When to arrive @ Airport? BNA & TPA

[Epscot]

We are flying on Northwest from Nashville into Tampa for our October trip because the airfare was $50 less per person than any carrier/flight into MCO. I've not flown anywhere in more than a year, so I'm looking for some advice from someone familiar with one or both of these airports. Our flight from BNA leaves on a Sat at 11 AM CDT. Our return flight leaves TPA on a Sun at 10:10 AM EDT.

I know the airlines say arrive 2 hrs before departure, but we will have a 5 yr old & a 1 yr old with us and don't want to have to entertain them for 1.5 hrs in the airport if it isn't necessary. Does anyone have a feel for how much in advance we should arrive at either/both of these airports for our flights. We plan to use the skycaps to check our luggage curbside and online check-in for our seats.

Thanks to all who have alleviated my concerns about flying into TPA. Although I like MCO, I'm actually looking forward to flying into TPA this fall to compare the experiences.

 

[Epscot]

bump..

Surely someone on here has experience at one or both of these airports and can help me out. Thanks in advance.

 

[Epscot]

Bumping one more time to see if a kind soul is out there somewhere willing to share some advice.

 

[rlduvall]

Okay. I'm not sure if many people think I am a kind soul, lol, but here's my opinion. I know nothing about BNA. I live in Tulsa and we only get to the airport an hour before departure. The airport is so small and easy to handle. We have flown from TPA before and, in fact, are going to do that with our 4 year old in October because of the savings. TPA was very busy when we were then in September of 2001. This was about two weeks after 9/11 so chaos reigned. The lines were long for luggage check, but we went to the airline kiosk and checked our own luggage. (everyone should do this, it's incredibly fast) We then probably waited about 20 minutes in line to go through the metal detector. Soldiers were all around with their guns obvious. Again, 9/11 had just occurred. I don't think I have answered your question very well. One thing to check is when you fly into TPA. See how congested it is. If not too busy, I wouldn't worry. But, I would get there 1 1/2 hours before flight leaves. This is my first time to travel with my 4 year old, so I totally understand where you are coming from.

Edited: By the way, I have flown into both TPA and MCO. TPA was a great airport, as is MCO. The drive is only about 45 minutes extra because you are driving to that side of WDW anyway (does that make sense, lol).

 

[CarolA]

I fly out of Nashville all the time and normally arrive around 1 hour in advance with no problems (I have made it with 30 minutes, but I would not recommend that with kids and luggage! LOL!) I either skycap or Kiosk any luggage. The line for security is not normally very long and NW is the first set of gates past security. (We are talking a short walk from the entrance here!)

I am normally thru the whole process in under 10 minutes.

If you are using skycaps skip the on line check in. The online check in is for people not checking bags on most airlines (not sure about NW) and the skycaps in Nashville can print you the boarding passes.

Step 2 to fast boarding. STRIP at the scanners. Take off your belt, shoes, costume jewerly etc..... Don't wear shirts with metal buttons (you know the cowboy or denim kind.) I know there is a debate about shoes, but I just find it easier to take mine off.

In Tampa you may need more time to return the rental car so figure that it. Some of the "on site" agencies (National) are actually a shuttle bus from the car! Tampa has a reputation for being one of the best run airports in the nation so I am betting things will go quickly, but have not flown out of there in years.

 

[madge]

how early should we get to BNA for a Saturday (middday--11:15AM) flight on SWA? we have only flown out of Louisville, and I am trying to get all my ducks in a row as our trip gets closer

we are planning on using the curbside check-in. My DH is going to drop me off with 2 of our 3 kids and he will meet us inside after he takes the car to long term parking. What is the best/fastest way to do this? The parking area is really small at the airport in Louisville, so we have parked and checked our baggage there. Now with a toddler, we have the stroller, backpack, car seat, etc....yikes!

any tips you can give me would be awesome!

 

[CarolA]

With Southwest I adjust my time just a little to increase my chances of an A or a B pass. So I arrive 90 minutes in advance. If your kids are the pre-board age then you probably won't need this time.

