TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Leaders at Tampa International Airport are preparing for the follow-up to last year’s record-breaking Thanksgiving rush.
The holiday travel period runs from Thursday through December 2.
This year they’re expecting 80,000 passengers per day. The number jumps to nearly 86,000 travelers on Sunday, the busiest day of the 13-day period.
Last year an official at TPA said, “Do your research before you come to the airport. This is a time of year that we see people traveling that don’t travel all year. Some people haven’t traveled in years and that can be very frustrating to people who are frequent travelers through the airport.”
They suggest the following tips for individuals heading to the airport during the coming days.
- Ride-share and travelers with only carry-on baggage should use Blue Express curbsides
- Several construction projects including shuttle replacement could slow down security lines
- Book parking ahead of time to ensure a spot and avoid an overflow lot
“You will have to take a bus and, again, that’s when we really stress, especially if you don’t have a reservation. Get here early so you have enough time to park and get where you need to go,” one TPA official previously explained.
TPA recommends arriving 2 hours early for domestic flights, and 3 hours early for international travel. Another suggestion is to check for delays with your airline prior to arriving at the airport.
Officials at TPA will provide more information about the upcoming travel holiday, on Wednesday morning.