Quick update: This story was written in 2020. Want to read more about the new PDX?
Nearly every airline passenger has a “just barely made it” story. You probably do, too. Maybe you were dashing through the concourse with your kids as you heard the last call for boarding. Or maybe you were on a stressful work trip and every minor inconvenience tested your patience … like arriving to your gate with your phone’s battery at 2% and finding not one unoccupied seat with an electric outlet.
Yes, even when you’re jetting off for a sun-and-sand getaway, travel can get stressful. And factors such as peak holiday travel or airport construction add a little extra pressure.
We’ve been there, too. In fact, making it even easier for you to get around the airport and relax before you board your plane are a few key goals for the building projects currently unfolding at the airport. As we unveil new designs over the next few years, you’ll see wellness and convenience incorporated in big and small details, from tapping the latest innovations in healthy architecture to adding more comfy seats with charging stations.
Thankfully, we’ve also got a few immediate tips for your next flight. From an airline expert to fitness coaches, we’ve invited four pro travelers to share hacks that can help make hectic travel days less stressful — and maybe even rejuvenating. Here’s a PDX tips-and-tricks checklist for more cheerful trips.
Portlanders’ tips for traveling well
Ever feel like your racing against the clock at the airport? You’re not alone. “We see many travelers miss their flight because they are stuck at TSA or they barely make their flight because they are running to the gates,” says Abe Kauhane, a PDX-based operations supervisor with United Airlines. And travelers who have a tendency to cut it too close for comfort make their whole experience, well, uncomfortable.
“The biggest tip is to always arrive at the airport in a timely fashion,” Abe says. For advice on precisely how early to arrive, he advises you to check with your airline, though two hours before a domestic and three hours before an international flight are good rules of thumb. Add more of a time cushion when traveling around the holidays or the busiest time of the day. As construction takes place at the airport, make a habit of visiting FlyPDX.com for the latest alerts and travel tips.
Tip 2. Get up and stretchThe vast majority of travelers sit still in airports while waiting to board, then remain seated on the plane for potentially hours. Movement is a simple way to reduce anxiety and keep yourself feeling fresh, suggests fitness coach Ashley Kondziela, the founder of Prism Fit, an inclusive fitness center in Portland.
“Long flights make for a lot of time sitting, making us stiff and uncomfortable,” Ashley says. “Get up every 30 minutes or so and stretch to relieve tense and stiff muscles.” Your movement routine doesn’t have to be sweaty — try easy in-flight stretches as well as a few pre- and post-flight exercises.
“Most people don't realize that hydration is a huge factor in feeling good and staying healthy while traveling,” says Abe, who makes sure he drinks extra H2O before flying, starting the night before takeoff.
One way to ensure you’re adequately hydrating is to carry your own bottle, says Celeste Noche, a professional photographer who frequently jets out of PDX on assignment. “It seems simple, but one tiny plastic cup of water on a flight isn't enough,” she says, “and most airports have water filling stations once you get past security.” PDX has more than a dozen refill stations, so pack a bottle in your carry on and keep sipping.
Tip 4. Go analog with books and journalsEntertainment options on airplanes are virtually endless. Plenty of travelers look forward to streaming recently released movies and TV series. But to feel more mindful and peaceful, try using your in-air hours for a “digital detox.” “Lately, I’ve really relished disconnecting while in the air,” says Celeste, who reccommends turning to paper and pen for a break from screens. “I look at travel as a good excuse to unplug and spend time with books and my journal.”
If your anxiety peaks with the thought of flying, or you’ve had an unusually busy travel schedule of late, one simple hack is to pack your own “happy place” kit in your carry-on, filled with travel-size personal care and culinary favorites.
Need some “happy place” kit-spiration? Celeste fills hers with her favorite tea (“You can get free hot water in airports and on planes.”) as well as sheet masks and scented, heated eye masks (“These two Asian beauty items are lifesavers for long flights, or whenever I’m feeling especially tired. The sheet masks are great for hydrating and refreshing, and the eye masks are luxurious and calming.”) And, of course, don’t forget snacks. “Never underestimate the power of snacks,” Celeste adds.
