To enhance the travel experience PHL has introduced two new multilingual tools to assist passengers – the GLOBO phone interpretation system and easy-to-identify language pins for airport staff. The innovative offerings aim to bridge the language barrier and provide global guests with the support they need for a seamless journey.

Connecting Travelers to Translators in Seconds

Getting lost in translation is now a thing of the past at PHL with the implementation of the GLOBO phone interpretation service. This cutting-edge system provides an easy way to instantly connect travelers with highly qualified, industry-specialized interpreters in just seconds.

Guests can access GLOBO services at information desks throughout all airport terminals. Members of PHL’s friendly Navigator and Volunteer Navigator teams simply make a call and a live translator is on the line to assist with any language needed.

The impact has already been significant as highlighted by Leah Douglas, PHL’s Director of Guest Experience:

“Being in an unfamiliar airport can be unsettling for anyone. Not knowing how to speak and read English can make the situation even more stressful for travelers. With GLOBO, our staff can immediately bring on a professional interpreter to communicate directly with guests in their native language.”

A Real-Life Language Barrier Solved with GLOBO

One recent instance spotlighted the immense value GLOBO provides. A passenger who only spoke Russian appeared disoriented near an information desk. Despite efforts from staff and police, the language barrier prevented understanding her situation.

That’s when a quick call to GLOBO solved the mystery. The Russian interpreter learned the woman had been separated from her husband, who had her travel documents. With the woman’s husband’s name and details, the team located him at their gate and coordinated a reuniting reunion – all thanks to GLOBO.

“This is exactly why we invested in a tool like GLOBO,” Douglas explained. “To ensure no travelers feel lost or alone when visiting PHL simply due to a language barrier.”

Airport Operations Center: Multilingual Staff for Over-the-Phone Translations

In addition to GLOBO, PHL’s Airport Operations Center (AOC) operates as a multilingual communications hub. The 24/7 center has bilingual operators available to directly assist travelers in languages like Spanish, French, Arabic, Haitian Creole and Bambara.

For all other languages, the AOC staff utilizes GLOBO’s over-the-phone interpretation services. Last year alone, they facilitated 866 translations through GLOBO while helping 731 total guests in person.

“Between our multilingual staff and instantaneous access to GLOBO’s interpreter network, we have a linguistic resource for any guest who needs translation assistance while at PHL,” said Denise Bailey, PHL’s Vice President of Business Diversity and Accessibility.

Language Pins: Visually Identifying Multilingual Staff

To make multilingual support even more accessible, PHL will take its language inclusivity a step further in the coming months. Passengers will start noticing airport staff and stakeholder employees wearing Language Pins – easy-to-identify badges indicating which languages they speak other than English.

“We have employees fluent in American Sign Language, Spanish, French, Arabic, Russian, German, Italian and more,” Douglas noted. “With these new pins, global guests can instantly see who they can approach for language assistance in their native tongue.”

The colorful language pins will be visibly worn on staff lanyards throughout the airport terminals, restaurants, shops and other facilities.

A Gateway Access for All Global Travelers

As a large international hub, PHL offers 360 daily departures to over 120 nonstop destinations across the globe. With 28 airlines operating from its facility, the airport welcomes visitors from every corner of the world.

Recognizing the diversity of its traveler population, PHL has made supporting global guests a key priority through intentional investments like GLOBO and Language Pins. These multilingual tools ensure all guests feel welcomed, supported and at ease while traveling through Philadelphia.

“PHL proudly welcomes passengers from around the world and we want them to feel at home and have a great experience while visiting,” Douglas affirmed. “Launching GLOBO interpretation and making multilingual staff easily identifiable are major steps toward being an accessible, world-class airport for global travelers of any language.”

The innovations cover all traveler touchpoints too – from the moment guests arrive at check-in, navigate through security, find their gates, dine, shop and everything in between. No matter where their journey takes them through PHL’s terminals, professional language support is just a phone call or badge away.

Located just seven miles from downtown Philadelphia, the airport provides convenient access to the city’s wealth of tourist attractions, business hubs and cultural destinations as well. Now global guests can enjoy a seamless, translation-assisted travel experience from their arrival at PHL until they depart for their final destination.

As an internationally-renowned landmark city, Philadelphia aims to warmly welcome visitors from across the globe. With its new multilingual capabilities, the city’s airport is extending that celebrated Pennsylvania hospitality and accessibility to travelers of all languages and backgrounds. I sincerely hope you find this “Philadelphia Airport Introduces New Support for Global Visitors-Find Out Details” article helpful.

