Tampa Arrival

[swanrest]

Can anyone please advise me of the arrivals procedure for Tampa Airport, I am familiar with the procedure at Sanford and Orlando but have not flown into Tampa before, which airport is it similar to, if any. We are flying with BA and using Alamo rental, any information would be helpful, thank you in adavance.

[Orlando 2004]

Tampa is a lovely airport but you might want to read this thread as it seems like things have changed in the last few weeks with a new car rental centre.
https://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/sho... php?t=1067222

[swanrest]

Thanks for the tip, I wish it was as fast as the clip! I was more interested in the whole processs of arrival, such as when do we collect baggage, do we use sky connect before the luggage or after is it close to the rental garage etc? Is the process fast or laborious?

[archibald]

The arrivals process will be the same as any other airport for immigration, luggage, customs etc. Car hire used to be right outside the terminal, but now you get a tram to it instead. Just get off the plane and follow everyone else/the signs, and there's always staff to ask if you're struggling. The car hire tram thing is quite new, so probably not a lot of people with experience of it just yet, how long until you travel?

[swanrest]

Thanks for the reply I travel late May so hopefully time for other dibbers to share their experience

[Eccle]

We flew into Tampa just over 2 weeks ago. Immigration was much easier and quicker than Orlando. We were at the front of economy and think it was about 15 min from arriving in the hall to the baggage carousel, our friends were the very last off because of a sleeping child and took about 30 min.

We used Avis and had signed up to Avis preferred so bypassed the queue at the desk and went straight to the garage. We were just before the new car centre opened so didn't use it on arrival and just walked across to the garage.

We landed a bit late I think around 5.45, and got to Windsor Hills at 8.30 (and were a bit delayed after our toddler tried to open the door just after we drove off, and we had to find somewhere to pull off). Without that and our friends being slower to immigration it would probably have been around 8.

[1973jk]

We fly into TPA in July, have booked through Charter Travel so I assume we will have car hire through Alamo as that’s who they have always previously used. If so, can we still use Alamo Savetime online check-in prior to arrival at TPA as we have done at MCO in the past?

[fredflintstone]

When you arrive at Tampa you go through immigration and normally just like Sanford you are the only flight arriving. You then collect your luggage (carts available) and go through customs. You then get on the monorail/tram to the centre of the airport (the airport has satelitte areas connected by monorail. You get on with your luggage and cart. There are no stairs in this section like Orlando and it is similar to Sanford other than having to get the link to the central hub. Don't forget anything as you will not be able to go back once you leave the satelitte. At the central hub you will now need to get the lift upto the monorail to take you to the car centre. Again you can take your luggage on the cart.

Relatively simple and easier than MCO but now not as easy as Sanford.

[welshwiz]

Lots of detailed information above but just to add that the new skyconnect monorail to the garage is very easy to use we went up escalators with our cases but theres lifts too and there are greeter staff directing you at each stage feels like being in Disney! The staff are very visible, happy and helpful; they seem super proud of their new toy. Outbound was very smooth with empty monorail and we went straight to the garage with Avis preferred. Homebound it was a bit of tight squeeze on the monorail at about 5 p.m. but they are very frequent. We we told to walk around to the other side of the platform but when the tram stopped both sets of doors opened and people got on from both sides at the car rental centre. We preferred the old set up but you can't stop progress I suppose. Immigration is a breeze, there are automatic machines too. Good food options homebound too e.g. Hard Rock which is near skyconnect. Security line homebound also much quicker than MCO. Think BA' s usual gate is F90 so through security then turn left and it's thd last gate (usually).

[swanrest]

Thanks all for your replies I feel much better now having read info from dibbers who have used the airport