Terminal 3 — officially the John S. McCain III Terminal — is the quieter half of Phoenix Sky Harbor. It handles a mix of domestic carriers, from Delta and Alaska to Frontier, JetBlue, and Sun Country, and after the airport's $590 million modernization wrapped up, it is one of the most pleasant mid-size terminals in the country to fly through. This guide covers the things that actually affect your day: which airlines check in here, how the 24-hour security checkpoint works, where every pickup curb is, how the free PHX Sky Train connects you to the rest of the airport, and what parking really costs.
A quick orientation first. Terminal 3 has 27 gates split across two concourses: E1 through E10 and F1 through F15. Ticketing, check-in, and the security checkpoint sit on the upper departures level; baggage claim and all curbside pickups are below. If you are used to Terminal 4's sprawl, Terminal 3 will feel small in a good way — the walk from the checkpoint to the farthest gate takes roughly five to seven minutes.
Which airlines fly out of Terminal 3?
Per the airport's official airline directory, these carriers operate from Terminal 3:
| Airline | Typical concourse |
|---|---|
| Advanced Airlines | E / F |
| Air Canada | E / F |
| Alaska Airlines | E / F |
| Allegiant | E / F |
| Delta Air Lines | F concourse |
| Denver Air Connection | E / F |
| Frontier Airlines | E / F |
| Hawaiian Airlines | E / F |
| JetBlue Airways | E / F |
| Porter Airlines | E / F |
| Southern Airways Express | E / F |
| Sun Country Airlines | E / F |
| United Airlines | E / F |
Delta is the biggest presence here and generally gates on the F concourse; United, Frontier, and Sun Country flights are commonly assigned to E gates. Gate assignments do shift, so confirm on the flight-information boards when you arrive — but knowing your airline's home terminal is the part that never changes. If your airline is American, Southwest, or most international carriers, you are flying out of Terminal 4 instead (see our Terminal 4 guide).
Security at Terminal 3: hours, PreCheck, and PHX Reserve
Terminal 3 has one main TSA checkpoint, and per the airport's security screening page it is open 24 hours — one of the things frequent PHX travelers like most about this terminal. There is no early-morning rush gamble like at some Terminal 4 checkpoints; whenever your flight leaves, the checkpoint is staffed.
- TSA PreCheck: available at Terminal 3 from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. If your flight departs later in the day, you will go through standard screening — the airport notes expedited screening is generally available during all operational hours.
- PHX Reserve: the airport's free reservation system lets you book a set time to enter the checkpoint. It is worth using during holiday peaks and spring training weekends.
- ConfirmID: since February 1, 2026, travelers without acceptable ID can use TSA's fee-based ConfirmID verification at the checkpoint instead of being turned away.
The terminal's checkpoints sit between ticketing and the E/F concourses. Because both concourses feed off the same central hall, any open lane gets you to any gate — you will not face a Terminal 4-style "wrong checkpoint" problem here.
The PHX Sky Train station at Terminal 3
The Sky Train station at Terminal 3 is on the west side of the terminal, connected by an elevated walkway, and the train is free with trains running 24 hours a day. It links Terminal 3 with Terminal 4, the East Economy and 24th Street economy lots, the Rental Car Center, and the 44th Street station, where you can connect to Valley Metro light rail toward downtown Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa.
One current wrinkle worth knowing: during the nightly maintenance window (10 p.m. to 5 a.m.), the airport stages buses on the south side of the 44th Street Station that run direct to the Terminal 3 outer curb at door 8. The train keeps running during those hours, but the buses are a faster option late at night.
Walking between Terminal 3 and Terminal 4 is not practical in Phoenix heat — take the train, which runs every few minutes for most of the day. If you land at Terminal 3 and your ride is waiting at Terminal 4, the train trip between terminals takes about three minutes.
Where pickups happen at Terminal 3: every curb, door by door
This is the part that saves the most confusion. Terminal 3's arrivals (lower) level wraps around the building with numbered doors, and each transportation mode has an assigned curb:
- Taxis: north curb, outside door 7. Per the airport's posted taxi rates, the first mile is $7, each additional mile is $2.60, minimum fare $18 — and there is a $20 flat rate to downtown Phoenix bounded by Roosevelt Street, Lincoln Street, Seventh Avenue, and Seventh Street.
- Rideshare (Uber/Lyft/Waymo): two zones — the south outer curb (minus the far east end) and the north outer curb at the far east end. Your app will route you automatically, but if you are meeting someone, tell them which zone you are in. Waymo curbside pickup at Terminal 3 uses the rideshare zones and runs 24/7.
- Intercity and pre-arranged shuttles: per the airport's taxis and shuttles page, prearranged car services pick up at the terminal curbs — your driver will confirm the door when they arrive.
