Want to travel PHL like a pro? Two frequent business fliers offer advice

Are you traveling through Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) for business? I’m a frequent business traveler, so I do so more than 100 times a year.

So does Billy McDonough, the president of Philadelphia-based travel agency FCM Travel USA, who has worked in the travel industry for more than 28 years. Here are some things we’ve both learned along the way.

I’m oftentimes astonished at the length of the security lines at PHL. More than once I’ve seen the line at Terminal B snake all the way back to the parking garage. This happens during some peak periods, and sometimes for no reason at all.

The same goes if you’re connecting through PHL. More than a few times my fellow passengers and I have been stranded on an arriving flight because of a late-arriving ground crew. Other times I’ve seen less experienced passengers arrive at Terminal F with only minutes to spare before their international flight leaves from Terminal A-West. Good luck.

Both McDonough and I recommend arriving at the airport at least two hours early. If you’re connecting, leave yourself a minimum 90-minute window.

» READ MORE: PHL secures $27.5 million in federal funds for terminal upgrades

If you want to minimize your wait at security lines, it’s worth it to get TSA PreCheck. Yes, you have to go through an application process. And yes, it costs about $80 for a five-year term. But the benefits significantly outweigh the costs.

At PHL, try to go through Terminal C security because that’s for TSA PreCheck travelers only. Anecdotally, the travelers going through this line tend to be more experienced and the process is faster.

“Also make sure to double-check all of your documentation in advance and make sure your name exactly matches your travel documents,” said McDonough. “You will save yourself time and avoid potential trouble at security.”

Whenever I arrive at PHL I always weave my way through the countless people waiting for their rideshare cars and instead jump into one of the many waiting taxis. Then I am on my way in moments.

Even if no taxis are waiting at a terminal, an agent is there to call a taxi, and a car usually arrives within minutes. A taxi fare to Center City is about $35, which is comparable to the rideshare services.

Another way to do it, per McDonough: “Schedule a rideshare in advance to get to the airport, but then use a taxi to get home.”

» READ MORE: Taxi drivers don’t want to give up their prime airport pickup spots to Uber and Lyft

As a business traveler, McDonough said, it’s important to take advantage of loyalty programs. He recommends signing up for such a program with each airline, hotel, and rental car company you use.

“You can leverage all the partners that your frequent traveler program uses to get additional discounts on hotels and food,” he said. “We often help our clients choose credit cards that will get them the most travel benefits.”

At PHL, American Airlines is the dominant airline, so being part of their Advantage program is a must if you’re flying at least a few times a year. Not only will you earn miles and be able to purchase miles at a discount, but as your status improves you get better seating, free upgrades, and more attention if something goes wrong.

I don’t trust PHL’s WiFi, for the same reason that I don’t trust any public WiFi. They’re prone to malware and hackers, and using them should be done at your own risk.

A more secure way to get online at PHL is by using your wireless carrier’s mobile hot spot services. If you must use public WiFi, make sure you’re doing so through a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

If your company doesn’t already have a VPN, try Ivacy or ExpressVPN. These networks won’t protect you from malware, but they will encrypt your activity so passwords and other confidential information are very difficult to steal.

A number of unofficial PHL mobile apps offer useful info like flight updates and security wait times, sometimes for free and other times for subscribers.

But airlines’ apps are the most useful. They generally have the most accurate and timely data, and will keep you updated with alerts, incoming flight information, and your boarding pass. You really shouldn’t travel without an app.

Every company should have a written travel policy, McDonough said. It’s crucial for maximizing the benefits of travel spend, ensuring employee safety, and managing risk.

This policy would include a description of what qualifies as company travel, and dictates the company’s preferred airlines, McDonough said.

With an effective travel policy in place, he said, “if some disruption were to occur, you know where your people are and you can easily contact who may be impacted and proactively reach out to them.”

In 2023, more than 28 million people traveled through PHL. That’s a lot of people sharing space.

We all raise our eyebrows when we read about passengers that misbehave both before and during flights. Please: Don’t be that person.

When you’re in a busy place like PHL, be aware, stay out of the way, be courteous, mind your business, be quick, and try to be as invisible as possible while making your way through.

“Philly airport will continue to grow,” said McDonough. “It’s a great thing for everyone, but it’s going to require airlines to do more to reduce traveler friction.”