Availability of luggage carts at Tampa
 

Next week I fly into Tampa as a domestic passenger. I will have a number of items of hold luggage with me. I'm assuming tht luggage carts will be readily available next to the baggage carousel, but I wonder if anyone will be able to tell me if there is a charge to hire them. I want to make sure I have the correct money with me. I recently got caught short at an airport that charged for them and ended struggling quite badly.

Many thanks.

Hi pipsi, I saw your post on the BA forum. I can't remember exactly but I'm 99% sure that the luggage carts at Tampa (and those in use at most major US airports) take credit cards as well as cash. Bizarrely, I have a picture of one from Miami. I suspect the ones at Tampa are the same.

I'd suggest have a $5 bill or a credit card handy.

Good luck and welcome to Tampa :)

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...12%2016-04.jpg

Thanks for the reply. It's a great help. $5 seems to be a bit of a rip off but I suppose they have a captive market.

I agree, it's a rip off but unless you can grow an extra arm and hand it's probably your best option :)

PS. I took the picture so I had some kind of receipt for my expenses claim form. Never thought it would come in handy for anything else.

Smartecarts
 

According to the Tampa Airport website, the luggage carts are provided by Smarte Cartes. As far as I've seen, Smarte Cartes let you purchase via credit/debit card.

For specific information and to avoid surprises, why not ask the source? You can submit a question to the TPA folks here:

http://www.tampaairport.com/contact/contact_form.asp

I was back at TPA earlier today. Here's a picture of the TPA cart payment machine.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...0/IMG_2022.JPG