Located nine miles north of downtown St. Pete/Clearwater, PIE is a major airport that serves the Tampa Bay area and Florida’s world-famous beaches.
It accepts aircraft of almost any size, and is home to air traffic control. It also provides aircraft maintenance, charter services and pilot lounges.
Parking
When it comes to parking, there are plenty of options to choose from at st pete airport. These include on-site and off-site parking lots, as well as hotels that offer parking and shuttle services.
There are also several car rentals companies at the airport that can help you find a vehicle for your stay. These are a great way to avoid parking fees.
Handicapped parking is available in all garages and parking facilities at TPA with applicable rates. These spaces are generally located near the elevators and accessible to all disabled passengers.
EV chargers are complimentary to customers with all-electric or hybrid vehicles at all on-site parking facilities. Typically, between two and six charging stations are available on a first-come basis.
There are also a number of free long term lots and garages at the airport. These are ideal for travelers who plan to stay at the airport for a few days. These lots are also within walking distance of the main terminal building.
Transportation
The airport is located a short 12 miles north of downtown St. Petersburg and a short 20 miles from Tampa International Airport (TPA).
The facility is an important military/public air transportation hub in Pinellas County. It is primarily used by low-cost airlines and charter flights, but it also has been shown to have double-digit growth and handled more than one million passengers in 2014, setting a record.
There are a number of transportation options available from the airport, including buses, rentals, and shuttles. Some of these can be expensive, but there are also many cost-effective alternatives.
If you want to make your arrival at the airport as smooth as possible, consider booking a ride through an online booking engine such as Mozio. The process is easy and you can get a cab straight away once you arrive at the airport, without having to wait in line.
If you’re looking for a reliable ride to and from the airport, there are a number of other alternatives such as Uber or Lyft. These services offer affordable prices and are often faster than cabs.
Food & Beverage
St Pete airport is a major gateway for travelers to the Tampa Bay area and Pinellas County. The facility has a wide range of food, drink, news and gift options available to passengers as they travel through its three terminals.
The terminal features a number of restaurants and food concessions such as Qdoba Mexican Grill, Wendy’s, Starbucks, Auntie Anne’s, Bay Coffee & Tea Company, Burger 21, New York Pizza, Pei Wei and more. It also has a variety of stores and shops.
One of the most popular concessions is Tammie Coe Cakes, a bakery that offers a variety of baked goods. It also sells snacks, sweet treats and bottled or canned beverages.
Another fun stop is Bar Symon, an airport restaurant that serves up hearty comfort food and a vibrant setting. The menu has a number of Symon signatures such as the Fat Doug burger with coleslaw, pastrami, stadium mustard and swiss cheese; the Pulled Pork sandwich with coffee BBQ sauce, creamy coleslaw and pickles and Potato & Cheese Pierogi with kielbasa, griddled onions and mustard sour cream.
Security
At st pete airport, security measures and procedures are designed to protect travelers from threats and attacks. The airport serves as a national transportation hub, transporting thousands of passengers each day.
Keeping the airport safe is vital to the continued success of its operations. As such, the airport employs uniformed USSISA Security Officers who patrol boarding areas, monitor access control and observe airplanes.
Travelers should arrive two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flight departures to allow for check-in, baggage, security screening and arriving at their gate. Only ticketed passengers are allowed beyond the entrances to the shuttles leading to the airsides and gates.
The wait times at security checkpoints vary throughout the day, especially during busy periods such as 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., as well as days before and after holidays. Passengers should plan to spend about 20 minutes to clear security during non-peak times and 45 minutes during peak periods.