Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) is an easy-to-navigate departure point that lets you skip the crowds and get straight to the Gulf Coast beaches. The airport serves mostly domestic flights with a solid mix of major U.S. carriers and low-cost airlines. These tips will help you plan your trip with ease.
Airlines at SRQ
All major U.S. airlines serve the airport, with Delta flying to Atlanta and American to Charlotte among the regular routes.
There are numerous low-cost airlines like Frontier, Allegiant, Breeze and Avelo at the airport, too. This helps the airport to drive up competition and lower the cost of airfare.
Allegiant Air operates the largest route network from SRQ with over 25 destinations to cities across the East Coast and Midwest. Its flights do not appear in online search engines. Instead, you have to book directly on its website or use a search tool like KAYAK.
Allegiant usually serves smaller airports with non-daily flights, but you can find excellent bargains on seasonal or year-round routes.
Air Canada is the only international airline to serve the airport. Travelers pre-clear U.S. immigration in Canada before boarding, so when they land at Sarasota-Bradenton, they exit as if they were on a domestic flight without clearing passport control or customs.
Airport layout and navigation
The terminal now has two concourses - the original Concourse B with gates B1-B14 and the new Concourse A with gates A4-A8 that opened recently. And here’s a fun little quirk for you, there are no gates A1-A3. Once you’re through security, Concourse B gates are in a row with a few restaurants and shops sprinkled in between, while the new Concourse A features ground-level boarding.
The airport has a Federal Inspection Station for international arrivals, though there aren’t many scheduled international flights here.
Several coffee shops have grab-and-go snacks and drinks. When I have time before a flight, the bacon melt burger at Dewar’s Clubhouse is not to be missed (though it’s no longer the only sit-down restaurant in the departure area - TAP & POUR also offers full service).
It is disappointing that there is no lounge here, but the airport is too small to have one. I do like that the airport’s website has links to flight tracking services for real-time flight details so you don’t have to arrive too early before your flight.
Given the small size of the terminal, the space can seem very crowded when multiple flights depart at once, with limited seating and power outlets. At least the Wi-Fi is fast and free.
Security and arrival timing
The airport has one central security checkpoint. Lines can be long during peak morning hours, so factor that into your arrival planning. TSA PreCheck lanes help those with this expedited service bypass most of the queue, and enrollment services are available on Level 2 near the arrivals area entrance.
Getting to or from SRQ
Public transportation options include the “Breeze 76 Flyer Trolley,” which stops at eight downtown Sarasota hotels and operates every 30 minutes between 7:00 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. (check the Breeze Rider app for schedules). Sarasota County Breeze Transit and Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) also operate public buses that stop at the airport. Many area hotels offer their own complimentary shuttles, which is a great perk for travelers who don’t want to rent a car.
At times, there are no taxis stationed at the airport, but a courtesy phone in the arrival area links riders directly to the taxi company. I usually prefer taking a rideshare service since you can track where they are via an app.
I like how the airport has rental car counters near baggage claim on the arrivals level without the need to take a shuttle to another location. Cars are within walking distance of baggage claim, which is one of the benefits of using a smaller airport.
If you’re driving your own car, there’s plenty of parking available at the airport. I’d recommend pre-booking a spot online, especially during the busy summer months when the lots can fill up fast.
Airport hotels
Early-morning departures make me nervous about oversleeping, so I’m a big fan of staying at an airport hotel the night before. While there’s no hotel connected directly to the terminal, several are close by and offer a free shuttle.
The closest is the Courtyard by Marriott Sarasota-Bradenton Airport, and this is my preference since it is across the street from the airport entrance. If you oversleep, you could literally walk to the terminal in a pinch. Other solid options include the Hyatt Place, which offers a free shuttle and breakfast.
Unfortunately, none of them is close to the beach, but they do have a swimming pool if you want some time in the sun. The Hampton Inn & Suites and Hyatt Place both include complimentary self-parking with your stay, which can be a great deal compared to paying the daily fee at the airport lots.
What to do near the airport
If you check out of your hotel early but have a later flight, there’s a lot to do in the area of the airport.
The Ringling
The Ringling Art Museum offers discounted admission to the Museum of Art and Bayfront Gardens on Thursday evenings from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and the gardens are open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This museum is home to the circus museum with historic galleries that detail the life for those who performed in the circus.
Through art, statues and detailed mockups, it’s entertaining for all ages to learn about how Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey created “the greatest show on earth.” The museum is just a short drive from the airport.
Sarasota Classic Car Museum
Car fans will love this museum at the northeast corner of US 41 and University Parkway, immediately adjacent to the airport entrance at Airport Circle. You can check out historic cars from the late 1800s alongside unique models from brands like Porsche and Ferrari. It is a two-minute drive from the airport.
Future expansion plans
A major expansion plan is underway at SRQ airport that will help relieve some of the pressure inside the terminal, which can be very crowded at times. The airport is handling 3.5 million more passengers than in recent years, and new facilities are coming to meet the growing demand.
The new Concourse A opened recently with five ground-level gates (A4-A8) where passengers walk on the apron to climb stairs and reach awaiting aircraft. This new departure area hosts Allegiant Air’s large operation of flights, as they are the sole tenant leasing all five gates. Other improvements include new escalators in the baggage claim area to reduce congestion when multiple flights arrive at once, plus ongoing upgrades to the baggage system.
A new transportation center will make the roadway in front of the terminal easier to navigate. This is where public buses, taxis and rideshare services will pick up travelers from the airport (it’ll be a short walk from the terminal).
Eventually, the long-range master plan includes expanding Concourse A and adding a future Concourse C, targeting about 32 total gates - an increase of roughly 19 gates over the original 13. A parking study is underway to recommend a location for a proposed parking garage, which would be SRQ’s first structured parking facility.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
