BLOG: You walk 13 million people through a building...
Sam Adams
Approximately 10,000 employees work at the Portland International Airport.
They help deal with:
• 13,507,515 passengers each year
• 271,317 tons of freight each year
• 12,159 tons of airmail each year
• 16 air passenger carriers serve PDX
• 500 passenger flights daily
• 50 nonstop air passenger destinations from PDX
• 13 air cargo companies serve PDX
• 22 different kinds of restaurants in airport
• 14 different kinds of shops in airport
• 3,300 public parking spaces at airport
• 12 modes of transportation available to the airport (a bike path to be added soon)
• 8 ATMs in airport
• 3 airline club lounges at airport
• 10 elevators in airport
• 16 sets of restrooms in airport
• 7 business rental conference rooms at airport
I knew we had a great airport but I didn’t know how it worked.
After spending seven hours working at it, I now have a better idea: good planning, brain power, sturdy legs, pleasant smile and patience.
Susan Miller is in charge of making sure the service at the Airport is second to none, “We work on hiring the best, training them, taking good care of them and building systems to support them.”
I spent time as a greeter, transportation assistant, parking control representative, and an information specialist
The first surprise of the day was to learn that the Airport has 112 volunteers each year.
My shift as a greeter was with a very cheerful retired United Airlines customer service agent named Deanna Green. "Keep them moving away from the gateway with a firm smile so they don’t get bunched up,” said Deanna.
I asked Deanna why she volunteered, “I love this place, and it’s one of the most energetic places in Portland. People are on the move.”
Passengers from a 9 1/2 hours non-stop Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt, Germany started coming through the door. We said, “Hi,” “Hello,” and “Welcome to Portland,” to each group of passengers for about 45 minutes.
As a transportation assistant, I stood on the sidewalk across from passenger pick up and answered questions how to get to a certain rental car company, airport shuttle, or taxi. This service is provided to the Airport by a company on contract, Ace Parking.
I shadowed Rob Boswell, who had been with the company for eight years. He taught me that my job was not just to point people in a direction, that if they looked at all puzzled by my answers to walk with them until they could see their destination.
Being a parking control representative on the departure deck of the airport driveway is a little like 
being a bull fighter dodging the automobile mirrors and a traffic cop. Cars don’t just pull forward; they pull over to the side and then back out in traffic again. Byron Strivens a veteran of 14 years seemed to have eyes on the back of his head.
Ah, information specialist: I love this job.
Most frequent question asked, “What carousel is my bag coming in on?”
No, you cannot say, “Is that big sign as you come off the escalator broken, or is your eyesight going?”
No, you instead smile and say, “Alaska bags come in on carousel 8.”
Posted by Sam Adams on September 18, 2005
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Filed Under 100 Hours, Jobs & Economy, Transportation
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