After a record May and peak days now exceeding pre-pandemic levels, Tampa International Airport now is experiencing a busy summer. As always, though, TPA aims to make the passenger experience as pleasant and smooth as possible.
Here are some tips for those planning to take to the skies in the upcoming weeks:
ORDER AHEAD: Tampa International Airport offers advance online booking for its parking garages. It’s always cheaper to book online, and also guarantees you’ll be able to park in the garage of your choice even during peak travel times.
Think you’ll arrive hungry? The Airport also offers mobile food ordering through TPA to Go, allowing you to order food from any airside and have it delivered straight to your gate. Or pre-order and then skip the lines and pick up your order at the counter or restaurant without waiting.
ARRIVE EARLY: While TPA is known for quick and easy security lines, peak busy days could throw a wrench in those expectations. Avoid the stress of nearly missing a flight – or worse, watching your plane back away as you’re running toward the gate – and plan to get to the Airport at least two hours before departure, or three hours for international flights.
SAIL THROUGH SECURITY: For anyone planning to travel more than once or twice a year, TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are your friends. TSA recently announced that in April 2022, 94 percent of PreCheck passengers nationwide waited less than five minutes at checkpoints. International passengers with Global Entry going through Customs can enjoy less paperwork and greatly reduced lines, a relief after a long-haul flight.
CHOOSE EXPRESS: For passengers traveling without checked luggage, TPA offers a streamlined drop-off and pick-up experience at the recently opened Blue Express Curbsides. Drivers can follow the road signs to Express Departures for less curbside congestion. Passengers can go straight up to the Transfer Level. And arriving passengers bypassing the baggage claim crowds can head down to the Express Arrivals curbs to wait for their rides – including rideshare apps Lyft and Uber, which already “recognize” these new locations.
For information about TPA, including flight status, ground transportation, restaurants, nonstop routes and more, visit www.tampaairport.com.
Written by: Tampa International Airport
