Tampa Immigration?

[Bonnie151]

I've just been reading through the horrors of the immigration queue at MCO! Has anyone flown into Tampa instead of Orlando and if so, what was the queue like there? We're going over in Oct - Gatwick to Tampa. DH will get to come through the US citizen line with the kids and me, but MIL will likely be stuck going through the non-citizen line!

 

[Kevin Stringer]

Flown into Tampa a couple of times and it was quick and efficient on both occasions.
Of course, that doesn't mean it will be every time, but they certainly don't have the throughput that Orlando has. Hopefully you will be ok.

Kev

 

[Bonnie151]

Oh that's good to hear. The time we flew via Sanford it wasn't too bad- by the time DH and I got the bags, FIL/MIL were through immigration. Am hoping for the same scenario this time.

 

[cliveywolves]

Yep we have done Tampa, Orlando & Miami can be nightmares the past few years, Orlando being the worse by far !! Tampa we have done twice and was not to bad and by far the best for us was Sanford

 

[wayneg]

Been thru Tampa 2 or 3 times but arrived indirect having done immigration elsewhere.
Its a great little airport. I believe they still only have 1 flight a day from UK to deal with (BA) but they will have less staff than MCO.

 

[ford family]

We use Tampa a great deal. It is a good airport, much friendlier than MCO or MIA. Between the plane and the Immigration desks there is usually a sniffer beagle searching for food such as fruit or meat. Once in the hall, the "foreigners" line moves fairly slowly but it well marshalled. It is not unusual to get through the line only to have to wait for the luggage to come off!
I would recommend sitting as far forward in the plane as you can and then move swiftly along the corridors if you want to minimise your queueing time. Also, after customs, don't put your luggage on the conveyor belt but, instead, take it with you on the train to the terminal.

ford family

 

[Bonnie151]

Thanks guys. I really do like Tampa as well. It tends to be much less expensive for us (flying from Glasgow) to fly to than Orlando and DH actually enjoys the drive even though it's longer. We've always flown indirect via Philly to date so this will be our first time going through immigration at Tampa.

 

[Magic Megadegs]

Great to read as we fly into Tampa in August x