Our Review of Tampa Airport

Table of contents: Our Review of Tampa Airport Pros and Cons of Tampa Airport Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide) How we calculate On Time Performance Some Stats

Our Review of Tampa Airport

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Pros and Cons of Tampa Airport

PROS

Location: Tampa international airport is located 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Downtown Tampa, in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. Travelers traveling to and from Tampa and the neighboring areas will find it easily accessible due to the short distance to the city center.

Hub: Tampa Airport works as a hub for Silver Airways and a focus city for Breeze Airways and Frontier Airlines. It operates both domestic and international flights.

Modern and Clean Facilities: TPA is known for its modern, clean, and well-maintained facilities. The airport offers a wide range of shops, restaurants, and lounges, catering to both business and leisure travelers.

Efficiency: TPA is known for its effective operations, which include fast luggage handling and minimal lines at security inspections during off peak travel time. The structure and architecture of the airport help to ensure a seamless and easy traveler experience.

Parking Options: The airport provides free shuttle service along with a number of parking choices, including economy, long-term, and short-term parking. To enhance convenience, valet parking is offered.

Family-Friendly Amenities: TPA provides amenities like pet relief areas and play areas for children, making it a family-friendly airport.

CONS

Seasonal Crowding: TPA may get congested during periods of high travel demand, which might result in higher wait times and a more crowded environment.

Transfer between Satellites: Although, each satellite is connected by monorail (elevated people mover) to the Main Terminal. Monorail is out of service on Mondays between 12:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. So, travelers who are traveling on Monday should be prepared for it.

Security Wait Times: During peak travel periods, security wait times can be longer, despite the airport’s overall efficiency. This can be a source of frustration for travelers in a hurry.

Weather Disruptions: Tampa’s location in Florida makes it susceptible to weather-related disruptions, which can cause delays and cancellations, especially during hurricane season.

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

Terminals: Tampa International Airport has a single main terminal connected to four airsides satellite structures (A, C, E, F) connected with automated people movers. Make sure you are aware of the airside from where your flight takes off, as they all serves to different airlines and locations.

Transport to and from TPA: The city and the surrounding areas are well-connected to the airport. Public buses, taxis, rental automobiles, and ride-sharing services are available transportation options. Tampa’s downtown is regularly served by HART’s Route 30 bus. Ride-sharing or taxis are advised for the most reliable and direct service, particularly if you arrive late at night or have large luggage.

Transfer to gates: From the level 3 of the main terminal it is possible to transfer straight to A gates 1 to 18, C gates 30 to 45, E gates 62 to 75 and F gates 77 to 90.

Dining and Shopping: TPA has a huge selection of eating and retail establishments. There are several stores, cafés, and restaurants at the main terminal and each airside. The airport is filled with public art exhibits that you shouldn’t miss.

Family-Friendly Facilities: The airport caters well to families, offering children’s play areas, nursing rooms, and family restrooms. The facilities ensure a comfortable experience for travelers with young children.

Lounges: There are several lounges available for travelers, including the American Airlines Admirals Club, Delta Sky Club, and USO Tampa Bay Welcome Center. These lounges offer food, refreshments, and comfortable seating areas, providing a relaxing environment while you wait for your flight.

Additional Services & Tips:

There is free Wi-Fi available all around the airport.
Use the SkyConnect train to go between the main terminal, economy parking, and the rental car facility for quick and simple airport transportation.
For domestic travel, arrive at least two hours before your flight; for international travel, arrive at least three hours in advance to give yourself enough time for security and check-in.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation