My wife, mother-in-law, and I had the opportunity to travel through the Portland International…read moreAirport for a quick sightseeing trip in Spring of 2026. We got to see the beauty of the massive airport expansion that completed in 2024, along with the friendly kindness of the employees. I now understand why PDX is ranked the best airport in America. It's been over 20 years since I last visited Portland (not counting the Amtrak that we took from LA to SEA), so the airport was very new to me. We need wheelchair assistance when traveling with Mom, and an assistant was waiting for us at the jet bridge. He took us through the parking garage to the nearby car rental building. Definitely walkable but busy: later we learned that there is an underground, heated tunnel between the building and airport terminal. What really interested me about the airport was how everything was connected. It consists of only one terminal, split into two sides: North and South (each with its own security checkpoint); four concourses (A-D), with Concourse B and C on the south end. All concourses are connected via airside corridors (no need for intra-airport train or shuttles), with some having moving walkways. There are a total of 60 gates. We got to experience the airport a lot more on our way back to LAX. Dropping off our rental car was easy (actually got someone to acknowledge our return of the car, which isn't common anymore at airport returns). There is no rental shuttle, so asked the nice Dollar attendant, who then called Delta to ask for wheelchair assistance (she needed to know the name and flight number). In about 15 minutes, Curtis came by and took Mom to the various stops, with my wife and I tagging along. Like at other airports, a good attendant can greatly simplify the navigation of an airport, especially through the security lines. We needed to check one bag (had bought some craft beer to bring back), and Curtis waited patiently while I interacted with the super nice Delta agent. While waiting, my wife told me later that Curtis had been like a tour guide, explaining the airport expansion, especially the iconic wood ceiling in the main hall. North Security was next. Security has all the newest processes, including TSA touchless ID, which meant we didn't need to show our IDs or boarding passes. We were flying out of Concourse D, so went to the Escape Lounge in the Concourse. That's where Curtis left us, letting us know that he would leave the wheelchair in case we would later need it. On our return flight, we had a chance to interact with A LOT of workers from the airport, and EVERYONE was genuinely talkative and pleasant. I'm sure it has something to do with that it was a Saturday, but as we talked to Curtis, he stated that most folks at PDX were like that. Of course, a modern destination airport has to have affordable light rail connections, with connections into the heart of the city. Portland has this route running every 15 minutes, costing $2.80 for a 40 minute ride. Will visit downtown Portland via rail next time.

I absolutely love flying to Portland! The airport is pretty easy to get in and out of whether…read moreyou're departing or arriving. PDX is super clean the bathroom is well maintained as well as the pet relief area. I was surprised how good the coffee and the food is at the airport as well as the prices are very affordable. The airport staff is always friendly and helpful, I can really appreciate that.

Here's a real video of the United States Navy F/A-18 Blue Angels at an air show I attended in…read moreHillsboro, Oregon at Hillsboro Airport. At the beginning of the video, a C-130 Hercules is flying. It flies with the Blue Angels. It goes by the name "Fat Albert". I worked on C-130 Hercules aircraft in the United States Air Force. I maintained the Communication and Navigation Systems on them. So I enjoyed watching Fat Albert in the air show. The Blue Angels were scheduled for two days. I saw them on Saturday with my oldest son. I included a photo with my wristband on. It was required to get in to the front row seating area. The air show also included an F-16 jet demonstration. It's not in this video, however. At the end of the video, you can hear real F/A-18 Hornet jet engine sounds from the Blue Angels recorded during their demonstration that day.

Love this airport. It's small but there is a also less security than PDX. Quick to get in and out…read moreof, and very easily done as an Intel employee.

Flight delayed over 3 hours due to weather and other elements out of our control. Staff were…read moreabsolutely wonderful - providing water, snacks, and lightheartedness to everyone waiting. Thank you Salem Airport!! You guys are the best!

I am sad to see Avelo bale on you. I loved flying from Las Vegas directly to Salem and back. The…read moreflight were always full when I flew. Hopefully another airline picks up that route. Your staff did a great job. My condolences to all who worked on this project, Susan Lett

This airport is very clean and offers the entire array of services for your aircraft needs. The US…read moreCoast Guard has a helicopter base here and the FBO on the field has a nice little mom and pop sandwich shop. I flew in and asked for a loaner car and the gentleman managing the shop loaned me and my date his new sports car. What a guy! If you fly in here you're sure to receive great service!

