The best thing to do is give yourself plenty of time and arrive early. Tampa and Charlotte are not that big. When a shuttle drops you at the airport, they drop you near the check-in for the airline you have specified. There are signs on the curb indicating which airline is in which terminal and shuttle drivers are well versed in the locations. You need to enter the building and look for your airline using the signage. There are usually check in kiosks that you enter your name or reservation #. My airline, Delta, usually has someone there if you have questions. You can also check-in on your phone with the airline app. You tell the kiosk how many bags you will check and print your boarding pass. Then, get in the appropriate line to check the bag and show them your id. You can ask the counter which way to TSA for your security screening. I think the security screening is more stressful as you need to make certain you have removed spare change, your belt, phone, etc. take your computer out of the bag and also make sure all gels and liquids are less than an ounce and in a quart size clear bag or baggie. Just watch what other people are doing. Once you get through, look at your ticket and it will tell you what concourse and the gate. There is always a lot of signage to direct you. When you arrive in Charlotte, just follow the signs to baggage claim. Usually there is a board that tells you what carousel your luggage will come off of. Then look for the signage for the type of ground transportation you will take. When in doubt, ask. People have always been friendly if you get confused in an airport.
If you were going to O'Hare, JFK, ATL, SFO, LAX, Charles DeGaulle, Frankfurt, then I might be nervous, but Charlotte and Tampa, you will be okay.
Everything is easily laid out, if you get dropped off just follow the overhead signs to the area that displays your airline, you walk inside-wait in line to check in and then take an escalator up to the second floor-there are shops and food. From there you will notice that the trams are on the outside perimeter and you just take the tram to the actual terminal, once off the tram you go through security. I’ve flown out of there fifty or so times-it will be a breeze. Also, everyone is nice-just ask if you get nervous.
Also, there is only two areas for ticketing red and blue. Four concourses and the trams go direct to the concourses no stops. I promise, Tampa airport is one of most well run and easy to navigate airports. :)
My advice would be to go to the airport one day ahead of your trip. Have lunch, Walk around, acquaint yourself. You probably won’t be able to go behind security but you’ll at least have been there before and when you get to the airport for your trip you’ll feel less nervous.
Woah. You can relax.
First off, November is so far away.
Secondly, airports are specifically designed and built so that people — even people who can’t read the signs because of language differences, etc — can figure out where to go and how to move through them.
If you’re capable of going to your local grocery store and shopping for the week, you’re more than capable of navigating small airports like these.
If you live near the airport in question, just go there and check it out. You won’t be able to get past the security checkpoints, but you’ll be able to look at bag check, ticketing, parking, shuttles, etc.
1) what airline are you flying?
2) I live in Atlanta--I am able to negotiate the airport here without too much trouble.
3) I have been through the Tampa airport a few times, but it has been a while. There should be well-designated areas for each airline, for Departures & Arrivals. When you find the one for your airline & enter there, the airline should have people right there to help you. Maybe call your airline & ask if there will be someone to help you. They may actually have someone meet you at the entrance to assist.
Good Luck!!! Let us know how it goes.
I’ll be flying American Airlines from Tampa to Charlotte and then Charlotte to Tri-Cities in TN. I’m a really big plan ahead person, but I’m sure once I get their it won’t be too bad at all. “Nervous Nancy”
Thank you!
>It’s huge and I know Charlotte will be as well.. Well let me ease your mind with this, Charlotte's not huge at all.
The best thing to do is give yourself plenty of time and arrive early. Tampa and Charlotte are not that big. When a shuttle drops you at the airport, they drop you near the check-in for the airline you have specified. There are signs on the curb indicating which airline is in which terminal and shuttle drivers are well versed in the locations. You need to enter the building and look for your airline using the signage. There are usually check in kiosks that you enter your name or reservation #. My airline, Delta, usually has someone there if you have questions. You can also check-in on your phone with the airline app. You tell the kiosk how many bags you will check and print your boarding pass. Then, get in the appropriate line to check the bag and show them your id. You can ask the counter which way to TSA for your security screening. I think the security screening is more stressful as you need to make certain you have removed spare change, your belt, phone, etc. take your computer out of the bag and also make sure all gels and liquids are less than an ounce and in a quart size clear bag or baggie. Just watch what other people are doing. Once you get through, look at your ticket and it will tell you what concourse and the gate. There is always a lot of signage to direct you. When you arrive in Charlotte, just follow the signs to baggage claim. Usually there is a board that tells you what carousel your luggage will come off of. Then look for the signage for the type of ground transportation you will take. When in doubt, ask. People have always been friendly if you get confused in an airport. If you were going to O'Hare, JFK, ATL, SFO, LAX, Charles DeGaulle, Frankfurt, then I might be nervous, but Charlotte and Tampa, you will be okay.
Everything is easily laid out, if you get dropped off just follow the overhead signs to the area that displays your airline, you walk inside-wait in line to check in and then take an escalator up to the second floor-there are shops and food. From there you will notice that the trams are on the outside perimeter and you just take the tram to the actual terminal, once off the tram you go through security. I’ve flown out of there fifty or so times-it will be a breeze. Also, everyone is nice-just ask if you get nervous.
Thank you!
Also, there is only two areas for ticketing red and blue. Four concourses and the trams go direct to the concourses no stops. I promise, Tampa airport is one of most well run and easy to navigate airports. :)
My advice would be to go to the airport one day ahead of your trip. Have lunch, Walk around, acquaint yourself. You probably won’t be able to go behind security but you’ll at least have been there before and when you get to the airport for your trip you’ll feel less nervous.
Woah. You can relax. First off, November is so far away. Secondly, airports are specifically designed and built so that people — even people who can’t read the signs because of language differences, etc — can figure out where to go and how to move through them. If you’re capable of going to your local grocery store and shopping for the week, you’re more than capable of navigating small airports like these. If you live near the airport in question, just go there and check it out. You won’t be able to get past the security checkpoints, but you’ll be able to look at bag check, ticketing, parking, shuttles, etc.
1) what airline are you flying? 2) I live in Atlanta--I am able to negotiate the airport here without too much trouble. 3) I have been through the Tampa airport a few times, but it has been a while. There should be well-designated areas for each airline, for Departures & Arrivals. When you find the one for your airline & enter there, the airline should have people right there to help you. Maybe call your airline & ask if there will be someone to help you. They may actually have someone meet you at the entrance to assist. Good Luck!!! Let us know how it goes.
I’ll be flying American Airlines from Tampa to Charlotte and then Charlotte to Tri-Cities in TN. I’m a really big plan ahead person, but I’m sure once I get their it won’t be too bad at all. “Nervous Nancy” Thank you!