Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) has two active passenger terminals, and Terminal 3 is the home base for 14 airlines — including Delta, United, Alaska, and Frontier. If you're flying out of T3, here are the essentials up front: the security checkpoint is open 24 hours a day, standard waits typically run 10 to 20 minutes, the free PHX Sky Train stops at the terminal on Level 5, and nearby parking ranges from $16 to $43 per day depending on the lot. This guide covers T3's airlines, security options, train access, parking, and arrival and departure tips — plus how a door-to-door shuttle can simplify the entire trip.
Which Airlines Fly From Terminal 3?
Terminal 3 serves 14 airlines. If your ticket is with any of these carriers, T3 is your terminal:
- Delta Air Lines
- United Airlines
- Alaska Airlines
- Air Canada
- Frontier Airlines
- JetBlue
- Sun Country Airlines
- Hawaiian Airlines
- Breeze Airways
- Allegiant Air
- Porter Airlines
- Southern Airways Express
- Denver Air Connection
- Advanced Air
Flying with someone else? Terminal 4 hosts American Airlines — PHX's largest hub — along with Southwest, Aeromexico, Air France, British Airways, China Airlines, Contour, STARLUX, Volaris, and WestJet. Sky Harbor's former Terminal 2 closed in 2020, so T3 and T4 are the only terminals in operation. Confirming your terminal before leaving home is the easiest way to avoid a wrong-terminal scramble.
Security at Terminal 3: Checkpoint Hours and Wait Times
Checkpoint hours
The Terminal 3 checkpoint is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — a genuine advantage for pre-dawn departures and late-night arrivals. For reference, Terminal 4's checkpoints run on staggered schedules: Checkpoint A is open 24 hours, Checkpoint B from 4:15 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Checkpoint C from 3:15 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., and Checkpoint D from 3:15 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. And if one line is longer than another, you can use any checkpoint rather than standing in the longest queue.
Typical wait times
Under normal conditions, plan on 10 to 20 minutes to clear security at Sky Harbor. Waits climb to 30 to 45+ minutes during the 5 a.m.–8 a.m. peak, and similar slowdowns appear on holidays and during spring break. If your schedule is flexible, the quietest window is roughly 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Keep in mind that Terminal 4 is PHX's busiest terminal, so T3 screening tends to be the calmer experience.
PHX Reserve: a free reserved spot in the TSA line
PHX Reserve (phx.seamless.aero) lets you book a free TSA-line appointment — no fee, no membership. Reservations are available at the Terminal 3 checkpoint 24/7, and at Terminal 4's Checkpoint A around the clock (checkpoints B, C, and D follow the hours above). One note for trusted travelers: TSA PreCheck hours at PHX are posted for Terminal 4's checkpoints A through D, 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., so PreCheck members flying from T3 should verify lane availability before travel day.
PHX Sky Train: Free Access to Terminal 3 on Level 5
The PHX Sky Train is free to ride and runs 24/7. Between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m., trains arrive roughly every 3.5 to 7 minutes; overnight service (10 p.m.–5 a.m.) continues at reduced frequency. The T3 station sits on Level 5, connected directly to the terminal, which makes it painless to reach T3 from anywhere on the line.
Stations along the route include:
- 44th St/Washington — the connection point for Valley Metro Rail
- 24th Street — serves the 24th Street parking area
- Terminal 3 — Level 5
- Terminal 4 — Level 3
- Rental Car Center
For T3 travelers, the train answers three common needs: transferring to Terminal 4 without a car, reaching the Rental Car Center without hunting for a shuttle bus, and connecting with Valley Metro Rail at 44th St/Washington.
Parking Near Terminal 3: Rates and Options
Driving yourself? Drive-up parking at Sky Harbor starts at $6 for the first hour, with each additional 30 minutes adding $3. Here's how the daily maximums compare across lots:
- Terminal garages — $33/day, the most convenient self-park option
- Valet — $43/day
- East Economy Garages A & B — $19/day, covered
- East Economy (uncovered) — $16/day, the lowest daily rate
- 24th Street Station — $16/day, served by the Sky Train
- West Economy Garage — $19/day, with a seasonal Park & Walk rate of $10
Worth noting: even the cheapest uncovered lot costs $16 per day, so multi-day trips add up quickly, and the closest garages carry the steepest daily rate. Weigh that against the time spent driving in, hunting for a spot, and hauling bags — it's why many T3 travelers opt for a drop-off at the curb instead.
Tips for Departing From Terminal 3
- Confirm your terminal before you leave. Only T3 and T4 are active — Terminal 2 closed in 2020 — so a quick check of your confirmation email prevents a wrong-terminal detour.
