Tampa Bay Airports Offer Tips to Ease Thanksgiving Travel Stress

TAMPA BAY, FL — As the holiday travel season heats up, Tampa International Airport is preparing to see as many as 75,000 to 80,000 passengers on peak days during the Thanksgiving period, one of its busiest times of the year.

Some days will see higher passenger numbers than during the pre-pandemic 2019 holiday period as travelers continue to book their first plane tickets in years, reported airport officials.

Overall, TPA expects an average of 70,000 passengers a day over the 12-day holiday period, up from the daily average of approximately 55,000 passengers in recent months. The busiest days will be the Saturdays and Sundays before and after Thanksgiving.

Travelers and those picking them up should be aware that higher volumes could mean more road congestion, fewer parking spaces and longer lines upon arrival at TPA, particularly on peak weekend days.

TPA has the following tips to help make the airport experience seamless for Thanksgiving flyers.

• Choose Express. Traveling with carry-on luggage only? The Blue Express Curbsides are an easy, breezy alternative to the regular departures and arrival curbs and allow those who don’t need to stop at the ticketing or baggage claim levels to get in and out of the Main Terminal more easily and quickly. Drivers can follow the signage to Express for a less-crowded drop-off and pick-up experience.
• Plan ahead for parking. TPA offers online booking for parking, which has discounted pricing on its short-term, long-term and dconomy garages, some of which may reach capacity during peak days. Online bookings also help TPA anticipate demand and manage its garage space availability, making parking life easier for everyone.
• Avoid circling. Circling the roadways or lingering at the curbs is not allowed, so drivers picking up passengers should use the Cell Phone Waiting Lot, which has restrooms and free Wi-Fi, as well as information boards listing flight arrival times. Once a passenger is ready and at the curb, his or her driver can get there in a flash without adding unnecessary traffic to TPA’s roadways.
• Arrive early. Holiday crowds can move at a different pace as a lot of first-time flyers, elderly travelers and families take to the skies. Plan to arrive at the airport no later than two hours before departure, or three if you’re traveling internationally.
• Skip the lines. You already know you’re going to need a snack or a caffeine fix once you get to TPA. Why not order ahead and have your latte or burger waiting for you when you arrive? Customers can use either TPA To Go or the Starbucks mobile app to order and pay, then swing by the counter and pick up the food or drinks without standing in line.
• Check your pockets. Jams and jellies, cranberry sauce, gravy, bottles of wine and other Thanksgiving treats are commonly confiscated at TSA checkpoints, along with the usual prohibited items such as knives and firearms. To keep things flowing smoothly through screening, be sure to check your pockets and carry-on luggage before leaving the house.

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is preparing for an equally busy holiday season.

October continued the airport's monthly passenger increases over 2021. Already this year, the number of passengers at PIE was up 24 percent over 2021.

PIE offers the following tips to keep airport travel stress-free:

• Consider getting a ride to PIE. PIE is experiencing record-breaking growth and parking options are limited at the airport. The airport expects its long-term parking to close on Monday, economy lots to fill to capacity on Wednesday and the overflow lot is also expected to reach capacity.
• 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.
• Allow ample travel time to 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 for 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 are only allowed at curbside in front of terminal and drivers must remain with their vehicles at all times. No curbside waiting is allowed.
• Plan to arrive two hours before your scheduled flight departure time (three hours for international flights) 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. Also check with the airline for carry-on luggage requirements and sizes.
• Check with your airline for updated flight information.
• Request wheelchair assistance directly from your airline. Wheelchair assistance is provided from check-in to boarding and from the aircraft to baggage claim.

Transportation Security Administration Travel Tips

• 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 here.
• 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 and 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 and 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.