A couple walking in the airport
FAQs

Below are answers to the most commonly asked questions about security, when to arrive at the airport, parking, ground transport and carry-on rules. Most other questions are answered in the text of our main web pages. If you don’t find the answer to your question, please email us, and we’ll do our best to get back to you.

FAQs

Travel & Security

How early should I arrive for my flight?

We recommend you arrive at least 1.5 hours before your scheduled departure, especially during peak hours. PWM’s peak hours include early morning (4:30 a.m. – 7 a.m.), mid-day (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.), or early evening (5 p.m. – 7 p.m.) This gives you enough time to park, check-in, and complete TSA screening.

I’ll be traveling with someone who has special needs. Does the Jetport provide any resources or accommodations to make the travel experience less intimidating?

We find one of the most intimidating aspects of traveling is going through security. The Jetport partners with TSA Cares to allow first-time travelers and those with special needs to “practice” going through security. This allows them a dry run so they understand the process better which helps alleviate feelings of overwhelm. We’re also happy to provide you and your companion a short tour of the facility to acclimate them to the noise and flow of other travelers. To request a tour or talk through questions please contact our Customer Experience Team by email.

Where do I find answers to other questions about TSA Screening?

For more information please visit the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website, www.tsa.gov.

How do I travel with prescription medication?

Prescription medication is generally permitted as long as it’s in your carry-on luggage. It must be in the original container with the pharmacist’s label, and for medications that require a syringe, you’ll need to keep the medication and syringe together for screening purposes. We advise carrying a note from your doctor, on their letterhead, explaining the medical need to carry the medication. For more information, contact your airline or TSA.

Can I bring my laptop computer on the plane?

Yes. Laptops are considered a personal item, and can be brought on the plane in addition to a carry-on bag. When you go through TSA screening, you will need to remove your laptop from the bag and place it in its own tote unless you have a case specially designed to allow screening of the laptop without removal. However, this does not apply if you have TSA Pre-Check. For more detailed information regarding requirements, please visit www.tsa.gov.

May I escort my elderly parents to their gate?

Guest passes are available for non-travelers to escort elderly travelers or minor children to the gate. The traveling passenger MUST be present at the airline ticket counter to authorize you as their agent. Once completed, the ticket agent will issue you a pass and you may proceed to the security screening checkpoint.

Can I still pick up or drop off a passenger at the curb?

Yes. However, you may not leave your vehicle unattended, park at the curb, or use the surface lot across from baggage claim to wait. The Jetport provides a dedicated cell-phone lot behind the parking garage where you may wait for your party to notify you they have collected their luggage. Once you receive the call, then you may proceed to the curb or the small surface lot across from baggage claim.

Please be advised that if your party is not ready for immediate pick up, you will be asked to circle around or wait at the cell-phone lot. You are subject to ticketing and/or towing if found in violation of these rules.

Does the Jetport have storage lockers for luggage?

Given the security needs of manning a storage facility in an airport, PWM does not provide this service.

What airlines serve the Jetport?

Visit our Airlines page for an up-to-date listing of all our carriers.

How do I book a flight from the Jetport?

The most efficient way to book a flight is directly with the airline of your choice. Each airline has options to book online or by phone. Our Airlines page provides a direct link to each airline’s website and their toll-free numbers. The most cost-effective way to book a flight is through a discount travel website such as farewatchdog.com. If you need additional booking advice, your local travel agent is an excellent resource.

How do I know if an arriving flight is on time?

You can check the status of any flight at our Arrivals and Departures page. Once there, you may sort the flights by airline, flight number, or time of day. The information is posted in real-time, updated every five minutes by the airlines.

Whom should I call if my luggage is lost or damaged?

All baggage concerns go through the airline with which you traveled. If you’ve already left the airport, you can report your luggage lost or damaged through the airline’s website. For more information regarding web addresses and telephone numbers, please visit our Airlines page.

What time does the Jetport open?

The Jetport is open 24-hours a day. However, only ticketed and confirmed passengers may be on the terminal side once they have completed TSA security screening. TSA, airline counters, and concessions all close after the last flight of the evening has boarded, and generally reopen 1.5 hours prior to the next morning's scheduled departures.

Parking & Transportation

Is there parking for people with disabilities?

Yes. The Jetport offers designated spaces for customers with disabilities on all levels of the parking garage, both of our surface lots, and the long-term parking at the Pink Lot.

How do I know if parking will be available when I arrive at the Jetport?

All of our parking information is kept up-to-date on a daily basis through our parking partner, Standard Parking. You can find the latest information under the Parking tab on our website. If you’d like to contact Standard parking directly to confirm availability, you may reach them at 207-772-7028.

