Air Travel to Tampa

Air Travel To Tampa International Airport

Air Travel to Tampa International Airport will usually get you a better priced airfare, but then you’ll have to drive to Sarasota, about 75 minutes on I-275 South, across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, then onto I-75 south, to Sarasota.
But, this is not a bad thing since cheap flights to Tampa are regularly available if you book early; the bonus in driving to Sarasota is that you get a very beautiful and scenic drive across Tampa Bay and at five and a half miles in length, you get to drive over the world’s longest cable-stayed concrete bridge, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge (there’s a one dollar toll to cross).

Tampa International Airport, while a large Metropolitan airport is still quite easy to find your way around. Upon your arrival in the Airside of the airport you will shuttle to the transfer level, level 3, on a tram, where you may meet those who may be awaiting your arrival or simply proceed to the baggage claim area one level below. (Non-ticketed guests are not allowed to the Airsides. Visitors meeting incoming passengers may wait on the Transfer Level at the shuttle exit). From there, you simply pick up your luggage.

If you have a rental car reservation awaiting you, the rental counters are situated nearby across the walkway in the Red Baggage Claim Area and across the walkway in the Blue Baggage Claim Area.

Sunshine Skyway Bridge Tampa Bay

Once on the road, it’s off to Sarasota. Simply follow the signs out of the airport and then follow I-275 south through the Tampa and then the St. Pete area. There are numerous other Interstate junctions along the route that can become confusing, but not as long as you pay attention that you’re following I-275 south. A few miles after crossing the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, I-275 south will merge into I-75 south, which you then simply follow on to Sarasota.

Tarmac and trams at Tampa International Airport

Air travel to Tampa Bonus: In October, 2008 Conde nast Traveler Magazine reported the results of a survey in which their business travel readers voted Tampa International Airport their second favorite airport in the United States.

In this survey U.S. Airports were ranked on such things as: location and access, ease of connections, customs and baggage handling, food, shops and other amenities, comfort and design and safety and security. In the survey, TPA ranked above all others in the categories of "ease of connections, comfort and design."

Trams at Tampa International Airport

Airlines that fly to Tampa International Airport:

Air Canada
Air Tran
American Airlines
British Airways
Cayman Airways
Continental
Delta
Freedom Airlines
Frontier
Jet Blue
KLM
Midwest
Northwest
Southwest
Spirit
Ted
United
US Airways
WestJet

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