TAMPA INT'L AIRPORT review : 22 December 2008 : by M Neave

Customer Rating : 5/5

As a regular visitor to Florida Tampa is my favourite airport to fly in and out of, only BA fly here direct from the UK and it is a shame more UK carriers dont. Clearing immigration customs and picking up luggage with minimum delay unlike Orlando or Miami airports, also car rental facilities are good and exiting the airport is easy on the Interstate. Facilities are good to with first class shops restaurants and bars, only one annoyance why you have to show ID to buy an alcoholic drink even though you are obviously over 21.

TAMPA INT'L AIRPORT review : 13 December 2008 : by J Sabaduquia

Customer Rating : 5/5

Tampa Airport was a hidden beauty!! Very big, clean, and welcoming airport. With friendly staffs and countless amount of stores, restaurants and seating. We arrived from JFK and the arrival was smooth. The arrival lobby was huge! When we departed security was fast with friendly smiles. Lots of restaurants in the departure lounges. Can't believe that only 1 european flight operates in Tampa. Tampa Airport is comparable to Singapore Changi and Hong Kong Airport as well as other 5 stars airport however Tampa is not really a big city.

TAMPA INT'L AIRPORT review : 9 November 2008 : by S Harrill

Customer Rating : 5/5

This has been my home airport for five years and TPA is a dream and a gem of a US airport. Very efficient, friendly staff, well-planned and simple to maneuver, easy parking, close to downtown Tampa, decent non-stop access. Only small complaint are the food options in the terminals -- if you have a decent amount of time for a layover, I'd suggest going to the main terminal for better options, as security is (almost always) a breeze. Rarely, have I spent more than 10 minutes getting through security. Why, oh why, wouldn't some US airline make TPA a hub, or some European carrier expand here (we still only have the one BA flight for international, along with some Mexican/Caribbean/Canadian flights).

TAMPA INT'L AIRPORT review : 9 October 2008 : by G McGowan

Customer Rating : 5/5

Excellent airport - bright, clean and well-signed. Major renovations have been done over the past few years and all of the cramped old airsides have been replaced. Security lines may get a bit long during peak periods but TSA staff is very efficient and they keep lines moving.

TAMPA INT'L AIRPORT review : 22 July 2008 : by M Saunders

Customer Rating : 4/5

Would endorse the 'hidden gem' comment about this airport. Couldl not believe how nice it was, especially compared to other US airports. Was just in transit so did not have to use check-in procedures, but the airport was extremely pleasant during my waiting time. It looked as though there were good food options, and the atmosphere of the whole place was airy, bright and welcoming.

Tampa International Airport review by T Atmore

1 April 2008   Customer Rating :

Tampa International was a pleasure. Very efficient sign-posting both inside and outside terminal building. Immigration was a breeze, through in no time. In taxi, with bags, within 35 minutes of landing. Departure was similar. Slight queue at check-in, due I think to difficulties with previous traveller. Security was swift, with smiling staff! International Club Lounge very pleasant, with lovely, friendly staff. At the departure gate, we purchased some last-minute duty free items. We paid and were advised that our items would be waiting at the gate for us. We wondered how as the gate was less than 30 yards away, and we were priority boarding, i.e. immediately. But true enough. I don't know how they managed it, but the items were there waiting for us! Excellent service.

Tampa International Airport review by Patrick Neill

27 March 2008   Customer Rating :

This is an efficient and reliable US airport I actually enjoy going back to. The atmosphere is very relaxed and laid back. People are friendly. In addition Airport management obviously cares for the details as evidenced by such new amenities as free WIFI or a parking lot with arrival displays for cars waiting to pick up passengers. The only pity is that there is only one single international flight to Europe (on BA to Gatwick with spotty transfer efficiency and choices in Gatwick). I think that this hidden gem of an US airports would deserve more international traffic to Europe and could become an alternative for those wanting to avoid the other airports on the US East Coast. How about direct flights to Zurich or Munich. Both offer many onward connections and are far less crowded and overloaded than say London, Frankfurt or Paris.

Tampa International Airport review by Mike Gardiner

20 April 2007   Customer Rating : n/a

Arrived here for an Easter break with my family on the excellent BA service from London Gatwick. While we stood in line for immigration, a charming gentleman walked along the line to check passengers' visa waiver forms, which seems like a good idea to avoid problems at the desk. When he spotted that both our children have microchipped passports he directed us to special (short) lines for these, thereby bypassing the main wait. We were then further taken directly through the US citizens' line, since there was no-one else there, and processed by a very cheerful and pleasant officer. With all the bad stuff that one reads about the treatment of visitors at some US airports, it's great to report that TPA manages courtesy and efficiency. I can't beat Nick Jones' time, but 40 minutes from the full 777 arriving at the gate to our leaving the airport is still pretty impressive. Our return journey was equally smooth - full marks to TPA, a fine airport that we will choose to use if at all possible.

