Connecting at Philadelphia: seven terminals, one connected zone

Last checked 30 September 2026

At Philadelphia, American's gateway to Europe, every terminal connects to the next behind one security check. The letters on the map track which airline you're flying — every terminal still connects behind the same security.

At a glance

• Every terminal, A through F: connected to each other behind security by walkway or a shuttle bus. Whichever two you're using, there's no second security line.
• It's a big airport, though: the airport's own estimate is about 45 minutes on foot between the two farthest points, Terminal A-West and Terminal F. A free shuttle bus also runs between F and Terminals A and C, about every 10 minutes.
• Arriving from abroad, connecting onward: customs, then collecting and rechecking your bags, then a security check built specifically for connecting passengers.
• PHL's passport-control wait: half of passengers were through within 9 minutes; one passenger in ten waited about 24 minutes or more (GateCast estimate from US Customs and Border Protection wait data, Sep 2025 to Sep 2026).
• Separate tickets: if your two flights are on separate bookings with checked bags, you'll claim your bags, check in again and go through security once more — a full re-check.

One airport, several airlines' own corners

American Airlines fills most of Philadelphia — Terminal A-East, B, C and its regional flights out of F. Terminal A-West holds the foreign carriers flying here, including British Airways and Aer Lingus. Terminal D is home to Delta, United, Alaska and JetBlue's gates, along with Air Canada and Sun Country. Terminal E holds Southwest and Frontier, plus a direct train connection into the city.

None of that changes whether you'll see a security checkpoint again: every terminal here connects to the next one behind the same security. It just changes how far you'll walk. The airport's own estimate for its two farthest points, Terminal A-West to Terminal F, is about 45 minutes on foot — or take the free shuttle bus that runs between F and Terminals A and C, about every 10 minutes.

Arriving internationally

Follow these steps in order.

1. Everyone arriving from abroad: international arrivals come in through a shared hall serving both halves of Terminal A. Clear US Customs and Border Protection.
2. Everyone: collect your bags.
3. If you're connecting onward: recheck your bags at the dedicated desks.
4. If you're connecting onward: go through the security checkpoint built specifically for connecting passengers, reached by a bridge into Terminal A-East.

Passport control at PHL: half of passengers were through within 9 minutes; one passenger in ten waited about 24 minutes or more (GateCast estimate from US Customs and Border Protection wait data, Sep 2025 to Sep 2026).

Separate tickets

If you're landing from another country, the steps in "Arriving internationally" above apply whatever your ticket: on most routes that includes collecting your bags at customs. This section covers what changes when your two flights were booked separately. If your two flights are on separate bookings, PHL's own site is clear: with checked bags, you'll claim them, check in again and go through security once more. Plan for a full re-check.

Tips

• Don't assume a same-airline connection is a short walk. Terminal letters here track airline, and the airport is large.
• If you're flying into Terminal D and out through American's terminals, or the other way round, budget real time for the walk even though there's no second security line — about 45 minutes on foot for the farthest pairs, or the free shuttle bus.
• Landing internationally, build in time for customs and the bag recheck before you reach the connecting-passenger security checkpoint.

Checked 30 September 2026. Terminals and airline assignments change, so confirm with the airport and your airline before you travel.

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