Summer Travel Tips Offered By St. Pete-Clearwater Airport Passengers

CLEARWATER, FL — As the airport enters the busy Fourth of July weekend, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is offering travel tips to those who plan to fly from or to the airport this summer.

Consider getting a ride to PIE. For available transportation services, check here. Parking options are limited at the airport and airport officials all parking lots to fill to capacity this weekend.

Complimentary shuttle service is 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 open when needed and accepts credit and debit cards only when exiting.

No overnight parking is allowed in short-term parking. Once all parking lots are closed, no additional parking is available at the airport. Limited options are available at some nearby hotels on a first-come, first-served basis and are listed on the website along with parking information, rates and maps. For information on Disabled Parking, click here.

Allow ample travel time to reach the airport. Shuttles operating to and from the economy parking Lots may experience delays due to traffic congestion or construction activity. The Florida Department of Transportation Gateway Express Project is under construction on the roadways surrounding the airport. Check updates here.

Picking up passengers? Use the free cell phone lot to await your party until they are curbside with their luggage. Active loading and unloading is only available at curbside in front of the terminal and remain with your vehicle at all times. No curbside is waiting allowed.

Plan to arrive two hours before your scheduled flight departure time and check your 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 plane is ready to board. Check with the airline for carry-on luggage requirements and sizes.

Monitor and check with your airline for updated flight information.

Request wheelchair assistance directly from your airline. Wheelchair assistance is provided from check-in to boarding the aircraft and from aircraft to baggage claim.

Pack smart; start with empty bags. Airline passengers who pack for travel with empty bags are less likely to bring prohibited items through a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint. Check for prohibited items by using the “What Can I Bring?” page on TSA.gov.

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 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, on 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.

PIE's Financial Impact

The Florida Department of Transportation has published its 2022 Florida Statewide Aviation Economic Impact Study. The full report and individual airport economic impact reports online.

According to the study, St Pete-Clearwater International Airport generates 3.4 billion in total economic impact, creating 20,774 direct and indirect jobs earning $1 billion in payroll.

This includes direct impacts of 9,014 jobs earning $570 million in payroll and generating a total economic impact of $1.93 billion. Visitor spending impacts generate an additional 11,760 jobs, $451 million in payroll and a total economic impact of over $1.4 billion.

“PIE has experienced tremendous growth in destinations and passengers," St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport Director Tom Jewsbury said. "This growth results in substantial economic impact to our community. We strive to create a customer-friendly, safe and efficient airport that supports the economic growth of Pinellas County and the Tampa Bay region.”

In May, the airport had 202,998 departures and landings, adding to the total number this year of 1,039,556 flights. This represents an increase of 1.5 percent over 2022.