- Plan around security patterns. Aim for the 10 a.m.–2 p.m. lull when possible, and build in extra time for the 5–8 a.m. rush, holidays, and spring break.
- Book a PHX Reserve appointment. It's free, available at the T3 checkpoint around the clock, and removes the biggest variable on crowded days.
- Skip the parking garage. A drop-off at the T3 curb means no $6 first-hour meter, no $16–$43 daily rates, and no searching for your parking level on the way home.
- Use the Sky Train for connections. It's free, runs 24/7, and the Level 5 station connects directly into the terminal.
Tips for Arriving at Terminal 3 — and Picking Someone Up
If you're the one traveling, arriving at T3 is straightforward: follow signs to baggage claim, and use the Level 5 Sky Train station if you're heading to a rental car, Terminal 4, or a Valley Metro Rail connection.
If you're picking someone up, use one of Sky Harbor's three free 24-hour Cell Phone Waiting Lots:
- East Cell Phone Lot — about 90 spaces
- West Cell Phone Lot — about 90 spaces
- 44th Street Station lot — about 25 spaces
Each lot displays real-time flight information so you can time your move to the curb, and drivers are asked to stay with their vehicles. Wait for the arrival status to change, then head over for a quick pickup — no circling the roadway, no meter running.
How a Door-to-Door Shuttle Simplifies the Trip
Everything above — terminal confirmation, security timing, parking math, train transfers — disappears when someone else does the driving. Airport Shuttle of Phoenix provides door-to-door shuttle service to and from PHX, picking you up at your home, hotel, or office and dropping you at the Terminal 3 curb (or meeting you there when you land).
The service covers the Valley and beyond: Tempe, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, Tucson, Flagstaff, Sedona, and Prescott. Rather than navigating pre-dawn freeway traffic, paying daily parking rates, or rolling luggage onto the Sky Train, you ride from your door to the terminal and back — with no parking fees, no first-hour meters, and no trying to remember where you parked on day six of a trip.
For travelers flying from T3, it's a simple trade: hand off the logistics and start your trip at the front door instead of the parking garage.
Traveling from outside Phoenix proper? Airport Shuttle of Phoenix provides door-to-door service across the Valley and beyond — including the Tempe airport shuttle, the Scottsdale airport shuttle, and the Mesa airport shuttle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which airlines fly out of Terminal 3 at Phoenix Sky Harbor?
Terminal 3 hosts 14 airlines: Delta, United, Alaska, Air Canada, Frontier, JetBlue, Sun Country, Hawaiian, Breeze, Allegiant, Porter, Southern Airways Express, Denver Air Connection, and Advanced Air. American Airlines, Southwest, and carriers such as Aeromexico, Air France, British Airways, and WestJet operate from Terminal 4.
Is the Terminal 3 security checkpoint open 24 hours?
Yes — T3's checkpoint never closes, and PHX Reserve appointments are accepted there 24/7. Typical waits run 10–20 minutes, with 30–45+ minute waits possible during the 5–8 a.m. peak, on holidays, and during spring break.
How do I get between Terminal 3 and Terminal 4?
Ride the free PHX Sky Train, which runs 24/7. The T3 station is on Level 5 and the T4 station is on Level 3; trains arrive roughly every 3.5–7 minutes between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m., with reduced frequency overnight.
How much is parking near Terminal 3?
Drive-up parking costs $6 for the first hour and $3 for each additional 30 minutes. Daily maximums range from $16 (uncovered East Economy and the 24th Street Station lot) to $19 (East Economy Garages A & B and the West Economy Garage, with a seasonal $10 Park & Walk rate) to $33 (terminal garages), with valet at $43/day.
When is the best time to go through security at PHX?
The quietest stretch is roughly 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Waits are longest between 5 and 8 a.m. and on holidays and spring break — often 30 to 45+ minutes. A free PHX Reserve booking at phx.seamless.aero is the easiest way to shorten the wait.
Can a shuttle pick me up or drop me off at Terminal 3?
Yes. Airport Shuttle of Phoenix offers door-to-door service between Sky Harbor and Valley cities including Tempe, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria, and Surprise, plus longer routes to Tucson, Flagstaff, Sedona, and Prescott. You're picked up at your door and dropped at the terminal curb — no parking fees and no Sky Train transfer with luggage.
Related reading: Phoenix Sky Harbor Terminal 4: Complete Traveler Guide and PHX TSA Wait Times by Hour in our PHX travel series.
