4th Of July Travel Tips For St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport

CLEARWATER, FL — Anticipating an increased demand for air travel, St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport has hired and trained additional staff for the busy Fourth of July weekend.

Here are some tips for those who plan to fly this weekend:

• Consider getting a ride to PIE. The airport expects its long-term parking and economy lots to fill to capacity and will be directing vehicles to park in an overflow lot when these are full.
• A complimentary shuttle will be provided between the economy lots and the terminal. The Key Lime Economy Lot is the primary economy lot and the Strawberry PIE Lot will be available as needed and accepts credit and debit cards only when exiting. No overnight parking is allowed in short-term parking. For parking info and maps, check here.
• Active loading and unloading is allowed only at curbside in front of the terminal. A free cell phone lot is available to await your party when they are curbside with their luggage.
• The Florida Department of Transportation Gateway Express Project is under construction on the roadways surrounding the airport. Allow travel time and check updates here.
• More information, along with a terminal map, parking map and airline websites are located on the PIE website.
• Plan to arrive two hours before your scheduled flight departure time and check departure gate. PIE has two separate gate areas, 2-6 and 7-11, that are not connected, so make sure you are at your correct gate 30 minutes before the flight is ready to board. Check with the airline for carry-on luggage requirements and sizes. For Transportation Security Administration travel tips, click here.
• Pack smart. Start with empty bags. Airline passengers who pack for travel with empty bags are less likely to bring prohibited items through a TSA checkpoint. Check for prohibited items by using the “What Can I Bring?” page on the TSA website.
• Know before you go. Plan to arrive at the airport in plenty of time to check in, check bags and complete security screening in time to avoid stressful sprints to the departure gate. At the TSA checkpoint, have a valid ID card readily available and follow the liquids rule of 3.4 ounces or less, except for hand sanitizer, which has a temporary 12-ounce limit in carry-on baggage.
• Contact the TSA for help if there are questions or concerns. Those who are preparing to travel and may have special circumstances, considerations or general questions about airport screening can get live assistance by tweeting questions and comments to @AskTSA or via Facebook Messenger, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on weekends/holidays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can also call the TSA Contact Center at 866-289-9673.
• TSA also offers TSA Cares, a helpline for travelers with disabilities, medical conditions and other special circumstances. You may submit a request for assistance by calling TSA Cares at 855-787-2227, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., and on weekends/holidays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. TSA Cares is open 365 days a year. Passengers may also use the TSA Cares form available on the TSA website.
• Enroll now in TSA PreCheck® to “Travel with Ease.” By enrolling in TSA PreCheck, airline passengers can avoid removing shoes, belts, liquids, food, laptops and light jackets at the TSA checkpoint. Most new enrollees receive their known traveler number within five days, and membership lasts for five years. Nationally in April, 94 percent of TSA PreCheck passengers waited less than five minutes at the checkpoint. At PIE, it’s 100 percent.
• Face masks are optional but recommended. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends face masks for passengers ages 2 and older in indoor areas of public transportation and transportation hubs as an effective precaution for those who seek to avoid exposure to COVID-19 in higher-risk public spaces. The CDC has health recommendations for domestic travel during COVID-19 and international travel on its website.