Summary
- PDX is hosting a “dress rehearsal” for volunteers to test new terminal processes before the official opening.
- Volunteers will simulate real travel scenarios to help ensure the airport’s systems are functioning as intended.
- Participants will receive $50 gift cards, refreshments, and the chance to participate in opening the new PDX.
Portland International Airport (PDX) is inviting the public for a “dress rehearsal” to trial the new main terminal before its scheduled opening this year. Volunteers will be asked to act out real travel scenarios to ensure the terminal’s new systems and processes are up to standard.
Portland Airport dress rehearsal
In just a couple of months, Portland Airport will start to show off its new designs, aiming to give passengers an elevated travel experience. While the airport is set to get a new look, some parts of the travel process will also change. As such, PDX fans are invited to join the “dress rehearsal” to make sure all processes are flowing as intended.
Image: Port of Portland
Volunteers will be asked to test new check-in and bag drop procedures and the new security screening process to help the airport prepare for its big day. As seen on eventbrite, the trial session will be hosted on August 3, 2024, and thousands of locals will be invited to take part. Volunteers will go behind the scenes for about two and a half hours to test the new processes and provide feedback.
Related
Flight Review: Delta Air Lines Airbus A220-300 First Class From Portland To Seattle
A first class flight on a Delta Air Lines Airbus A220-300 results in a satisfied customer.
The trial session will imitate an actual travel day and will help PDX authorities see what works well and what still needs fine-tuning. Volunteers will receive $50 gift cards (and bigger prize drawings, too) as well as refreshments and snacks for their participation. Furthermore, they’ll have every right to tell friends and family that they helped open the new PDX.
Testing out the new terminal
Portland Airport invites people of all ages, abilities, and communities to participate in the trial. Each volunteer will perform two to three different traveler scripts and share feedback after each one. They will go through check-in and security, explore new spaces, and experience standing, sitting, and waiting periods, as they would when flying to another airport.
Photo: Alexander Oganezov | Shutterstock
All volunteers aged 16 and above must register individually, as they will receive different instructions and scripts to follow. The airport cannot guarantee that families or groups with members over 16 can stay together during the rehearsal. However, more details will be provided as the day approaches.
Everything will follow a real travel day, so participants should bring a government-issued ID that matches the info provided in the registration. You are also encouraged to bring travel essentials like snacks, empty water bottles, and a bag with a cell phone, medication, or other small items you would typically travel with. However, weapons, prohibited items, and pets should be left at home.
Return of the iconic carpet
Starting in August 2024, travelers will get their first look at the new PDX designs, including the new check-in counters, pre-security Market Hall, and two security stations. In the first phase, scheduled for opening in about two months, the airport will have a new public space with stadium seating and a mezzanine restaurant, 12 new local shops and restaurants, a streamlined security process, and new art exhibits.
The airport will also have new flooring, including the return of the iconic teal carpet. Once an unmistakable feature of Portland International Airport, the carpet covered the majority of the passenger terminal. It had been absent for nearly a decade, but it is set to return, much to the delight of passengers going through the airport.
What do you think of this story? Will you be participating in the Portland Airport “dress rehearsal?” Please let us know in the comments!