Requesting airport advice (Phoenix, Scottsdale: condo, construction, garage)

[NoSeaNearby]

Our family is vacationing in Phoenix and trying to coordinate the best place in the airport to meet. None of of us have been in that airport before. I looked at the online maps but couldn't judge the distance so I'm seeking advice from those who are familiar with the airport.


My 80 year old mom will be arriving on Delta in Terminal 3 and has difficulty walking long distances. I am scheduled to arrive on Southwest ten minutes later in Terminal 4. My Aunt and Uncle will be picking us up at the airport. They will be driving in from Scottsdale where they have rented a condo. They are driving to Arizona so are not familiar with the airport.


Any advice on a convenient place for all of us to meet? Which parking lot would be best for my Uncle to limit my Mom's walking distance? Does each terminal have its own baggage area? How far is Terminal 4 from Terminal 3? Once I land, can I access my Mom's gate in Terminal 3 to assist her or is it past a separate security area?



Thanks in advance for any advice! Looking forward to warmer temperatures and sunshine!

[Ripper3785]

Delta should be in Terminal 3, not Terminal 2. This isn't an answer to your question, but it would have been more complicated if she was arriving in Terminal 2, which is further from T3 and T4 and 'less connected'.

[observer53]

Have your aunt and uncle pick up your mom at Terminal 2 first. The parking area is right across from the terminal. She can request wheelchair assistance from the flight attendant on the plane- they will meet her at the plane and assist her, I suspect they can take her to the car. Then, they can pick you up at the curb at Terminal 4, after you have claimed your luggage. If it is easier for them, they can park the car in the terminal 4 garage and one of them could come in and meet you at baggage claim by the carousel where your bags come in, and the other can stay with your mom.

[NoSeaNearby]

Originally Posted by ripper3785

Delta should be in Terminal 3, not Terminal 2. This isn't an answer to your question, but it would have been more complicated if she was arriving in Terminal 2, which is further from T3 and T4 and 'less connected'.

Thanks for catching that mistake! Originally we were looking at an Alaska flight which would have been in Terminal 2 but switched to Delta because their arrival time was closer to mine. I will edit my original post to reflect Terminal 3.

[NoSeaNearby]

Originally Posted by observer53

Have your aunt and uncle pick up your mom at Terminal 2 first. The parking area is right across from the terminal. She can request wheelchair assistance from the flight attendant on the plane- they will meet her at the plane and assist her, I suspect they can take her to the car. Then, they can pick you up at the curb at Terminal 4, after you have claimed your luggage. If it is easier for them, they can park the car in the terminal 4 garage and one of them could come in and meet you at baggage claim by the carousel where your bags come in, and the other can stay with your mom.

Thanks! As pointed out above, I unfortunately posted the wrong terminal in my original post but have corrected it to Terminal 3. Regardless, I like your idea of them parking closer to my Mom and getting her to the car before picking me up curbside. I'm assuming this verifies my assumption that each terminal has its own baggage claim area?

[take57]

If it were me I'd have Mom cool her jets in Term 3 while you make your way over there via the tram from Term 4 then everyone gets picked up at 3.

That said, Term 3 has just gone through an extensive remodel, so while it has recently re-opened that doesn't mean it's any less a cluster than it has been on the outside during construction.

Good luck!!!

[KO Stradivarius]

Yes, each terminal has it's own baggage claim. Term #3 is being renovated so it is rather messed up, fewer areas to pick up curbside, areas inside that are partitioned off, etc.

[phx1205]

Originally Posted by take57

If it were me I'd have Mom cool her jets in Term 3 while you make your way over there via the tram from Term 4 then everyone gets picked up at 3.

That said, Term 3 has just gone through an extensive remodel, so while it has recently re-opened that doesn't mean it's any less a cluster than it has been on the outside during construction.

Good luck!!!

Pretty much what Take57 said.

Have aunt and uncle park in the garage at T3 to meet mom. The three of them wait for you at baggage claim. You land, get your stuff and take the Sky Train from T4 to T3 to meet up with them. If they aren’t familiar with the airport, you don’t want them driving around trying to figure out how to find you at T4.

[Bates419]

Aren't terminal 3 and 4 just right in a line? Pickup at 3 and then drive straight ahead to pickup at 4. No need to over think it.

[NoSeaNearby]

Originally Posted by phx1205

Pretty much what Take57 said.

Have aunt and uncle park in the garage at T3 to meet mom. The three of them wait for you at baggage claim. You land, get your stuff and take the Sky Train from T4 to T3 to meet up with them. If they aren’t familiar with the airport, you don’t want them driving around trying to figure out how to find you at T4.

Thanks to everyone for the replies! I have convinced Mom to request wheelchair assistance in Phoenix as she has done in the past in Seattle. I will have my uncle park in Terminal 3 and meet Mom at the baggage claim. I can get my bags in Terminal 4 and make my way over to them. That way we can load in the parking garage and be on our way as a group.