Skylar Lacey

Skylar Lacey, a Travel and Tourism Management graduate from Temple University, offers 5 years of experience in travel writing and airport logistics at PhiladelphiaAirport.net. Her expertise helps travelers make the most of their journeys through Philadelphia International Airport. Connect with her on Instagram for more travel tips and insights.

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According to 6ABC, Lisa Farbstein, TSA public affairs spokesperson, states “TSA is prepared for the highest traveler volumes that our agency has ever seen.” Philadelphia is anticipated to see nearly one million regional residents traveling over the holiday week. TSA checkpoints will be overloaded, so officials are asking passengers to arrive early and ensure prohibited items are not brought in carry-ons.

To expedite airport security, passengers must follow TSA’s 3-1-1 rule for carry-on liquids and properly pack firearms and sharp objects in checked baggage only. Farbstein showed items confiscated at Philadelphia airport security just within one morning recently. These included liquids over 3 ounces, a tiny golf club, and several pocket knives. “Something like this can travel,” Farbstein noted as she held up a small blade. “The correct procedure is to place it in your checked baggage.”

Severe Weather Threatens Holiday Travel Delays

While TSA braces for record crowds, severe weather poses an added threat for holiday travel delays. Keith Brune, chief operating officer for the Philadelphia Department of Aviation, explained “Probably the biggest challenge we had last night was flights diverting into here from other airports. We ended up with 10 flights being diverted into here from the New York airport.” A cascade of delays and cancellations on Wednesday night has raised concerns about thunderstorm disruption during the peak holiday travel period.

American Airlines Adding Extra Flights

In response, American Airlines, Philadelphia International’s largest carrier, is adding 550 extra flights over the 4th holiday to handle the peak crowds. AAA predicts a nearly 50% increase in Philadelphia residents travelling over 50 miles this Independence Day week versus an average week. An estimated 810,000 local residents will drive for holiday getaways.

Tips to Navigate Busy Holiday Travel

Travelers should anticipate long TSA lines and traffic congestion during holiday peak times. Airport and traffic patterns show the worst days for Philadelphia drivers are Wednesday July 3rd when travelers leave and Sunday July 7th when they return.

To avoid the crush, travelers like the Malpedo family advise starting holiday getaways a day early. “We decided to go on a Thursday for the fact of the traffic not being too bad. And it hasn’t been. It’s been really nice,” explained Meghan Malpedo.

Optimizing travel days and times is key to minimizing frustrations. Planning ahead, allowing extra time, and packing properly will let Fourth of July travelers focus on celebrating instead of standing in line. As TSA warns, “Come prepared for the busiest travel season.” I sincerely hope you find this “TSA Gears Up for Record-Breaking Crowds at Philadelphia Airport-Find Out Details” article helpful.

Skylar Lacey

Skylar Lacey, a Travel and Tourism Management graduate from Temple University, offers 5 years of experience in travel writing and airport logistics at PhiladelphiaAirport.net. Her expertise helps travelers make the most of their journeys through Philadelphia International Airport. Connect with her on Instagram for more travel tips and insights.

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Accordding to CBS NEWS, the summer travel season unofficially began over Memorial Day weekend, according to PHL spokesperson Heather Redfern. “We’ve been busy, nonstop since then,” she said. In particular, Wednesday and Thursday mornings are “very busy” departure times over the summer months.

On the Wednesday following Memorial Day, travelers described smooth check-in processes and calm terminals during late morning. “Very easy check-in. No problem,” said Adam Williams, passing through PHL from London on vacation. Anne Higgins, traveling with him, agreed: “Everything is quite kind of calm, isn’t it?”

While most travelers described easy journeys, some did experience delays. April Petrey’s flight back to Lexington was delayed, though she remained optimistic: “I just want to go home.”

Preparing for an Influx of Summer Travelers

In anticipation of the over 18% increase in passengers, PHL has focused on hiring and training additional staff. “We’re here to help you and we want you to have a great experience when you’re here,” said Leah Douglas, Director of Guest Services.

To boost employee morale and service levels, PHL also introduced a new “PHL Works” service excellence program open to all 17,000 airport staff. On Wednesday, a pep rally with drumlines and the Phillie Phanatic mascot helped kickoff the program. “They work here 24/7, 365 days a year so they’re a very devoted team and we just want to give them the encouragement and support they need,” Douglas added.

