Tampa International Airport closes ahead of Tropical Storm Elsa
Tampa International Airport is suspending commercial flights at 5 p.m. today ahead of impending Tropical Storm Elsa, TPA announced this morning as Florida's upper Gulf Coast faces a hurricane watch.
"After suspending operations at 5 p.m. today, we hope to resume flights as early in the morning as possible after we inspect our airfield and roadways for any damages or debris," TPA spokesperson Emily Nipps said via email. "We plan on resuming at 10 a.m. Wednesday, though travelers may show up earlier than that to check-in or prepare for those morning flights."
The storm comes as several airlines have been stretched thin as the demand for domestic air travel has recovered faster than some carriers' ability to boost staffing after the worst of the pandemic. Airlines are already canceling flights ahead of the storm and a number of them, including the nation's four largest, have eased rebooking rules for passengers ticketed to fly to some Florida airports.
Nipps confirmed 93 inbound and outbound flights have been canceled thus far and estimates that approximately "one-third to one-half of total operations" will be affected between Tuesday and Wednesday. As of 12:20 p.m. ET on Tuesday, flight-tracking site FlightAware showed 130 canceled U.S. flights, including preemptive cancellations in Fort Myers and Sarasota, for Wednesday, when the storm is expected to move across Florida.
"The closure of TPA due to Tropical Storm Elsa will cause limited impact, primarily to travelers that are originating in or arriving to the area as a final destination. The larger impact will be due to the closure of traffic routes that transition north and south through the middle of the state," Rick Garceau, former manager of the FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center, said via email. "There is also a possible risk to the closure of Atlantic routes that route traffic down from the busy Northeast. Traffic that normally would transition over TPA southbound will be pressed further east to the Atlantic or eastern part of the state which in this case may not be available due to the storm."
In response to flyers inquiring about flights out of TPA today, the airport encourages travelers to contact individual airlines directly for updates regarding schedule changes.
"We expect our airlines will be busy rebooking any canceled flights due to the storm, which is something they are accustomed to doing this time of year in Florida as we get daily thunderstorms that disrupt air traffic," Nipps said. "Anyone planning on flying through TPA over the next couple of days should contact the airline directly for the most up-to-date schedule."
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The Weather Channel reports that Elsa is currently moving north through the Gulf of Mexico, with "heavy rain, strong winds, storm surge and isolated tornadoes" expected in Florida through Wednesday, before heading up the southeast and mid-Atlantic coasts later this week. Impacts are expected to Cuba as well.
Read more: Flying solo: Airline unaccompanied minor policies and fees in the US
Elsa is expected to continue to strengthen, per the latest updates by the National Hurricane Center.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.