Can I reserve a parking space ahead of time?

The Jetport does offer the option to reserve a parking space ahead of time. To make your reservation or find the most up-to-date information on parking at the Jetport, please visit our Parking page, or call Standard Parking, at 207-772-7028.

Does PWM offer long-term parking?

Yes, the Jetport has eight long-term parking lots for your convenience. All long-term levels of the parking garage are $14/day, the two surface lots closest to the terminal are $14/day, and our offsite Pink Lot, located 1.6 miles away, is $9/day with complimentary shuttle service.

Does the Jetport offer EV chargers?

Yes, the Jetport offers EV chargers, included in the cost of your parking, but you will need to download the app to use them. We have eight trickle chargers located on the southwest side of the Level 3 Red Lot in the parking garage, which is the side closest to the ticketing counter. We also have two superchargers on Level 1 Blue Lot Short-Term about halfway down from the entrance on the right side.

What rental car companies does PWM offer?

PWM partners with several rental car companies, including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, and National. You can find more information about each company on our Ground Transportation tab, or you can contact our Ground Transportation team directly at 207-879-1903.

Where do I go to get a taxi?

Taxi service may be arranged at our Ground Transportation booth located just outside Baggage Claim. Taxis are available from the first scheduled departing flight in the morning to the last arriving flight in the evening, so you won’t have a long wait.

Do any local hotels offer shuttle service?

Yes. There are several hotels within a short drive of the Jetport and many of them offer shuttle service.  Please check with your hotel before booking as shuttles may not run around the clock.

Is it possible to get downtown without a car?

Absolutely! Our Ground Transportation staff can assist you with taxi, limousine or van service. Local bus service is also available.

General Questions

Where is the Jetport located?

The Portland International Jetport is just five miles from downtown (about a 15 minute drive).  You'll find direct access to the Maine Turnpike Exit 46 by following Jetport Boulevard to Skyway Drive, as well as convenient entrances on Congress Street in Portland, and Johnson Road in South Portland.  Learn more.

Who owns and operates the Jetport?

The Jetport is owned and operated by the City of Portland, Maine. It is a division of Portland’s Transportation Department.

Do my local tax dollars pay for Jetport projects?

There are no local property tax dollars used for Jetport projects. Each ticket purchased by our customers fund the continuous improvements you see being implemented at the Jetport.

I have questions and need to speak with someone at the Jetport. Where can I find the best number to call for assistance with my question?

Please visit our Contact Us page for a list of key phone numbers.

How many passengers travel through the Jetport each year?

The Jetport hosts close to two million passengers per year. Learn more about our Airport Statistics.

I need to reach someone I think is in the terminal, can I have them paged?

Yes. Please contact the Jetport Operations Center for paging services 207-756-8310.

I've lost an item in my travels and am wondering if it's been found. Who should I contact?

If you believe you left something on an aircraft, you should contact your airline. If you think you left an item in the terminal at PWM, please complete the Jetport's Lost & Found form.

Do you still give tours of the Jetport?

Please email our Customer Experience Team or reach out by phone at 207-756-8033 to learn more about group / school tours.

A plane woke me up last night. How do I register a complaint?

The Jetport has an online form for submission of noise complaints as well as a 24/7 voice mailbox available by calling 207-370-0242.

Please visit the Noise Abatement Program section of our website for more information. 

I’m curious: what does PWM stand for?

PWM, the code given to the Jetport by the FAA, stands for Portland Westbrook Municipal. In the earliest days of aviation, pilots would navigate using a series of lights. The last set of lights before the runway in Portland was located in Westbrook.

How do I apply for a job at the Jetport?

The Jetport is part of the City of Portland and applications for Jetport staff positions are accepted through Portland’s Human Resources Department when openings are available.

If you’re looking for a position with any of the other business partners at the Jetport, you need to apply directly with that company. 

Please visit the Employment page of our website for full information on the companies that offer opportunities at the Jetport. 

Whom do I contact about advertising my business at the Jetport?

Clear Channel Airport Advertising handles all advertising, including the backlit signs and product cases. You can reach them through their website.

What hotels are near the Jetport?

There are several hotels within a short drive of the Jetport. Many of them offer shuttle service.

Is there a business center or meeting space available to the public?

PWM does not currently have a business center or a meeting space available for public use.

Is someone in the terminal available to answer questions?

Yes! We have dedicated Customer Relations Specialists who are available to answer questions in the Ticketing Lobby and on the Gate Concourse, the team from Visit Portland staffs our Information Desk near the Baggage Claim Area, and our Volunteer Jetport Ambassadors are throughout the terminal at our high-traffic areas to help answer your questions.