There’s no such thing as a slow season at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Locals swarm to cooler destinations during the summer and to colder climates for snow (or the dreaded holiday family visits) during the winter months. Sun-starved tourists flock to Phoenix during the milder months. No matter which you are, some insider tips can help your visit to Sky Harbor. If your travels take you to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, here are 10 things to know so your trip is convenient and, just maybe, a bit of fun.
1. Don’t look for Terminal 1. Sky Harbor’s terminals are labeled 2-4. T4 is the newest, yet overall it’s still a bit grungy. Certain bits of the Southwest Airlines concourses are light and airy, but the rest is pretty generic. T3 has a bit of Arizona flair circa 1985, and T2 oozes old-school charm.
2. It’s “international” in name only. Sky Harbor’s only intercontinental destination is a daily British Airways flight to London. The other international destinations are mostly to Mexico and Canada.
3. Despite being old and small, T2 is the airport’s hidden secret. It’s walking-distance to an on-site economy parking lot, and its security lines are generally fast and less-crowded than the bigger terminals. If you can reach your destination flying Alaskan Airlines or Continental/United, T2 is the insider’s choice for convenience.
4. You can eat local. Several well-known local restaurants have opened at Sky Harbor, including Cartel Coffee Lab, Press Coffee, Le Grande Orange and Barrio Cafe. The problem? They’re mostly at T4.
5. Hawaiian Airlines is the airport’s intercontinental secret. It can save anyone traveling west toward the International Date Line a trip to Los Angeles or San Francisco. The alternative is Hawaiian’s flights to Honolulu, where you can easily catch another Hawaiian flight to Australia, the Phillippines, Japan, Korea or Tahiti. You can also expand that list by continuing on a different airlines.
6. Speaking of airlines, Sky Harbor is a hub for Southwest Airlines and US Airways. American Airlines, Delta, United and the other major players take a back seat here. JetBlue’s presence it limited. Virgin America? Forget about it.
7. The Air National Guard’s 161st Air Refueling Wing is based at Sky Harbor. Look to the farthest-south runway for a glimpse of its KC-135 aerial refuelers. These are militarized versions of the Boeing 707, but with more-efficient, cleaner-burning modern engines. They’re interesting pieces of aviation history for the aerospace-inclined.
8. It’s right in the middle of the city, connected by multiple freeway routes. Airports don’t get much more convenient than Sky Harbor. It’s well-placed in the center of the metro area, with quick access to nearly all surrounding cities.
9. Speaking of access, in 2013 a new “people mover” will connect the terminals to the economy parking lots and the Metro Light Rail. For now, this means construction seems to never end. But when it wraps up, getting around will be a lot easier.
10. Though it’s not a plane-spotter destination, photographers can get good views from the top of the Terminal 4 parking garage. The British Airways 747 lands in the early evening on Runway 26, the nothernmost of the three runways. The southernmost, Runway 25 Left, is where you can catch cargo-carrying DC-10s and 727s. You might also see the Saudi Royal 747SP from time to time.