St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) Holiday Travel Tips
Please plan ahead to help make your travel easy as PIE! Thanksgiving week is a very busy time of the year, so please be patient and follow these travel tips.
Airport Travel Tips
- Please consider getting a ride to the airport! All parking lots will fill up and we don’t want you to miss your flight.
Parking options are limited at the airport. There is no reservations system for parking. Once Long-term Parking is closed, you will be directed to one of our Economy Lots. Complimentary shuttle service is provided between the economy lots and the terminal. No overnight parking is allowed in Short-term parking. For parking info, rates and maps, check fly2pie.com/parking-and-transportation/parking For information on Disabled Parking, check fly2pie.com/parking-and-transportation/parking/disabled-parking-info
- Picking up passengers? Use our free cell phone lot to await your party until they are curbside with their luggage. Active loading and unloading only at curbside in front of terminal and remain with your vehicle at all times. No curbside waiting allowed.
- Cell phone Lot is for meeters and greeters only. Drivers must remain with their vehicle. Unattended vehicles will be towed.
- Please allow ample travel time to the airport.
- Go Easy! For more information, including our terminal map, parking map, and airline websites, visit our website fly2pie.com
Airline Travel Tips
- Plan to arrive 2 hours before your scheduled flight departure time and check departure gate. PIE has two separate gate areas 2-6 and 7-11 that are not connected, so make sure you are at your correct gate 50 minutes before departure ready to board. Please check with airline for carry-on luggage requirements and sizes. Allegiantair.com or suncountry.com
- Monitor/Check with your airline for updated flight information.
- For wheelchair assistance, request directly from your airline. Wheelchair assistance is provided from check-in to boarding aircraft and from aircraft to baggage claim.
TSA Travel Tips –tsa.gov/travel
- TSA PreCheck members: Make sure the TSA PreCheck mark is on your boarding pass. Passengers must ensure that their Known Traveler Number (KTN) along with correct date of birth is in their airline reservation. Teenagers age 17 and under may now accompany TSA PreCheck enrolled parents or guardians through TSA PreCheck screening when traveling on the same reservation and when the TSA PreCheck indicator appears on the teen’s boarding pass. Children 12 and under may still accompany an enrolled parent or guardian when traveling through the TSA PreCheck.
- Firearms and ammunition are not permitted in carry–on bags, but are permitted in checked bags when properly packed and declared. If passengers choose to travel with a firearm, they are permitted only when properly packed and declared at the airline ticket counter for checked baggage. Airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition, so travelers must also contact their airline regarding firearm and ammunition carriage policies prior to arriving at the airport. Passengers with firearms found in a carry-on bag at a TSA security checkpoint will be subject to fines and restrictions.
- Pack an empty bag and know before you go. When airline passengers begin packing for travel with an empty bag, they are less likely to be stopped at the security checkpoint for having prohibited items. Check TSA’s “What Can I Bring?” tool to know what is prohibited. The most common prohibited items at the TSA checkpoint are drinks and foods that are prohibited.
- Give yourself plenty of time. Passengers should give themselves plenty of time to return a rental car, check-in with the airline, check bags with the airline and prepare for the security checkpoint. Passengers may save time by removing items from pockets and placing them in their carry-on bag, instead of putting items directly into bins at the conveyor belt.
- Be aware of new checkpoint screening technology. TSA uses a variety of security methods and technologies to secure our transportation systems. Screening protocols can be unpredictable and may vary from airport to airport depending on available technology and the current threat environment.
- Make sure you have an acceptable ID. Adult passengers 18 years and older must show valid identification at the airport checkpoint in order to travel. REAL ID is in effect.
- Follow TSO guidance. It is important to listen to the direction provided by our TSOs at the security checkpoint. Airport and airline employees may also give guidance to help throughout the travel process. Keep in mind that we all work together to ensure a streamlined and convenient passenger experience, so please follow their directions.
- Respect TSA and other frontline airport and airline employees. Violence and unruly behavior in the nation’s transportation systems are not acceptable and cause delays at traveler checkpoints.
- Contact TSA with questions, compliments, complaints or assistance. Travelers with questions have many options for contacting TSA. AskTSA is available for live assistance from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. ET via Twitter or Facebook by messaging @AskTSA or by sending a text to “272872” (“AskTSA”). For customer service issues, travelers may reach the TSA Contact Center (TCC) at (866) 289-9673. Individuals with disabilities, medical needs or other special circumstances may request passenger assistance at least 72 hours in advance by contacting our TSA Cares passenger support line at (855) 787-2227. Live assistance for both the TCC and TSA Cares is available weekdays, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, or weekends and holidays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.
- Traveling with Kids? We know traveling can be stressful. TSA offers a series of videos made specifically for kids to help them understand what they can and cannot bring through the checkpoint. Passengers should double-check the bag their child packed before arriving at the security checkpoint. Formula, breast milk, juice, baby food and even liquid medications in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces are exempt from the 3-1-1 liquids rule.
TSA encourages all passengers to remain vigilant. If You See Something. Say Something®.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you!
St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE)
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