- Private pickups: drivers can wait in the Cell Phone Waiting Lot (the 44th Street Street lot has restrooms and is easiest from SR-143 and Loop 202) and pull to the curb only after your flight shows "arrived at gate."
If someone is picking you up and everything on the curbs looks crowded, the simplest move is to walk one door over: the outer curbs stretch long, and door 7 (taxi) and the rideshare zones are close enough to meet anywhere along the lower level.
Parking near Terminal 3: real rates
From the airport's published rate card:
| Lot | First hour | Each add'l 30 min | Daily max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal 3 Garage | $6 | $3 | $33 |
| West Economy Garage | $6 | $3 | $19 |
| West Economy Park & Walk (seasonal) | $6 | $3 | $10 |
| East Economy Garages A & B | $6 | $3 | $19 |
| 24th Street Station | $6 | $3 | $16 |
| Valet (Terminals 3 & 4) | $18 | — | $43 |
Booking online gets you the best available drive-up rates, and the airport runs a free parking loyalty program if you travel often. The economics are simple: for anything longer than a weekend trip, economy parking plus the free Sky Train beats the Terminal 3 Garage by a wide margin.
Getting to Terminal 3 by shuttle: the door-to-door math
Sky Harbor sits about three miles east of downtown Phoenix, reached off Sky Harbor Boulevard (exit 149 from I-10, or AZ-143 from the East Valley and Loop 202). If you are driving yourself, that is easy. If you are arriving from Tucson, Flagstaff, Sedona, or another Arizona city, the calculus changes: parking a car for a week costs more than a shuttle seat, and Phoenix rush hour on the I-10/SR-143 interchange is not the place to test your luck before a flight.
A door-to-door shuttle removes the two stress points of a Terminal 3 departure: parking (the garage runs $33/day max) and curb timing. Your driver drops you at the departures curb with ticketing a few steps inside, which matters if you are juggling bags, kids, or an early-morning flight when economy lots are still 15 minutes from the terminal by train.
We run direct shuttle service between Phoenix Sky Harbor and cities across Arizona — Tucson, Flagstaff, Sedona, the West Valley cities, and the East Valley. Some useful routes for Terminal 3 travelers:
- Phoenix to Flagstaff and Flagstaff to PHX — about 145 miles each way
- Phoenix to Tucson and Tucson to PHX — about 115 miles each way
- Phoenix to Sedona and Sedona to PHX — about 120 miles each way
- Phoenix to Maricopa and Maricopa to PHX — a frequent commuter route
- Phoenix to Mesa, Scottsdale, and the rest of the Valley
Practical tips for a smooth Terminal 3 trip
- Arrivals pickup: have your driver meet you at the south outer curb (rideshare zone) if you have lots of luggage — it is the longest stretch of curb and easiest to load from.
- Connections: if your next flight leaves from Terminal 4, ride the Sky Train rather than walking; the post-security walkway is a hike with bags.
- Early flights: the checkpoint is open 24 hours, so a 5:30 a.m. departure is not a risk here — but economy lots and shuttle frequency are thinner pre-dawn, which is another reason door-to-door service earns its keep on early flights.
- Food: the post-security dining cluster sits between the E and F concourses; there are also coffee and quick options near the ticketing level if you have not cleared security yet.
- Picking someone up: use the Cell Phone Waiting Lot until the flight boards "arrived at gate," then loop to the lower-level curb. Staying parked at the lot is not permitted — it is designed for 30 minutes or less.
Terminal 3 quick answers
What airlines are in Terminal 3 at Phoenix Sky Harbor?
Delta, Alaska, United, Frontier, JetBlue, Hawaiian, Sun Country, Allegiant, Air Canada, Porter, Southern Airways Express, Denver Air Connection, and Advanced Airlines, per the airport's official airline directory.
Is the Terminal 3 security checkpoint open 24 hours?
Yes. The airport's security screening page lists the Terminal 3 checkpoint as open around the clock. TSA PreCheck there runs 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where do I get picked up at Terminal 3?
Rideshare: south outer curb (minus the far east end) and north outer curb, far east end. Taxis: north curb at door 7. Private and pre-arranged vehicles pick up on the outer curbs — your driver will confirm the door.
How do I get from Terminal 3 to Terminal 4?
Take the free PHX Sky Train; the station connects to Terminal 3 via an elevated walkway and trains run 24/7. Do not walk between terminals in the heat.
How much is parking at Terminal 3?
The Terminal 3 Garage is $6 for the first hour, $3 each additional half hour, $33 daily max. Economy options (West Economy Garage $19/day, East Economy $19/$16/day) are cheaper for multi-day trips.
