More Flights To (and From) Tampa

[Simon Veness]

Great little press release from the PR folks at Visit Tampa Bay. This city is really putting on visitor numbers like no-one else in Florida, and there are good reasons why (great hotels, attractions, restaurants, breweries, etc!). So there's this:

TAMPA (August 9, 2018) International non-stop flights to Tampa Bay really take off this October with the arrival of two new value airlines in the hip, urban heart of Florida’s Gulf Coast.

The arrival of Norwegian Air in Tampa Bay on October 31 gives international visitors a second connection between Tampa Bay and London Gatwick for their Sunshine State vacation.

Norwegian Air is the latest international carrier to make Tampa Bay a non-stop destination. The carrier will fly into Tampa International Airport (TPA) from London Gatwick on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Introductory fares are $215 one-way.

Norwegian joins British Airways, which has offered daily non-stop service from London Gatwick to Tampa Bay for many years and recently upgraded its aircraft with new entertainment systems in both World Traveller and World Traveller Plus.

Canada's first ultra-low-cost carrier, Swoop, starts flying to TPA on October 20, launching seasonal flights to Tampa Bay from Hamilton, giving winter travelers a new route to the Florida sun -- and alternative to the long drive south.

Tampa Bay is one flight away on these airlines as well:

Icelandair | The popular low-cost airline arrived in Tampa Bay in 2017 and flies seasonally from its hub in Reykjavik. Service will expand from two days a week to four when flights resume in September.

Lufthansa | Germany's flagship airline flies five days a week from Frankfurt. The company recently announced it will be expanding its Business Class capacity to meet growing demand.

Edelweiss | The Swiss airline flies non-stop from Zurich to Tampa Bay. Flights vary from twice a week (Wednesday and Sundays) or once a week (Sundays) depending on the month.

Copa Airlines | Tampa Bay's link with Latin America, the Panama City-based airline flies non-stop from its hub in Panama and recently expanded its schedule for Tampa Bay to seven days a week.

Southwest | The popular domestic carrier is one of the few airlines in the U.S. offering non-stop flights to Cuba. The daily service, which began in late 2016, offers a morning flight out and an evening return from Havana – perfect for a Tampa Bay-based day trip!

Air Canada | The winter sun is a short flight away for residents of Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal looking for a break from the long Canadian winter. Tampa Bay remains a bargain destination for Florida visitors and west Florida's major launching point for Caribbean cruises. And, of course, we're a great hockey town!

[Tiggers Friend]

That's good news, just a shame no one is doing it from Manchester.

[spencem]

That is very good news indeed. For those of us who stay down Davenport way there is not a great deal of difference in driving time from MCO or Tampa airports. From what I've heard it is much easier to get through Tampa airport than MCO most of the time.

[Ret400]

Using Tampa for return part this year, looking forward to trying it out. Any tips?

[Simon Veness]

Yes, go west on I-4, not east. *exits, running...*

[DH of Dolphingirl]

The first time she met the I4 she was navigating and was flummoxed by my question, North or South?

[UK Deb]

We've tried to change our outbound flight from Orlando to Tampa (as we'll be spending our first 5 nights at Treasure Island) but we can't do it without cancelling and re-booking which would mean paying full fare rather than the sale fare we secured earlier in the year. Such a pain.

[Simon Veness]

You'd think BA would be happy to take someone off the busier flight (to MCO) and re-book them to Tampa in a case like that, but obviously The Rules Are The Rules and, ultimately, they lose out

[sex kitten]

Using Tampa for return part this year, looking forward to trying it out. Any tips?

We found it to be a much quieter airport, no queues at bag drop, no queue at security and no queue at the car drop.
Where we waited at the gate was noticeably more spacious, light and airy than at MCO with a few more places to grab a drink/snack.

If you are travelling on a weekday just be aware that rush hour has started around the time you will be getting to the airport.
We found travelling back to the airport was better signposted than getting out of the airport and to the I4 and was easy to do.


Good news on Norwegian starting flights into Tampa, it gives another option to the Brits.
We would use this route out of choice now

[Catlady]

We've tried to change our outbound flight from Orlando to Tampa (as we'll be spending our first 5 nights at Treasure Island) but we can't do it without cancelling and re-booking which would mean paying full fare rather than the sale fare we secured earlier in the year. Such a pain.

That is a pain Deb. When we spend our first few days on the Gulf we stay the first night at the Hyatt in Orlando airport. I guess too late for you to change the first night? Just less stressful in our opinion.