As for checking bags and getting your boarding pass. Have your husband hang near the car until the skycap can match him and his ID up and then go park. (In your case I would recommend long term, or satellite. They are on site. Long term is closer then satellite. In either case he just follows the signs to parking and goes to the bus stop. At Long Term buses run pretty often. I have not used satellite in a while.) I used to do this method all the time before 9/11, but now if you leave your car they get a little upset!

If I were you I would just go in and sit down. There are seats in the check in area (I think!) I know there are seats down the hall towards security. Once he shoes back up just go thur security then. The security on the SW side is very quick. There are actually more screeners there then on the Delta/Northwest/Etc. side!

If you do get there really early once you past security there will be a hall to your right. About midway down the hall is a "SMALL" play area with a small climbing type thing.

 

[safetymom]

I can understand wanting not to spend a lot of time at the airport but all sorts of unplanned things can happen. I would allow at least 1 and a half hours. That way if there are lines anywhere you don't have to worry about missing your flight.

There must be a kids area at the airport that you could spend some time in. I don't like starting my vacation by rushing so I allow enough time for any problems.

 

[madge]

With Southwest I adjust my time just a little to increase my chances of an A or a B pass. So I arrive 90 minutes in advance. If your kids are the pre-board age then you probably won't need this time

Thanks, Carol....I forgot to mention we have our little pre-baord insurance Our daughter is turning two during our trip. That is primarily the reason we don't want to be at the airport any longer than we have to....

I jotted down the information about the curbside check-in and parking....that is exactly what I'm looking for. One other question about this process. We do tip the guys that help us at the curb, right? The only times I have been dropped off at the airport, I had the pre-printed boarding pass and didn't check any luggage.

Safetymom--it wouldn't be a vacation if we weren't huffing and puffing our way into the airport, LOLOL....it really is a baaad running joke between DH & I. It doesn't matter how early we are running, we always end up right down to the wire getting to the airport. Here's an example--we left our house in plenty of time to get to the airport 90 minutes before our flight. 15 minutes into the drive, our oldest DS decides that he needs to use the restroom. RIGHT NOW. He had a nervous stomach or something, but we spent 30 minutes with him in a restroom along I-65. After a few calls to SWA, we decided to press on. We arrived at the airport in Louisville with 30 minutes to spare, LOL

good intentions, something always goes wrong, it never fails, LOL.

we will probably spend the night in Nashville, just to make sure we get there on time!

 

[CarolA]

Madge,
Yes you need to tip the skycaps. $1 to $2 per bag is standard.

If you are staying in Nashville I know the Amerisuites has a $79 rate with free parking and a shuttle to the airport. Since long term parking is something like $8 a day this might be worth doing!Then they could drop you and the entire family off at the skycap!

 

[madge]

Yes you need to tip the skycaps. $1 to $2 per bag is standard.

thanks, Carol!

not sure what we are doing yet about the night before. probably Priceline to get a cheap room. I'm not too crazy about doing the shuttle with a toddler. unless they have car seats for the little ones. does anyone know how that works?

 

[CarolA]

Madge,
Not sure, but you might could use your car seat on the shuttle. A lot of shuttles here are just minivans or regular vans (Not the bus types!) If you decide to do this I would give the Amerisuites a call. (I would look this up for you, but I am currently one a VERY slow dial up!)

 

[madge]

Not sure, but you might could use your car seat on the shuttle. A lot of shuttles here are just minivans or regular vans (Not the bus types!) If you decide to do this I would give the Amerisuites a call. (I would look this up for you, but I am currently one a VERY slow dial up!)

thanks so much, carol! I am going to make a few calls this weekend and see what I can find out--I know the wyndham has a park & fly, and the sheraton music city said we can leave our car there as well...

our flight leaves at 11:15 slow time (which, to the rest of the world means central time, LOL ) so we would need to leave our house at 8:30 "our" time to get there in plenty of time. that might be better for the kids....we'll see.

dare I ask what the I-65/Briley Pkwy construction is looking like these days?

BWT, I am all giggles over your countdown clock....as a UK fan, we aren't so much in the football dept.