Tampa International Airport review by Nick Jones

4 April 2007

We flew into TPA on 6 March 2008 from UK. What a pleasant change after putting up with the horrors of MIA for many years. The immigration staff were pleasant and welcoming, the luggage arrived in no time and we were driving away in our rental car within 30 minutes of landing. Our departure was equally painless with very easy check in and no delays through security. Well done to all at TPA, we'll be back in 2008.

Tampa International Airport review by Mike Tan

3 August 2006

Tampa used to be a great airport, but it has declined rapidly in the past 10 years. Congestion in the parking areas and drop off/pick up is horrible. There are almost no international flights. The food quality near the gates is way below the standard of other airports. The bathrooms have not been updated in 20 years and are usually wet and dirty. Also, because of the increased number of flights, the red/blue system hardly works anymore and you usually have to walk a long, long way. The tram system works fine when they have both trams running, but they often don't. That causes long delays. Seems like Tampa airport managers are asleep at the wheel.

Tampa International Airport review by Edward Jones

8 April 2006

TPA is one of the better airports in the US, but am I the only person annoyed by the blaring rock music on their PA system? I had time to kill before a recent flight, and I found the noise pollution to be overwhelming. Though a non-smoker myself, I tried to take refuge in an outdoor smoking area near my gate, and there were loudspeakers there too! I wish they would turn down the volume, or better yet, turn off the music altogether.

Tampa International Airport review by Laurence Kevins

30 March 2006

The landside is a large building at the center of the airport, with curbside check-in around it. The ticketing level of the landside building is somewhat architecturally dated, but the baggage level is very nice and the baggage comes out very quickly. There are two baggage areas that are pretty much identical (opposite sides of the building). Rental cars are very convenient, in Red Baggage claim, it is inside the baggage area, on Blue Side it is directly across the street (40 feet away). The transfer level, where you catch the train to the airsides, is filled with a huge area of shopping and dining. All Airside buildings are less than 15 years old. (The last of the original 1978 ones was closed in April 2005) Airsides A was built in 1995, and is still in great condition. Airsides C and E were built within the past 3 years, and are very light and airy. Shopping and dining are everywhere, and security lines are always very quick.

Tampa International Airport review by Simon Wadleigh

11 January 2006

Having travelled through Tampa several times in the last year, it is rapidly becoming my favourite airport - comfortable, well designed and compact. Arrivals, with its separation into Red and Blue areas seems particularly efficient. The airside smoking areas are amazing!

Tampa International Airport review by Benjamin Tocchi

14 November 2004

For an airport of its size, Tampa is very well designed, hardly ever a line, easy to navigate, and plenty of seating at the gates. Only two complaints, (1) the monorails connecting the boarding terminals to the main terminal building can get extremely tight, and (2) the building's architectural design is rather dated.

Tampa International Airport review by Michael Sandler

28 September 2004

Wish all airports could be designed this well. The entire design of the airport seems to revolve around limiting walking distance and waiting time. I have never had to wait more then fifteen minutes in any line. Facilities at the airport are also top notch as well, however the Starbucks should open well prior to the first flight in the morning. Early morning flights require the availability of strong coffee, denying this is just inhumane.

Tampa International Airport review by Jeffrey D Sarver

3 November 2002

Tampa International has long been a much-admired and preferred airport in the USA. Its innovative use of short monorail connections to the 6 satellite terminals was an eye-opener to airport architects everywhere and has been subsequently copied in other cities, to great advantage to the traveller. No long walks (or runs) unless the airlines have not given enough transit times between connections involving other carriers in other terminals. As usual the passenger is advised to do a bit of homework before booking travel. The airlines just want your money and don't care if you miss a connection on another carrier and agents and discount internet sellers are completely free of all responsibility for missed connections. That, however, is the only downside to Tampa and it isn't really a large connecting airport, being mostly point-to-point travel. For travellers from Europe I highly recommend BA's 777 service nonstop from LGW though it may now be from LHR. Either way it's much less hassle than Miami or Atlanta, the planes are new and the customs relatively quick by comparison to the huge hubs one has to choose from. For convenience to the beautiful west-coast cities of Florida there is no better entry point than TPA. Excellent food sources, average shopping of the stuffed alligator variety and superb access in and out of the airport area. Parking and a nice hotel are right there on top of the main terminal. A hassle-free airport if ever there was one, barring the ubiquitous bureaucratic overkill at security checks. Hopefully that situation will change in North America after the public has had a nose-full of being treated like criminals just so some federal employee can meet a quota.






 

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