KONP is a fantastic airport with great service and wonderful facilities. One of the great treasures…read moreis the availability of courtesy cars-for free! Indeed they take donations for gas or maintenance so please feed the program. You can pop into ONP, borrow a car, be in town with in minutes, and really have a great visit. Take some fish or crab home! Several approaches available too.

The Portland, OR/Vancouver, WA metro area has a half a dozen or so public use airports. Each…read moreairport has a specific intended use including airports that offer scheduled airline service or airports where the primary use is for general aviation, including several that offer flight schools and flight training. Aurora State Airport is owned and operated by the State of Oregon Aviation Department. The financial impact, revenue generated and the jobs offered by the various businesses located at the Aurora Airport are significant. The airport is the headquarters and fabrication facility for Van's Aircraft and the worldwide headquarters for Columbia Helicopters. Flight training is available through Willamette Aviation Service and Aurora Aviation. FBO line services are available through Lynx F.B.O. Pacific Coast Avionics offers a retail facility for airman to supply needs such as headsets, intercoms, flight bags and other flight essential items. The Aurora State Airport is located in the busy airspace corridor between Salem McNary Airport to the south and Portland International Airport to the north. The airport has seen a significant increase in air traffic including corporate jets that utilize the field for access to the south metro area. Due to the increase in air traffic the FAA and the State of Oregon Department of Aviation completed construction of an air traffic control tower at Aurora State Airport in late 2015. The tower is operational and now contributes to a safe and efficient flow of air traffic at the facility.

Having the duality of Clear Plus + TSA Pre-check makes it for one easy breezy experience. I was in…read moreand out of security within five minutes (if at all.) There is general, TSA, and Clear Plus + TSA Pre-check available here so that everyone has the chance to utilize it. One thing that really stood out to me was the liquid dispenser to dispose of any liquids in your water bottles/canisters. It was very well maintained and I thought it was interesting to see the organization skills of the airport. Look up while approaching security as that wrap-around screen is so freaking cool to see. I have to give credit to the TSA team for having the ability to repeat all instructions and reminders on a non-stop loop.

Our group of four had a pretty seamless experience through Portland International Airport's (PDX)…read moreTSA Checkpoint D/E, also known as TSA Security North. The north side of the airport contains Concourses D and E. The south side of the airport contains Concourses B and C. PDX no longer has Concourse A. It was demolished in November 2019. The four of us used TSA PreCheck on a Sunday shortly after 9:00am. When we entered, the line wasn't very long. It moved at a reasonable pace. We didn't zoom through, but the wait/security time wasn't unreasonable either. I guesstimate our group got through in less than 10 minutes. I loaded my water bottle with ice before we left for the airport and it went through the checkpoint with no problem. In terms of aesthetics, PDX's security checkpoints are among the most visually appealing I've seen domestically. That goes for the whole airport. We traveled through after Phase 1 of a major $2.15 billion renovation, completed in August 2024. There are trees, skylights, wooden ceilings, and giant video walls, before and after security. It's really nice, especially when it comes to airports, and it totally fits the vibe of Portland. Phase 2 is expected to finish in early 2026. If you travel with any sort of regularity, sign up for TSA PreCheck ($77.95 to $85.00 for 5 years). Enroll in Global Entry if you travel internationally ($120 for 5 years -- price increased from $100 as of April 2, 2024). The time savings and convenience are worth it. Clear ($199/year) is worth it if you travel a lot. Many credit cards cover TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, and/or Clear enrollment fees. Examples include Capital One Venture Rewards, Bank of America Premium Rewards, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and The Platinum Card from American Express.

Nice strip in rural Sandy / Estacada. Surface is asphalt but kind of graveley. A Piper cub was…read morelanding on the grass next to the paved runway last time I was there. Flight guide says tie-downs but I don't find any, so bring your own. Nice restroom with showers (!) on the field. Looks like it would be a nice place to camp too (don't know if it's allowed or not) and beautiful view down the runway to Mt. Hood. When driving in, there's an airport sign at Sandy and another at an intersection along the way, but the driveway into the airport doesn't have any airport sign and instead has a couple of big NO TRESPASSING signs. Kinda weird -- anyway head's up if you're telling someone how to get there to pick you up. No crew car :-( and they wouldn't let me leave a car there even though their seems to be plenty of space for one -- that cost them a star.