How to navigate through the new Portland airport main terminal [Video]

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland International Airport underwent a radical overnight transformation in the early hours of Wednesday morning, with ticketing counters, security checkpoints and exit lanes all moving to brand-new homes inside the sprawling new main terminal building.

The wide-open space below the nine-acre mass timber roof is a great place for dining, exploring or just taking in the outdoorsy vibe, but at some point, travelers flying out of PDX will have to find their way out to their gates.

If there’s one thing the folks at PDX want to stress, it’s that travelers should arrive early — because while the new layout is designed to be more modern, efficient and even fun, it’s still going to be unfamiliar.

Here’s how it all works:

Checking in

The old check-in and baggage counters ran along the front length of the terminal, facing the arrival doors. The first big change travelers will …