Where to meet up at TPA???

[riu girl]

We will be picking up my mom at TPA during Christmas week. I just looked at the web site of TPA and it looks like there is only one terminal with a landside section as well as airside A,C,E,F (not sure what this means).

We won't have tickets (just mom wil) and therefore, don't know if we will be able to get into airside A,C,E,F (may only be for ticketed passengers)?.

My ?:
Where do you think would be a good meeting place to meet my mom?
None of us have ever been to TPA.

Thank you
Suzy V

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

Well tampa basically has the main terminal with the airsides, which are basically terminals attached by train. To get to main terminal you take the train from airside e, b,f, etc... to the main terminal. You can go upstairs to the main terminal and you will see them right where they get off the train. Lots of people meet each other there. Hope it helps.

Matt

 

[riu girl]

I assume that non-passengers are not allowed to go to the airsides, but must wait for their party to take the train from the airside to the main terminal building?????
Where is the luggage collected?, in the air side or the main terminal building??? I would like to be able to help my mother collect her lugagge if at all possible.

Any info. would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Suzy

 

[riu girl]

 

[Lewisc]

Meet her at baggage claim. The TV screens will tell you when the flight arrives and which baggage carousel.

 

[riu girl]

Thanks Lewis.
1. I take it then that non-passengers can go to the baggage claim area?
2. Comparitively speaking, how big is TPA vs. MCO?
3. Is the baggage claim area on the land side (main terminal) or on the air sides?
4. Are non-passengers allowed into the air sides?

Sorry so many questions, its just that she is older and I don't want to mess this up.

Thanks
Suzy

 

[Lewisc]

Thanks Lewis.
1. I take it then that non-passengers can go to the baggage claim area?
2. Comparitively speaking, how big is TPA vs. MCO?
3. Is the baggage claim area on the land side (main terminal) or on the air sides?
4. Are non-passengers allowed into the air sides?

Sorry so many questions, its just that she is older and I don't want to mess this up.

Thanks
Suzy

http://www.tampaairport.com/maps/transfer.html

You might be able to get a pass for one of you to go airside to assist your mother but that's probably overkill. Airside is on the other side of security, you'll need a ticket or a special pass. Either meet her at baggage claim (easiest) or where the monorail/tram enters the terminal building.

 

[riu girl]

Thanks for the info.
We will plan on meeting her at the baggage claim area.
She will be flying SWA non stop from BUF. Do you happen to know if she will be picking up her luggage on red or the blue side?
Thanks for the link to the TPA info.
Suzy V.

 

[Lewisc]

Thanks for the info.
We will plan on meeting her at the baggage claim area.
She will be flying SWA non stop from BUF. Do you happen to know if she will be picking up her luggage on red or the blue side?
Thanks for the link to the TPA info.
Suzy V.

Go to the TPA website. Go to the baggage claim section. Click on the level map. It not only tells you SW is on the red side but uses carousel 19 and 20. Check on the tv screens weh you get to the airport in case there is a late minute change.

It's always a good idea to go to a companies website and try to get the "official" information before posting here. Sometimes a poster will either have bad memory or things may have changed since their trip. You can tell your mother to just follow the rest of the passengers to baggage claim.

 

[riu girl]

Thank you Lewis.
Have a great day.