EA at Tampa

[MacMaam]

Hi, getting ready to leave Tuesday (yeah, finally). Can anyone yell me where the EA is at Tampa. We are arriving with United so I wanted to make sure I went to the right area. TIA

Shelli

 

[Poly Pal]

Don't mean to discourage you but finding the garage at the Tampa Airport was very confusing! We asked 3 separate people (porters & security people), none of whom could give clear directions. The only Car Rental signs you'll see will take you to the counters. from there you are on your own. It took us nearly 30 minutes to find the EA AFTER we had picked up our luggage. And the EA in Tampa was awful! (Watch out for the husky woman with bad skin and greasy hair pulled back tight - if she still has a job!) Our experience was so bad National refunded 25% of our rental charge.

Hope you have a better experience than we had. Have a great trip!

 

[MacMaam]

I know where to find the National Counter. Is the EA across the street outside? TIA. I have read about some people having problems. I think I will call National from my hotel if I have any problems and see what happens. Being optimistic, I hope I have as good an experience as I had with them last July. PolyPal, what time did you get there last time when you had your unpleasant experience? We are getting ther at 1130 am. Maybe she works a different (she said hopefully).

 

[Gillian]

I didn't experience any unpleasant people, but it was a bit of a hike.

There is only 1 EA, although there are 2 national counters. I'm not sure which side (red or blue) the EA is on, so after you get your luggage you can ask at the national counter. I came in on US Air & it was on the other side.

If your luggage comes in on the wrong side of the terminal you will have to go up one floor from baggae claim, walk straight across to the other set of elevators, go back down to the baggage claim level & then go outside to the EA. You can go out the doors right near the elevators, cross the street & look for the signs.

It was all full size & mid size in march. I really liked the Mitsubishi Galant I got.

 

[MacMaam]

Thank you so much Gillian. So if I come in the same terminal as US Airways I know I need to go to the other side. A little nervous this time. Traveling with 4 kids (well 2 are teenagers) and no hubby (activated and gone) so I am trying to know what's where. Again thanks

 

[Poly Pal]

MacMaam,

We arrived on Delta around 10:30 in the morning last August. Yes you can go to the National counter and wait in line to ask where the EA is. But it has always been a loooong line. Trouble with Tampa is that the signage is almost non-existent. We did not find the EA until around 11:00 a.m. Why anyone would design an airport terminal where you have to go up, across, and then down to get to the rental car garage is a frustrating mystery to me.

One way to solve the problem is to hire a porter in baggage claim to take you and your luggage to the car. We've done that before and trust me the $10.00 tip was worth it to avoid the aggravation!

Also, the selection on the EA was not good and most of the cars were dirty (at least on the outside). Hope you have much better luck. (I'm flying into Tampa on Monday (tomorrow) for work and will be renting from Avis.) Have a great trip!