To avoid cramped and swollen legs, take a cue from marathon runners and slip into a pair of compression socks before you board. “Wearing compression socks works wonders, especially on long trips,” says health coach Mark Mohammadpour, the owner of Chasing the Sun, who wears these simple stockings when he flies for work. “Compression socks help keep blood circulating throughout the body, which helps reduce blood clots and leg swelling.”
Tip 7. Pop melatonin for better zzz’sStruggle to snooze when you fly? “If you're trying to sleep on the plane, bring some melatonin,” Prism Fit coach Ashley says. In addition to avoiding caffeine and wearing comfortable attire, proper doses of over-the-counter melatonin can help you feel more rested, especially on cross-country and international routes. “Taking melatonin on your flight or the night of your arrival can help minimize jet lag, without the grogginess that comes with regular sleep aids.”
Feeling a little frazzled? Say cheese. Simply putting a smile on your face can make you feel better, research suggests. Health coach Mark suggests we direct this gratitude to the folks working hard to get us to our destinations. “Smile and thank the airport employees, TSA, gate agents and other staff — they work smart and hard to get us where we want to go,” he says. “Appreciating the work of airline employees shows we are giving grace and is great for reducing stress.”
Tom Strong - Chief Executive Officer, Skokomish Indian Tribe, Skokomish Washington
"We're foresters in that we're stewards," says Tom Strong, Chief Executive Officer of the Skokomish Indian Tribe, which manages 2,000 acres of Washington forests for its 800 tribal members. "We're not cutting and planting, seeking to develop our lands into a commodity. Instead, we're doing it to restore the forest."
Over the past 100 years, the two dams on the North Fork Skokomish River have had a major impact on the entire ecosystem of Skokomish land. "We want to restore the entire Hood Canal watershed," Tom says. The forests are just one part.
Selling wood from Douglas fir trees the tribe selectively thinned will help fund this restoration. "We don't have an endless amount of money," Tom says. "But we would like to think we've got an endless amount of time."
Ben Hayes - Co-owner, Hyla Woods, Cherry Grove, Oregon
Ben Hayes is a sixth-generation forester who manages Hyla Woods, outside Cherry Grove, Oregon, with his father, Peter. He is also a sustainable-forestry consultant. At Hyla Woods, the Hayes experiment with selective thinning and patch cutting, instead of clear-cutting, to foster diversity of tree species, ages, and sizes.
"When you look 100 years out, having greater complexity in terms of species and the structure of the forest, you can increase the forest's resilience in the face of extreme weather and drought," he says.
"We're working toward a model of forestry that you could practice for the perpetual future,” Ben says. “It's a model that lifts up both rural and urban communities and the ecosystems we rely on."
Richard and Ann Hanschu - Owners, Doneen, Forest Grove, Oregon
Ann Hanschu's father first bought land outside Forest Grove, Oregon, in 1956. Ann grew up trailing her father around the forest, learning from him. The Hanschus now have three children, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
Richard says, "We're planting trees that our grandchildren will see the profits from — not even our children. It's long-range thinking."
"A lot of the timber is older,” Ann adds. “We're laddering it with trees of different age groups — some 30-40 years old, some 10-20 years old — so the land can continue to produce a sustainable amount of wood."
Herman Flamenco - Central Cascades Conservation Forester, The Nature Conservancy, Cle Elum, Washington
"We know historically that the stands we're working on were overstocked," says Herman Flamenco, Central Cascades conservation forester for the Nature Conservancy, of the 50,000 acres outside Cle Elum, Washington, the organization manages. Thinning the trees welcomes in light and biodiversity.
Some loggers in the region worry that this low-impact approach to forestry yields less lumber, and less profit, than clear-cutting. One local outfit took on this labor-intensive challenge, selectively harvesting Doug fir trees from steep slopes.
"Western Washington is wetter. In our dry climate, there's less moisture and increased fire risk," Herman says. "As we look at climate change, it's just going to get dryer. We want to make sure we can keep our forests around."
In the 1950s, back when people wore fancy hats to the airport, PDX’s main terminal had brown terrazzo floors.
