email : Webview : PDX People Weekly Update: March 15, 2021

Nancy Reyes Keeps Passengers Connected

Springtime is nearly here, but a holiday story to warm our hearts is welcome any time of year!

Alaska Airlines agent Nancy Reyes overheard a passenger telling another agent that he missed his flight on another airline and was unable to rebook as there were no other flights that day. The man very much wanted to get home to his family for Christmas – he was in the military so couldn’t always visit when he wanted – so he decided to purchase an entirely new ticket with Alaska.

Nancy whispered to her co-worker, "Here's my card – I'll pay for his ticket." As her colleague handed the man his boarding pass, she revealed that Nancy paid for his ticket. He was touched by the gesture and gave her a big (air) hug. Nancy told him that her son, who she misses greatly, is also in the military.

When asked later why Nancy was moved to so generously gift the ticket to this passenger she said, "It was a gift to myself to send this passenger home for Christmas. He was very surprised and thankful and I just explained to him since I can't be with my son for Christmas, I paid for his ticket so he can be with his loved ones."

To recognize airport employees who truly stand out as extraordinary, the quarterly PDX People Customer Service Awards ceremony was held on Jan. 26. You can watch the recording now or read the stories of our customer service champions.

You can also nominate an employee who embodies the PDX People values and serves as a shining example of great customer service – submit a nomination now.

Nominate a PDX Employee

PDX Excellence in Service Awards Honor Superstars

You've heard of the PDX Excellence in Service Awards – the annual event where we honor our customer service Superstars – and you might recall how last year's festivities were canceled at the onset of the pandemic. While we were able to honor our 2020 winners with a roadway event, we knew we needed to find a safe way to host a special celebration for our 2021 Superstars.

As the sun set on Friday, a giant movie screen rose up on the seventh floor of the short-term parking garage and the very first PDX Excellence in Service Awards drive-in movie began! Our Superstars settled in to watch a program created just for them, with a thank you video featuring local Portland leaders and an awards ceremony with joyful honking in lieu of applause. The feature film? Spiderman: Into the Spider-verse – a superhero movie for Superstars, of course!

It was an evening full of smiles and camaraderie as PDX People proved that – even in the midst of a pandemic, staying six feet apart and in separate cars – we are still in this together. Stay tuned next week when we'll share more about this event and spotlight some of our winners!

What's New with PDX Next: Concourse Connector Makes Move

Remember when we told you the Concourse Connector would be repurposed to make two new bypasses for employees and passengers to get safely around the main terminal construction? Well, that process is now underway and it's pretty exciting.

This major relocation comes with some changes to accommodate the process, including a staggered closure of the south and north trash nodes.

The south trash node closes Tuesday, March 16 at 11:59 p.m. and reopens Friday, March 19 at 4 p.m. A dumpster will be placed on the ramp near Gate C6 for use during the closure.
The north trash node closes Tuesday, March 23 at 11:59 p.m. and reopens Friday, March 26 at 4 p.m. A dumpster will be placed on the ramp near Gate D3 for use during the closure.

Another result of the Concourse Connector relocation is an adjustment to the roadway where vehicles access the bag road on the south side of the terminal. This reroute will be in place from Wednesday, March 17 to Friday, March 19 to keep vehicles safely outside of the work area.

Want to know what else is new with PDX Next? We'll keep you in the know on the PDX employee website, where we post project updates every month. Have questions or suggestions about construction? Email hello@pdxnext.com.

Clocktower Plaza Closing Celebration

During the week of March 21, we'll bid a fond farewell to Clocktower Plaza with several pop-up events in partnership with Tillamook. Drop by, enjoy a sample and say goodbye to a PDX landmark!

Keep an eye on the PDX People website where we'll share details about the upcoming festivities, PDX People events and more.

Blood Drives Continue, Though Not at PDX

PDX has long been the site of blood drives coordinated by both Bloodworks NW and the American Red Cross. With coronavirus restrictions, we’re not currently hosting these drives, but the community need continues.

If you’re interested in donating blood – a safe and essential action to support local hospitals and patients – there are plenty of opportunities to do so. Find a nearby donor center, make an appointment, bring your mask and let them know you’re donating with PDX. To get started, visit the Bloodworks NW or Red Cross websites.

Questions About the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine? We Have Answers

We're sharing a variety of helpful articles and resources to ensure you stay informed about COVID-19 vaccines, an important tool to help stop the pandemic and drive economic recovery.

This week, we're focusing on the newest vaccine authorized by the Food and Drug Administration, made by Johnson & Johnson. Unlike the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, it can be stored for up to three months at regular refrigerator temperatures, so it's easier to distribute. Plus, you're fully vaccinated after just one dose.

This NPR story dives into how it works, how long it takes for protection to kick in, side effects and whether or not two doses are better than one.

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