TPA drops to bottom half
Tampa International Airport has generally ranked among the top airports in the world. This year, however, TIA has fallen to the bottom half of airports in North America. Customers say it’s still among the best airports in the world, and of course the airport officials don’t buy it, either:
[Executive Director Louis] Miller says two other independent customer service surveys, both funded by airlines, show Tampa International outperforming its peer airports. Both surveys are conducted by pollsters as travelers arrive or depart the airport.
I guess this puts JD Power among the worst ratings services in the rankings, huh?
Tags: ranks, transportation
Loading ...
May 25th, 2007 at 8:33 am
“This year, however, TIA has fallen to the bottom half of airports in North America.”
you forgot to put “medium-sized”… and it’s 14th out of 25.
You make it sound like they fell behind airports like Poughkeepsie or Peoria or Buffalo…
May 25th, 2007 at 9:03 am
The rankings are whacked this go around. While TIA has fallen off a bit from being the gem it once was there’s no way Dulles or San Diego should rank higher. Dulles is absolutely atrocious. San Diego, picking up the rental car and leaving the airport took almost as long as the coast to coast flight. I’d say even La Guardia with it’s disconnected terminals shouldn’t rank nearly that high. TIA is still one of the most enjoyable and convenient airports I frequent.
May 25th, 2007 at 10:19 am
There is no way that anyone can tell me that TIA is worst that JFK, Dallas,Atlanta,Philly, Dulles and the like. I travel at least once a month and TIA is the best airport I have traveled into.
May 25th, 2007 at 11:45 am
Tampa International Airport dropped because of lower scores in several categories, most notably in food service, retail and baggage claim. Consumers said they were less satisfied with the cost, variety and quality of food and beverages at the airport, and they also said they were disappointed by cost, variety and service in the airport shops, he said.
Airport shops? Who buys anything at the airport shops, beyond a coffee, water, or newspaper? This is the metric for determining the quality of an airport? And who the hell is bitching about these things?
TPA (yes, TPA, TIA is your mom’s sister) is a good airport because it LACKS all that nonsense. It works at what it does because it DOESN’T have restaurants or shops cluttering up the concourses.
May 25th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
There is nothing technically incorrect about abbreviating it TIA, unless you’re filing a flight plan or looking for your luggage. Particularly since, in the Bay area, you’re less likely to have to explain yourself than if you used TPA.
May 25th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
it’s the airport call letters. I thought everyone in tampa used that. when i talk about sarasota i talk about srq. StpeteCLW is pie. I know we’re not all pilots; I’ll be more careful. Phoenix went to a lot of trouble to become known as ’sky harbour’ only to have someone else (forget who)usurp it from them …
IMO it doesn’t matter the sexy image or satisfaction .. I flew into jerz no matter what (EWR) (and it was a hellhole for YEARS) because the drive was nicer and much easier to negotiate than jfk and LGA … if they have to come to your city, they must visit YOUR airport. LOL. Miami (MIA) is actually awesome but who wants to be leered at the whole time you are walking down the concourse?
I’m not sure how tampa inter always got ‘called’ tia but I think it was an ad campaign way back that stuck and stuck those letters all over da place.
May 25th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
vp,
Nothing wrong with using either, Tim just made a point to correct something that didn’t need correcting. Must be the teacher in him. Btw, some of us are pilots ;-).
May 25th, 2007 at 10:29 pm
oh yeah and actually I QUITE agree with tim, too.
I like the virgin islands airport …. or is that jamaica?? basically a big open air dealie…. like a pole barn it reminded me of. Maybe it’s changed, been awhile.
May 26th, 2007 at 6:41 am
It’s all about considering your audience. Again, TPA might be preferred, but it’s merely the IATA code. The ICAO designation would be KTPA. If you were to drop the K in KSRQ you just might be talking about the VORTAC at Sarasota and not the airport if you were yapping to pilots. In some cases we might even be saying Tango Papa Alpha. If I were talking to my mom, I’d just say I’m going to the airport, she doesn’t really care which one and automatically assumes the big one over by…well… “the airport.” I know other people that just call it International or Tampa International. Funny thing about language, it’s quite dynamic and adapts pretty well. I see no reason in this context to be a doctrinaire.