Travel Safe at PDX.
The health and safety of travelers and employees is our top priority at the Portland International Airport (PDX). We have been working closely with public health partners to respond to and slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and make sure the airport is a safe and welcoming place for all. When you’re ready to fly, the airport might look a little different than your last journey. Here is what you can expect the next time you come to PDX.
Travel Clearance Testing Available at PDX
On Nov. 13, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced a new travel advisory, which recommends that anyone arriving in Oregon from other states or countries, including returning Oregon residents, should self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival. This recommendation does not apply to individuals who cross state or country borders for essential travel, such as work or medical care.
I’m flying into PDX. Do I need to quarantine?
The travel advisory recommends that you self-quarantine for 14 days.
I have more questions about the travel advisory. Who can I contact?
We recommend contacting the Oregon Health Authority.
What’s considered essential travel?
According to the travel advisory, “Essential travel” includes work and study, critical infrastructure support, economic services and supply chains, health, immediate medical care, and safety and security. “Non-essential travel” includes travel that is considered tourism or recreational in nature.
What We Are Doing For You
We have new rules and guidelines to help you travel safe.
Face coverings required: Face coverings are required at PDX, except for children under the age of 2 and people with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing a face covering. Face coverings should cover your nose and mouth. A new CDC order also requires masks at all U.S. airports and other forms of public transportation. As a result of this order, refusal to wear a mask violates federal law and may result in penalties and/or removal from the airport.
Picking someone up? If you are picking up a passenger, wait for them outside. We’re limiting the number of people inside the terminal to minimize congestion. We know some travelers need a little assistance getting on their way. If that’s the case, you are welcome to step inside and give them the help they need.
More cleaning: We've increased cleaning in our high-touch areas – like the escalator and moving walkway handrails, food court tables, and bathrooms. Our handrails are being cleaned 8 times a day, and that number will increase when travel picks up even further. We continue to disinfect these areas with hospital-grade cleaning products.
In recognition of these cleaning protocols, PDX became an accredited airport under the Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Health Accreditation program.
Clean air filtration: Our airport has a robust, multi-stage filtration system that brings the clean outside air to the terminal and filters the most dangerous particles out.
More hand sanitizers: We already had more than 50 hand sanitizer stations located throughout PDX. We added 35 more stations that dispense hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. For your benefit, the TSA also is allowing one 12 ounce hand sanitizer container per passenger.
What Our Partners Are Doing
Airline Protocols: All airlines that fly out of PDX require face coverings, including during your flight. Airlines have also increased cleaning between flights and have air filtration systems designed to keep you safe. A Harvard University study released in October found that ventilation systems on planes filter out 99% of airborne viruses. Harvard's researchers also highlight masks as a critical part of keeping travelers healthy, along with enhanced cleaning and passengers' self-screening for COVID-19 symptoms.
What You Can Do to Help
It only works if we all do it. Here’s what you can do to protect yourself and others.
Stay 6 feet apart whenever possible: To help you keep your distance from others, we rearranged gathering spaces, like our food court areas. We also installed “sneeze guards,” which provide extra space between you and airport employees.
Go touchless where you can: You can check into your flight online and download the boarding pass to your phone. And don’t forget your water bottle…you can refill it at any of our touchless refill stations located near most restrooms.
Monitor your health: You know your bodies better than anyone. If you are feeling sick, please stay home and rebook that flight. We hope you feel well again soon.
Wash your hands: Washing your hands with soap and water is the best way to avoid getting sick. So when you pass a restroom at PDX, step inside and sing a little tune as your scrub your hands and fingers for at least 20 seconds.
Taking care takes time. That’s why we recommend you give yourself a little extra time the next time you’re flying out of PDX. As always, we’ll do our best to get you on your way as quickly and as safely as we can!
Answering your questions
We know the local, national and global travel restrictions in place can be confusing. Below are some of the most frequent questions we are hearing about air travel. If your air travel question isn’t answered below, please call or text our customer service team for more details: 503.460.4234.For public health questions, please contact the Oregon Health Authority or Multnomah County Public Health.
On Nov. 13, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown – along with the governors of Washington and California – announced a new travel advisory. The advisory recommends that anyone arriving in Oregon from other states or countries, including returning Oregon residents, should self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival. This recommendation does not apply to individuals who cross state or country borders for essential travel, such as work.
Some states, including Hawaii and Alaska, require a negative COVID-19 test. Please check in with your airline on any state requirements as you're booking your flight.
In addition, starting January 26, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will require pre-departure testing of all passengers on flights into the United States. Airlines will be required to verify that each passenger over the age of 2 provides a negative COVID-19 test result, conducted within 3 calendar days prior to departure. Read more on the CDC website. If you plan to fly into PDX from another country, we recommend contacting your airline to find the best testing partner.
PDX is not doing any temperature checks or health screenings at this time. However, some airlines do require them. Check with your airline about their policies.
Yes. The Port of Portland has partnered with Carbon Health to offer COVID-19 testing at PDX for all travelers in need of a travel clearance.
