Every 15–20 minutes, Route 108 carries PHL staff and locals
SEPTA Bus Route 108 is the $2.00 (with SEPTA Key) workhorse link between Philadelphia International Airport and 69th Street Transportation Center, running through Southwest Philly and Eastwick. It is a regular city bus, not an airport coach, and most riders are airport employees heading to shifts at A-East through F rather than visitors with luggage.
The 108 stops directly outside each terminal from A-East/A-West through F on the outer roadway, with posted SEPTA signs and route numbers. You pay on board by tapping a SEPTA Key card or Travel Wallet for the $2.00 fare; exact cash is higher and loses you free transfers. Buses serve the airport loop in both directions, so check the headsign carefully for “69th Street Transportation Center” before you board.
Scheduled travel time from PHL to 69th Street is about 45–60 minutes, but Reddit riders note it can run longer during heavy traffic around Lindbergh Blvd and Eastwick. This is one of the few single-seat options from the airport to the western end of the Market–Frankford Line, and from 69th Street you can connect to the MFL toward University City and Center City in about 20–25 minutes.
Daytime frequency sits around every 15–20 minutes, with headways stretching later in the evening and overnight. Miss a late-night trip and you can add 30 minutes or more to your arrival, so regulars keep the SEPTA app open and compare the 108 against the Airport Line trains that run every 30 minutes.
Capacity is tight: airport workers report crowded buses during shift changes around early morning and late afternoon, with most seats taken before the coach even reaches the terminals. There are no luggage racks, and space for large suitcases is limited, so expect to stand and keep bags close during busy times between D/E, F, and Southwest Philadelphia stops.
Some riders flag typical big-city bus issues on the 108, including occasional antisocial behavior late at night and bunching when two trips show up back-to-back after a long gap. Locals sometimes board earlier in Southwest Philly rather than at the last pre-airport stop to lock in a seat before the bus fills with A-West and B/C staff.
- Step 1: Get a SEPTA Key card at PHL Regional Rail stations or major stops; load at least $2.00 in Travel Wallet.
- Step 2: From your terminal (A-East through F), follow signs to the outer curb and look for the “108 69th Street Transportation Center” bus stop.
- Step 3: When the bus arrives, confirm the destination on the headsign, board at the front door, and tap your SEPTA Key reader for the $2.00 fare.
- Step 4: Hold onto bags and be ready to stand; ride 45–60 minutes through Southwest Philly until the last stop at 69th Street Transportation Center.
- Step 5: At 69th Street, follow signs upstairs to the Market–Frankford Line platforms if you’re continuing toward Center City or University City.
Practical tip: if you land late and the app shows a long gap on the 108, compare total time and cost against the Airport Line and rideshare before committing to the bus stop curbside at B/C or D/E.