By the 1970s, blue carpet sporting the old Port of Portland logo replaced the terrazzo. The airport was so concerned about keeping the carpet clean that we banned gum-chewing indoors.
In the 1980s, PDX replaced the ski-chalet paneling in the Clocktower Plaza with high ceilings and skylights, but kept the blue carpet.
SRG Partnership, a Portland-based architecture firm, designed the pattern for the now-iconic carpet on the layout of the airport runways.
The Clocktower Plaza, post-1988, with the iconic carpet.
The Clocktower Plaza (before its demolition in 2021-22) with the new carpet.
The flexible interior spaces were designed with the future of travel in mind — and to give you plenty of comfortable spots to recharge before your next flight.
Two permanent installations from acclaimed contemporary artist Jacob Hashimoto hang like clouds above the concourse’s common areas.
Shops and restaurants are clustered together like city blocks, with a pedestrian-friendly scale and lots of room to spread out.
PDX’s swanky new bar, Juliett, honors women in aviation with mid-20th-century style, top-class cocktails, and local wines and beers.
Sky-high windows fill the interior with daylight while maximizing the concourse extension’s energy efficiency.
At the east end of the concourse, a wall of windows opens up this epic view of Mt. Hood, where you’ll definitely want to pose for a photo before takeoff.
The Concourse E extension project is the dedicated home for Southwest Airlines at PDX, with six new gates.
Remember the view of Mt. Hood on Concourse E? It’s coming back, brighter than ever.
Tillamook’s menu includes the best of the classics with fried cheese curds and a signature grilled cheese.
Calliope takes its name from one of Oregon’s native hummingbirds and showcases creative and playful keepsakes.
Grab your favorite book, magazine or newspaper at Your Northwest Travel Mart.
Concourse B's 38-foot-high ceilings and 6,900 square feet of windows don't just let light in. They let you watch the airport in action. "I think this airport gave us a chance to celebrate the romance of flight," says Gene Sandoval of ZGF, the architecture firm that designed the new concourse.
ZGF Architects was inspired to bring the Pacific Northwest’s natural world indoors. You can contemplate the plants hanging from the ceiling and the Oregon white-oak walls as you relax in B’s comfy new seats. (Bonus: More power adapters!)
RYAN! Feddersen’s art installation, which fills the concourse, is made up of three interconnected pieces. The “Sentinel” landscapes and abstract “Habitat Tiles” are pictured here.
RYAN! is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. She draws inspiration from the region’s traditions and landscape for these pieces, which include the gently rolling “Cloud Walk” overhead.
Nicole and David Mouton, in partnership with HMSHost, opened an outpost of Portland’s beloved Screen Door Restaurant on Concourse B. Find Screen Door’s legendary fried chicken and waffles here from breakfast until dinnertime.
Sam and Nick Purvis, the brothers behind Good Coffee, source fresh coffee beans and teas from all over the world. Pick up a pastry or a bag of beans, too!
Our new rental car center opened in November 2021.
All rental car brands are now on-site at PDX – no more shuttles to pick up your car.
Perez Westbrooks' colorful digital mural celebrates Northwest flora.
Ben Butler's swirling wood sculpture is made from reclaimed Douglas fir.
The new facility also adds 30 ADA parking spots, more than 30 electric vehicle charging stations, and 2,200 long-term parking spaces to the airport.
Adding more lanes to our new, relocated exit toll plaza helps you leave PDX more quickly.
Every design decision we make is about keeping the heart and soul of PDX intact. You’ll see homages to all the things you love about our city and region in the new airport designs.
You’ll notice subtle nods to the Pacific Northwest landscape throughout the space. Natural light, living trees, and native Oregon foliage may give you the feeling of walking through a park.
The new terminal’s wooden ceiling, made from sustainably grown, local Doug fir, might remind you of daylight filtering through forest canopies.
This will be your new view when entering the spacious ticket lobby at PDX. The nine-acre wood roof is so distinctive you’ll be able to spot it from the air.
The ripples and currents of pristine Northwest rivers inspired the new terminal’s curvy profile.
Expanding the heart of PDX creates more space for our beloved local shops and restaurants — not to mention local humans (and visitors, too).