August is Peak Month for Summer Travel

While PHL has seen consistent passenger volumes since Memorial Day weekend, August is “probably” the single busiest month of the summer travel season, according to Redfern. For those flying out of Philadelphia this summer, longer TSA lines should be expected during the early weekday mornings.

“It’s great to see people back here again. No empty, eerie terminals,” Redfern said. PHL now feels alive, though it still hasn’t fully rebounded: “We’re not going to be completely back to our pre-pandemic numbers. We probably have another year for that.”

Tips for Traveling Through PHL This Summer

Based on PHL’s projections and early summer observations, travelers heading through Philadelphia International Airport should prepare for longer lines and busier terminals. Here are some tips for smooth summer travels:

• Arrive early! Leave extra time for check-in, security, and boarding
• Be flexible with flight times if possible – aim for mid-week and early mornings
• Check airport and airline apps for real-time updates on crowds, delays, etc
• Sign up for flight notifications and rebooking options from your airline
• Pack snacks, water, and other essentials in your carry on
• Bring entertainment like books, magazines, downloaded movies, etc
• Check airport services and dining options before arriving
• Confirm parking availability
• Allow extra transit time to the airport

With thorough preparation and a little patience, travelers can still experience efficient, enjoyable flights despite the summer crowds at PHL. I sincerely hope you find this “Philadelphia Airport Preps for 18% More Summer Travelers – What You Need to Know” article helpful.

Skylar Lacey

Skylar Lacey, a Travel and Tourism Management graduate from Temple University, offers 5 years of experience in travel writing and airport logistics at PhiladelphiaAirport.net. Her expertise helps travelers make the most of their journeys through Philadelphia International Airport. Connect with her on Instagram for more travel tips and insights.

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Measles is an extremely contagious viral infection that can lead to serious complications like pneumonia, brain swelling, and even death in some cases. The virus spreads through coughing and sneezing and can linger in the air and on surfaces for up to 2 hours after an infected person leaves an area. About 90% of unvaccinated people will contract measles if exposed.

The health department was quick to reassure the public that they do not believe there is an ongoing threat at the airport. However, they advise that anyone who was present in Terminal A West during the stated timeframe should review their measles immunity. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect against measles.

Who is at risk after a public measles exposure?

The people at highest risk during a public measles exposure like this one are unvaccinated infants under 12 months old, unvaccinated pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems. These individuals can develop serious or even deadly complications from measles and should consult their doctor immediately if they were present during the exposure timeframe.

In addition, anyone born after 1957 who has not had measles before or received two doses of the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine should speak with their healthcare provider about getting vaccinated. People in this group may be at risk if they have not confirmed their immunity.

What to do if you may have been exposed

The health department offered the following recommendations for travelers who may have crossed paths with the infected passenger at Philadelphia International Airport on May 31st:

• Confirm measles immunity with your healthcare provider. Adults born before 1957 and those who’ve received two MMR vaccine doses or had lab-confirmed measles previously are considered immune.
• If you cannot confirm immunity, receive an MMR booster shot within 72 hours of exposure to gain protection. Speak to your doctor right away.
• Infants under 12 months old, pregnant women, and immunocompromised people potentially exposed should consult their doctor immediately even if they’ve been vaccinated. Extra precautions may be needed.
• Wear a surgical mask in indoor public places and avoid contact with unvaccinated people until June 21st. Measles symptoms typically appear 7-21 days after exposure.
• Monitor for early symptoms like high fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes followed by a blotchy rash and contact your doctor immediately so appropriate isolation precautions can be taken. Also notify the health department.

This warning comes amidst a resurgence of measles across the United States after elimination was declared in 2000. Several major outbreaks have occurred this year, highlighting the risks posed when vaccination rates decline in communities. Health officials are working urgently to contain spread and protect vulnerable groups through public alerts like this one. They also emphasize the proven safety and lifesaving benefits of widespread measles vaccination. I sincerely hope you find this “Philadelphia Airport Measles Warning – What You Need to Know” article helpful.

Skylar Lacey

Skylar Lacey, a Travel and Tourism Management graduate from Temple University, offers 5 years of experience in travel writing and airport logistics at PhiladelphiaAirport.net. Her expertise helps travelers make the most of their journeys through Philadelphia International Airport. Connect with her on Instagram for more travel tips and insights.

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