Welcome
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is keenly interested in serving the needs of all our travelers and we hope your travel experience through the Airport is an enjoyable one. We offer this information to familiarize you with the Airport’s services and facilities that are available to travelers with disabilities.

Many services such as skycaps, sighted guides, or electric carts and wheelchairs are provided by the airlines. The Airport does not provide these services. If assistance is necessary, advance notice may be given to the appropriate airline. This can be done by contacting your airline directly or by contacting your travel agent.

Security Checkpoints
The TSA has specially designated lanes at security checkpoints for persons with disabilities. To help expedite your passage through the security checkpoint and for information on what items are prohibited onboard the aircraft, log onto the TSA website at www.TSA.gov or call 866-289-9673. Email: tsa-contactcenter@dhs.gov.

Pet Ports

Seven specially designed animal relief areas are located on the Departures Road and outside the bag claim buildings. The Pet Ports were created to provide appropriate facilities for service animals traveling with passengers as well as pets and Airport security canines.
The Pet Port areas vary in size from 250 to 600 square feet. A four-foot high fence with a latching gate contains the areas. The interior has a 4-inch deep mulch surface, a bench, faux fire hydrant, biodegradable pet waste bag dispenser with receptacle, and a concrete dog paw print. Some areas contain landscaped beds along the exterior perimeter of the fence and a concrete sidewalk to exit the area. The facilities have been designed to accommodate animals and ensure that the Airport grounds are properly maintained.
The Pet Port areas are located:

On the Departures Road

• Between Terminals A-West and A-East;
• Between Terminal B/C ticketing and the Airport Communications Center;
• After Terminal E;
• After Terminal F. 

• Adjacent to Terminal A-East bag claim along the Arrivals Roadway;
• Terminal B bag claim along the Commercial Vehicle Roadway;
• Terminal E bag claim along the Commercial Vehicle Roadway.

Mobility Assistance Throughout the Airport

Wheelchairs and electric cart service are provided by the individual airlines. When making an airline reservation, make it known that you will need a wheelchair or electric cart to transport you through the Airport. It is advisable to confirm this request prior to your departure day. Airline personnel at the Airport will facilitate this service.

The airlines are required, under the Air Carrier Access Act, to provide wheelchair assistance upon request. If wheelchair assistance is not provided, then the passenger may request to speak with the airline’s Complaints Resolution Official (CRO). Each airline must have at least one CRO available at each airport during times of scheduled carrier operations. The CRO can be available by telephone.
Complaints dealing with wheelchair availability or those alleging discriminatory treatment by air carrier personnel can be directed to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division, which can be contacted as follows. (Hours are Monday – Friday, 9:00 am through 5:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time).

Voice: 800-778-4838
TDD/TTY: 1-800-455-9880
E-mail: airconsumer@ost.dot.gov
Regular Mail:

Aviation Consumer Protection Division (C-75)
U.S. Department of Transportation
W96-432 (West Building)
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590

Elevators are available between the lower and upper levels, in the bag claim areas and all parking garages. Elevators with Braille signage and raised numbers are in each of the terminals and parking garages.

Moving walkways are available in 10 locations: on the link between Terminal A-East and Terminal A-West, on the connector bridge between the Terminal A-West bag re-check area and Terminal A-East, on the 3rd floor walkway in Terminal A-West, on the link between Terminals A-East and B, between Terminals B and C behind the row of shops, on the link between Terminals C and D and along the pedestrian bridges on the way to bag claim in Terminals B, C, D and E.

Accessible restrooms are located throughout the Airport. These facilities are indicated by the International Symbol of Accessibility. Companion Care restrooms are also located throughout the Airport.

All pay telephones are hearing aid compatible and have volume controls. Currently, there are approximately 30 public payphones attached with Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf (TDD/TTY) located throughout the Airport in Terminals A-West through F. Signs are located at every bank of public payphones advising of the location of the nearest TDD/TTY; the location of the nearest TDD/TTY phone is also located on the visual paging monitors throughout the Airport. Wheelchair accessible telephones are located throughout the terminals. All pay telephones and TDD/TTYs in the Airport can access the Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing “711.” This service permits persons with a hearing or speech disability to use the telephone system via a TDD/TTY or other device to call persons with or without such disabilities.

Video Phones

The Airport has two video phones: Across from Gate C-16 and in the Terminal F hub area. These units provide Video Relay Service (VRS) and Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS). VRS uses a video interpreter to help people who have hearing and speech impairments communicate with anyone anywhere. TRS provides a similar service but utilizes a text/typing interpreter to communicate instead of video. The VRS and TRS services are free for domestic calls; international calls may be made using a calling card.

Automated Teller Machines, or ATMs.

