TAMPA, Fla. — Officials at the Tampa International Airport are urging travelers to arrive early and check their bags for prohibited items before they embark on their vacation.
With Memorial Day just a few days away, airport staff is gearing up for a surge of travelers this weekend and throughout the summer. Ben Robins, vice president of operations, said they expect 3.4 million passengers throughout the summer, which is about 4% more than last year.
Their summer season runs from now to about mid-August when many kids go back to school.
Here are a few tips from airport officials:
Arrive Early
Robins said that passengers should arrive at least two hours early for domestic flights and three hours for international flights so they have plenty of time to make their way through security and the terminal.
“Please don’t show up 20 minutes early,” he said.
He said there is lots of construction which means longer shuttle lines. Since it will be summertime, there will be thunderstorms so passengers should regularly check with their airline for any flight delays, he said.
People looking for a meal or a snack should use the Uber Eats app to order food ahead of time for pick up at TPAtoGo.com. Coffee lovers can also order ahead through the Starbucks app.
Parking/Drop-Off
Robins also urged travelers to book their parking in advance online at TampaAirport.com/Park.
For people being dropped off with only a carry-on, they should use the blue express curbs to skip the ticketing level and go straight to the gating level.
Check your bag
Charlie Vazquez, vice president of public safety and chief of police at the airport, said passengers need to check their bags for prohibited items before they head to the airport.
“Although it is a constitutional carry state in Florida, you cannot carry a firearm into a passenger terminal in an airport. It is a second-degree misdemeanor,” he said.
Passengers should also make sure they don’t have any ammunition or weapons.
If a person wants to bring their gun on the plane, it needs to be in a checked bag. All firearms have to be unloaded and in a locked, hard-sided case that is declared to the airline at check-in. Already in 2024, 27 improperly packed firearms have been found in checked luggage at Tampa International Airport, according to data provided by the TSA.
Besides weapons, people should also check for oversized liquid, which can slow down the security screening process if TSA agents have to look through your bag.
High volume of travelers already
Mark Howell, a TSA spokesperson, said the airport staff has been looking at the projected number of people and is hiring more people accordingly.
“We are fully staffed and ready,” he said.
The airport had the highest number of passengers on Sunday with more than 2.8 million people going through the airport.