Want to get tested before you fly? Visit the Carbon Health website to learn more and schedule an appointment.
Please note: You’ll need to bring a confirmed flight itinerary to your appointment. The Carbon Health testing facility is located in tents on the upper terminal roadway (departures level). Customers need to park in the airport parking garage to access the testing services.
Carbon Health does not bill insurance.
Carbon Health isn’t the only option for those looking to get tested. Explore the table below to find other locations in Oregon and Southwest Washington that test asymptomatic people with travel needs.
| Recommended Testing Locations |
AFC Urgent Care Portland Test options:
|
Carbon Health $135-$170
|
Costco.com $139.99
|
Go Health (Legacy Urgent Care) $165-$190
|
Kaiser Permanente - for members only
No cost for Kaiser members
|
Kashi Labs $119 + $12.95 Physician Fee
Schedule an appointment today at Kashilab.com |
Quest Diagnostics $119
Find the best option for you on the Quest Diagnostics website. |
Signature Healthcare $130 for a PCR $60 for a RAPID ANTIGEN
Learn more on the Signature Healthcare website. |
Vault Health $119
Explore your options at www.vaulthealth.com/covid. |
Walgreen's (approved locations listed) No cost with insurance Rapid Point of Care Test
RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel Test
|
At this time, most states and countries still require a negative COVID-19 test, even if you've been vaccinated. Please check in with your airline to confirm the policies at your final destination.
While the airport remains open and operational, some shops, restaurants and airport services remain closed.
SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS
Most shops and restaurants are open at PDX, although their hours may vary. You can find their current hours here on our website. If you're in the terminal and looking for options, you can also call or text our customer service team: 503.460.4234.
In addition, due to statewide restrictions:
- Restaurants cannot exceed 25% capacity or 50 people, whichever is smaller.
- Retail shops should also be at 50% max capacity.
OTHER SERVICES
- The Alaska Airlines Club Lounge and Delta Sky Club are open. All other PDX airline lounges are closed at this time.
- All children’s play areas are closed.
- The USO Center re-opened on March 1 in a new location. It is now on the Baggage Claim level near Carousel #2.
- The Travel Oregon Welcome Center is open and ready to answer your questions.
Yes, face coverings are required at PDX except for children under the age of 2 and people with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing one. A face covering must cover your nose and mouth. Don’t worry, we can still see you smile. A new CDC order also requires masks at all U.S. airports and other forms of public transportation. As a result of this order, refusal to wear a mask violates federal law and may result in penalties and/or removal from the airport.
Yes, we have face coverings available to those who either forgot theirs or don’t have one. Check with any airport operations staff or your airline to get a free mask.
If you have any concerns, you can call or text our customer service team: 503.460.4234.
Everyone’s situation is different. Please consult with your doctor or local health authority to get their advice. If you are currently feeling sick, explore this CDC website for advice on how you can protect yourself and others.
While some have been referencing “essential” travel, all air travel is allowed in the U.S. at this time. Ultimately, choosing to fly is a decision for each person based on your needs and level of comfort. PDX will not require documentation proving your travel is essential.
On Nov. 13, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown – along with the governors of Washington and California – announced a new travel advisory. The advisory recommends that anyone arriving in Oregon from other states or countries, including returning Oregon residents, should self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival. This recommendation does not apply to individuals who cross state or country borders for essential travel, such as work. According to the travel advisory, “Essential travel” includes work and study, critical infrastructure support, economic services and supply chains, health, immediate medical care, and safety and security. “Non-essential travel” includes travel that is considered tourism or recreational in nature.
Your airline is the best resource for questions about your reservation. You can find airline contact information here on our website. We understand there can be long hold times on the phone to speak with a representative, and that can be frustrating. Fortunately, many airlines are allowing travelers to submit changes online.
There is no federal restriction on domestic travel. However, a few states have testing or quarantine requirements.
People wanting to fly into the state of Hawaii, Alaska and New York need to have a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival. If travelers cannot get tested before departure, they'll need to quarantine for 14 days.
While the U.S.-Canadian border is closed to all non-essential land travel at this time, PDX currently has flights to Guadalajara, Los Cabos and Puerta Vallarta in Mexico, along with Vancouver, B.C.
If you are curious about what kind of international travel restrictions are in place, you can start with websites from the U.S. Department of State and Centers for Disease Control.
In addition, starting January 26, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will require pre-departure testing of all passengers on flights into the United States. Airlines will be required to verify that each passenger over the age of 2 provides a negative COVID-19 test result, conducted within 3 calendar days prior to departure. Read more on the CDC website. If you plan to fly into PDX from another country, we recommend contacting your airline to find the best testing partner.
The Blue Economy Lot located off NE Airport Way and our short-term and long-term parking garages remain open. The Red Economy Lot is closed and the Gold Key Valet has temporarily suspended service at PDX.
Yes. TriMet’s MAX train continues to operate. TriMet requires passengers to wear face coverings. A new CDC order also requires masks at all U.S. airports and other forms of public transportation.