24/7, including autonomous Waymo pickups/drop-offs WIRED
Rental Car Center: Accessible via Sky Train; includes a free 24/7 shuttle
On-site Parking: Multiple options near terminals, including:
Terminal 3 & 4 Garages (with indoor, outdoor, EV charging, and valet)
East Economy Garage
24th Street Economy
Cell-phone waiting lots (free up to 30 mins) Chase+2Airports Data+2Wikipedia+2
Dining & Shopping: Over 100 outlets, including local and national brands—ranging from grab‑and‑go to sit-down meals
Airport Lounges & Museum: Priority Pass Escape Lounge in Terminal 3; airport museum exhibits in both terminals
Free Wi‑Fi, ATMs, pet‑relief areas, therapy dog visits, nursing stations available throughout The Parking Spot+1Phoenix Sky Harbor+1
Named “America’s Friendliest Airport®”
Ranked the #1 large airport in the U.S. by Wall Street Journal (Nov 2023) Visit Phoenix+4Visit Phoenix+4LinkedIn+4
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA): A regional alternative ~20–30 min away, serving ~1.3 million passengers to 35+ destinations Visit Phoenix+1Visit Phoenix+1
Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT): General aviation reliever airport ~24 miles north, one of the world’s busiest GA airports Wikipedia
Scenario | Recommendation |
---|---|
Domestic flights | Arrive 2 hours early Reddit |
International flights | Arrive 3 hours early |
Early morning flights (e.g. 5 a.m.) | Go by 3:00–3:30 a.m. to clear TSA in time |
Inter-terminal transfers | Use the PHX Sky Train® – runs 24/7 |