New state-of-the-art Automated Teller Machines, or ATMs, have been installed in 14 locations throughout the Airport. These “talking ATM’s” are all equipped with earphone jacks for audio access. Braille identifiers are also provided in many different areas of the machines. For your convenience, directions are provided in multiple languages. Additional ATMs are scheduled for installation in new locations throughout the Airport.

Visual Paging

The Airport has installed 140 new, large, easy-to-read LCD monitors throughout the terminals that visually convey information broadcast over the public address system. Like audio announcements, visual messages can be presented in several languages. The monitors also direct persons to the nearest TDD/TTY phone to obtain messages. The Airport has approximately 30 TDD/TTY phones that can contact the Airport Communications Center at no cost. Callers wishing to page someone in the Airport can call (215) 937-6937 (TDD/TTY: 215-937-6755), or 6937 from a white courtesy phone inside the Airport.

Parking & Ground Transportation

Dropping off and picking up passengers at the Airport is facilitated by the existence of designated areas in front of each terminal on both the Departures Flights road and outside each bag claim in the passenger pick-up area on the Arrivals Flights road. The Short-Term parking lots on the ground level across from bag claim areas contain Handicapped Parking spaces; these areas are clearly marked with the International Symbol of Accessibility and are on accessible routes equipped with curb ramps to facilitate entering the terminal.

Vehicles such as wheelchair-lift equipped vans that are unable to enter garages due to height restrictions can park in the Short-Term Parking spaces on the ground level across from the bag claim areas. These oversized vehicles that have Handicapped license plates or a placard can park in the Short-Term spaces at the Garage rate.

The Philadelphia Parking Authority operates Short-Term, Garage and Economy Parking facilities at the Airport. Handicapped parking spaces are located close to the elevators in the garages, bus stops in the Economy Parking Lot and bag claims in Short-Term (garage ground level) lots. Some helpful tips for deciding which parking option to use are:

• Short-Term (garage ground level) parking is recommended for brief visits of up to 1 hour
• Garage parking is less expensive than Short-Term parking for visits of more than 3 1/2 hours
• Economy Parking Lot - The Airport operates a free shuttle bus that is wheelchair accessible and has "kneeling" capability

For more information on the Airport's parking facilities, contact the Philadelphia Parking Authority at 215-683-9842; TDD/TTY, 215-683-9825; Fax, 215-683-9828; or visit www.philapark.org. Your comments and suggestions can also be emailed to airport@philapark.org. The mailing address is: One Main Toll Plaza, Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, PA 19153.

Travelers who will need ground transportation in wheelchair accessible vehicles from the Airport should make arrangements in advance of their arrival. The Airport’s website, www.phl.org, has a list of these providers.

Additional information is available by calling the Ground Transportation hotline at 215-937-6958.

SEPTA’s Airport Rail Line (R1) can be accessed off the pedestrian walkway between the main terminal and the bag claim area in Terminals A-East, B, C, D, E. Elevators are located on the SEPTA platforms and pedestrian bridges. The train platforms are equipped with bridge plates to assist people who use wheelchairs in crossing the gap between the train and the platform. Yellow safety stripes are at the edges of all platforms.

The SEPTA R-1 Airport rail line runs every 30 minutes between the Airport and Center City. Trains operate from Center City to the Airport between 4:25 AM and 11:25 PM, and from the Airport to Center City from 5:09 AM to 12:09 AM. The R-1 stops at Terminals A-East, B, C-D, and E. Fare is $7.00 one way and tickets can be purchased on board the train; tickets may be purchased at off-Airport SEPTA ticket counters for a lesser rate. Connections can be made for an additional fee to other regional rail lines at 30th Street, Suburban Station and Market East stations. Amtrak and New Jersey Transit connections can be made at 30th Street Station. Connections to the Market Frankford El can be made at 30th Street, Suburban and Market East Stations. Connections to the Broad Street Subway can be made at Suburban Station.

The SEPTA Route 37 bus provides service from the Airport to South Philadelphia, and the Route 108 bus provides service from the Airport to the 69th Street Terminal. Buses on both routes are accessible. Bus fare costs $2.00, transfers are $.75.

For more information on schedules and fares, contact SEPTA at 215-580-7800 (TDD/TTY, 215-580-7853), or visit www.septa.org.

SEPTA’s Customized Community Transport (CCT Connect) service picks up registered passengers, seniors and individuals with disabilities at Zone 1 located outside of each bag claim area. To schedule a pick-up, registered users may call 215-580-7700 (TDD/TTY 215-580-7712), or log onto www.septa.org.

GETTING AROUND GUIDE – Further information is available in the Getting Around guide, a guide for travelers with disabilities.

If additional information is required or to make comments, pleases contact Rick Dempsey at 215-937-5513 (TTY: 215-937-6755) or email Rick.Dempsey@phl.org