Tampa airport sets express curbside check-in for flyers without checked bags

Just in time for holiday travel, Tampa International Airport is changing the way passengers check in for their flights.

The airport on Nov. 16 plans to unveil eight new check-in lanes dubbed Blue Express Curbside, part of a $544 million phase of its multiyear master plan.

Blue Express Curbside lanes are open to customers flying without checking a bag, allowing them to skip the ticketing check-in area and go straight to the main terminal’s transfer levels. The lanes are open to customers flying via American, Delta, United, Frontier, JetBlue, Copa, Cayman and Swift.

Drivers dropping off passengers flying on one of those airlines without checked bags should do so via Blue Express Curbside lanes. When picking up passengers without bags, they should use express pickup lines.

“It’s pretty straightforward: If you’re checking bags, use the traditional full-service curbs. If you’re not, go to express,” John Tiliacos, the airport’s executive vice president of operations and customer service, said in a statement. “We believe guests will pick up on the change quickly and appreciate this feature, but we’ll also do everything in our power to make sure the transition is as smooth as possible.”

Eight more curbside lanes on the airport’s red side are expected to arrive by 2025.

“Passenger needs and expectations are changing,” airport CEO Joe Lopano said in a statement. “This revolutionary project further cements our place as industry leaders, promoting smart growth that will translate into a positive economic impact for our region.”

Tampa International Airport has projected it will see some 15.6 million passengers between this month and September 2022, and another 20.6 million passengers in the 12 months after that.